How to Choose the Best Football Boots in 2025
January 30, 2025 / ASICS Australia
You may be concerned about the heel height on the boot, the outsole and type of studs best for different surfaces, or the overall weight affecting your performance. All are important elements to explore when selecting the best football boots for comfort, performance, and to assist in the prevention of injury on field. Read below to learn how to find the right boots for you.
How Do You Choose the Right Football Boots?
When selecting the right footy boots for you, there are some boot features that you will need to assess. Start by looking at the heel on the boot, a raised heel is an important feature developed to help prevent injury. Next look to the outsole, the boot upper (the material that goes over the top of the foot), and finally the width of the football boot.
1. Look for Raised Football Boot Heel to Help Prevent Injuries
The first and most important factor is to pick a boot with a raised heel to keep you playing longer and help reduce injury by taking stress off the lower limbs of the leg. By choosing ASICS football boots you are straight away accessing the great technical features of HG10MM or HG5MM found in many of our football boots.
HG10mm (10mm) or HG5mm (5mm) is a Heel Gradient (or rise) which can help alleviate stress on the lower limbs. Compared to most in the market which have ‘zero’ heel raise which tend to put stress on lower limb structures when you play.
2. Choose the Right Football Boot Studs and Outsole for Good Grip and Comfort
Next look at what type of studs and outsole you need, including whether you should opt for moulded or screw in studs. As most grounds are harder in Australia than conditions elsewhere in the world, 95% of football boots sold in the Australian market feature moulded studs. ASICS uses many variations of moulded stud shapes and design layouts for good grip and comfort. For use on softer grounds there are limited screw in models for all codes, and screw in type exclusive models for use by rugby union scrum players.
The number of studs and their configuration on football boots is important to performance on field too. As Australian conditions tend to have harder grounds, more studs can help spread the load across the whole base of the foot. Smaller round studs will grip well and release well especially in the forefoot, while large studs or even ‘cleat’ types of studs are used in the heel to give more defined grip and help stabilise the heel.
A shorter length stud will also add to the comfort level on hard grounds and the type of material of the outsole also helps with better comfort. Materials such as a polyurethane outsole will give more comfort than nylon, but nylon will be slightly lighter.
3. Consider Which Football Boot Upper Material Best Fits Your Needs
ASICS utilises natural kangaroo or calf leathers as well as synthetic materials in their football boots. Natural fibers are strong, but it is the feeling and touch of the natural fibers that is the big difference to synthetics. Some higher-grade synthetics can be useful in wetter conditions as an option to the natural fibers. If feeling the ball on your foot is important to you, nothing is better than leather and in particular kangaroo football boot upper as it is much thinner than calf leather, giving you closer contact with the ball.
Are Leather Football Boots Better Than Synthetic?
Leather or synthetic? While the fibers of each material provide different benefits, it often comes down to preference, with both leather and synthetic options available in the ASICS range.
The main benefit of a natural leather upper is the structure can never be replicated by synthetics. The flexibility and breathability of the material allows great fit around the foot and a more sensitive feel of the ball on your foot. No synthetic can replicate that ‘feel’ and comfort of leather.
The main benefit of a synthetic upper is water repellence for wetter or muddier regions. Where a leather boot may absorb the moisture, a synthetic boot will repel this, keeping you comfortable in wet conditions and drying out quicker than a natural leather.
4. Pick Football Boot Widths Specific to Australia to Lessen Discomfort
Many football boots available in Australia are made for international markets, with a narrow boot design. While this might be suitable for some people, if your boot is too narrow, it may cause discomfort and increase the risk of injury. By choosing ASICS you will get a boot designed with unique technical features for the Australian market and the Australian foot shape. The foot shape ASICS build the boot around is derived from our extremely popular running shoes, making our football boots suited to the Australian foot shape.
Selecting Football Boots Based on Playing Conditions
The turf you play football on can have a substantial impact on the boots needed, with some players opting to have a different pair of boots for different playing conditions. If you’re looking to purchase a single pair of boots for frequent use, thinking about the fields you play on most often can help you get the best boots for your requirements.
Which Football Boots Are Best for Playing on Real Grass?
Natural turf can give when sodden and this is where stud configuration and shape are super important. A rule of thumb is to look for a football boot with fewer studs that will enable better grip and less mud retention when playing on real grass.
We have found at ASICS that cylindrical shaped studs grip well and then release when change of direction is needed at propulsion. Stud shapes that can ‘over-grip’ have come into the market recently. These designs tend to cause extra strain on lower limb structures and may cause injury issues when change of direction is needed.
Natural turf conditions in Australia are different to the rest of the world and the type of material used in footy boot outsoles is important for Australian players, with moulded type outsoles more suited.
Recommended ASICS football boots for playing on grass:
Which Football Boots Are Best for Playing on Synthetic / Fake Grass?
Synthetic pitches with synthetic or fake grass tend to be built on a hard base, less likely to become sodden like a natural turf surface, and unlikely to shift or move underfoot. This harder surface creates a more prominent force coming back onto a player’s leg as they play. If you tend to play on a synthetic pitch frequently, it could be beneficial to look for a football boot that has more studs. A greater number of studs can help spread the force from a harder surface.
It can also be beneficial to look for a football boot with cylindrical shaped studs. These tend to work better as the pile of synthetic grass can intertwine with the studs of non-cylindrical shapes and hold the foot in the ground during rotation movements, which may limit natural foot movements and increase the risk of injury. Cylindrical stud shapes release better in these rotational movements and may assist your natural foot movements on synthetic turfs.
For synthetic turf, the best is to find an outsole with many smaller stud configurations, so the load is spread across the foot. Due to the lack of penetration into the surface, it is best to use lower stud height boots.
Recommended ASICS football boots for playing on synthetic grass:
Is There a Difference Between Football Boots for Men and Women?
Men’s and Women’s feet have different requirements, with some technically advanced brands developing shoes for each gender. The same is true for football boots. However, it can be much more difficult to find a football boot developed for women. ASICS has recognised the unique needs of women’s feet, developing football boots for women with the support of our medical partners here in Australia, catering to the ever-growing cohort of players.
ASICS women’s football boots cater for the smaller women’s shape that is required as compared to a men’s. The toe box has been redesigned and the instep of the shoe is a smaller circumference to allow for better fit in the heel. The main aspect of this development was to reduce movement inside the shoe and especially heel slippage, to provide a well fitted boot for your foot.
1. SWIFT STRIKE
For Speed
Turf Suitability: Grass and Synthetic Pitches
Designed for Football players looking for a lightweight, fast boot. A close to ground feel provides footballers excellent agility and movement to win more time on the ball.
For Control
Turf Suitability: grass pitches
Good for players who want a lightweight football boot featuring an ultimate lightweight nylon outsole, with a full kangaroo upper for great feel of the ball and overall comfort.
For Control
Turf Suitability: grass and synthetic pitches
Design that provides better support for players that like to feel the ground underneath them, and feel the ball come off the boot.
4. MENACE 4
For Speed
Turf Suitability: grass and synthetic pitches
Good for players who play on hard surfaces in wet conditions frequently and want a lightweight, quick drying boot.
For Speed
Turf Suitability: grass and synthetic pitches
Good for players who want a comfortable lightweight football boot design. The Lethal Flash IT 2 is suitable for playing on all turf surfaces, with a calf leather toe box in the up
Article Written By:
Dr Chris Bishop PhD
Podiatrist
Fellow – Australasian Sports Medicine Federation
Director of Biomechanics – The Biomechanics Lab