| tart --> | | | | The best leather out on the market is K-Leather |
| What kind of soccer cleats should you buy? | | | | (Kangaroo). Though more expensive but it is softer, |
| There are so many choices. And all this marketing | | | | lighter and still durable. |
| nonsense out there. Exactly. There is no simple | | | | If your feet are not growing like the speed of sound |
| answer to this question. How to buy proper soccer | | | | and your budget is not too tight, definitely consider |
| cleats could be very challenging but it does not have | | | | buying soccer cleats made from K-Leather. |
| to become a nightmare. With the adequate | | | | There is another "but" or an exception to my |
| knowledge you can easily choose the right soccer | | | | "non-synthetic soccer shoes" rule: soccer cleats made |
| shoes for yourself or your child, if that's the case. | | | | of high quality synthetic material. |
| So, let's see what should you look for while buying | | | | These soccer shoes are manufactured with special |
| soccer cleats? | | | | microfiber technology that upgrades synthetic |
| Besides the price, you want to make sure they are | | | | material, usually a PU (polyurethane). It makes the PU |
| comfortable. | | | | very soft, and strong, giving it similar feel to a natural |
| But how would you know if they give you enough | | | | material. Top Super-Microfiber material can be just as |
| comfort, before you play in them at least few | | | | expensive as some leather! |
| times? | | | | Nowadays almost all-leading sport's footwear |
| You won't. | | | | manufacturers use microfiber materials. For example, |
| But you can increase your chances of buying | | | | Nike makes their top quality cleats from super |
| comfortable soccer cleats by considering the | | | | lightweight synthetic material called KNG-100 (Air |
| following factors: | | | | Zoom Total 90) and Nike-Skin (Mercurial Vapor). Even |
| 1. Manufacturer. | | | | Adidas, for the first time, used microfiber for its |
| 2. True Leather or Synthetic. | | | | newest creation Adidas Predator Absolute (there is a |
| 3. Studs Type. | | | | Kangaroo leather model as well). |
| 4. Size. | | | | So, my "non-synthetic cleats rule" applies only to a |
| Let's talk about these factors a little bit more. | | | | regular (cheap) synthetic material like PU or PVC |
| Manufacturer | | | | (polyvinylchloride).Studs Type |
| Adidas and Nike are the 2 most popular. For a good | | | | Molded Studs |
| reason. They are probably the best on the market. | | | | There are practically two different molded soccer |
| While Adidas has manufactured soccer shoes | | | | cleats on the market. |
| "forever", Nike has made great strides over the last | | | | The traditional - contains a sole that has round studs |
| few years. Both companies make equally good quality | | | | (usually between ten to fifteen). |
| soccer shoes. | | | | The X-Grip (or Bladed shape) - slimmer than round |
| I personally never played in Nike's shoes, so I can't | | | | studs, strategically placed in different angles to offer |
| tell you about this brand from my experience. My | | | | a player a better footing. |
| sons played soccer using both brands. After trying | | | | Soccer shoes with molded round studs (traditional) |
| them for a while, the younger son sticks to Nike | | | | are more universal. What I mean is that, this type of |
| while Pat (older) uses Adidas shoes only. They both | | | | soccer cleats are good for hard and firm surfaces as |
| are very happy with their selections. | | | | well as for soft grounds. However, they are not |
| Do you know why? | | | | really reliable for extreme circumstances like: very |
| Their feet are build differently. Pat has a much wider | | | | hard and dry fields (turf shoes will be the ultimate |
| foot than his brother. Adidas makes its cleats bigger | | | | choice here) or very soft and wet surface |
| in width than Nike. | | | | (screw-ins). |
| Basically if you have: | | | | The X-Grip design is manufactured for specific field |
| · Wide foot - look for a pair of Adidas | | | | conditions. In this case, with different length and |
| Soccer Cleats. | | | | angles of studs, we have to choose between soccer |
| · Skinny foot - look for a pair of Nike Soccer | | | | cleats made specifically for either hard (HG), firm (FG) |
| Cleats. | | | | or soft (SG) ground. Your choice then should be |
| It wouldn't be fair not to mention 2 other brands, | | | | based on the type of fields you play soccer on the |
| almost as good as the above two: | | | | most. |
| Diadora and Puma. | | | | If you play on all kinds of surfaces, I would |
| Other brands like: Umbro, Kelme, Mitre, Lotto - only if | | | | recommend-traditional round studs. |
| you really can't afford the brands mentioned above | | | | But if you really want to stick to new style, then buy |
| or if you just simply like these brands. | | | | X-Grip for firm pitch (FG). |
| True Leather or Synthetic | | | | Of course, the best scenario would be to have two |
| Upper portion of every soccer shoe is made out of | | | | pairs of soccer cleats for different field conditions. |
| either true leather or synthetic material. | | | | But who can afford it? Not to many of us. |
| What is better? | | | | Replaceable (screw-ins) cleats are very optional. |
| True leather...in my opinion. And I recommend it to | | | | Most young soccer players do not need them. With |
| everybody who is serious about playing soccer. | | | | the poor quality of most youth fields, screw-ins just |
| True leather gives you an uncompromising feel of the | | | | wouldn't get enough use to warrant purchase. |
| ball. It molds to your feet producing great comfort. It | | | | Unless, you play a lot on great, soft fields and have |
| also lasts longer than synthetic materials. And it is | | | | extra cash (screw-ins can not be the only soccer |
| healthier for your feet. | | | | cleats you have). Also some leagues do not allow this |
| Synthetic materials don't let the feet "breathe" | | | | type of equipment. |
| building up of sweat, potential blisters and feet | | | | Size |
| problem in the near future. | | | | It is very important that the soccer cleats you buy |
| But...(of course there is a "but") | | | | must fit perfectly. This means as snug as possible, |
| ...True leather cleats cost more. | | | | tight to the foot (sorry parents, you can't have |
| There are few different types of leather used to | | | | growing room in soccer cleats). Close-fitting shoes |
| manufacture soccer cleats. | | | | facilitate the best touch (the feel for the ball). |
| The least expensive is full grain. Sometimes full grain | | | | Soccer shoes I usually get, for my older son (16 |
| leather soccer shoes could cost only slightly more | | | | years old) and myself, are ½ size smaller. This |
| than "artificial". Spending $10-20 more on much better | | | | is, because leather expands after a while and then |
| shoes would be really worth it. | | | | molds to the foot. |