So you are in this position where you don’t know what to look for when buying football boots.
Now don’t worry because you are not the only one. There are so many footballers who face the same dilemma when seeking boots.
The problem lies in the fact, there are way more boots available to you than ever before.
You have all these existing boots, new ones that have hit the shelf and ones about to be released.
When you buy a boot, you are, in most cases choosing to use them for the next year. So settling on a pair of boots is harder than ever.
Now since I have been in a position where I have had to choose boots, I will bring you an in-depth guide to help you out.
That way, not only do you buy the perfect boots for yourself but save a whole load of time.
So without further ado, let’s get right into it.
Table of Contents
Choosing Your Brand Of Boot
The best place to start with is the brand of the boot. When your watching TV seeing all the many adverts from boot brands, or looking through the web for boots, what do you gravitate towards?
Most football brands have different boots tailored to different positions, prices, feet, classic or non-classic look, etc.
So starting here helps you narrow down the boots helping you find the boot for you faster.
From my experience, most people have a preference when it comes to brand. When people then choose a brand, they tend to also stick with it for several years and sometimes their whole career.
My personal one being Nike because I love the look of the boots and find them really comfortable.
An example of a silo they do that is popular is the Nike Mercurial Superflys, these are created for wingers and dribblers of the ball.
However, each person has a preference, so I recommend looking online at the various football brands and listing them in order of preference.
At the end of the day, and while I know the importance of comfortability, when you see a football boot, the first impression is its look.
Which Position Do You Play?
The next question to address is where you play on the pitch.
I wouldn’t say it’s a big question, because you can ultimately choose any boot you like and go with it.
But buying certain boots will give you a good experience which could translate into giving you more confidence.
However, it won’t make you 100x better than you already are.
For instance, if you are a winger and want to buy the Nike Mercurials because Cristiano Ronaldo plays in them.
Well, just buying them won’t make you as good as Ronaldo, unfortunately.
However, with that said, boot companies still make boots for different areas of the pitch. In this section, I am going to go over some boots made for positions.
Goalkeeper
While the main role of a goalkeeper is to be great with their hands, there is an increased focus on what they can do with their feet in today’s game.
You have two types of goalkeeper, you have the conventional one, and you have the sweeper-keeper, which is becoming increasingly popular in today’s game.
Depending on which type of goalkeeper you are, you may be looking for different types of boots.
If you are a conventional keeper, you’re probably going to be looking for some boots that will do the job. Maybe make it easier for you to kick the ball upfield with a nice cushioned upper.
If that is the case, maybe you would want some Copa Sense.1 boots by Adidas that David De Gea wears.
These come with a dense but comfortable upper on the boot, making striking the ball more effortless.
The Sweeper Keeper is a type of goalkeeper used for teams where possession and tiki-taka are the main play styles.
An example of a pair that might suit you is Man City’s Ederson, who wears the Puma Future Z 1.1.
Now Ederson is a player who, because of his team’s domination and style of play, makes various types of passes.
Whether that is playing simple passes to your back 4 or chipping accurate balls out wide to his wingers.
It is, therefore, important to pick a pass, almost like a midfielder, to play this position.
I liked the Puma Future Z, particularly the adaptive compression band, that provides players with a more compact but still comfy fit.
Here is a guide you can check out where I take you through the best goalkeeping football boots on the market right now.
Defender
For Defender, you aren’t required to be fancy, run with the ball, and pull out every trick in the book.
For the most part, a defender is required to keep things simple. They should be able to read the game and put in a tackle.
Now what I would advise looking for if your playing a position like a defender are boots that are going to be robust.
With all the tackling and clearances you are required to make playing this position, you will want some boots that can go through a lot.
Virgil Van Dijk, one of the best center backs in the world currently wears the Nike Tiempo Legend VIII is a good example of sturdy and strong boots.
Midfielder
Moving on to the Midfield, this is a position where a player is called upon to either break down counter attacks or provide defense splitting through balls, depending on where they play in midfield.
However, one thing that stays consistent playing this position is the fact you need to be a good passer.
Now while boots aren’t going to make you the most clinical passer.
The new boots with the latest tech can help you cushion the ball and give you a better experience when passing the ball.
Kevin De Bruyne is a prime example of a player who has the traits of a world-class midfielder.
He possesses the ability to whip in balls with both power and accuracy.
As well as collect the ball in tight spaces before laying the ball off untouched.
A lot of this is due to De Bruynes football brain and being ahead of everyone else at all times.
But his boots which are the Nike Phantom GT Elite, are designed to help him get the best out of his game.
The boots have an upper that has a specific texture to give you the best touch of the ball and help you power off shots. Two aspects that are important to a midfielder’s game.
Here is also a list of 5 top football boots that prove as good choices for any midfielder,
Winger
Next up, you have the winger. If you play this position, you are likely someone who likes to run at your opposition, provide deadly crosses to your strikers, and of course, pull off the odd skill move when needed.
Having played winger on occasion for my local team over the years, I can tell you that there are two aspects important to playing this position well.
This is speed and dribbling. One doesn’t come without the other, so you will often need to be good at doing both to excel.
Now a player you may know off who is great at this is Cristiano Ronaldo.
A player who is an all-rounder in many ways is known for his tight dribbling and ability to quickly accelerate from opposing players, even at the peak age of 35.
His boots are the Nike Mercurials VII which are my current boots and ones I thoroughly enjoy playing in.
