Football and soccer players have a lot to prepare before they even hit the field. They need uniforms, protective gear, proper socks and undergarments -- and then they need the proper shoes. Different types of shoes work best for different playing fields, with a notable distinction between shoes used on natural grass and those that are best suited for turf.
Basics
Cleat styles include tall, pointed cleats and a shorter, wider variety. You want the shorter, wider variety on turf for a few reasons. Turf is harder and denser than a natural grass playing field, and long, pointed cleats can leave you stuck in the artificial turf. Wider, shorter cleats give you a better grip on the turf, provide better traction and let your foot spring up instead of getting caught in the terrain.
Football
Football shoes come with either detachable or molded cleats. If you are playing on turf, go for the molded over the detachable cleats. If you happen to play football on both natural grass and artificial turf, go for a multipurpose cleat that will work on both. Opt for a shoe with detachable cleats, and invest in a set of detachable turf cleats you screw on your shoes when playing on turf.
Soccer
The choice is a bit trickier if you're playing soccer on artificial turf. Since most soccer shoes come with molded cleats to begin with, opt for turf-specific molded cleats. These shoes have cleats that are shorter and more squat than the outdoor cleats, and are sometimes labeled specifically as a turf shoe. The turf shoe is the middleman between soccer cleats and indoor soccer shoes that come with flat bottoms and no cleats.
Cost
Molded cleats are generally cheaper than detachable cleats, with molded football cleats priced at $55 and as of December 2010. A package of detachable, screw-in turf cleats for football shoes cost about $10. Soccer turf shoes and soccer cleats both cost $50 and up.
Member Comments