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Best Looking Soccer Cleats

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Having a high-quality pair of soccer cleats can completely transform your game!  The right pair of shoes will make you faster and more agile on the pitch.  You will be able to shoot more accurate and have much greater ball control.

Buying a pair of cleats that look great can improve your game even more!  You will be stepping onto the pitch in style, which helps to build your confidence.  You will also feel like an elite player if you have great-looking cleats and your opponents may even be distracted by your stylish shoes.

This buyers guide will take a look at the importance of choosing a great pair of cleats, then highlight 5 of the best looking soccer cleats available!

The anatomy of a pair of soccer cleats

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Before we jump in and talk about choosing the best pair of soccer cleats, let’s go over the components of a soccer shoe.  They include:

  • The upper The upper is the top part of the shoe (everything above the insole or midsole).  Traditionally, a soccer shoe upper would be natural leather.  Nowadays, there are many more material choices including various synthetic leathers and microfibers.

  • The outsole This is the bottom of the shoe (everything below the insole or midsole).  In the case of soccer cleats, this is where the studs are placed.

  • The insole This is the cushioning that is inside the shoe.  Most soccer cleats have replaceable insoles.

  • The midsole This is cushioning that is built into the middle of the shoe.  The midsole might extend all of the way along the shoe or only across part of the shoe.  Midsoles are often made from flexible plastics like Phylon and EVA.  Some soccer cleats don’t have a midsole at all.

  • Heel counter The heel counter is a small plastic insert that sits on the rear portion of the shoe, behind your heel.  It helps to reinforce the shoe and protect your heel.

  • Vamp This is a part of the upper that is towards the front of the shoe — where you normally kick the ball.  Many vamp designs have additional stitching or a special material to improve the player’s control over the ball.

  • Studs/Cleats Soccer shoes have studs on the bottom of the shoe for additional traction.  There are three types available — rounded studs, bladed studs, and hard ground studs.  Some shoes have detachable studs, which comes in handy if you play on different types of surfaces.  Conical studs can release from the ground faster and have excellent stability, while bladed/hard ground studs offer more traction and speed.

Tips for choosing the right soccer cleats

Here are a few simple tips to help you choose the prefect pair of soccer cleats!

Choose the right soccer cleats for your play styleEvery player has a unique playing style.  You might be the kind of player who relies on sudden bursts of speed or you are a precision passer who likes a lot of stability.  The position you play can also determine which kind of soccer cleats are more effective.  In general terms:

  • Forwards and wingers do best with very light weight cleats that allow them to change direction quickly and accelerate rapidly.  They require cleats with a clean strike zone that helps them drive a lot of power into the ball.

  • Midfielders usually perform a lot of passing during a game and require a soccer cleat that can delivery accuracy.  They also usually opt for lightweight cleats that provide a lot of stability.

  • Defenders tend to go for cleats that protect their feet and give them enough control over the ball to pass cleanly.

  • Goalkeepers usually go for high-stability cleats with a lot of power — allowing them to clear the goal easily.

Think about the weight of the cleat

The weight of soccer cleats has declined in recent years, thanks to a new wave of high-tech synthetic materials and advanced construction techniques.  The average lightweight football cleat weighs around 8 ounces, but you can also buy super lightweight cleats that weigh as little as 5 ounces.

A light cleat will give you more speed off the mark and make maneuvering easier.  They are the perfect choice for wingers and forwards.  A heavier cleat can give you more powerful kicks, stability, and protection for your feet.  Heavier cleats are often used by defenders and goal keepers.

Consider the fields that you regularly play on

Soccer can be played on a wide variety of surfaces including artificial grass, hard compacted dirt, grass, and mud.  You can loosely categorize surface types in the following ways:

Firm ground

This category refers to fields that are dry and very hard.  They are usually soccer fields that don’t receive much water and have heavily compacted ground.  There won’t be much grass on these types of fields.  To obtain excellent traction on a hard surface like this, you will require soccer cleats with many conical studs.  Some firm ground cleats use a combination of conical and bladed studs.

Artificial turf

Soccer is increasingly being played on artificial turf.  If you are playing on artificial turn or another indoor court, use cleats with many small conical studs.

Soft ground

Soft ground can be used to describe your average grass field.  It is well covered in grass and is well watered or receive rain regularly.  It feels slightly spongy under your feet and your studs will penetrate the surface.   Use cleats with longer studs for soft ground.

How much money do you have to spend?

Soccer cleats can get seriously expensive!  If you don’t set a budget before you start shopping for soccer cleats, it is easy to spend far too much.  If you are new to soccer, think about spending around the $40 to $80 mark.  At this price point, you will get a great pair of cleats that will last a few seasons.

If you have been playing soccer regularly for a few years, it is worth spending a bit more.  You will get a pair of very durable soccer cleats that have better performance in the $80 to $150 range.  They will be lighter, more comfortable, and more responsive.

If you are a soccer fanatic and want a pair of cleats that have the latest technologies, you will probably need to spend over $150.

Get cleats that match your foot shape

Every soccer cleat has a unique “fit” to it.  Some are quite narrow, while other have more room for players with a wider forefoot.  Certain brands are known for being narrow, wide or for having a specific feel.

