Soccer footwear is a varied and booming market. World famous sportswear brands pour time and money into marketing, designing and producing soccer cleats that always aim to beat the competition on the market and be better than the last product. Comfort, performance and durability are all vital factors in soccer footwear.
History
Known in Europe as football boots, soccer cleats are a crucial piece of equipment for every soccer player. The idea of providing traction to shoes, as is common in soccer cleats, is widely credited to German sportswear manufacturer Adolph "Adi" Dassler. Dassler was the founder of Adidas and in 1920 fitted running shoes with spikes to give traction in slippery conditions. Historically, soccer cleats were made from heavy leather that could take on water during rain and become cumbersome. Advances in the market mean we are able to find lightweight cleats formed from high-quality leather.
Material
High-quality leather is the most common material that soccer cleats are made from. Kangaroo skin is also used by some cleats on the market. Soccer cleats should be made from quality leather that will be durable under a range of weather conditions. The leather should be soft and supple, allowing flexibility to the foot, and giving a nice soft touch on the ball to a soccer player during a game.
Laces
Laces on soccer footwear have historically always been located central on the foot like all traditional sport shoes. Modern designs in some soccer cleat models such as the Nike Total 90 have the laces placed off center and more to the side of the foot. The reason for this is to incorporate material in the center of the foot, where a player uses to strike a soccer ball when driving shots or passes. Sweet-spot rubber bands are available for soccer footwear that serve the double purpose of holding the laces in a tied position, and helping add power when contacting the ball.
Traction
Soccer cleats originally used screw-in studs to add traction to soccer footwear, and to help soccer players gain footing in slippery conditions. Soccer cleats now offer molded rubber studs, as well as traction blades designed to allow quicker acceleration and change of direction.
Features
Soccer cleats can offer special enhanced features. The Adidas Predator incorporates material on the cleat designed to add power, swerve and accuracy to your shots and crosses. Some of the lighter weight soccer footwear are designed to enhance running speed during a game.
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