Soccer Cleats 101 Soccer Cleats News and Reviews
SoccerCleats101 is an independent website designed to help soccer players, young and old, choose the correct soccer cleats or football boots to suit their game. Since starting the website in 2008, our goal has been to be a valuable source of unbiased information.
As a former professional soccer player, I know the importance of finding the right pair of boots (or cleats) that fit well, suit your style and just feel proper comfy. Buying on the Internet can be difficult, especially when you are not sure about how different pairs fit. On this site, you will find a broad range of information on various aspects of each boot on the market, from sizing to technology, performance and general style. This information is not only from my own personal experiences but we also cover views from other professionals in the game.
If you are looking to have a product or soccer cleat tested and reviewed, or want to request a site feature, feel free to send me an email.
Bryan Byrne
Founder & Expert Reviewer
[email protected]
More about me:
Notable Mentions of SC101:
After the Game: Bryan Byrne 07/31/2018
How an ex-MLSer found life after the game 10/11/2016
Kildare Nationalist 8/7/2012
Soccer Training Info 03/10/2011
ScoutMe 07/21/2010
Irish Independant 08/17/2009
Irish Examiner 04/22/2009
Daily Nexus 01/23/2007
F.A.Q – Frequently Asked Questions
How did you become an expert reviewer?
I started the website in 2008, reviewing soccer cleats that I was wearing at the time. Because I played professionally and had contacts within the industry, it made it easier for me to reach out to companies to get more boots for review. Since then, I have continued to produce unbiased and comprehensive reviews that give full details on what to expect from boots. It has taken 3 years of full time work to find success within the industry.
How do I become an expert reviewer?
It takes a lot of time and dedication to make a mark on the industry. My advice is to start a blog and share information on what you know from soccer cleats, share your experiences and knowledge. Look to get your hands on as many pairs as possible for review and as soon as you have a number of reviews built up, reach out to companies to see if they have any interest in you reviewing their products. To start a new blog, check out Blogger or WordPress.
Do you get all your boots for free?
Companies do send out samples in order to have them reviewed, but there are plenty of occasions where I need to purchase boots myself for reviews. There are also times when stores send boots for review in return for a redirect from the review to their product page.
What do you do with all the boots you have?
For the most part, I use them for giveaways or share them with local players that can’t afford new pairs! There are times, of course, when the boots are fully broken in and well used. There are also pairs that I try to wear for several months in order to bring a follow up on the complete durability of the boot.
Can I have some free boots?
Due to the nature of the site and the number of requests I get for free boots, I can not offer any up for free – unless of course you are a giveaway winner!
Disclosure Policy:
*This policy is valid from 06 October 2009
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact [email protected]. This blog does not accept paid topic insertions. However, we will and do accept and keep free products, services, travel, event tickets, and other forms of compensation from companies and organizations in order to provide a valid review through testing. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network.
The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated by any Brand to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement.
To sum up, we do not accept gifts in return for favorable reviews. There are two ways we get cleats to review; either we purchase them, or we are sent them by a retail store. If we like a product we say so, if we don’t then we have no fear to add that opinion. We use affiliate links under each post. These links help us survive, and are a means to generate money in order to purchase more products for review. They also allow you the opportunity to buy the cleats after reading the review.
I live in California, and I know our wise legislature has banned kangaroo leather. I have been wearing Puma Kings for 15 years, and my current pair is wearing out. Do you know if out-of-state vendors are still shipping kangaroo leather to Kalifornia?
Thanks, and Go Gauchos!
BYRNE!!! i love the website…everybody…byrne is legit at soccer…he’ll run by anyone who gets in his waay…he did last night 3-2 vs hollywood united hitment….good job byrne…by the way everybody the nike vapors talarias are just as good as the real vapors…cheaper too
like the concept!
hello bryner. phil fahy here. played wit ya in carlow. cool site man
Hello Bryan
could you contact me have a son going to Fordham on scholarship
I am looking at purchasing the Adidas World Cup SG shoe or the Nike Hypervenom Phantom SG Pro Soccer shoe for my daughter who plays competitive club soccer and high school soccer. We usually have a rainy Spring. A lot of her games are on AG, but there are a lot on grass fields and often the Spring can be very muddy or late fall. Which shoe would you recommend. She normally plays outside forward mid for club and has played mid or defensive mid for high school. She has rolled her ankle a few times and usually in muddy conditions so I wanted to get her a pair of SG shoes to have available for those conditions. She has a pair of copa's that she likes but they seem a bit heavy for her. She also has some Nike Phantoms she likes and Adidas 11 Adidpure, as well as some Adidas Predators. Her foot is finally quit growing for good so I feel the investment if the shoe will last 3 or 4 years at least would be fine and I have found a few good deals with them on sale at the present moment. Thanks
Definitely a good option to consider a pair of SG boots as well as a pair of FG she can wear on artificial turf or firmer natural glass. My advice for the FG would be to get something with a conical stud configuration, as they offer better movement than blades do, and players don't suffer as many ankle injuries. My advice would be consider something like the new Puma King II or the Nike Tiempo Legend. Both are very comfortable and are very suitable for multiple positions. One other boots to consider, if you really want to spoil her, is the Mizuno Morelia Neo. Top quality and I bet she would love the performance!
