They're your feet!! (Football boots - General)

Member Name: olveston11

Product:	Football boots - General
Date:	17/09/09 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: get what you think are best, they are your feet

Disadvantages: some are expensive

Football boots are always a joy to buy, so many brands, styles, colours nowadays the choice is enormous. However you must get the boots that are right for you. Personally i think there are several key aspects that could effect the type of boots you want/need. These are:

Foot Type
Position
Ground
Personal Preference

Foot Type.

This can have a massive bearing on the type of boots you get, especially the brand. These days retailers tend to split there boots into 3 categories; speed, power and touch/heritage. Speed boots tend to be lighter more agile boots, usually quite long and thin they are generally for people with thin feet. I think the general rule is to add half a size onto your trainer size if you want narrower boots. I am lucky and have fairly narrow feet but know people with wide feet that have tried thin boots and not got on with them at all. Power, these are generally quite wide, standard fitting boots. Generally can be the same size as your trainers. And lastly heritage, these are old school boots which range in size. Usually quite big and bulky they are the same as the trainer size, but some can be found to be slightly smaller and therefore more like speed boots.

Position.

I have found over years of playing that where you play can have a big bearing on the type of boots you buy. Goalkeepers and defenders. These players usually go for big bulky boots that withstand tackles and contact and you can wack a ball with em! Usually power or heritage boots as these are leather. Midfielders, generally midfielders go for power boots, they aren't as bulky as heritage but can give power to pick out passes etc. Some centre midfielders sometimes go for the heritage boots to give them the added support. And quick wingers sometimes go for the speed boot to give them that edge on the wing as not as much defending is needed. I must stress that these are only general choices, of course you can go for different boots i was just saying what generally makes sense.

Ground.

This is obvious, we have 3 types. Hard, Soft and Firm ground. Soft ground, you will encounter these in the winter months, wet muddy pitches suit long metal studs or blades well and give that extra traction. Usually called SG or XTRX boots they are vital for football in England. Firm, you can usually wear soft ground on this surface, its a sort of wet but drying ground. You can wear plastic blades if its more hard than wet. And then hard ground. Definitely not SG's on this surface, in England this is usually pre and end of season in those summer months when the ground is rock hard. You can wear plastic blades on this or buy HG "moulds", these are small rubber studs in mass on the bottom of the boot. You could also wear sporting trainers if its really hard!

Personal Preference.

This is one of the biggest parts of buying boots. Obviously everyone has there preferences with brands etc. You must take into consideration comfort, if they don't feel right you wont play right. Material, leather boots tend to stretch to accommodate your feet and give more protection but plastic or synthetic generally are lighter and mould to your feet tightly. Just personal preference really.

In my opinions good and bad boots; (i am a winger/striker)

Good

Adidas Tunits
Adidas World Cups
Nike Vapors
Adidas Predators
Umbro Classics
Diadora Classics
Puma V1 08


Bad boots

Puma V1 06
Nike lasers
Kelme


Ultimately its all about you. What you feel confident and comfy in, at the end of the day they are your feet and if your not happy with them you wont play to your best ability. Don't worry to much about colour and style just pick what feels right is the best advice i can give! P.s. Look out for bargains online etc as in store boots can be so expensive (try them on in store, see if you like them then buy them online is the best way!)

Summary: enjoy buying them