Top 10 Best Football Cleats Ranked & Compared – Latest Boots

I’ve created this list of the 10 best foot football cleats, including a few for kids. I hope this list helps you narrow down which cleats are the right ones for you or your child.

You’ll find nice contrasts in features, price, and style. All of these cleats have something to offer

Top 10 Football Cleats

PRODUCT	TITLE	DETAILS
Editor's Choice	Under Armour Men's UA Highlight MC 2.0 Boa	Customizable BOA lacing system Best-in-class stability Lightweight, yet superior traction	View on Amazon
	Nike Mens Lunarbeast PRO TD	Good support and comfort Range of color and design Durable and easy to clean	View on Amazon
	Nike Men's Force Lunarbeast Elite TD	Good ankle support Multi-directional grip Fit true to size	View on Amazon
	Adidas Performance Men's Freak X	DuPont Kevlar-reinforced plate Excellent traction on both turf and grass Good for wider feet	View on Amazon
Budget Pick	Reebok Men's NFL Burner Speed	Inexpensive Lightweight comfort	View on Amazon
	Reebok NFL Burner Speed 5/8 SD3	Detachable cleats Custom-fit technology mid-cut with low-cut feel	View on Amazon
	Nike Alpha Pro 2	Tight, locked down fit Very comfortable cushioning	View on Amazon
	Nike Vapor Carbon Elite TD	Good ventilation Tight fit from flywire material Good for wider feet	View on Amazon
	Under Armour Boy's Crusher Mid Jr	Great value for the money Durable	View on Amazon
Best for kids	Nike Kids' Vapor Shark 2	Excellent traction Good support Stylish design	View on Amazon

Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC 2.0 Boa – Our Top Pick

This cleat offers the lightweight flexibility of a low-cut cleat in a well-supported high top cleat.

The cleat is made from an ultra-lightweight material, and the UA ClutchFit^® upper wraps offer incredible support.

There are extended cut-outs over the laces, providing extra flexibility on the field and also great style.

A molded 4D Foam^® footbed fits the exact shape of the foot, reducing pressure, preventing slippage, and providing optimal comfort.

Similarly, the 3D molded MPZ^® tongue conforms perfectly to your foot for added support and comfort.

The new customizable BOA lacing system should be the new standard; it makes it really fast to put on these cleats while delivering adjustable support & superior stability

Cleats are molded into the rubber sole.

The UA Highlight cleats are available in a range of colors, letting many players stylishly match their footwear to their school colors.

Nike Mens Lunarbeast PRO TD Football Cleat – Great Ankle Support

This is another cleat that comes in a range of colors, letting the player sport their team colors on their feet. Certain colors do cost quite a bit more, though.

This is a mid-cut boot that provides good ankle support.

A wide strap adds some stability to the midfoot, and a 3/4-length phylon wedge provides flexible cushioning. The cleats are molded plastic.

Nike’s unique NIKESKIN wraps around the foot, providing a tight fit and durability.

Nike Men’s Force Lunarbeast Elite TD – Designed for Defensive Positions

These cleats are similar to the Nika Lunarbeast PRO cleats, but they are designed specifically for defensive ends, linebackers, and linemen.

NFL defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was consulted for insight into the particular needs of defensive players.

The high-cut collar provides the ankle support these players need while the flywire cables provide midfoot stability.

Lunarbeast Elite shoes come in a range of colors and styles, but the price varies quite a bit between the different styles and sizes.

There is a full-length midsole with a nice combination of plush cushion and springy flexibility.

Decent arch support also provides propulsion technology that helps the football player achieve a faster toe-off.

The unique NIKESKIN provides a tight fit and support around the foot.

Three different kinds of cleat studs are molded into the thermoplastic polyurethane sole.

Adidas Performance Men’s Freak X Carbon Mid Football Shoe – Nice Combination of Power and Speed

A DuPont Kevlar-reinforced plate gives this cleat superior strength and traction while keeping them lightweight football cleats.

The sock-like upper sleeve of this mid-cut cleat gives good stability and support.

Though it’s a mid-cut cleat with good support, it has the feel of a low-cut cleat, something some players prefer.

