Football Shoes

How do you choose the right football shoe?

Don't just let yourself be guided by nice, bright colours, but also look carefully at what suits you best. The most important aspects to consider are the material and the surface the shoes will be used on. Want to easily find out in a few simple steps which shoes suit you best? Check out the blog article about choosing the right football shoe.

Leather or synthetic football shoes?

The material plays a big role when buying new ones. Leather feels like a second skin but needs more maintenance. Want to be the fastest on the pitch? Then a light, synthetic shoe is the better choice.

Every football shoe has its own product description detailing exactly which features and specifications the shoe has. For example, many shoes have rubber strips on the upper, giving you more grip and ball control. There are also various models with an asymmetrical lacing system, which increases the contact surface and reduces the chance of hitting the ball incorrectly.

Which football shoes for which surface?

When buying new shoes, it's wise to consider beforehand on which surface they'll be used. Do you play on natural grass? Then it's a good idea to choose a football shoe with fixed studs or screw-in studs. But do you mainly play on artificial turf? Then it's obviously better to choose special artificial turf shoes! If you play on natural grass with artificial turf shoes, you'll notice you slip more easily. On the other hand, if you play on artificial turf with natural grass shoes, there's a greater chance your foot will get stuck in the stiff artificial turf. Wearing the wrong football shoes can therefore cause a nasty injury.

The different types of football shoes can be divided into five categories, which you'll often find in the product names. The five categories are FG, SG, TF, AG and IN.

Natural grass football shoes
FG stands for firm ground and usually has elongated or short studs, providing plenty of grip on natural grass. Whether you prefer elongated or short studs is a personal choice. The studs are fixed to the sole and can't be replaced. It's strongly advised not to use firm ground shoes on artificial turf, as they wear out much faster on turf, which voids the manufacturer's warranty.

Soft/wet natural grass football shoes
SG stands for soft ground and these shoes are suitable for playing on soft and/or wet pitches. These shoes have long, metal screw-in studs, which provide plenty of grip, significantly reducing the risk of slipping. This shoe is widely used by goalkeepers.

Turf football shoes
TF stands for turf, and these shoes have many short studs on the sole. The short studs provide good grip on a hard surface, such as artificial turf pitches, gravel pitches or even frozen pitches.

Artificial turf football shoes
AG stands for artificial ground and are suitable for playing on artificial turf. Thanks to the short studs, there's little chance of getting stuck in the turf and sustaining a nasty injury. The studs are hard and durable, so you'll enjoy them for a long time.

Indoor football shoes
IN stands for indoor and is therefore perfect for indoor use. Thanks to the special sole pattern, these shoes offer plenty of grip, allowing lots of freedom of movement on wooden or synthetic floors.

Multi-ground football shoes
MG stands for multi-ground and these shoes combine AG studs and FG studs, so you can play on both artificial turf and natural grass.

How do I maintain my football shoes?

To keep them looking good for as long as possible, it's important to maintain them properly. First of all, it's important to let your shoes air out well after training or a match, so don't leave them in your bag all week! It's also advisable to clean them thoroughly after each use with a small brush and a bit of water. Note! Don't use detergent, as this can damage the stitching. For the leather version, it's important to treat them with leather grease once a week. This keeps the leather supple and prevents the material from tearing. Then let the shoes dry naturally and avoid contact with heating or direct sunlight. Did they get very wet? Then you can stuff some balled-up newspaper into the shoes to speed up the drying process. If you don't do this, there's a good chance they'll start to smell and eventually develop mould.

What football shoe size do I need?

Just like with all other shoes, it's very important to choose the right size here too. If you have too much room, this causes movement, which can lead to blisters or even ankle injuries. Did you know every shoe comes with a size chart? It describes exactly which foot length matches which size! When using them for the first time, you can dampen them a little with warm water, as this helps the shoes shape themselves to your feet. Have you got your eye on shoes with a high collar? Then there's a good chance you'll need to get used to it at first when putting on the tight shoe, but once you have them on they feel super comfortable!