Youngsters are spoilt for choice these days when it comes to boot buying, but for the uninitiated it can also be a minefield.
Know your FG to your AG, your TF to your IC, metal studs to your blades and what the hell are MG’s?? What are sleeve vs low cut? And I won't even go into a brand's tier and silo system!
Relax, FC7 is here to help you. Read on and become a Boot Wizard.
Getting your boot right is imperative to getting the most enjoyment out of the game you could potentially be starting. But there’s more to it. Your personal safety for example. The boots you wear, can stop injuries.
Furthermore, many venues are quite strict about what you can and can’t wear. So, we will try to make all of this a little clearer. Some of the lingo below will be directly related to our previous post on surfaces, so make sure you read up on that first.
I’ll start with a detailed explanation of the different types of boots, and the relevance of their sole plates.
Then we will briefly cover some of the newer features of the boot market.
How’s that sound?
Boil up your coffee or tea, grab a hob nob (I prefer dark digestives or even shortbread, hmmm, yummmm) and sit back and read. You’ll be an expert by the end of this.
IC (Indoor/inside court trainers)
These are solely (ha, get it) for indoor venues, that are hard plastic. Much like a basketball trainer, the soles are reasonably flat, with lines, that provide the grip needed. In the past they were often, white or light coloured so that they wouldn’t transfer on to the courts. Nowadays the science has improved, so multi-colour soles are available which don’t stain your venue, so don’t let that influence your decision.
Surface: (Indoor) - These are only really meant for indoor venues. They don’t have the grip for any outdoor activity as the slightest damp can cause a nasty slip.
TF (Turf trainers)
These trainers were designed specifically for “astroturf” and are still classed as trainers rather than boots. On the face of it, they look incredibly similar to IC trainers, but only on the upper.
The sole of the trainer is very different, pellet-like. The soles do differ model to model, some are ridges, some are almost moulded studs but all are rubber.
Surface: (2G, 3G) - You can wear these on 2G and 3G pitches, no problem. But should you? If you play mainly on 2G pitches these are for you, If you're on a budget and have stepped up your games to 3G pitches, then these will get you by.
But they were never made for 3G turf, and as such, you're not using the right tools for your trade. The grip isn't great on newer surfaces and I personally find them uncomfortable as the almost completely even distribution of weight can make you feel flat footed.
The slightest damp will cause you to slip. Also, most players will tend to wear some sort of boot with a stud configuration. If someone steps on your foot, then you could get an injury.
FG (Firm ground boots)
We now migrate to boots. These have visible studs, but things start to get a little complicated now.
Firm ground is another way of saying dry ground, so grass during the spring, summer and autumn months. But the studs on FG boots really do vary from model to model and make to make.
Some older boots from late 1990s-2005 had what were commonly called blades, they were chunky tooth brush head-sized rectangular studs, they are a big no-no on 3G. They damage 3G turf and cause people injuries. They have been phased out nowadays, so it's more a case of whether you have an old pair you need to check before running out onto the artificial baize.
Most if not all new boots have circular or chevron studs (see side panel of pics). They are manufactured with grass in mind primarily, but 3G's premise is to mirror grass, so they work well on 5s pitches. The best way to think of them, is that the studs are more aggressive than AG studs (which we come to later), so they give you tighter grip, foot to surface, but this has the double-edged sword of potentially causing you an injury too. The percentage chance of this happening is low, but it depends on whether you have weak ankles or ligaments, and the risk you want to take.
Surface: (3G, Grass) - Remember we spoke about things getting complicated.
On grass, any FG boot is fine. It’s just about your personal preference and style. If it’s only slightly wet, FG are more than likely fine too. If things start to get remotely muddy, then you need to think of switching over to SG boots for the better grip.
Money can be an issue, so we discuss this in a bit more detail later, when we discuss the tiers involved within different brands like Adidas and Nike.
IMPORTANT: FG boots are fine on 3G surfaces, in reality......BUT, if you damage your boots early doors then you will have voided your warranty. 3G turf generates a higher heat than grass, so this can cause damage essentially to a boot not made for plastic surfaces. All companies put this in the small print. So again, its a risk you take. It doesn't happen often, but it would be negligent of us not to mention it if you are on a budget.