In addition to support, comfort is taken into consideration, with quite a bit of cushion at the tongue and back in the Achilles tendon area.

The lacing system is customizable, letting you get the right fit and tightness depending on the size of your foot.

An Ironskin toe cap provides abrasion resistance and helps prevent toe-drag injuries.

The cleats are a hard molded plastic and provide good traction, especially on turf.

The inside is lined with moisture-wicking material, offering great breathability.

Reebok Men’s NFL Burner Speed – For Occasional Gameplay

These 100% synthetic football cleats are made of one piece of digitally designed material for maximum user comfort.

They’re very stylish and lightweight as well.

They offer lightweight performance that can only be attained by wearing a 100% synthetic leather shoe.

They also don’t require much in the way of breaking-in, because they strike the perfect balance of softness and rigid support.

The dual-density anti-microbial footbeds for these cleats reduce friction and heat build-up so you won’t get itchy or uncomfortable on the field.

With exceptional arch stability and impressively sturdy traction, these cleats allow you to make sharp turns easily. They’re also pretty inexpensive; they come at a surprisingly low price.

That being said, these shoes aren’t ideal for players who need a professional level cleat. They tend to wear out pretty quickly.

They also don’t have very durable studs. They’d be great to have as a backup option.

This model would also be good for anyone who plays occasionally and doesn’t want to invest too much financially in their cleats.

All around, a lightweight synthetic football cleat that won’t break the bank.

Reebok NFL Burner Speed 5/8 SD3 – Custom-Fit Technology and Detachable Cleats

Like the Reebok Pro Workhorse ATF, this a cleat that Reebok isn’t making anymore since they offloaded all football boots production to Adidas.

However, the still available cleats of this model are very much worth considering.

They offer that revolutionary custom-fit technology, letting you create a fit that perfectly conforms to your foot.

The upper is made from soft, synthetic leather that is both lightweight and comfortable.

Its collar is a breathable, moisture-wicking mesh, helping keep your foot cool and dry.

The antimicrobial footbed is comfortable while also helping to reduce friction and heat.

Another important feature of these cleats is the Two-piece TPU Pebax^® speed plate with HardLink arch stability, providing arch support and overall stability.

Good stability helps improve both traction and propulsion.

There is a hard plastic outsole with detachable cleats, and you do get a full second set of cleats with this model.

This is a really nice feature that can extend how long they last. Detachable cleats tend to provide better traction, especially on grass. Unfortunately, durability is a real concern with these cleats.

The outsole, in particular, has a tendency to come apart. Especially when compared to the Reebok Pro Workhorse ATF, these cleats have a pretty sharp design with a nice use of a flashy-looking Reebok logo.

Men’s Nike Alpha Pro 2 – Good for All Positions

Like all of Nike’s cleats, the Alpha Pro 2 cleats have NIKESKIN.

This material is lightweight, easy to clean, and remarkably durable.

It also looks pretty cool, adding to an already nice design.

There are a number of different color options and some unique designs that have a new-age kind of feel.

Looks are only of secondary importance when it comes to football, though, and these also offer the stuff that counts like good traction and stability.

The cleats are molded plastic and offer superior traction on both grass and turf.

Comfort is another positive with the Alpha Pro 2, with extra cushioning in the heel as well as a 3/4-wedge midsole with a lot of cushion.

Although the NIKESKIN is lightweight, these are a bit heavier overall, so that’s something to keep in mind.

A really tight fit goes a long way towards making a shoe feel light and respond accordingly.

The Flywire Tech wrap gives you that tight, locked-down fit for stability, support, and that responsive illusion of being really lightweight.

Nike Vapor Carbon Elite TD – Great Speed Cleats for Wider Feet

These cleats from Nike aren’t great for linemen, but they are ideal for skill players looking for speed.

They have thin blades near the toe as part of a unique traction pattern.

These will help you really cut into grass or turf, driving you forward and providing great responsiveness.

The power-plate outsole includes quite a bit of carbon fiber that aids in propulsion and flexibility.

Stability is good, thanks to the tight, locked-down fit that only flywire can provide.

Adding to the tight fit, the tongue is built right into the bootie, which also helps get that custom-fit feel.

