Having the best football boots for astro turf can be the difference between you scoring that last minute winner at 7-aside on a Monday night - and the difference between going injury-free or snapping your knee ligaments.
That's because football boots for astro turf are specially designed to ensure your feet don't get caught in the ground while twisting and turning, limiting the chances of you injuring any ankle or knee ligaments. They're a whole lot different to boots made for grass, because FG boots often feature bladed studs that put players more at risk.
Fortunately, some of the best football boots around have been adapted into astro turf versions, with Nike, Adidas, Puma and Mizuno all making waves in these 'turf wars.
So regardless of whether you're looking for the best football boots for defenders, are in need of the best football boots for wide feet, or are simply after the most comfortable football boots, you'll still need the best football boots for astro turf if you want to perform at your best on astro.
The quicklist
Nike's clever use of the Gripknit technology surrounding the upper make this boot perfect for controlling a powerful pass. Hollow studs also ensure safety at all times on astro.
The Predator Elite AG remain in a league of their own when it comes to comfort. Even on those hard astro pitches during the depths of winter, these boots will feel snug and secure.
Puma have created a boot that offers shape and solidity for the astro surface, yet still with a flexible structure making them ideal for players with a wider foot.
An intelligent, lightweight design from Mizuno make these perfect for speedy wingers looking to reach to speed on astro surfaces. Manages to retain durability.
If your game is all about running at players and changing direction with a drop of a shoulder, these boots are perfect for dribbling. Excellent barefoot feeling will help users caress the ball.
With a similar stud configuration to the grass surface version, the Tiempo Legend retains the comfort, style and support that have made it a legendary design.
Best for control
My favourite football boot from the past few years was the Nike Phantom GX Elite, so when the model got an upgrade and a refresh, I simply had to test them out. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.
Controlling the ball was made so much easier by the Gripknit covering the entirety of the upper, a real benefit on artificial grass due to its propensity to make the ball a bit sticky and your touch that bit more difficult. This grip is also essential for manouevering the ball, because its movements can sometimes be more unnatural to what players experience on grass pitches.
The soleplate for all Nike AG models features a plethora of conical studs all hollowed out to reduce pressure on your feet and make twisting and turning safer and easier.
Best for comfort
With barely any difference to the Adidas Predator Elite FG, the AG version is undoubtedly one of the best choices on the market. They do offer slightly more support and reinforcement, though, in order to be better suited for artificial ground, highlighting the efforts Adidas has gone to ensure there's limited difference in the crossover between options.
The primeknit collar is comfortable to play in on artificial grass, acting as a seamless transition from sock to boot, while the soleplate's specific construction alleviates pressure from the harder surface. This, in turn, boosts the performance levels of the Pedator Elite AG, making them more comfortable an option to play in that the FG version on artificial grass.
Best for wide feet
Offering plenty of support on the upper, through Puma's Pwrtape designed to hug the top of the foot, the Future 7 Ultimate also has a grippy texture on the upper to make dribbling easier for wingers, and passing better for midfielders.
There's a great structure about the boot, too, reducing pressure through the joints and making them suitable for wide feet. However, the soleplate does need some improvement: there are a lot of studs compared to other AG models on this list, meaning traction didn't deliver in quite the same way, while turning and pushing off didn't quite provide as much feedback as I would like.
Best for speed
Featuring premium materials and a structured design that focuses on both comfort and being lightweight, Mizuno has created a truly brilliant boot with the Alpha Elite. Indeed, plenty of thought has been put into the upper, which is made from five layers to make playing on artificial surfaces easier and safer, all while making the boots more durable.
But while these are safe, the soleplate doesn't quite have the same impact on performance levels. With shorter conical studs, responsiveness wasn't quite as I would have hoped, though lateral movements seemed OK.
With a conventional tongue, these are also suitable for players with wide feet, while the upper does provide some stretch, too.
Best for dribbling
Retaining the lightweight design that has made them so popular, not just among wingers and strikers, the Vapor AG feature slightly more structure than their grass alternatives.
Dribbling can sometimes be more difficult on artificial surfaces, but the Nike Mercurial Air Zoom Vapor 15 Elite helps mitigate any struggles through the grippy surface and barefoot feeling they provide.
While the grass version of the Vapor 15 features super aggressive studs, the AG version of the boot opts for a safer conical stud, aiding in twisting and turning on the field. However, the lack of aggressiveness from the soleplate doesn't diminish the boot's responsiveness, with smaller blades on the outsole providing plenty of traction. In fact, there was barely any difference between feeling from grass to artificial grass, which can only ever be a positive, largely in part thanks to the Air Zoom unit incorporated.
Best for overall
The Nike Tiempo Legend 10 Elite AG offers a consistent level of performance to the grass version of the boot, thanks to the stud configuration remaining largely the same and the upper having just a few minor alterations to increase their durability.
Defenders and midfielders looking for more comfort and protection will enjoy these boots the most, because I found the upper provides extra cushioning for my passing and touches. I did enjoy running on artificial grass in the Tiempos, too, with the hollow studs helping to alleviate the pressure through my legs.
How we test football boots for artificial grass
An expert member of our team takes each pair of football boots through a rigorous testing process, helping provide them with enough information to determine the true performance levels of each boot. On this occasion, our tester wore each pair on a number of occasions during their 5-aside and 11-aside matches on artificial grass, giving them a clearer picture of what did and didn't work.
Key factors our testers always consider are comfort, stability, fit and feet, though on this occasion they also took into account how safe they felt on artificial grass, and simply what their performance was like on the surface, too.
How to choose the right football boots
Each brand claims that they've developed the best technology that will transform your game - though 99 times out of 100 that's not the case. Navigating the market, therefore, can be tricky, but thankfully we've done as much of the leg work to help you in your decision.
Your choice needs to take into account what suits you best and works best with your game. But there are still some important things to consider when making your decision...
Getting the right fit
We've all been there, finding what we think are the perfect football boots only to find that they don't fit, the material creates blisters on your feet and you're dreading putting them back on again.
So, if you can, we'd always suggest people go to a shop that sells football boots and try them on in person, because then they'll have a better idea of what works with their feet, what doesn't, and which model is best-suited for the surface and style they want.
Styling
While getting the right-fitting football boot is of paramount importance, choosing the style and colour you want that boot in can be just as important mentally to how you perform. Each model of boot now regularly comes in a range of different colourways, meaning there's always something to suit each individual. But don't be alarmed if there isn't, what matters is that what you're wearing on your feet is the most optimal to help you perform to your absolute maximum.