SG (Soft ground boots)
Made for wet grass. Recognising these is a giveaway, the metal studs.
Nearly all SG boots will have at least 4 metal studs. This giving you the extra grip, in muddy waterlogged surfaces. To be honest, there’s not many of us that play in these conditions anymore.
If you’re thinking of playing a lot of 11-a-side, then you will most likely play on grass. With the British weather, you will have to think about getting a set of FGs and SGs.
Surface: (Grass*) – Only ever on grass. Never allowed on 2G or 3G as they damage the surface. But more importantly the studs will get your foot caught in the pitch which can cause serious injury.
AG (Artificial ground boots)
A new set of boots that has appeared as the new kids on the block in recent years. These boots have been developed by companies for the unique purpose of AG (Artificial Ground) surfaces.
AG & FG boots provide the biggest discussion for 5-a-side ballerz. This is probably the biggest decision you will make. In simplistic terms, AG for 3G.......FG for Grass.
But it's never that clear cut is it. I guess it comes down to the ratio of what surfaces you play on. If its mainly grass, then FG boots will tick the box for both. If its the other way round, then AG boots are the ones. If moneys not an issue, then get a pair of both AG and FG, you're pretty covered for life then.
The one thing I'd say from a personal level, is that if you're playing 5-a-side footy, then get a pair of AGs, they are specifically made for plastic surfaces, and have all the best tech for it.
People get too caught up in having the exact same footwear as their idols, but they play day in, day out on grass, and the AG variants will look exactly like your heroes boots, so don't get too fixated in having Messi's exact latest boots.
The numerous hollowed out studs on AG boots are shorter too, so stability is king, they can cope with the higher heat generated by plastic grass. That warranty void for FG boots on AG surfaces, doesn't apply for AG boots on grass, so that's something to mull over.
The more you play the more you will get a feel for different surfaces, and different boots.
Surface: (3G, Grass): These are perfect for 3G pitches. If your playing 5-a-side, the chances are you are playing on 3G surfaces. But, be wary, some people like Frodo get 2G and 3G confused. So if your playing on a 2G/astroturf which is sand based, then only TF trainers will do. Grass they are fine for too in my opinion. Obviously not in a bog though.
MG - Multi-ground
There are new boots coming out marketed as MG (multi-ground). I’ll be honest, I'm not a fan. You only tend to see these boots manufactured by Nike and are always in the lower tiers of their boot silos, we will talk about these soon, so you will understand why this is my opinion. But it's worth covering them, as they are for people who play AG and Grass but are on a tight budget.
SILOS and TIERS
Silos are a footbally way of describing the different models of a boot within a brands repertoire. I won't go too much into every brand, but Nike and Adidas have a few different models of boots.
Examples:
Nike: Phantoms, Tiempos, Mercurials & Premiers
Adidas: Copa, Nemeziz, Predators & Mundials
The above isn't exhaustive, they release limited editions and cheaper boots for beginners but essentially any brand will have 1-3 silo/models of boots. These main silos will have boots in all the surface variants, so there might be an IC, TF, FG, SG and AG config of each of the Phantoms for example.
Each silo, will have different pros/cons which might be relevant to you. Check out below, my personal thoughts:-
Phantom: Are a good all round boot, modern and great for wider footed players. Somewhat of a go to boot if your a fan of synthetic plastic not leather.
Mercurial; Synthetic again, strikers love these, as they are lightest of the silos and built for speed, but they are also quite narrow and comfort might be compromised
Tiempo: Defenders and keepers are fans, they are probably the most comfortable but that comes from sacrificing a bit in the weight department. Tiempo's have Kangaroo leather uppers so sizing down slightly is true, as the leather will stretch and mould to your foot. They also have an internal sock called the QuadFit for extra comfort and lockdown.
Premiers: Like the Copa Mundial for Adidas, these are the classic option, the design rarely changes from the 80's originals and are always leather. You don't see the pros wear these often but only because they are often asked to advertise the new models being released because of their contracts to Nike/Adidas/Puma etc but they are often a brands biggest sellers amongst the rest of us mortals, they last the longest and are no-nonsense all round boots, made for FG and AG surfaces, no problems.
In general, Adidas, Puma and the rest, will have similar properties on their own personal silos, it'll take too long to go into each of them, so google reviews on them at this point.