The best way to determine which brand and model is suited to your foot is to:

soccer-shoes

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  • Determine the characteristics of your foot.  Is it wide or narrow?  Do you have high arches on your feet?

  • Talk to the other players on your team with similar foot dimensions.

  • Talk to your coach

  • Ask people online for ideas on the best cleat for your foot type 

Get a pair of cleats that look fantastic! Many people get caught up in the specifications of the cleat they are looking at.  They sometimes purchase an ugly looking cleat just because it has a fancy Vamp or space-age synthetic upper.  They then realize they feel like a fool wearing cleats so ugly it looks like a dog vomited on them!

Always think about the appearance of the cleats.  If you get cleats that you love the look of:

  • You will always be keen to put them on and get on the field

  • You will feel more confident

  • You will hang onto your great-looking cleats for much longer

  • Your competitors will be blown away by your sense of style

5 Of The Best Looking Soccer Cleats

Here are 5 of the best looking soccer cleats on the market!

Nike Mercurial Veloce III Men’s Firm-Ground Soccer Cleat


Nike Men’s Mercurial Superfly 6 Academy MG Soccer Cleat

  • Durable synthetic leather and Dynamic Fit collar conform to your foot for a streamlined, natural fit.
  • An overall micro-texture makes it easy to control the ball at full speed.
  • A versatile multi-ground plate provides traction on natural- and artificial-grass surfaces.

This is a seriously eye-catching pair of cleats from Nike.  The neon green design will help to distract your opponents when and look fantastic when players are running at full speed.

These cleats have an advanced synthetic and leather construction.  The microfibre touch upper has the speed ribs texture and internal cage to lock your foot into position.  It uses a molded Great Lotus sock liner for additional comfort.  The bladed studs are an excellent choice for firm ground.

adidas Men’s X 16.2 Fg Soccer Shoe


adidas Men’s X 18.4 Firm Ground Soccer Shoe

  • Simplified Clawcollar with traditional tongue construction
  • Synthetic upper for light weight
  • Snug fit keeps the foot supported and comfortable

This pair of cleats from adidas has a space age design that is sure to impress your teammates and opponents.  These cleats make it look like you have returned from the future for a quick game of football!

Adidas X 17.1 cleats are packed with features.  They use the adidas Techfit system, which makes it easy to slip the shoe on and immediately feel comfortable.  The knitted synthetic and textile upper allows for natural movement of the foot and improves stability.  There are raised dots on the upper to improve the accuracy of passing and shots at goal.  These cleats use a combination of bladed and rounded studs.  They are an excellent choice for keen soccer players who want to stand out on the pitch.

adidas X 17.1 FG Cleat Men’s Soccer


adidas Unisex Copa Mundial Firm Ground Soccer Cleats

  • Legendary soccer cleats for stability on firm natural ground
  • Leather upper with premium K-leather in the forefoot for comfort and flexibility
  • Move with explosive speed and traction on dry natural grass with the Firm Ground outsole

This is a more affordable pair of soccer cleats and is designed for enthusiastic amateur players.  It comes in three incredible designs — Blue/White and Shock Pink, Solar Green, Black and Core Green, andRed/White/Black.  The designs look amazing and are sure to attract many admiring glances!

These shoes use a synthetic upper with a rubber sole that features rounded cleats.  The studs are in the fg chaos stud alignment, which is perfect for dry grass.  This shoe incorporates the Techfit compression system, which has a zero wear-in time.  As soon as you throw these cleats on, they will feel comfortable and natural.  A great choice for players on a budget!

PUMA Men’s Evospeed 17 SL S FG Soccer Shoe

PUMA has been making some excellent soccer cleats in the past few years.  The Evospeed 17 SL-S is one of their best!  It uses an incredible soft synthetic upper material that is super comfortable.  This upper also gives the player incredible control over the ball.

The shoe has the Speedframe structure, which makes quick turns easy and grip-tex to help you make strong contact with the ball.  It uses a lightweight rubber outsole with a combination of bladed and rounded studs.  It is available in two colors — Ultra Yellow-peacoat-orange Clown Fish and Safety Yellow-puma Black-green Gecko.  Yes, those colors are as intense as they sound!  This is a very light cleat that is perfect for forwards and wingers.

Adidas Men’s Predator 19.3 Firm Ground Soccer Shoe


adidas Men’s Predator 19.3 Firm Ground Soccer Shoe, Black/Black/Gold…

  • Lightweight soccer cleats made for firm ground
  • Lightweight textile upper provides durability
  • FG outsole for maximum traction on firm ground (dry natural grass); Hybrid stud tips

If you are a traditionalist, you might prefer the classic stylings of the Adidas Men’s Predator 19.3 Firm Ground Soccer Shoe.  This is a beautiful soccer cleat with a traditional design.  It is a great choice for people who don’t want the brightest and most distracting shoe on the field, though they do have tons of color options.

It features a robust stitched leather upper and synthetic sole with rounded studs.  It is the perfect choice for firm natural grounds.

Thanks for reading 5 Of The Best Looking Soccer Cleats!  For more information on soccer cleats, subscribe to the blog or follow its on social media. Plan on doing an obstacle course challenge? Check out these great shoes for obstacle courses as well.

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