How To Choose Football Boots

Choosing boots comes down to four things: where you play, the shape of your feet, how you play and what you want to spend. Answer them in that order and you’ll know exactly which guide to read next. I’ve set each step out below, with the page that answers it.

Step 1: Where Do You Play?

The surface decides the soleplate, and the soleplate decides whether you can plant, turn and push off with confidence. Plenty of players run two pairs through a season: screw-in studs for soft, muddy winter pitches and moulded studs or blades for firm grass. Artificial pitches, five-a-side and indoor courts each have boots of their own. Not sure what FG, SG, AG or TF mean? The soleplate guide explains them all.

Step 2: What Are Your Feet Like?

Almost every boot is built on its own last, so the same size fits differently from brand to brand. Measure your feet first: heel to the end of your longest toe. If your feet have stopped growing, go snug, with about a thumb’s width of space at the toe. If they’re still growing, leave a little room for the season. Then check our football boot size guide for how each brand fits.

Step 3: How Do You Play?

You can wear any boot in any position, and if you play in a few different places, just pick your favourite. But boots are designed with a style of play in mind: speed boots for running in behind, grip and touch for receiving under pressure, cushioning and protection for the players who spend the game in contact. Start with your position, then read for the style that sounds like you.

Step 4: How Much Should You Spend?

The price of a boot comes down to three things: the quality of the materials, how well it’s made, and the technology built in. Every major model comes in tiers:

• Elite: the best materials, the lightest build and the full technology. Worth it if you play often and at a level where the extra feel makes a difference.
• Pro: most of the Elite’s look and feel, slightly heavier and less refined, for a lot less. The sweet spot for regular players.
• Academy: tougher synthetic uppers and fewer features. Right for most young players, beginners and casual football.

Got a shortlist already? Read the full football boot reviews to see what’s good and bad about each one.

The Mistakes I See Most

• The wrong studs for the ground. I’ve learned this one the hard way: metal studs on a pitch that only looked soft, and an FG plate that grabbed on 3G when I turned. The full stories are in my football studs guide and the soleplate guide.
• Buying a size up to grow into. Coaching kids’ teams, this is the mistake I see most. The foot slides on every turn and the touch goes. A thumb’s width is plenty.
• Copying a favourite player. Plenty of players buy the boot their favourite player wears without checking it suits their foot. The pro’s boot is built for the pro’s foot.
• Paying for a tier you won’t feel. For most of the players I coach, Academy is the right tier: they’re growing, playing once or twice a week, and they’d never feel the difference an Elite makes.
• Chasing the lightest boot. Playing masters football now, comfort over 90 minutes matters more to me than the lightest boot on the shelf.

Still Not Sure? Get the Free Guide and the Book

If you want the whole process in one place, our free Boot Secrets guide covers it in over 25 pages. My book with Dean Ariola, Football Boots: How To Choose Your Next Pair, goes deeper into every step on this page: surfaces, fit, play style, materials and getting the most from your boots once you’ve bought them. It’s on Amazon in the UK and the US, in paperback and Kindle.

Choosing Football Boots: FAQs