Best Football Boots 2021: Top Picks For Acceleration, Defending, And More

There’s a lot to consider when looking for the best football boots, most notably the type of studs needed for your typical Sunday League fixture.

While a top pair of Astros are essential for artificial ground, football boots are vital for maintaining your grip and control on a soft grass pitch, especially when it’s been raining.

With that being said, we’ve put together this list, based on features, price, and reviews, highlighting some of the key details that we think make each of these boots stand out from the crowd.

So if you’re looking for something to help you control the ball, these adidas Predator Freak .1‘s, or you’re searching for something built for speed, like these New Balance Furon V6+ Pro‘s, we’ve got you covered right here.

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Best Football Boots

Best Football Boots – Nike Mercurial Vapor 13 Elite

Brand: Nike | Material: Flyknit | Stud Type: Blades

Nike makes some of the best basketball shoes around, but the American-based company also designs top football-related equipment including these Mercurial Vapor 13 Elite‘s which showcase Nike’s expertise as they feature some of the most advanced footwear technology available.

They are made from a similar 360 Flyknit material as the Vapor 12’s, designed to be light so it feels like you’re almost playing barefoot, helping improve the touch and feel of your best football as you control it.

One new feature that comes with this iteration of the boot is Nike Aerowtrac zones on the soleplate, designed to help with traction and acceleration which means these boots should be ideal for rapid changes of pace in all weather conditions.

In addition to Aerowtrac, Nike’s All Condition Control (ACC) technology gives you comfort in knowing these boots are likely to be just as effective on a wet and stormy Tuesday night as well as a beautiful and warm Sunday morning.

Best Premium Football Boots – adidas Copa 19+

Brand: adidas | Material: Leather | Stud Type: Conical Moulds

Like Nike, adidas are at the very top of the football game with athletes like Lionel Messi, Mo Salah, and Paul Pogba wearing its boots during televised fixtures you can watch on your best TV for sports games.

The Copa 19+‘s have a lot to live up to as they don the classic Copa name, but these premia laceless, leather boots do the name justice as they combine both quality and comfort in one shoe.

Being laceless, these boots offer you a smoother area to hit the ball, meaning you should get a much cleaner, uninterrupted strike, making them ideal for any forward or attacking player out there to get the ball past a pair of top goalkeeper gloves.

The leather upper has been designed for both comfort and durability, supported by internal foam padding, to create what is likely to be an extremely comfortable pair of football boots that will last for even the biggest football fanatic who plays 3, 4, or even 5 times a week.

Not only do with think these are a top pair of boots for match days, but we also featured them in our list of the best equipment for the ultimate football training session.

Best Football Boots On A Budget – Nike Premier II

Brand: Nike | Material: Kangaroo Leather | Stud Type: Conical Moulds

The Premier II continues the Premier line of providing you with a quality leather football boot for a relatively affordable price.

The leather upper has been designed to be both soft but tough, meaning these Nike boots should withstand a lot of wear a tear accumulated out on the pitch, ideal for your typical Sunday league game.

For those who don’t enjoy some of the more wacky and colorful designs of the Nike Mercurial’s for example, these boots offer you a classic, almost retro design which is more simplistic to help you remain understated during your game.

The lack of technology this boot has in comparison to others on the market help continue the simplicity and reduces their price tag, meaning they will most likely suit anyone looking for just a pure football boot without the bells and whistles attached.

Best Football Boots For Acceleration – New Balance Furon V6+ Pro

Brand: New Balance | Material: Nylon | Stud Type: Triangular Moulds

Unlike Nike and adidas, New Balance is relatively new to the football landscape but has quickly become one of the leading boot manufacturers around.

The Furon V6+ Pro‘s are a great example of a reliable and modern bit of kit, designed with speed in mind as their lightweight nylon-knitted upper means nothing should weigh you down as you burst off from the mark to chase down a perfectly weighted through-ball.

The slightly raised ankle collar offers you additional support during quick turns of pace, meaning your boot will likely stay firmly attached in all manner of weather and pitch conditions.

The forefoot area is kept clear from anything that might stifle your touch and shots like laces, making them more beneficial for anyone playing a more attacking or creative role in their team.

Best Football Boots For Defenders – adidas Kaiser 5 Liga

Brand: adidas | Material: Leather | Stud Type: Conical Moulds

Named after the legendary German defender Franz Beckenbauer, aka ‘Der Kaiser’, this boot pays homage to the classic, no-nonsense style of the ’70s and ’80s era of football.

The Kaiser 5‘s are made out of strong, durable leather, emulating the style of play of defenders, but should give you peace of mind as they are likely to withstand any punishment you throw at them, just like a top pair of shin pads.

The aesthetics of these boots often draw a lot of comparisons with the infamous Copa Mundial’s, but one feature that gives the Kaiser 5‘s an edge is they are slightly more lightweight to help when you need to inject some pace into your game.

Additionally, these boots can be used on a variety of surfaces including astroturf due to their conical moulds which have been designed to provide exceptional grip on all kinds of pitches, making them great all-round football boots for every scenario.

Best Football Boots For Control – adidas Predator Freak .1

Brand: adidas | Material: Synthetic | Stud Type: FG Moulds

adidas Predator’s have been worn by some of the most talented midfielders of all time including the likes of Gerrard, Zidane, and Kaka.

With adidas’s latest design, the Predator Freak .1‘s, you get a lightweight upper with spikes on the outside to increase friction with the ball, therefore, they should help to improve your control.

Moreover, they come in a variety of colours including a Wolverine inspired design which may interest you if you’re a fan of X-Men and want a unique pair of football boots.

On the whole, the Predator Freak .1‘s should be well worth considering, especially if you play in the centre of the park.

Frequently Asked Questions About Football Boots

With so many variations of football boots out there, you probably have a few queries about them, but we’re here to clear up a few of the most common questions.

What Size Should I Buy?

Football boots are notoriously difficult to buy in the right size as each brand has its own unique style which means a pair of boots from Nike will differ in size from a pair of boots from New Balance.

Getting the right size is vital for comfort and performance and a good way of checking is by measuring your foot’s dimensions and comparing your readings to the boots size guide or chart.

Nike boots tend to be slightly bigger than say adidas or Puma boots, but it is definitely worth measuring to avoid having to send them back if they don’t fit.

What Do The Different Studs Mean?

When buying new boots, you might have come across terms such as SG, FG, and AG, but don’t be fooled as they are not new positions on a football pitch.

SG simply refers to soft ground and will likely mean the boots in question have classic, screw-in studs which are more suited to your standard grassy Sunday league pitch.

FG means firm ground and tends to include boots with moulds or blades which benefit you when you’re playing on a grass surface that is slightly more solid but still has a bit of give to it.

If you happen to play the majority of your football on astroturf, 3G, or 4G pitches then you might want to look out for AG, or artificial ground boots which tend to come with shorter, rounded moulds that don’t ruin these special surfaces.

Are Leather Or Knitted Boots Better?

This really depends on your style of play and what you are looking for from your football boots.

Leather boots tend to be more comfortable to wear and durable as they are often thicker than the knitted fabric, but also slightly heavier so might not be beneficial for someone who looks to utilise their pace.

As well as being lighter, knitted boots open the door to more features like being laceless, so often suit attacking players more as they’re after the cleanest strike of the ball possible, however, they tend to lack the longevity of the leather alternatives.

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Source: https://www.realsport101.com/real-kit/best-football-boots-soft-ground-strikers-defenders-goalkeepers/