Can you wear football boots on 3G pitches, or should you be sticking to a standard pair of trainers?
Well, around the UK, the popularity and amount of 3G pitches had certainly been increasing.
To the point where most towns have at least one artificial surface that is associated with either a sports centre or local football club.
As a result, quite a few footballers are wondering what boots can be worn on these artificial surfaces.
Let’s face it, there are many different types of surfaces nowadays, which can make it quite confusing on what’s best to go with.
Now I used to be the kind of person who would rock up with the same football boots, regardless of the surface we were playing on.
However, after finding out that you can not only damage certain surfaces but also end up with injuries that could have been prevented, I’ve found that having the right football boots is the way to go.
So in this post, I will take you through whether you can wear boots on a 3G.
What types of boots you can wear, as well as other questions you may also have.
Table of Contents
Can You Wear Football Boots On A 3G Surface?
You can wear football boots on a 3G surface.
Only as long as they are suitable for it and are the right type.
Now since 3G surfaces are made of fake grass and rubber.
You will need a pair of football boots because you need studs that will grip the surface.
Some people do ask about trainers/astroturf and whether they can be worn
However, since they have a flat soleplate, they are not recommended.
Now, where the confusion arises is you now have 5 different types (3 main ones) of artificial surfaces.
For one of the football boots are not allowed, while for the others, it’s the only type of footwear you can have on.
For e.g., the 2G surface is one that does not accommodate football boots because this surface is flat and doesn’t grip with studs.
Not only would you likely get injured playing with studs.
But you would also feel like a giraffe on roller skates.
Instead of a 2G surface, you are looking for astroturf shoes, which the top brands all have their top silos in this ground-type.
Can You Wear Plastic Studs On A 3G Surface?
Boots that have plastic studs are often referred to as moulded football boots.
There are three types of football boots with plastic studs.
You have the artificial football boots which are the recommended footwear for 3G’s.
You also have multi-ground football boots that are increasing in popularity.
This type of boot is made with a stud configuration that allows you to play on both firm grass surfaces as well a 3G/4G too.
Lastly, you have Firm Ground boots, which are made for dry grass surfaces. However, they are quite commonly worn on 3G surfaces.
Now from my experience, firm ground football boots are typically given the go-ahead on 3G surfaces since they aren’t made of metal that will rip.
As you can see by the image below, a lot of people still use them.
What Boots Aren’t Suitable For 3g Surfaces?
As we spoke about earlier, astroturf shoes are a no-no.
But there is also another type of boots that you shouldn’t wear on this surface.
These are soft ground boots that are just not optimized for a 3G surface.
They will serve you better on a muddy pitch where you need to grip since they are also longer than plastic ones.
Now, if you take your soft grounds to your next training session on this surface.
Chances are you won’t be permitted on it.
Because not only are they not made for 3G, but you can also do some serious damage, cutting up the artificial grass.
It’s why for all 3G’s, you will typically find signs saying that metal studs aren’t permitted.
So even if it means picking up a cheap pair of £50 football boots, taking the right ones for the surface is the best thing to do.
Before we move on, there is one exception with soft ground football boots.
So let’s say you picked up a pair of them, however, you find you are able to change the studs and put in firm ground studs.
Well if you are able to do that, then right there you have turned boots that aren’t allowed into ones that will be perfectly fine to play on a 3G.
What Boots Are Suitable For 3g Surfaces?
So with the boots, you can’t wear, let’s go over the ones you can wear.
Now typically speaking, as long as you have studs that are plastic, you will be allowed to play on a 3G surface without issues.
However, if you want to go that step further by making sure you have the best ones for the job, you ideally want to go with one or two types.
You can go with artificial football boots, which are ideal since they are designed with multiple circular-shaped studs.
These give you the perfect mix of grip and traction on what is quite a sharp surface.
The other type, which is multi-ground football boots are okay.
I say that because ideally, you want artificial ground ones.
But they will still do a much better job than firm ground ones and will be safer to play in.
Best 7 Football Boots For 3G Pitches
You may be wondering if artificial football boots are the type to go, then what are the best ones you can get off the market today.
Well, don’t worry, as I have you covered with some of the top boots that will have you running circles around other players on a 3G.
1. Nike Mercurial Vapor XIV AG
The Nike Mercurial Vapors are fast, slick, responsive, making them a great choice of football boots for an artificial surface where high Tiempo football is common.
They have a flyknit that shapes around your foot, as well as an improved ACC making them effective in all types of weather.
If you prefer a dynamic collar, you can check out these Nike Superfly’s instead.
2. Adidas X Ghosted+ AG
Adidas’s Ghosted range is a nice lightweight option for a pair of 3G football boots that are worn by players such as Heung Min-Son and Mohammed Salah.
With a stud configuration that has been refined for 3G surfaces and an ultralight mirageskin upper, there isn’t a lot not to like about these boots.
3. Adidas Copa Sense.1 AG
With the clue in the name, the Adidas Copa Sense boots put touch and feel at the forefront, with different tech to aid a footballer.
You have Sensepods at the heel to give you a comfortable experience. There are also Touchpods on both sides of the boot to give you better control of the ball.
Overall another class football boot that has a soleplate specifically made for playing on a 3G.
4. Adidas Predator Freak+ AG
These beasts of a football boot are great for intimidating opposition and creating attacking moves. With Demonskin 2.0, these Adidas Predator Freak boots give you more control than ever on your passing and striking of the ball.
5. Puma Future Z 1.1
With a different stud configuration to other brands but equally as effective, we have Puma’s Future Z 1.1. These football boots that are worn by Neymar consist of conical studs all over the soleplate to give you a great experience on a 3G pitch.
You also have GripControl Pro, giving you more control of the spin of the ball as well as a FUZIONFIT+ compression band.
6. New Balance Tekela Pro AG
The New Balance Tekela Pro offer a bit of everything. They are a great pair of football boots to run in, helping you to accelerate and turn swiftly.
You also have a synthetic upper, which, combined with a Kinetic Stitch, gives you a nice lockdown feel. As well as helping you with controlling the ball.
7. Umbro Velocita IV
Umbro’s top tier silo, the Velocita IV, is another option for football boots you can wear on a 3G.
In a black, green and white colourway, these are another fast set of boots. Which are designed to help you easily change directions with speed with a Pebax Sprint+ outsole.
Conclusion
Football boots, as you can see, are what you will want to wear on a 3G surface. You have the choice between AG, MG and FG, but if you want the best experiences.
Above, you have some great choices to start with that you can check out if you do need some artificial football boots.
If you have any other questions on artificial grass, 3G or boots in general, do let me know by dropping a comment down below 🙂
Are Football Boots Waterproof? (3 Ways To Make Them Last!)