Good soccer shoes are the be-all and end-all for kickers. They are available from various manufacturers in many different versions and with different soles. The question quickly arises as to which shoe is best suited for which place. FITBOOK therefore has the best models in the soccer shoe test.
For many, football is not just a ball sport, but a real passion. But in order to be able to exercise this passion properly, high-quality equipment is required. In addition to the right size, aspects such as comfort, inner material and workmanship are extremely important, especially when it comes to shoes. Because if your feet hurt or tire quickly after wearing the football boots, this could be a sign that the shoes are wrong or too narrow. Every season, the manufacturers work on the ideal footwear and bring out new models. The goal: perfect soccer shoes for men, women and children. However, the latest model is not always the optimal one. In order to find the best soccer shoes 2022, it is therefore worth comparing different shoes. FITBOOK provides assistance in finding the best soccer shoes for individual requirements.
The best soccer shoes – which sole for which pitch?
It doesn’t matter whether it’s real turf, artificial turf, hard courts or indoor courts: good football shoes are crucial for feeling for the ball, control and traction. With the right footwear, the course is set for successful passes and moves. But why do you need shoes with individual soles depending on the surface? In your online search for the best soccer shoes, you have probably already read abbreviations such as FG, AG or TF, which already give a clue to the outsole. You don’t know what to do with it? Below you will find out exactly what these abbreviations mean in football boots.
In addition, very good soccer shoes for different types of soccer fields are presented and the features and advantages are clearly shown. The following is an overview of the top 10 soccer shoes in advance – it is important to note that there are different types of soles, so the order shown here is irrelevant:
- Adidas Copa Mundial FG
- Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Elite FG
- Adidas Kaiser 5 Cup Soccer Shoes (SG)
- Nike Mercurial Superfly 8 Academy SG-PRO AC
- Umbro Speciali Eternal Pro HG
- Nike Mercurial Vapor 14 Elite AG
- Puma Future 3.2 MG
- Nike The Premier III TF
- Adidas Predator Edge.1 IN
- Nike React Gato IC
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The best football boots with FG sole
FG – «Firm ground» (firm ground) or dry lawn: Shoes with firm ground soles are the best-selling variant and therefore the most popular football shoes. This is a cleated sole that is best suited to dry natural grass pitches. FG shoes can also be used on artificial turf with long, smooth fibers longer than 40 mm. These soles are usually forbidden on older artificial turf pitches with short-fiber coverings, as they cannot withstand the hard cams over the long term and break. In general, FG shoes are considered all-purpose shoes because they can be used on grass, newer artificial grass or hard courts.
Adidas Copa Mundial FG
The online reviews for the Adidas Copa Mundial FG speak for themselves: for many it is considered the best football boot ever. It convinces players in particular with its good fit, high quality, robustness and durability. However, the latter can only be guaranteed if the shoe is properly cared for (more on this below). The manufacturer has been using the same design for this model for years: the majority of the shoe is black, only the typical Adidas stripes and accents on the sole and heel area are white. And with good reason: this football boot doesn’t need to come in every colorway. Footballers simply know what they are getting here. An absolute classic, both for professional footballers and amateurs – and for many probably the best football boot in the world.
Features and Benefits
- Firm ground outsole football boot
- preformed lugs bring control and traction
- Optimum cushioning thanks to the punched foam midsole
- shoelaces
- soft wearing comfort: forefoot area made of high-quality kangaroo leather
Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Elite FG
Also made of premium kangaroo leather and equipped with foam padding and a cushioned insole, the Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Elite FG offers a very high level of comfort, with the foot being well protected against impacts. In addition, the elastic upper material does not require a long break-in phase, as is the case with many other models made of stiffer materials. The name «Elite» already suggests it: This high quality has its price. The football boot is only available from 200 euros upwards. However, players with high demands will not be disappointed by this model.
