Cleated Shoes

Choosing The Right Football Cleats

Whatever your position on the football field, there's a football cleat to help you get the job done. Football cleats are made both for the position you play and the type of field where you play. Keep these two important factors in mind when you purchase your football footwear.

Shoe Style

Football cleats come in three styles--or heights--to accommodate the varying needs of players by position. High-tops, and low-cut shoes are designed for a specific purpose, so choose the style that best suits your position and needs.

High-tops

• High-tops extend up the ankle to provide extra support, especially for lateral movements
• Linemen benefit from this support because of the pressure put on their ankles by the numerous lateral movements during the course of a game

Mid-cut

• A mid-cut shoe offers more support while still allowing maneuverability
• This style best fits the game of skill players- defensive backs, running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks

Low-cut

• Low-cuts are preferred by some players because they are lightweight
• The lower cut provides extra maneuverability to allow you to make quick cuts on the field

Cleat Types

You have your choice between molded and detachable cleats. Most are designed exclusively for either grass or turf fields, so consider what types of fields you most commonly play on. If your games are played on both grass and turf, you can opt for a multipurpose cleat.

Molded

• These cleats are permanently attached to the outsole on the shoe's bottom
• Turf shoes usually use molded rubber cleats to give you spring and traction on the harder turf surface
• Molded cleats are generally less expensive than shoes with detachable cleats

Detachable

• Detachable cleats use studs that can be removed and replaced to fit field conditions on all types of grass--hard and dry or wet and sloppy
• Their versatility makes detachable cleats preferable if you primarily play on grass
• With a wrench and replacement cleats, you can easily customize your shoes
• You can choose shorter studs for a hard, dry surface and longer studs when you play on a wet, sloppy field

Shoe Materials

The shoe's upper typically is made from either a leather or synthetic material.

Leather

• Leather breathes well, which helps keep your feet more comfortable, and is generally more flexible, a big plus in both comfort and function
• Leather is very durable
• Leather shoes are generally more expensive

Synthetics

• Usually less expensive than leather
• Synthetics won't give you the breathability and durability of leather
• Most shoes use synthetic materials somewhere, especially to provide reinforcement or support in the forefoot, mid-foot and ankle

Cleat Accessories

There are a number of cleat accessories to consider in order to protect your investment and to ensure the best performance.

• Buy some extra laces to avoid the frustration of trying to tie a broken lace together
• Consider applying protection to your shoes, especially leather. Mink oil conditions your leather so it's softer and more comfortable and it also protects from rain, snow, sun, and keeps water out.
• If you buy a shoe with detachable cleats, buy replacement cleats in a variety of sizes and make sure you have a cleat wrench to remove and replace cleats
• Replacement cleats generally run in 1/2-, 5/8-, 3/4- and 1-inch sizes. Having all four sizes gives you more options for different field conditions.

Determine Your Cleat Size

• Determining your proper shoe size is essential to a comfortable fit for your football cleats
• Don't assume your shoe size is the same as it always has been. The shape of your feet changes over time.

Choosing The Right Soccer Cleats

Soccer is a game that is primarily played with your feet; therefore, your most important piece of soccer equipment is your footwear. A good pair of cleats, or boots as many people call them, is essential. There are variations of the basic soccer cleat designed for different skill levels, weather conditions, and field types.

Types of cleats

Molded cleats

• Basic soccer shoe design
• Non-removable rubber, or hard plastic formed on the bottom of the shoe is used to help provide traction and control
• Ideal for beginning and intermediate level players
• Suited for play on almost all field types and in all weather conditions
• Required by many youth programs for safety reasons

Detachable cleats

• Feature studs on the bottom that can be screwed on and off and be replaced easily
• Cleats vary in length and are usually made of hard plastic or plastic with metal tips
• The type and length of the studs can be changed depending on the weather and field conditions of that day's game or practice
• Ideal for experienced players who can tailor the cleats to their playing field and weather conditions
• Suitable for use on wet, soggy fields, or on well-groomed, soft grass fields

Turf shoes

• Contain various raised patterns on the bottom in place of studs, for use on harder outdoor surfaces and on artificial turf
• Generally good training shoes that could serve as a back-up game pair for hard-surface conditions

Indoor shoes

• Resemble low-cut, lightweight sneakers
• Designed for playing indoor soccer in a gym or recreational facility
• Feature a flat, rubbery-type bottom for better traction on indoor courts and fields
• Required by many indoor soccer facilities when playing on artificial turf, so the turf does not get torn up

Sandals

• An important footwear add-on for all soccer players
• Worn before the game to save wear on your soccer shoes
• Easy to slip on and off when soccer socks and shin guards are on
• Allow you to immediately remove your playing shoes after a game to rest your feet
• Many sandals have special massage-type features for the bottom of the foot for added comfort

Materials

Leather

• Offer the best feel and fit of any soccer shoe, but are also generally more expensive
• Full-grain leather shoes are strong and durable, while variations such as Kangaroo leather are more flexible and offer an even better feel
• The softer the leather, the better the feel for the ball, but also the less durable the shoe
• Absorb more water than synthetic shoes and are not recommended for constant use on wet fields; however, water treatment options are available

Synthetic

• Ideal for most entry and mid-level players
• Generally less expensive than leather shoes, but do not offer as good a feel and do not last as long as a well-cared for leather boot
• Generally contain some sort of water treatment and therefore last better under poor playing conditions
• Easier to clean and dry out than leather shoes

Determining Your Size

Fit tips

• Soccer shoes are sized like regular shoes, but most are designed with a more narrow upper than typical sneakers to allow for better feel and control of the ball
• High-quality leather shoes will generally stretch a bit when worn. They will actually mold to the shape of your foot, so they should fit snugly when new
• Shoes that are too small are one of the major causes of foot pain and problems with athletic footwear; however, soccer cleats should naturally fit more snugly than other athletic shoes because of their design

Determining your shoe size

• Determining your proper shoe size is essential to a comfortable fit
• Don't assume you shoe size is the same as it has always been. The shape of you feet changes over time.