Choice is Power: Ida Sports Drops Two New Cleats and Doubles Down on Women

Success can be measured in so many ways. Money. Status. Power. Popularity. These are all great indicators of positive motion. If you look back on the last year in women’s soccer, pretty much all those boxes have been ticked. Think about it; two new expansion teams in the NWSL; record-breaking crowds at women’s soccer matches across the globe; network broadcast deals; and, of course, the ability to stream games and watch women’s soccer at the tap of a finger. 

But there’s another aspect of success that we’ve overlooked on our list, and that is one of choice. This is, perhaps, one of the most glaring areas of disparity between men’s and women’s soccer that still exists. When something is built into the fabric of society and is widely consumed, it triggers brands to produce and compete for attention. Women’s soccer as a cultural concept is still lagging in that area. Think about walking into a sporting goods store and over to the soccer section. Everything is still designed for boys and men. Women can, of course, wear the products, but it’s not thoughtfully created for them.

Until now. Companies like Ida Sports are breaking ground where others have resisted because it’s too “niche.” But is it? Our friends at Ida don’t think so, and neither do we. When you operate from the place of providing comfort and safety for girls and women, isn’t it riskier not to? 

After raising the bar with the Classica last season, Ida Sports is doubling down on their goals of providing women with quality choices for footwear on the pitch. Take that literally. They’re dropping not one but two new cleats this season. Say hello to the Ida Rise FG and Ida Centra FG, two new boots on the block that will knock your socks off. These boots are for the modern female soccer player with elements that make them both attractive and technologically advanced. 

Let’s start with the aesthetics. Whereas Ida went for an old-school, classic leather look with the Classica, the Rise and Centra are bolder in their color schemes and designs. We love the use of their name on the side of the Rise, loud and proud and stamped into the shoe with a permanence that’s unforgettable. They come in three different color waves; stylish black and vibrant white. But the winner for us is the super sophisticated ladybug red with a blast of orange spelling IDA across the center. For an extra snug fit, the Rise wraps your ankle in soft, stretchy fabric for a secure feel that stimulates the foot for an additional boost of blood flow and energy. 

The Centra is no less cutting-edge, even though the price point drops deliberately. This is a product that’s deliberately looking forward yet combines the symbolic chevron logo design on the sides as a reference to Ida’s incredible past. Remember, founder Laura Youngson was part of the team that climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to break the record for playing a soccer game at the highest altitude. The slogan “Make Waves Move Mountains” is ingrained deep in the Ida Sports storyline. Those chevrons represent the movement toward a more equitable future.

The Centra also comes in three colors; black and white standards and a bright, confident coral. There is no built-in sock on the Centra, giving players their choice of preference. Once again, the Ida name is on these cleats. This time smaller but with little waves that echo out to the edge. The uppers are made from premium synthetic leather. Which makes the Ida Centra women’s soccer cleat a more affordable and 100% vegan option for female athletes.

While all the aesthetics and new tech may be alluring, nothing matters more than ergonomics and safety. At the end of the day, Ida Sports is the only footwear brand that goes to insane lengths to ensure they’re providing the safest, most comfortable option for women who play sports. Their research over the years has proven that men’s and women’s feet are different, and wearing cleats that aren’t designed for our feet can cause endless blisters, pinching at the toes, and a greater risk of serious injury. But it’s largely avoidable now. The choice is yours. Embrace the power you have and choose Ida Sports. 

_

GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS