Mizuno Alpha 2 Elite AG - Review

Best Value AG Cleats in 2025?

If you're in the market for a new pair of artificial ground (AG) soccer cleats that won’t break the bank, the Mizuno Alpha 2 Elite AG should definitely be on your radar. Retailing for just $140, these boots offer some serious bang for your buck. However, they do also come with a few quirks that might not suit everyone.

After using them as my main AG pair for over 6 months, here’s my honest breakdown of what does and doesn’t work, how they match up to the original Alpha 1s, and whether or not you should buy a pair.

Upper

Mizuno kept the same structural design for the upper but made a few notable tweaks. The synthetic material is super thin and textured, offering a slightly grippier and softer feel compared to the Alpha 1s. Contrary to some reviews, I actually found them less stiff and more flexible than the previous model. (Note - these are not the launch colorway, which could explain the discrepancy)

I wore these straight out of the box for a full 90 minutes and had zero issues with break-in. The upper softened even more after just one session, and the midfoot molded to my foot incredibly well.

Zeroglide Lining: Too Much of a Good Thing?

Mizuno’s Zeroglide lining was a great feature in the Alpha 1s, strategically placed in the heel and insole to prevent slippage. For some reason, Mizuno decided to extend this grippy, abrasive material throughout the entire interior, all the way to the toes, in the Alpha 2s.

The result? A cleat that’s much more difficult to put on, and worse, potentially blister-inducing due to how much it rubs on the top and sides of the toes. While I understand the intent from Mizuno, lockdown was never an issue with the Alphas, so this design feels unnecessary and counterproductive. It’s like wearing grip socks with pads on top of your toes, not my favorite. 

Touch

Performance-wise, these are a joy to play in. The touch on the ball is fantastic, and the grip is excellent in dry conditions. I did notice the upper can get a bit slick in wet weather, particularly with certain balls, but the texture still helps with control.

Whether you're dribbling, passing, or shooting, they feel responsive and sharp for the most part. Shooting in particular really surprised me. I don’t necessarily love shooting with a lot of the current speed boots, but the alphas felt great to me. 

Fit & Sizing: Same Size, Different Feel

I went half a size down (US 8) in these, just like I did with the original Alphas. The sizing is about the same, but the fit is definitely different. One of the minor annoyances with the Alpha 1s was a small gap around the ankle, but Mizuno addressed this in the Alpha 2s. The heel lockdown and padding are excellent now, and I haven’t had any heel blisters to speak of.

The biggest change however, and unfortunately a step backward in my opinion, is the toe box. It’s got more volume and feels slightly shorter, which creates dead space at the outer toes, and can cause upper bunching. This leads to unnecessary rubbing and impacts touch, especially at the outside of the boot.

If you’ve got wide feet or high volume toes, this might not bother you. But for those with narrower or regular-width feet, it can feel like your toes are floating inside the boot. 

Quality

The tongue is extremely thin and it literally feels like a piece laminated paper. It doesn’t affect performance, but it lacks the premium feel of the padded tongue on the Alpha 1s.

The laces, though? Honestly, some of the worst I’ve used. They're made of a weird cotton-y material that makes them difficult to tighten and loosen, which is especially annoying given how hard it already is to get these on with the full Zeroglide lining and deep lacing.

(Also worth noting: the Elite model doesn’t come with a string bag or any extras, whereas the Made in Japan (MIJ) version does. This is understandable given the price difference)

Soleplate & AG Performance

One of the highlights of these cleats is the AG-specific soleplate. It reminds me of some older Nike AG patterns, with excellent stud layout and grip on artificial turf.

The plate is super flexible in the forefoot and moderately stiff through the midfoot. Personally, I’d prefer a bit more rigidity up front, but some players may appreciate the extra flexibility. This soleplate works extremely well on both older and newer AG pitches. I would not recommend it on FG unless it happens to be a super short/dry/hard pitch. 

Recent colorways have apparently added a wider stud base and even an external heel counter, which I wish mine had. I definitely prefer the look of the external heel counter, if nothing else.

Durability

I’ve used these exclusively on AG surfaces for half a year, and they’ve held up exceptionally well. There is no sole separation, no tearing, and the upper has remained in great shape. Considering how brutal AG can be on cleats, that’s impressive.

Weight

These feel light on-foot, and weigh about 6.7 ounces in a size 8 US. This is pretty much on par with most other speed boots on the market right now. 

Final Thoughts: Great Value with Some Minor Flaws

Should you buy the Mizuno Alpha 2 Elite AG?

If you're looking for a durable, responsive, and well-priced Elite-level AG boot, these are easily one of the best options under $150. With a crisp touch, superb lockdown, and solid durability, they’ve become my go-to AG cleats. That said, they certainly aren’t perfect and won’t be for everyone, but if you can get past the minor fit issues, I highly recommend picking up a pair. 

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