Features and Benefits:
- Firm ground shoes for firm natural grass
- Maximum comfort thanks to the cushioned insole and padded forefoot and instep sections
- lightweight, flat design
- with lacing
- different colors and designs available
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The best cleats
SG – «Soft ground» (soft ground) or soft/wet lawn): Variants with the abbreviation SG are cleated shoes. They are the right choice for soft or wet ground. In order to maintain ball control and traction on these surfaces and not slip away, most players rely on robust aluminum cleats. Many soccer shoes now have a mix of SG and FG soles, i.e. both aluminum cleats and cleats: This mixed sole has the suffix “SG-PRO” from the manufacturer Nike, for example. The wide spacing between the cams and lugs eliminates grass snagging in the gaps.
Adidas Kaiser 5 Cup football boots
This model is a soccer shoe with a pure cleated sole, i.e. not a hybrid of SG and FG soles. Similar to the Copa Mundial, this shoe from Adidas also comes in a classic, timeless black and white design. Made of full-grain leather, i.e. full-grain upper leather, they are also extremely robust and give the foot a particularly high level of stability thanks to the sewn toe cap and the reinforced heel area. Customer reviews confirm that players are absolutely delighted with the SG sole model.
Features & Benefits:
- soft wearing comfort thanks to full-grain leather
- TPU outsole with replaceable screw-in studs
- for grip on (very) soft or wet natural floors
- cushioning insole for high wearing comfort
- shoelaces
Nike Mercurial Superfly 8 Academy SG-PRO AC
The Nike model is equipped with the aforementioned mixed sole consisting of aluminum cleats and plastic studs. The football boot was specially developed for wet, muddy pitches. Mud and dirt stuck in your shoes can become very annoying during a soccer game. Nike has developed a sole with anti-clog traction made of a water-repellent material. Water and mud can no longer find a hold and do not stick.
Features & Benefits:
- Sludge accumulations are prevented
- Versatile screw-in metal studs
- elastic shoe collar encloses ankles
- cushioned insole
- Upper materials: synthetic, textile
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Top soccer shoes with HG sole
HG – «Hard ground» (hard ground) or hard court: Hard-ground shoes are the best football shoes for hard, clay and some artificial grass pitches. The outsole has cleats instead of studs. However, these are shorter and wider than FG shoes and, depending on the brand, are hollow on the inside, allowing them to dig deep into the soft spots of the cinder pitch while also providing ample grip and traction on harder spots. Both larger and lower contact surface prevents it from getting wobbly on hard surfaces. However, there is currently not much choice when looking for HG soccer shoes, as the trend is towards using TF soles on hard courts (more on that below).
Umbro Speciali Eternal Pro HG
The model by the English clothing and sporting goods manufacturer Umbro consists, among other things, of handmade, soft kangaroo leather, which makes the shoe particularly comfortable and robust. Although the football boots are designated as an HG variant for hard ground, they are also suitable for use on dry, firm natural grass. Interesting: There is a «Pepe Edition» designed in honor of the well-known Portuguese defender Pepe. Other well-known players such as Roberto Carlos or Michael Owen also swore by this model, making it one of the best soccer shoes in the world, at least for some players.
Features & Benefits:
- foldable tongue with Velcro fastening
- additional memory foam cushioning on the tongue
- Soft touch lining for more comfort
- preformed insole for better fit
- Ergonomically distributed cleats for even weight distribution
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The best soccer shoes for artificial grass pitches
AG – «Artificial grass» (artificial subsoil) or artificial turf: AG soles are the perfect choice for all modern artificial grass pitches. Since the development in football is generally more and more towards artificial turf, these shoes are also becoming more and more important. Soccer shoes in the AG version have more cleats than the FG sole, and they are also smaller and wider. This means that the shoe gets a large and sinking contact surface. The body weight is evenly distributed over several points, which is very important because playing on artificial grass causes harder impacts. The cams on these shoes are too short for natural grass pitches.
Nike Mercurial Vapor 14 Elite AG
The cushioned insole of the Nike artificial grass shoe cushions the steps when running and sprinting. On the upper side, the soccer shoes are made of Nike’s typical Flyknit material, which is also used in some sneakers. It is light, breathable and offers the necessary elasticity for football. All in all a new and absolute top model, which is also reflected in the price of around 200 euros.
- for use on artificial turf with longer fibres
- Chevron studs in an arrow-shaped arrangement for particularly fast acceleration
- thin, light and breathable Flyknit material
- light weight
- All Conditions Control (ACC) technology for good grip in wet…