Synthetic pitches can be divided into two: Artificial Ground (AG) that simulates the depth, density, and length of natural grass surface and Turf (TF), a shallow version used more on 5-a-side football. You can get our top TF boots here if you’re more into small-sided football matches. Otherwise, continue to read on to find out the best AG boots today.
It can be really beautiful to be able to play football in a natural grass environment with its firm soil structure. However, given the limited availability of such space outdoors and the costs to main an FG football pitch, many have created alternative football courts and employed an artificial grass surface. While intended to simulate a natural ground, an AG pitch is different in terms of firmness and texture given the synthetic nature of the grass and the surface bed. And the growth in the number of AG courts has, in turn, resulted in football boots manufacturers creating versions suitable for artificial grasses.
| BOOT | DESCRIPTION | SOLEPLATE | LINKOUT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite | Nike AG-Pro hollowed conical boots are go-to options when it comes to synthetic pitches |  |  >> Get Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite AG-Pro at Nike | |
2. Nike Tiempo Legend 10 Elite | Like no. 1; choice depends now on the type of upper you would like to partner with that AG-Pro stud configuration |  |  >> Get Nike Tiempo Legend 10 Elite AG-Pro at Nike | |
3. adidas Predator 2G/3G | If you can live with the additional weight of the soleplate, have a go with the 2G/3G variant that distributes stud pressure and feels closer to the ground |  |  | |
4. Puma Future 7 Ultimate MG | Assuming you fit in nicely with its wide profile, it has the expected number of studs to relieve pressure and the height is pretty much within expectation |  |  >> Get Future 7 Ultimate MG from Puma | |
5. Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 Elite | Besides the AG-Pro consideration, Nike Mercurial AG has the 3/4-length Zoom Air bag, which is a perfect cushioning technology in case of the harder playing surface |  |  >> Get Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 Elite AG-Pro at Nike | |
6. Mizuno Alpha | Pricey but definitely worth it; great concentration of studs on the forefoot, and stud height is strategically altered to suit a purpose on each step |  |  | |
7. New Balance 442v2 Pro | An option on this list that caters to leather boot wearers |  |  >> Get New Balance VV2 v2 AG Pro from New Balance | |
8. Puma Future 7 Ultimate MG | The narrow-fitting, speedy alternative to no. 4 |  |  >> Get Ultra 5 Ultimate MG from Puma | |
9. Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Academy | Might be more preferable not just because of the price but also because of the older Nike AG configuration that has an increased number of studs and shorter stud height |  |  >> Get Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Academy AG at Nike | |
10. adidas Copa Pure 2 | Rests on the sharper, aggressive side of the AG spectrum |  |  | |
Top 10 Artificial Boots
1. Nike Phantom GX 2 AG-Pro
Nike’s AG studs are hollowed out in the middle to diffuse the heat and abrasiveness of the synthetic surface, making them last longer than the average AG boot. That is why I find Nike AG boots are generally above-average in this category. And you can partner that with a comfortable and grippy upper by choosing the Phantom GX 2 for that matter.
2. Nike Tiempo Legend 10 AG-Pro
Aside from giving you optimal traction on AG courts, not to mention the cooling mechanics of the hollowed conicals, the Tiempo Legend AG delivers the same comfort and touch of the FG variation thanks to the soft synthetic leather upper. A Tiempo Legend player is someone that prioritises first touch above everything else because of the dampened sensation produced by the foam liner when receiving and striking the ball.
3. adidas Predator AG
I think it’s pretty good that adidas is giving us 4G and 2G/3G options for the grippiest silo out there. So the first one is good for the newer generation of artificial pitches as the traction is there, but I also feel that it’s relatively harsher than other AG boots here because the studs are longer and their numbers are less than the ideal. Now this issues are addressed by the latter AG option, but then you would have to contend with the soleplate’s additional weight, and perhaps additional width as well for the fit.
4. Puma Future 7 MG
I don’t think the default FG/AG Puma Future is really adaptive to both firm and artificial. Instead I will go for the MG variant. As you can see, the studs are numerous, which is good for evening out that stud pressure distribution. More importantly, the stud height is also adjusted to really drive home that goal of lessening the drag on your joints when changing directions on AG pitches.
5. Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 AG-Pro
Like what I said with the two Nike AG boots above, the Superfly AG is a solid option for this kind of pitch for reasons I also mentioned above. In addition though, you also get the benefit of the proprietary Zoom Air cushioning system, which would be all the more beneficial because of the relatively more dense playing surface. Another way to I view the boot is that it certainly appeals to those who wants a less aggressive version of the Mercurial to bring on to FG.
6. Mizuno Alpha AG
Let’s just assume for a moment I do have some money to spend big on a pair of AG boot. I might do so on this Mizuno boot. You see, the concentration of those conicals on the forefoot just spells effortless when it comes to twisting and pivoting on artificial grass. Yes, the studs are generally of acceptable height for the designated pitch, but there’s actually a strategic variance in terms of height where those on the toe are extremely short and become a bit heightened for those on the heel. This make sense because all your natural weight rest on the back foot, and you need some more responsiveness on that regard.
7. New Balance 442 v2 AG
What else can I say. Leather quality is great, which bodes well for comfort. All New Balance has to do is slap a tooling that is friendly to synthetic surfaces. They do so by using a set of balanced conicals, and also implemented that hollowed structure set-up to make the studs abrasive and heat-resistant.
8. Puma Ultra 5 MG
The Ultra 5 has gone full-throttle with speed, not just because of the Carbon version but also because the FastTrax are one, if not the sharpest of FG studs out there. So Puma, at least for the Ultra, now has an AG version. For me though, I’d go for the MG variant, which is pretty much the same as the configuration on no. 4. The unsung hero here is the O-therm insole, which acts like an insulator and minimises the heat you feel from artificial grounds. Outsole has that slight toe raise to help you roll-over easily on 4G.
9. Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Academy AG
This is a great budget option to include. We have said every highlight about the Academy Vapor and how well it relates to the Elite here in our review. The only thing to add is that the budget Nike speed boot has adopted the previous iteration of the brand’s AG tooling. Some might actually prefer this setup because of the relatively shorter studs and their increased number across the board. Choosing between this and the updated AG above is all about choosing between increased safety of the former and increased grip of the latter.
10. adidas Copa Pure 2 AG
This joins the Predator here as those options that are still okay for AG but are somewhat bordering on the aggressive side of the spectrum. What you can look forward to at least is that it gives you another natural leather option to rival the synthetic Nike Tiempo Legend, and the heel construction that greatly improves the lockdown of the boot.
What is an MG sole on a boot?
Nike and adidas have started offering boots with an MG sole-plate option, but what does MG mean? Well in short Multi-Ground, what that means is they are designed to be worn on both Artificial and Firm Ground pitches, giving you a pair of boots that works on both.
Both Nike and Adidas have manufactured multi-grounded versions of their silos, with MG variations available to the Academy Vapors, Phantoms and Tiempos, and to the .3s of the Predator Edge, Copa Sense, and X Speedportal. Nike’s MG leans more on the FG side because of the presence of blades while the adidas MG is more on AG as they share the same stud configuration. Certainly, other manufacturers will follow suit to producing all-rounder soleplates as more and more AGs (and to a certain extent, Hybrids) become available compared to natural grasses.
Puma, on the other hand, creates a single FG/AG soleplate which is the default outsole of a Puma top-end model. Puma includes Turf pitches in their approach to MG soleplates, and as such, the studs are as numerous as that of Turf studs, but with the height of AG studs and with some narrowness to get some bite on pitches with a bit of depth.
Deep Dive into Artificial Grounds
AG grounds and Turf are 100% made of synthetic grass and based on the increasing grass height and infill requirement could be classified into 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G. The sand-based Turf (2G) is usually just for recreational football and has a grass height of no more than 24mm, while the AG (3G) with its rubber crumbs infill and 35-65mm pile height is used by football associations and other sports. The 4G, 5G and 6G pitches no longer require any infill but these pitches are not all yet be recognized by football governing bodies for playing on.
The turf surface is more like a grass carpet. It is more flat and super abrasive, encouraging more ball action and less physical contact. AG simulates the feel of a natural grass, though its synthetic nature means it is still a bit abrasive and too grippy for an FG soleplate.
