If you play multiple sports you may find yourself wearing different sizes depending on the shape and style of the shoe. Some brands run small, while others run big, which is why we always recommend trying on athletic shoes when possible.
So, how should football cleats fit?
Football cleats should fit nice and tight. You do not want them to be tight to the point that you are getting blisters, or your feet are rubbing against the shoe, however, they must be relatively tight as you will be making sharp cuts and sprinting in them.
Typically, new football cleats are true to size, however, it is important to look at the brand’s website and size charts before purchasing anything online. While you do not want the cleats to be too tight, you also do not want them to be loose either.
It may be nice to let your feet breathe while playing, however, loose cleats will either fall off or cause an ankle injury.
9 Things to consider when buying football cleats:
There are nine important things to take into consideration when buying the right football cleats. We will break down each of these reasons and why it is important to take them into account.
1. Try them on!
The first and best thing that you can do is try the football cleats on. This will be the best way of knowing if the cleat is for you or not. Being able to actually feel the cleat and have the chance to run in them before purchasing is a great opportunity.
The last thing you would want would be to purchase a new pair of football cleats just for them to be uncomfortable for the entire season. If you are unable to find a pair of football cleats in a physical store, it is important to look at the size charts for each brand’s website.
While most football cleats are true to size, there are some companies that have different-sized cleats. Be sure to wear socks that you would normally play with in games.
2. Weight of Shoe
Another thing to take into account when purchasing football cleats is how they weigh. This also ties into being able to try the shoe on before buying them.
Some football shoes are much heavier than they look. Having a heavy football cleat types can make you slower on the field and make it at times feel harder to run. On the flip side, you do not want a shoe that is too light either.
While it will feel nice when running, it likely will not have enough support around the foot to protect it when being stepped on by opposing players.
3. Position
What position you or your child plays is something to keep in mind when purchasing cleats. Depending on what position you play, you may want a different style of the cleat.
For example, a running back, wide receiver, or cornerback would want a cleat that is lighter weight while a lineman would want something that is bulkier and more supportive.
Here is a great video that gives some additional tips on how to find the best football cleats from Dicks:
4. Durability
Before purchasing your football cleats for the season, you will want to make sure that the shoe is durable. You would determine how durable the shoe is by asking an employee in the store, reading reviews of the cleat online, or feeling the shoe for yourself. It is important to make sure that the shoe is durable and will be able to make it through the season, or as long as you want them to last.
5. Ankle Support
Ankle support is something that is a necessity in a cleat at any level. With football being such a contact-heavy sport, it is very important to protect the ankles of the players.
At times and depending on the position the player plays, high-top football cleats could be the best option to protect their ankles.
6. Team Color
It is important to not purchase new cleats too early. Depending on what kind of youth leagues your child is in or if it is for a school team, cleats may have to be a designated color.
While this may seem like a silly rule, it is a rule that is never bent and the last thing you would want to do is have to return cleats or even worse be forced to purchase two pairs.
7. How will they look when dirty?
Tying into team color, you should think about how the cleats will look once there are grass and mud stains on them. This could lead some players to steer clear of white cleats.
It is difficult to stay on top of keeping a pair of cleats clear through the entirety of a season, and at times, it could be easier to just buy a pair that still looks good dirty.
8. Price
One of the biggest things to keep an eye on when buying football cleats is price. While it may not seem like they would be too pricey, some cleats can go in retail stores for north of $200.
This is something that is not possible for all households, however, there are still very quality options that are not as outrageously priced.
Doing diligent research on what brands and models would be best for your player will result in a high-quality and affordable shoe.
9. Can kid put them on without help
The final thing to do before purchasing your cleats is to make sure that your child can put them on without any help.
During games, coaches will have too much going on to keep your kid’s shoes tied or on if they fall off. As a result of this, it is important to make sure that if the cleats do come untied to fall off during a game, they are able to put them back on or tie them by themselves.
Types of football Cleats:
There are three main types of cleats that we will cover and which positions typically wear each kind of shoe.
High Top
The first major type of cleat are high top cleats. The high tops cover the ankle the most and come up the highest.
Positions that typically wear these types of cleats are quarterbacks, power running backs, tight ends, offensive linemen, and linebackers.
Low Top
The next major type of cleats are low top football cleats. These are typically the most lightweight shoe that allows the freest movement and agility.
Positions that typically wear this type of cleat are more agile running backs, wide receivers, and defensive ends.
Mid Top
The final type of cleat are mid tops. Mid tops are a hybrid of high and mid tops. Typically, players that wear high-top cleats are in the same positions and wear mid-tops as well.
FAQ
Why is it so hard to find football cleats?
The current economic situation has made finding niche items look football cleats more difficult than usual.
If you can’t find the best football cleat options at your needby sporting good store, I recommend trying out some second-hand stores around town.
Since many players stop playing football after a few seasons, you can likely find cleats that are still in great shape at a thrift store.
How do you pick the right football cleats?
As discussed above, the key thing to do is try them on. With the popularity of e-commerce, it may be tempting to purchase shoes online but since there are so many variations of cleat styles on the market the best way to choose football cleats is to try them on in person if possible.
What’s the difference between molded and detachable cleats?
Molded cleats are permanently attached cleats that are molded and fixed into the base of the sure and can’t be removed.
Detachable cleats can be removed and come in different lengths. If you are playing on a variety of playing surfaces except for astroturf. For instance, if you are on a field with short grass, you may choose to use cleats with shorter studs compared to if you have a rainy day and you may want to use longer studs. Some people will use soccer cleats for football cleats and I would not recommend doing that. The soccer cleats studs are too short for football and you will likely find yourself slipping all over the field. Here is a great article breaking down the difference between soccer and football cleats in more detail.
How much should cleats cost?
Since football cleats are such a vital part of having traction on different types of fields and weather environments, I would recommend purchasing a high-quality cleat from a known name brand like Nike, Under Armour, or Adidas.
These types of companies have been manufacturing football cleats for a long time and you can have confidence that you will get a high-quality pair of shoes that will last you the entire football season.
Summary
In conclusion, football cleats should not be too tight to cause blisters but not too loose to where the cleats fall off or could cause an ankle injury.
The nine things to keep in mind or do before purchasing your cleats are to try them on, how heavy the shoes are, if the shoe is compatible with what position your child plays, how durable they are, if they offer adequate ankle support, if they match the team color, how the shoe will look when dirty, how much they cost, and if your child can put them on and tie them without any help. There are three major types of football cleats, high tops, mid tops, and low tops.