The right football boot for your foot type
To help you determine the right shoe size for your football boots. This is a short and simple guide don’t assume that your shoe size is the same as it has always been. The shape and size of your feet can change over time. Make sure that you choose the right size, ensuring that the boot fits like a glove. Football boots are sized like regular shoes, however with a soccer shoe a tighter fit is generally recommended so your standard shoe size may not transfer directly. Football boots are generally constructed of soft and supple, thin leathers and to ensure proper ball feel a tighter fit is optimal. Football boots are designed with a narrower upper, which allows for better feel and control of the ball. Your boots should fit as close to the end of your foot as possible without touching your toes for performance and comfort.
MEASURE YOUR FEET FIRST
Ask for your feet to be measured
Sometimes a person can have one foot bigger than the other
Remember Ask for a trained member of staff.
To measure the length measure the distance between the two longest points (heel to big toe or heel to second toe) then reduce this number by 5 mm, to determine your shoe size. And for the width Foot width; measure the distance between the two widest points and again reduce this number by 5 mm, or 1/5-inch, this is your foot width. Finally use the table on the left to determine your size.
One thing to make note of is that the material of the upper can have a massive effect on the fit. Cheap synthetic plastic uppers are satisfactory for the occasional player but for those playing at a higher standard there are comfort and “feel” benefits from buying a kangaroo leather upper or one of the modern lightweight hi-tech synthetic boots. The top-of-the line leathers, especially kangaroo leathers, will generally stretch after a few uses. High-quality shoes will actually mold to the shape of your foot therefore you will want these to fit snugly in width when they are new, out of the box
Choosing the right boots
Choosing the right football boots is relatively straight forward and depends on two things:
1. Playing Surface
2. Your Position / Style
Playing Surface
Firstly you need to look at which surface you intend to play on. The type of outsole (bottom of the boot) will have a direct effect on the function of the foot and should be a major consideration when playing. A good boot should give you support, stability, grip and traction allowing you to perform.
- Soft Ground: natural grass surfaces, mainly through the winter months.
- Firm Ground: natural grass surfaces that have become too hard for a traditional studs or long blades.
- Hard Ground : very hard natural surfaces
- Astro
- Indoor
Soft Ground Football Boots
Soft Ground football boots possess screw-in studs or blades. Due to the added length of the studs and blades they are ideally suited for wet soft ground. The positions of the studs are generally mixed but replacement studs can be added. However bladed studs are moulded to the outsole of the boot.
Firm Ground Football Boots
Firm Ground football boots have moulded studded or short bladed outsoles. They have been designed for surfaces that are too firm for Soft Ground football boots. Typically the ground will firm up during preseason, frozen winter conditions or towards the end of the season. Due to the fact that the studs or blades are moulded to the boots you must take care not to wear them on tarmac
Hard Ground football boots are for very hard natural and Astro surfaces. The outsoles are peppered with low profile moulded rubber studs. With a rubber outsole, the Hard Ground football boot is designed to be extremely durable. The short, circular or bladed studs of hard ground boots offer stability and traction, yet create cushioning.
Astro Turf Football Boots / Trainers
Astro Turf football boots / Astro Trainers usually feature an extremely durable rubber outsole. They often feature small rubber studs or patterns on the outsole to improve traction on hard, natural fields and artificial turf. Astro Turf boots can also be used as a back up pair of boots for play on hard surfaces
Indoor Football Boots
Indoor football boots / football trainers will generally feature a rubber flat outsole. They are created for playing indoor football or futsal. These boots have a lower profile fit and look like trainers. The rubber outsoles of many indoor boots often feature a herringbone pattern or design to promote traction while playing indoors.
Rather that defining what boot you should buy by the position you play we think it should be defined by the type of player that you are. Your boots should compliment your style of play.
- Fast acceleration and great touch (forward or winger) - blades or a light studded boot with a soft leather.
- Long range shooter and work horse (central midfielder or wingback) - opt for a classic boot option, they will give you great accuracy when passing, shooting and crossing.
- Stalwart defender or goalkeeper - boots with good grip and a solid structure to prevent injury from big collisions.
Breaking in your boots
If you can afford it we would always recommend that you have at least two pairs of the same or similar football boots; one pair for training and one pair for match day.
1. Firstly ensure that your football boots are the correct size; they fit like a glove and are not too tight or to lose.
2. Before wearing your football boots repeatedly bend them at the toe box and rub some Vaseline into the areas of most friction; balls of your feet, heel and the ankle support.
3. Make sure you train before you play! Don’t use your new boots for the first time in a competitive game of football this can lead to injury! Start training with your boots on. Try and avoid wearing them for longer than 20 minutes or during high intensity turning drills.
4. After a while the boots will start to mould to your feet, when this happens you can wear them during games.
5. If your boots fail to break in within a few training sessions try using a leather softener to soften the upper or use a smooth, blunt, hard object, like the end of a broomstick to repeatedly rub the sole area into submission. In essence, you’re creating a pocket of space for that part of your foot. However be careful not to over do the above!
6. After you have finished wearing your football boots we would recommend that you quickly brush of any debris and then allow them to dry naturally Stuff them and use old news paper is a great way to make sure they keep their shape.
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