What To Look For
When selecting baseball shoes, or cleats, the primary thing you'll want to consider is what sort of turf you'll be playing on and whether your league has any requirements for what type of cleats you use. There are metal cleats that are made for use on natural surfaces, while molded cleats can be used on a more diverse variety of surfaces. There are also interchangeable cleats. You can switch between molded and metal studs on these. Some baseball shoes don't have cleats at all for use on asphalt or artificial turfs. These are called trainers or turf shoes.
Common Pitfalls
Once your cleats begin to wear away, do not go running to your local sporting goods store for a new pair of shoes. Rather, purchase replacement cleats. Many cleat studs can be removed and replaced. To make sure you have the right studs, purchase plenty of replacement cleats for all weather types when you purchase your baseball shoes. This will help you get more mileage out of your shoes.
Where To Buy
Since you'll be running hard in these shoes, it's important that you get a good fit. Being able to try on shoes or at least return them if the fit is off is of utmost importance when purchasing a pair of baseball shoes. The sporting goods store Eastbay is the place to go for many baseball players. They offer the largest selection of cleats and other baseball gear and competitive prices. Eastbay features the Nike Air Zoom Coop V, PUMA Kat Metal II Low, Mizuna Speed Trainers and Under Armour Raptor and dozens more.
Cost
Metal cleats run about $40 to $150 with replacement cleats at around $10 a pack, while molded will cost about $20 to $85 with replacements running around the same price as the metal cleats. Interchangeable cleats will cost you anywhere from $40 to $75. Trainers typically cost about $60 to $80.
Accessories
The best way to get the most out of your investment in a pair of baseball shoes is to take care of the shoes you have. This means keeping them clean after each use. Purchase a shoe cleaner appropriate for the material your shoe is made out of. You can find out what your shoe is made from by looking at the tag located on the inside of the tongue of the shoe. It's always wise to keep an extra pair of laces in your duffel bag in case of any breaks during game play.
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