They feature this Flyknit upper, which, as it suggests, offers a nice fit while being light on the feet, making it easier for you to power off.
Along with this, they also have the ALL (All Climate Conditions) and a high tenacity yarn which gives you a tight but snug fit.
Attacker
Lastly, you might play one of the most popular positions being the deadly striker.
As a striker, the aim is pretty simple, and that is to be clinical in and around the box.
So for a striker, you need a boot that is going to make unleashing strikes easier, as well as helping you curl it into the bottom corner when 1 on 1 with the keeper.
A few years ago, I was a big user of the blue and white Nike Hypervenoms, and they are still one of the best boots I have used.
However, since Nike has fazed them out, you have the next new thing, that being the Nike Phantom Venom.
Unlike the Visions, the Venoms are made for strikers who want to take their shooting to the next level.
Similar to the Mercurials, they feature a Flyknit upper made of tenacity yarn, which again is important because for strikers to be the best, they need to have good movement.
Having boots that will help you spring off, whether that be changing direction or coming to the ball before peeling away, is quite important.
So if you were wondering what to look for when buying football boots then answering this question will have you set in the right direction.
Tech Or No Tech?
The technology in boots seems to be amped up each year, with companies putting, even more, finer details into each release of their boots.
But at the end of the day, not everyone is interested in the latest tech.
Some prefer to keep it classic with black and white boots.
You may like the traditional laces, while others are gravitating to the new hype of laceless boots.
There are also those who want the most aesthetically looking boots, even if it means paying the price with multiple kicks in the shins in the game.
I am trying to say here that you don’t need to go for the newest boots that are advertised for hundreds of pounds to have a pair that will help you play football.
In fact, if you want basic boots for a good price, I would recommend checking out this list of cheap football boots for less than £50.
The majority of someone’s game is dependent on their ability and not what is on their feet.
What Surface Are You Planning On Playing On?
Another factor to bear in mind is the surface. You can play football on various surfaces. However, boots are made for specific ones.
So, for instance, if your looking at playing indoor football, then buying any boots with studs on is not only going to be dangerous but likely not permitted.
To give you a quick guide, here are all the surfaces along with the boots you can wear on them:
- AG Boots – Artificial Grass
- AstroTurf Shoes – Designed for 3G or 2G surfaces
- Indoor Shoes – Indoor sports halls
- FG boots – On dry/hard grass pitches
- SG boots – On soft/wet grass pitches
You also have multi-ground football boots which can be used on either firm or artificial grounds.
It is very important that you go with the right surface when choosing boots.
On online stores, when looking in the football boot area, there should be a way to sort by certain surfaces.
This is key because each type of boot listed above is made primarily for one surface.
However, for some, you can get away with using them on two.
I, therefore, recommend buying boots for each surface you are planning on playing on.
So if you have a budget of £100, play your games on a mostly wet pitch while doing your training sessions on the local Astro.
Then you could find a pair of Astro and SG boots for £50 each.
Using the wrong boots on the incorrect surface can lead to serious injuries.
Buying Online Or Offline?
While it is hard to do so right now, normally, you would have the option of buying your boots either online or offline.
If you are someone who likes shopping and doesn’t mind the congestion of a shopping center or busy sports store, then buying offline might be for you.
Buying your boots in the store, as its advantages, the main ones being you can try many different boots instantly without having to wait for them to be mailed to you.
You will also be able to settle on boots before you have even purchased them, which is cool.
However, my personal go-to is ordering online, and that is because you can skip the hassle of going to the shop.
When you purchase boots online, you can often order and get them the next day.
What is also good is that you can typically return them for free if you don’t like them or found them too tight or too big.
Most online retailers also give you ample time to decide whether a pair of boots is for you or not.
Companies like Nike and Adidas both give you at least 30 days to return and get either a refund or an alternative.
What Is Your Budget?
What to look for when buying football boots is the price, this is something important to bear in mind since boots come at a range of prices.
The last thing to consider is your budget.
Luckily, if your new to football or haven’t changed your boots in a while, you will be relieved to know it is not that expensive to find a pair.
Sure, some of the boots at the top end, including Nike’s Elite and Pro football boots, will set you back between £100-£300.
However, not everybody is as lucky as footballers to have sponsorship deals and be earning huge sums of money.
So if you don’t have enough there are plenty of boots on offer that accommodates different budgets.
You will need a minimum of around £25 to get a pair.
So as long as you have that amount, you shouldn’t find it too hard to find one.
The more you are comfortable spending, the more quality you will be able to get in a pair of boots.
This is something I have found out myself.
I started out playing with cheaper boots, but as I played more football, I started saving up so I could invest in my game.
Conclusion: Choose Boots You Can See Yourself Wearing
In this post, I have gone over a number of questions you can ask yourself when seeking through potential boots.
I went over boots that may benefit certain positions, having technology or not, brands, and more.
However, ultimately it’s on your preference and what you like. Just as long as they:
- Are for the surface you want and is comfortable (most important factors!)
- Have a design that you like the look off
- Are in a budget you can support
If it’s a tick for all of them, then, by all means, go for it.
From my experience, having boots you like the look translates to more confidence on the pitch.
That, though, brings us to an end. I do hope this has helped you with what to look for when buying football boots.
If you have any other questions when it comes to choosing boots for you, do let me know, and I will try my best to guide you through.
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