You would think choosing the right size football boots for you is an easy decision.
After all, if you have shoes already, all you need to do is find the size tag and go ahead and purchase the boots.
But there are a few things you need to know before you purchase your boots, even if you think you have it all nailed down already.
So in this guide, I am going to take you through what you need to know, plus I will be helping you make the decision of choosing the right size.
Table of Contents
Why The Right Size Is Important
Let’s start with why size is so important. Now, in my opinion, you could have the best boots, whether that be over £300, or you could have a pair for £1.
If you have football boots in the wrong size, you will feel clumsy, and your touches may be off.
So, as a result, you won’t be able to reach the optimum performance that you would be capable of if you had better-fitted boots.
You will spend too much time thinking about your feet and potentially how there too tight or too loose than the decisions you’re making on the pitch.
I say this from experience because when I first started taking football seriously, I chose boots based on their appearance rather than their feel.
So having football boots that fit you to a T will give you the most control on the pitch and will positively impact your game.
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The Plus One Rule
The first thing I recommend doing when in search of a new pair of boots is to keep in mind the plus one rule.
Over the years, I have played my way through a number of different-sized boots.
Before I brought my boots, I have found one rule really useful when buying one.
What I call it is the plus one rule, and how it works is so simple.
You start by noting down the current size of your feet.
If your buying your first football boots, then I would advise looking at your current shoes, whether that be trainers or some casual shoes.
Now just as it sounds, you take the number of your current shoes, and you add on one number.
So let’s say for e.g. you are a size 7 normally. This would mean the best size to start with testing football boots is a size 8.
There are a few reasons why I suggest doing this:
- 1. When you play football, you typically wear thicker socks than usual. This means you will need more room to fit your feet into the bottom.
- 2. They are a different fit to standard shoes
The second reason may seem obvious, but with football boots, they are just designed differently and, therefore, will be a different fit to your standard shoe.
So allowing a size or even two will give you room to grow into them while also allowing for thicker socks too.
Testing Between Different Brands
While each brand releases different types of boots throughout the year, what you will find is that some brands just tend to fit your feet better than others.
Nike, for example, is my go-to brand when I go to purchase boots as they accommodate my wider feet more than other brands like Adidas.
So, as a result, I have gravitated to Nike more than others because I find them more comfortable to my feet.
Everybody has different feet of all sizes, and what that means even with some brands having boots adapt to your feet, some will feel more comfortable than ever.
I do like Adidas, but the struggles I had in my late teens trying to get my feet into them.
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Too Much Room Is Not Ideal
Now while I always recommend taking a size up from your existing shoes for football boots, I would also say if there is too much room that’s, not a good sign.
So if you’ve just tried on some new boots and straight away you see too much space at the tip on the side, then they are likely not the ones for you.
Now, if trying some boots on, however, you don’t know to distinguish whether it’s too big or small, there are a few things you can do.
Half A Thumb
The first way is by putting half your thumb at the tip of the boots with your feet in.
If there is more than half a thumb’s worth of space, then that size is too big. If the case, then the size down is worth trying out.
Now let’s say you are a size 7, for example.
If you try a pair of boots at size 9 and find it’s too loose, but then a size 8 and that one is too tight, in this case, there is no in-between.
So what I would if that brand is your favorite finds another boot of there’s to fit yours better. Failing that, and just like I had to do myself, I would suggest finding a different brand.
Short Walk
If you are buying boots in a store, I recommend having a short walk to see how it feels on your feet.
You should also be able to do this if you order them online.
But if your buying boots and are unsure of what they will be like, do make sure there is a return policy that allows you to.
Nike is a good example of a company that allows you to buy their boots and send them back in 30 days if their products don’t work for you.
Now, if it feels too loose, then either that type of boot isn’t for you, or you have chosen a pair of boots that is too big.
If on the side of things it feels too tight and you can feel your toes curling up, then I would suggest trying the size up.
Bearing all this in mind will save you time and help you find the brand of boots that is going to best for you quicker.
What If You Can’t Find Your Size?
From my experience and from talking to mates who also play football, there is always a boot out there for everyone.
You may feel like there is no boot out there that will fit your feet, but there is, and it’s just a matter of looking.
If you really can’t find one for you or only have one pair and you have to make do, then there are a few last resort ways to combat it.
For the next two methods, I will go over what to do if you have boots too small and ones too big.
Fitting Large Boots
If your boots are a size too big, then there is a way to reduce their size, so they provide you with a better fit.
You will want to find a container that you can fill with warm water and put on the football boots plus a pair of socks.
From here, you should leave them to sit in the water for around an hour before taking them out of the water.
After taking them out of the water, you want to ease the boots and socks on to your feet.
Wearing them will cause the leather to decrease in size, and as a result, you will have smaller boots to work with.
Fitting Smaller Boots
Again with smaller boots, there is a way to stretch them out if they are a tad tight at first.
Now when it comes to football boots that are too tight, I would only suggest this method if your issue is more on the side than on the tip.
This is because if your feet are curling up quite bad, even with some stretching, it likely won’t be enough for the boot to become comfortable.
Now onto the method, and what I would recommend starting with is to try and get your feet into the boot, is to force your way in them, and wear them as much as possible.
As long as you don’t have mental studs, then you could use them around the house. That is one way to get used to the boots.
I do this whenever I have a boot that is quite tight on the sides. The leather will expand and will shape around your feet.
Conclusion
Choosing the right size football boots to wear can be difficult at first.
Especially if you haven’t gone through it before.
However, once you learn more about what boots fit you and the brands that suit you more, it becomes much easier.
I do hope this guide has helped you out, and if you do need even further help with boot selection this guide I made will help you find the right football boots for you.
On top of that if you want to get access to a full list of the best gear and equipment you can buy, check out this guide I made here.