Choosing the Right Soccer Cleat
Soccer shoes, also called boots, cleats or studs generally come in two styles: molded and detachable, although specialized indoor and turf shoes are available. You also might consider shoes with a foldover tongue. This tongue has extra material to keep your shoelaces covered. This means the knot won't interfere with your kicking, however, the extra material adds some weight.
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Molded cleats have nonremovable studs made from rubber or hard plastic that help form the outsole of the shoe. For kids and beginners, molded cleats are best because they perform well on dry, grass playing fields and are easy to maintain. |
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Detachable cleats have studs that are designed to screw in and be easily replaced, allowing players to switch studs for optimal results on different playing surfaces. Detachable cleats are better left to more experienced, serious players. |
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Indoor shoes are designed for use on smooth, artificial turf, wood or carpeted surfaces and feature a flat outsole and rubber bottom for better traction. |
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Turf shoes are ideal for harder surfaces, such as hard grass fields, ricky areas or artificial surfaces. In these cases, standard soccer cleats won't provide enough traction. |
Cleat Patterns
You'll find that, in general, molded cleats have four studs on the heel and eight in the forefoot. This makes them excellent for natural surfaces that are dry but not rocky. Detachable cleats have two studs on the heel and four on the forefoot. This makes them better for soggy, muddy ground and wet fields. The reduced number of studs means that mud has a harder time caking between them.
Today's cleats have a variety of stud patterns to provide more comfort, better traction and smoother kicking action. Different vendors also provide a variety of stud styles other than the traditional conical ones, such as blade-shaped or triangular. These are designed to slice the ground more easily during play.
Sport-Specific Cleats
Make certain that the cleats you buy are specifically made for soccer. Other types of cleats, such as football cleats, may have studs that are illegal in a soccer game.
Materials
Soccer shoes are made from different types of leather, from full-grain calfskin (the strongest and most durable) to kangaroo (more supple and flexible). These leathers mold well to the feet and stretch to provide flexibility. Shoes also are available in polyurethane, vinyl and many types of synthetics. Synthetics are best for beginners and kids, because they are typically less expensive than leather, but also are less durable and less breathable. Some shoes also have mesh in their upper for breathability.
Cleat Sizing
Soccer cleats are sized like regular shoes but will feel narrow and small because they're designed to be snug for better ball control. There should be no more than a thumb's width of space between the toes and the front of the shoes. Young children should have looser-fitting shoes, so that the cleats don't affect how the feet grow. However, it's important that they're not too big, so don't buy them with next season in mind. Roomy cleats can cause blisters and injuries as players trip, twist ankles or catch themselves in the grass. In general cleats for kids are unisex, made for both boys and girls. There also are no specific versions of cleats for older boys and girls.
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