The tongue is ventilated, but that’s the only spot that is, so these aren’t the most breathable cleats.

Because these cleats are all about speed, there isn’t as much cushioning, but there is adequate support, and it is a comfortable fit.

These are decent cleats for players with wider feet.

In fact, if you have narrow feet, you’ll likely need to go down half a size to get the right fit.

Because these have NIKESKIN, they’re quite durable. Like the other Nike Football boots, these do offer a lot of great colors and design options.

Under Armour Boy’s Crusher Mid Jr – Good Football Cleat for Young Beginners

For the young player, Under Armour offers this mid-cut cleat with excellent support and good traction.

The synthetic upper is easy to clean and quite durable.

The rubber outsole with molded cleats offers good traction on both grass and turf.

A cushioned footbed offers shock-absorbing comfort.

There is very good ankle support, and a power strap locks the foot down for additional stability.

Inside, there is a mesh lining that is both comfortable and breathable.

Despite the mesh lining, these are lacking on breathability overall so they can get a bit warm. The style of these are pretty basic, but they are still a nice looking shoe.

Nike Kids’ Vapor Shark 2 – Take Your Kid’s Game to the Next Level

These are nice looking football cleats with a flashier design that a lot of kids will like.

There are also a number of color options to choose from.

A synthetic leather upper is lightweight and easy to clean.

The design helps you to get a nice tight fit when laced up, providing the stability you want. There is decent ankle support. Comfort is also pretty high, with a foam insole cushion and a phylon midsole for shock-absorbing comfort.

The molded rubber outsole uses Nike Fast Flex technology. This unique placement of the cleats helps provide great traction, speed, and responsiveness.

Safety Tips – Avoid Injuries

Good cleats that fit well will help keep you safe by minimizing your risk of injury.

It starts with finding the right cleats. Longer cleats can get stuck in the turf which can cause a player to twist a knee or ankle which could potentially be a very serious injury.

This is why high school football has a cleat length rule.

A study on injuries in the NFL and injuries in high school football found that the rotational traction of cleats has a big impact on football injuries.

Football Cleats with more forward-motion traction resulted in fewer injuries while cleats with more rotational-motion traction resulted in more injuries.

The safest cleat will also be a good fit for the player’s foot type and any past injuries.

A player with a past ankle injury, for example, should consider mid-cut or high-top cleats for better ankle support.

You should also make sure you have the right cleat for the position of the player. High impact players tend to need more ankle support.

For kids, you should never buy cleats that are a little bigger for the player to grow into.

Cleats must be a perfect, tight fit. If they are too large and there is any sliding around inside the shoe, it could be dangerous.

You should retie your laces regularly, always tightly. Tight laces help keep your foot locked down and stabilized. It’s a good idea to buy extra laces and replace them if your laces are starting to get worn down.

It’s important to always take your cleats off when not on the football field. Wearing cleats on other surfaces like asphalt wears down the tips of the cleats. This decreases their traction ability on the football field, which makes them less safe.

Football Cleats Buyer’s Guide

The following are a few things to keep in mind as you purchase your new football cleats:

Types of Cleats

There are two different types of cleats. One is the molded cleats that are permanently attached to the shoe. The other are detachable cleats. These have studs that can easily be replaced or change out when needed. This is considered a pretty big advantage if you find yourself playing in different types of weather or on wet surfaces.

There are also different shoe styles. High-tops extend up the ankle and offer the player more in the way of support. This is especially useful if they perform more lateral movements on the football field; it helps to reduce their risk of ankle strain.

Mid-cut football cleats allow for support and maneuverability. These shoes are best for those playing a certain position like a defensive back or quarterback.

Low-cut cleats are lightweight and allow for improved maneuverability on the field, they can make quick cuts, but they are getting less support and protection and may be at risk for ankle injuries.

Cleat Materials

Some of the more common materials found in football cleats are:

Pebax: a thermoplastic elastomer. This material is resistant to impacts, harsh weather conditions, and flex fatigue. The material itself is lightweight and offers the player support – even in colder weather.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane: this is another lightweight material and is resistant to water and can withstand more extreme temperature conditions. It is also durable and can stand up well to impacts.

