Soccer Cleats
Finding the right pair of soccer cleats is a tough decision when faced with almost unlimited combinations of cleat configurations, materials and brands. Some research in understanding the various types of soccer shoes can go a long way in making the right decision. Some important considerations are outlined below.
Indoor Soccer Cleats vs. Outdoor Soccer Cleats
The most important thing to consider is what kind of surface you'll be playing on. Generally, shoes are specifically designed for the individual characteristics of a playing surface, so with substantial differences between artificial and natural surfaces, indoor soccer shoes are very different from those designed for outdoor use.
DICK'S Sporting Goods offers a broad assortment of soccer cleats and soccer shoes for every player, including men's, women's and youth soccer cleats from top brands like Nike, adidas & more.
Indoor Soccer Cleats
Indoor soccer involves playing on harder, artificial turf and the resulting designs of these shoes reflect that. Often resembling low-cut, light weight shoes, there are two primary configurations:
Indoor Soccer Shoes - Intended for indoor or dry artificial surfaces, indoor soccer shoes feature a light construction and flat-surfaced outsoles that provide greater speed, grip and ball control. Perfect for making lateral cuts, these shoes will give you a better feel for both the turf and the ball.
Turf Shoes - Designed as an option for playing on both indoor soccer and artificial turf, turf shoes have an extremely durable rubber outsole with a minimal number of rubber studs or rubber pattern to improve traction. A good bridge between outdoor and indoor soccer cleats, turf shoes offer the type of flexibility that most players would like to have.
Outdoor Soccer Cleats
Since the conditions encountered playing soccer outdoors can vary significantly, there are more options for outdoor play. Typically outdoor soccer cleats can be distinguished based on type and playing surface:
Firm Ground or Molded - Intended for most natural surfaces, theses cleats use non-removable studs and are a good choice for beginners and advance players. Firm Ground or Molded soccer shoes are considered the most versatile on most field types.
Soft Ground or Replaceable - Designed for the more advanced player on soft or wet natural surfaces, SG soccer cleats feature screw-in studs that allow the player to adapt the shoe to the conditions. Possessing a cleat configuration that prevents mud clumping, most models have two to four studs under the heel and four studs under the ball of the foot.
Hard Ground or MultiGround - Constructed with harder natural or artificial surfaces in mind, hard ground soccer cleats typically have a large number of shorter studs that are distributed across the entire outsole. The studs on these shoes are expected to sit on top of the playing surface to provide traction without digging into the ground.
Soccer Accessories
While selecting cleats is important, no uniform is complete without the necessary soccer gear that players need to complete their equipment needs and help protect them.
Socks
Socks are an important and necessary piece of equipment to compliment cleats. A good pair of socks will have some microfiber or “stretch” fibers blended with acrylic to provide adequate give, moisture-wicking characteristics to keep your feet dry and a cushioned foot bed for greater comfort.
