SOCCERTODAY Soccer Locker Reveiw: Insert Blusol into Soccer Cleats, Play on Turf and Have Happy Feet
The founder of Blusol is Rob Becerra, is New England Revolution‘s Director of Youth Development. With decades of experience, Becerra knows soccer players can’t perform with heat blisters, so he created a solution.
Why not prevent injuries from playing on turf in the heat?
The pain of heat blisters is real. Blistered toes can be a nightmare. The consequences are real and can shackle the performance of an elite player. Becerra launched Blusol inserts for cleats which can stop feet from burning with NASA-grade technology.
If anyone you know has ever played in the heat on a turf field, you will immediately appreciate the value of BluSol and the innovative technology which can drop the temperature 30 degrees from the ground surface to the cleat.
It doesn’t take long to get heat blisters playing soccer on a turf field.
Blusol is an adhesive insert that can be applied to any cleat, shoe, or boot. Using Nasa and military-grade material Blusol gives relief to the feet and body. Blusol reduces the heat of the ground whether that be asphalt, dirt, or turf from transferring into your feet. Blusol protects your feet from injuries such as blisters, turf burns, and general discomfort.
Did you know that on a beautiful 90 degree day, the temperature of the turf could reach up to 180 degrees?
Think about it for a moment … Ever watch a soccer player take of his or her cleats and see heat blisters and know there are more days of soccer matches or soccer practice ahead? It took a highly experienced director of coaching, and a lot of testing, to come up with a solution.
The founder of Blusol is Rob Becerra, is New England Revolution‘s Director of Youth Development. A 20-year coaching veteran, Becerra is the former Senior Director of Coaching at San Diego Surf SC and also spent four seasons as an assistant coach at the LA Galaxy.
USSF A Licensed Becerra found a solution to blistering toes long before coming to Southern California or moving to the cooler temperatures of New England.
BluSol can shield feet from the blistering heat, and lower the temperature of the turf surface to the cleat a critical 30 degrees.
Interview with Rob Becerra, Founder Blusol
Diane Scavuzzo: How did Blusol begin?
Rob Becerra: When I was coaching at Stanford and the Director of Coaching at the Palo Alto Soccer Club, we played our games on turf.
I watched my players burn their feet playing on the turf and searched for solutions, but nothing really worked, and yes, we tried foil. Blisters are the accumulation of fluid between layers of skin, usually in one area or part of the body. They look like pockets of clear fluid stuck under the skin and are a common occurrence for most athletes.
At that point, I started looking at technology for solutions. When I went to work for U.S. Soccer, the project was put on hold but not forgotten. When my kids started playing soccer seriously and complaining, I looked into solutions again.
Diane Scavuzzo: Why do blisters happen? Can they be avoided? Did you find a solution available on the market?
Rob Becerra: No, I found a few things online but I tried them out myself and none of the products really worked, so I decided it is time to take matters into my own hands. And, yes, blisters are avoidable. As I let people know on my BluSol site, “Blisters typically are caused by one or more of three factors: friction, sweat, and heat.”
Although outside temperatures may only be 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit (32-38 Celsius), the temperature of the grass or turf will be much hotter. The heat from the ground can cause blisters and even burns on the bottoms of your feet. Wearing a heat-shielding insole can significantly improve performance and comfort on the field, and help prevent blisters as well.
I started buying and testing out any material that helped prevent or minimize the transference of heat — I reviewed materials that were fire retardant and had a reflective property.
Blusol is a life project with a purpose — and, everyone in my family is involved. Everyone has pitched in with support and help and this is truly a family adventure.
When I say everyone, I mean everyone. Parents, uncles, aunts, wife, kids, cousins, long-time friends, extended family and former players jumped in to make BluSol happen.
With some help from John, Greg, Marc, Erik (brother) and the support of my family and friends the Blusol Heat Shield Insert was brought to life. This truly is a family business because without all the help and support Blusol would still be a thought in my head and a problem for my kid’s feet and other people’s feet across the country.
Diane Scavuzzo: What did you do?
Rob Becerra: I tested everything myself first. I would put these materials in my shoe and see if they were comfortable and durable.
If it wasn’t comfortable, I knew it would not solve the problem because no soccer player would use it.
If it felt ok, I would continue the practical testing and test it on the turf to determine how well it blocked the heat. Eventually, I created the Blusol lab.
We ran test after test and created prototype after prototype.
We put the soles in soccer players shoes, lacrosse players, football players, tennis players, runners, firemen, policemen, soldiers and construction workers. I wanted to know how the heat shields performed under many conditions and what different people of all ages
After 19 attempts at the Blusol Heat Shield, I found a material that worked. It prevents burning feet, is easy to install, fits all sizes up to men’s 14, does not alter shoe size and is pliable so you can use it with any type of shoe or current insole.
My goal has always been to make sure this is affordable so every kid could wear Blusol and play in comfort.
Diane Scavuzzo: Can you just replace your cleat’s insole with Blusol?
Rob Becerra: Blusol is not an insole and was not designed to replace the insole.
Blusol sticks to the insole so it doesn’t move in the cleat.
It is super thin but powerful. Comfort and protection — most players don’t feel Blusol, and they don’t feel the burning heat coming off the turf. Blusol offers an affordable solution for a problem that most soccer players deal with constantly.
Click here to order your Blusol heat shields today.
Why should I buy Blusol Heat Shields? Because we want you to burn the competition, not your feet.
Rob Becerra
In Five Easy Steps:
- Take your current sole out of your shoe or cleat.
- Trace around the Blusol Heat Shield Insert.
- Cut to customize the fit.
- The Blusol Heat shields are designed to adhere to the bottom of your existing cleat’s insole. Just peel and stick Blusol to the bottom of your insole.
- Insert Blusol into your cleat — that is it!
In Brief – The benefits of Blusol Heat Shields:
- No more heat blisters.
- Temperature Regulating Technology.
- One Size Fits All.
- Shoe size is not altered.
- Durability — Will outlast your shoe.
- Over 30-degree differential from the surface to the cleat.
- Even protects against cold harsh elements.
Blusol Heat Shield Inserts are available on Amazon for $29.99 or in “Friends’ packs on www.Blusol.com
