Soccer Cleats 101 Soccer Cleats News and Reviews
Following up on our Cleatology series, we checked in with the team over at the UnprofessionalFoul.com to find out their opinion on everything soccer cleats! ‘The Fans Attic‘, who is a contributor over at Unprofessional Foul, got back to us with the following on his experiences of soccer cleats. Find out what cleats he wore growing up, and what are currently in his bag. Oh and find out what the ‘Kronos’ is!
Full Name: ‘The Fan’s Attic’, contributor to UnprofessionalFoul.com
Tell us a little about the Fan’s Attic?
By day, I am a regular professional and by night I blog about the beautiful game at UnprofessionalFoul.com. Actually, I blog during the day as well to escape the monotony of work. I just hope my employer does not know that I am being so unproductive. Unprofessionalfoul.com is a blog dedicated to all aspects of the soccer world from analysis to zany stories only professional footballers could produce.
When it comes to soccer, what position do you play?
I primarily play defender or outside back. My playing career has consisted of high school and adult recreation leagues, I have been a main staple with my teams!
As a kid growing up, what types of soccer cleats did you wear?
Growing up, I generally received the bargain bin cleats. Not necessarily off-brand shoes like Nikey or Humbro, but certainly the sale items. While the boots I received as a child certainly did not help me ascend the social ladder, the bargain boots made sense when I was outgrowing shoes every six months and my athletic ability was nowhere near the level that I could actually tell a difference between the $100 Copa Mundials or $60 Kaisers. Frankly, I never got anywhere near either of the shoes until I was a teenager.
How often do you play now, and what cleats are in your bag?
I play twice a week–a weekly early Saturday morning pickup game and a weekly team match. I wish I could play more, but soccer does not pay the bills and my body is not what it used to be. The recovery time is slower, my time is limited, my body aches a bit more. I always carry three types of boots–turf, moldeds and replaceable. The screw-ins don’t get used much anymore because the blade boots work quite well in the soft ground. In fact, the replaceable are 10-year-old Puma Kings that are great but certainly could be retired. Thanks to a good hook-up I have mostly Nike equipment these days and my other boots are the Total 90 Laser II. I just got the Nike Zoom 5 T-7 turf shoes but I haven’t played in them yet.
Do you have any memories of specific cleats you wore?
I remember most of the cleats I have worn since high school. I love to try out different cleats and one pair I had in 11th grade I really liked. They were Kronos brand I found at a soccer shop in a town an hour away from me. I have never seen them in a soccer shop before or after. They had full kangaroo uppers, molded studs that were a little longer than normal and fit like a glove. I absolutely loved those boots. The only problem was that the studs weren’t affixed as well they could have been and after 9 months or so the studs started to break off. A damn shame.
What cleats on the market do you like/not like?
I do not have any list of cleats I do not like but I have really come around on the Nike boots. When they first came on the market the shoes were not as good as other brands, but in the past three to five years the shoes have really improved. The Total 90 Laser II is the best shoe I have ever worn. The touch, the grip, everything is great. As it should be for a $200 pair of boots!
From your experience, what is the most important feature of a good cleat?
The most important feature of a cleat depends on the player. Whether you need light shoes for speed, shoes designed for touch, or shoes with great traction, it just depends on your needs. However, the most important thing you need in a shoe is comfort. The shoe has to feel good on your foot. No pressure points from the studs. Minimal rubbing to lessen chances of blisters. If the comfort is right then you can worry about the rest of the shoe.
Thanks for taking the time to chat to us the Fans Attic, we appreciate you taking the time and giving us some great info!
Also Check Out:
Cleatology: The Original Winger
Cleatology: The Fullback Files