I'm a boot fiend, so have loads. Copa, Predator, Tiempo, Phantom, Mundial, TF, FG and AG as well as Academy, Pro and Elite boots! So pop me a question and I'll be happy to help - Songfish
Tiers are a pricing model for each of their boots. The tiers aren't 100% uniform for brands, they all have their own names to confuse things even more, but price is the true indicator.
Examples:
Nike have: Elite, Pro, Academy & Club (Nike Tiempo Pro or Phantom Academy)
Adidas have: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 (Adidas Predator 20.1 or Nemeziz 19.4)
The above go from highest in price to the lowest. They generally look similar but the cheaper the boot the cheaper the quality, tech and comfort. Personally I wouldn't look beyond the top 2 tiers. But it's all personal choice dependent on budget. If you're new to footy, it's important to try something out in a physical shop initially at some point, you can then move to online shopping once you know your sizing and the difference between silo and price tiers. Remember, if you have a team mate who is in your size range, asking them nicely if you can try them on, can help you gauge an opinion too.
The lower tiers like Academy, 0.3, Club or 0.4s are really for if you need a pair desperately for a one-off game, hence what seems like a "too good to be true" price. Think about these if you have kids too and they just play footy for PE, with children outgrowing shoes at a rapid rate, these tiers don't hit your wallet hard.
Elite and Pro boots using Nike as an example, can cost £250 and £120 respectively, so there's a big difference. It's really about your price level, check out YouTube reviews, as a lot of them will discuss honestly whether the price increase between Tier 1 and 2 levels is justified.
Here's some great boot review sites:
Unisport who sponsor our shirts, are a great source on YouTube for boot reviews. Even though they sponsor us, we're an honest bunch, just like them:
SR4U (Soccer Reviews for You): https://www.youtube.com/user/vujojosh
Any other business?
Sorry, but yes, I'm afraid so. 1 more thing. Another relatively new feature, are sleeves/socks. These are sometimes denoted by a code called DF or are called High cuts. These are the boots that have a sleeve that extends from the entry hole of the boot, to above the ankle or more. This is personal preference from what i've seen in the past 10 years. Initially they added support but as they have been tested out in real life, it's become more a fashion statement these days. Look at the reviews if you need more information though.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, I can’t tell you what pair of boots to buy. Only you will know.
Be smart and go with your heart.....and mind......and wallet
I think my primary concern here is that you know exactly what your searching for either in a physical shop or online. I’ve stood and listened to shop assistants reel out a lot of rubbish to unsuspecting customers and we at FC7 pride ourselves on being there to help all footballers.
The other thing you have to bear in mind when looking for your first boots, is to not take to heart everything we say online. Even me ha. Let it help you form an opinion by all means, but go with what your heart and mind are saying.
Beware the Online Dog, for Dog will bite
Many people online are fan-boys. They will buy Adidas Predators and won’t even entertain the idea of wearing a Puma or Nike boot. There’s other people who are so rigid on their view of FG and SG etc. There was 1 site, where the title of the post was some “rant” about people testing out SG boots on FG surfaces. I read it, had some merit, but was really just a 10 min “factual” article based purely on "opinion". Needless to say, I didn't bookmark that review blog!
It'll cost you an arm and a leg.....or a foot maybe?
The reality of footy life is that we aren't like David Beckham money-wise (I have the looks), and can’t afford a pair of boots for each surface out there. There’s going to be some moments where you will feel comfortable with a pair of AG boots on 3G. Other times, you might want a bit more grunt, and a more aggressive grip on the surface, so your mind will be thinking FG.
REMEMBER you void the warranty of FG boots on AG surfaces !
Splitting your time between Sunday league games and the odd mid week 5-a-side? Then FG boots are your go-to pair. But you need to think about what conditions you play in for your Sunday games, are they in wet, boggy pitches, as a second pair of SG boots could be needed.
Ultimately you have to make that choice, thinking ahead about the spectrum of surfaces you play on.
Most footy players have at least 2 pairs of cleats. I’d think of them as trainers you go out with.
I’m not saying order 50, but try not to get restricted to just 1 pair. It’s your own physical well being you have to think of too.
Good luck, and feel free to ask us if you need some extra guidance. We're here to guide not judge!
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