Polyurethane: this is elastic like rubber and can also withstand the same harsh weather conditions.

Ethyl Vinyl Acetate: a flexible and durable material that won’t crack because of stress and age. It is also water-resistant.

Poron Urethane: this is a breathable material that can absorb impact and won’t shrink. It also helps keep water away from the player’s feet.

Cleat Accessories

With your purchase of new football cleats, you should also consider a few other accessories that will prove helpful to have on hand.

Extra shoelaces are a good thing to have in supply in case your current laces break. You want to avoid any tripping hazards during a game or even during practice. Replacement studs are also recommended if you have detachable football cleats.

Finally, shoe protection. Oils and conditioners can be used to clean and protect your cleats from a variety of different weather conditions. The oil in itself can go a long way in making your football cleats much more durable.

Brands and Quality

Another thing to consider when buying new football cleats is the brand. The higher-end brands cater to players of all ages and skill levels and are able to offer affordable cleats that will last. When researching football cleats, you will definitely see a few differences in quality and price as you go through different brands.

Affordable football cleats allow you to achieve lightweight performance and often feature synthetic uppers, rubber molded and configured outsole cleats, and a few to no new technologies or features.

Higher-end cleats, on the other hand, are more expensive. However, they also offer more for the money you are spending. For example, with higher-end and more expensive football cleats, you may find more advanced cleat configurations that offer more for speed and cutting power, a higher-quality leather and synthetic leather uppers, more innovative cushioning systems, and more comfortable ankle support.

So, decide what level of comfort and performance you want as well as what features you are looking for, and that can help you determine your price point and budget.

Football Cleats FAQ

Which cleats are comfortable for extra wide feet?

It’s important that your cleats have a nice, tight fit but you don’t want them to be too tight either.

With wide feet, it can be hard to find that perfect balance of a tight fit without pain.

Some cleats do have special sizing specifically designed for wide feet.

The Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats, the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats, and the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats are the best football cleats for wider feet.

I have flat feet, what should I wear?

Players with flat feet might want to invest in orthotic insoles to make their cleats as healthy and as comfortable as possible.

You should also look for cleats with good anatomic arch support for your foot.

For kids, both the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats and the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats cleats provide excellent anatomic arch support that will work well for those with flat feet as well as those with a higher arch.

People with flat feet also tend to have wide feet, so looking for football cleats designed for wide feet can be a good idea.

Any cleats is best for a wide receiver?

Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats need speed and agility, so you need a cleat that will help you achieve these goals.

This means you’re looking for cleats that are lightweight and provide good lock-down support and ankle support to help you cut across the football field with ease.

Good cleats for wide receivers include the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats, the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats, and the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC cleats.

Any cleats is best for a defender?

Defensive players need a lot of ankle support, a tight fit, and great traction.

The Nike Men’s Force Lunarbeast Elite TD is a good choice since it was designed specifically for defensive positions.

The Adidas Performance Men’s Freak X is another good option for the defensive line.

How about artificial turf?

Molded football boots tend to be better when playing on artificial turf.

All of the cleats on this list will do well on turf.

Which one has the best grip?

Cleats that provide good grip, helping the player really dig into the ground, are safer and help you perform better in the game.

Cleats with really good grip include the Under Armour Men’s UA Highlight MC, the Nike Men’s Lunarbeast PRO TD, the Adidas Performance Freak X Carbon Mid, and the Nike Vapor Carbon Elite TD.

Check out this review of the UA Highlight MC (our top pick for best football cleats):

If you have heel pain, it’s important to get the right fit. It should be snug at the heel, but not painfully rubbing.

You want to look for cleats with enough cushion and support in the back.

The Adidas Performance Men’s Freak X and the Nike Alpha Pro 2 have this extra heel cushioning.

You also might want to consider orthotic insoles, since a flat foot without the right support can lead to heel pain.

Football cleats are just as vital to the safety and performance of a player as the helmet and pads.

Good cleats can help make a good player into a great player.

Have you tried any of the cleats on this list?

What did you think? Leave a comment and let us know. Feel free to ask any questions you might have about cleats as well.