It's not every day here at Footy-Boots.com HQ that we get to deal with exotic foreign imports, but that's exactly what we got when a package from Thai company PAN showed up on our doorstep.
Already popular in Thailand and having a number of key sponsorships of players in the Thai national futsal team and AFC Futsal Champs Chonburi Blue Wave, Pan are aiming to become a name with global recognition with their latest two futsal-specific models.
First up is the eye-catching Vigor IV – a professional-tier futsal shoe that is designed with the serious player in mind.
The shoe's energetic colourway embodies the message behind the shoe – which is to maximise the energy output of the player wearing them in every possible aspect.
The upper is a K1.3 micro fibre which feels very plush for a synthetic, and is stitched and moulded into pockets of material for a controlled touch and thinned out for better power transfer in others.
This material – which is developed in-house for Pan – won't over-stretch and is especially light for a futsal shoe, not to mentioned treated with antimicrobial properties for fresh feet and an easy to clean finish.
That distinctive patterning you see around the forefoot comes from a honeycomb-like use of printed TPU, designed to offer a shot-shield like increase in rebound and more friction on the ball
Our favourite feature are the grip-gel pods in the heel counter, which lock the foot in place for an improved level of comfort and ease of acceleration.
The sole, as you'd expect is a non-marking composite that's great for grip and turning on hard futsal courts.
On the flip side to the feature-packed Vigor IV is the more heritage-inspired Wave Classic 2 – still worn by a number of' professional players, the Wave Classic instead focuses on durability, a soft first touch and a more timeless style.
The calf-leather upper is wonderfully soft to the touch with a great level of give and flex to the upper straight out of the box and features stitching right the way through the mid foot for maximum flexibility.
The upper is perforated for ventilation and works with the cleverly placed mesh throughout the boot to keep players comfortable and cool during a game.
At the heart of the Wave Classic 2 is the High Rebound Phylon in the midsole, created to a formula Pan have developed over ten years, this mid foot material reduces pressure on the sole of the foot when planting to turn or stop, has high rebound properties for better energy return and is durable and lighter than rubber.
Currently on sale across Asia, it's well worth keeping an eye on the Pan name if you're big into Futsal as they seem to produce shoes that are full of great ideas – we know we will be
very nice. I hope they ever make it to the Americas. I’d get the classic one, since the sole seems thicker it would last more on street/concrete (which is where me and friends play small-sided games unless we get to play on turf). the other ones are more for proper indoor futsal, which I have barely ever played heh.