When is the next cleats giveaway ?
Looking for a good soccer show for my 12 yr old son. He will be playing competitive soccer. He has not played in a year. He played forward, mid and goalee. He has normally worn Nike. Looking to spend between $100 – $150.
Definitely the Mercurial Veloce II from Nike. It provides exactly the same elements as the top end Vapor X at the low price of $130 or even at $70 if you get an older colour. Did I mention that they weigh 6.5 oz?
Quick question, as in several reviews you’ve mentioned custom cleats. I have an extremely wide foot (6e+), much wider than any manufacturer makes, plus short big toes. I’ve sent an email to Cinquestelle, any other actual made-to-measure companies I should try? The market is awash with “custom” boots, but that all seems to be colors, etc. I want them to fit, and I want to get out of my too tight, uncomfortable, crappy New Balance 4e baseball cleats with the toe cleat cut off!!
Thanks!
Jon
I very much enjoy the site and quality of the reviews. I am in the process of replacing a pair of boots and wanted to get your thoughts from a comparative perspective on the new adidas line (Ace and X) vs the nike line (Magista and Superfly IV). Now that my Preditors are no more….
hi bought a pair off boots on the 8/7/15 still waiting on them they were taking from account but have no tracking number, believe it was sent from [email protected]
Hi.
Would you like to publish a paid review of our livescore app called Soccerstand (iPhone/Android)?
Let me know.
Hi, Bryan
You are doing a great job there with reviewing cleats. I have a similar website about cleats, but it is not performing so well as yours.
Great job and hope you can give me some advices!
Kind Regards
Keep up the good work – and creating new content!
I'm having a hard time finding a pair of indoor soccer shoes for my son. He's wearing size 14 and has wide feet, between D and DD, where and which brand sells these size.
That is a tough size to find in soccer shoes – normally brands cut it off at US13. Your best bet is to try search out some Adidas Mundial Goal – they are your best bet!
I am looking for a company to make my son a pair of soccer cleats for the spring season. He is a freshmen at Bondurant high school, and is planning on playing in spring. I know most companies stop making football cleats at size 18, which he wore football cleats last year, cause the biggest size I was able to find for soccer was a 16 brand adidas soccer cleat. I have read many stories of teenagers who have a difficult time finding shoes. This is very frustrating to know that the demand for them is there, but they are unavailable. I have also, heard of stories of parents turning to their local news station for help, or even turning to the NFL. Any advice, on where to look for soccer cleats or get help in this issue would be well appreciated.
Hi bryan,
I really love your website. Maybe we can do a little collaboration in the coming future. I'm the managing director at http://www.sportshoes.com and we are really looking for some specific expertise in the soccer sector.
Feel free to contact me,
Best regards,
Hidde
Hi Bryan, my name is Faiz and i'm from Malaysia.. I was wondering if there are any prizes for the soccercleats101 fantasy premier league group?
When will you do the Umbro Medusae review???
Umbro are not making them readily available in the US, so there probably won\’t be a review of them.
I am looking for a soccer shoe for my 6 year old grandson who wears a size 11.5 little boy’s shoe with a wide width. Can anyone tell me where I might find a pair of soccer shoes, with cleats, for him. I am beginning to think they are non existent.
Thanks so much.
There really aren't a great deal of options for younger kids. A search on amazon will give you the widest selection, something like these might be an option to consider: http://amzn.to/2baqbAJ
Any word on an Evospeed 1.5 FG review?
. We have been dealing with many US /UK brands like Soccer, Rugby, Ice Hockey, American football, Baseball, Basketball, bavarion, Socks, and also maker of sports shirts, trouser, sports uniform. Sports suit, in all kinds of verity and sizes.
you didnt do any info
Greetings Bryan. After reading your page and boot reviews, it seems that boot manufacture leans VERY heavily toward the narrow/tight/skinny form. My shoe size is 9 2E. When trying New Balance soccer line Adazio and Visaro 9 2E and 9 1/2 2E I found they were EXTREMELY narrow (presumably on a different scale altogether to appeal to a narrow foot approaching the fringe of the narrow foot bell curve) to the point they caused significant pain.
My question: Are there ANY manufacturers, preferably available to the U.S. market, that offer a true 9 2E or 9 3E in turf and cleat? Snug is fine, but it should still fit a wide foot without pain.
Thank you.
Tony, Yeah the NB boots have a very odd shape to them. Your best bet is to go with any boot that features a softer upper. Right now, Nike have a lot that use a flyknit upper that stretch easily and they are much more accommodating than other boots. For example, the Magista and Hypervenom boots are very good options!
Hi Bryan
would you recommend using newer FG boots like superfly V or tiempo legend VII on AG fields when its raining? or are AG boots still the way to go in that condition? thanks
Low profile conical is the best way to go if you are looking for a performance boot on artificial surfaces. They give the right amount of grip without causing drag.
Hi I'm Jennifer I was playing soccer in my freshmen and sophomore year and I got hurt last year and I had to throw away my cleats because they were too too small for my feet and now that I'm cleared from the doctor I'm allowed to play and looking for some new pairs that would last until my senior year
Good Job Admin
I would like to play football with very good studs
Can U custom the green Anderson cleats with my name please.