Players not wanting to be tied down - literally - will benefit from slipping right into a pair of soccer cleats without the need to sort out their laces. The best laceless scocer cleats will help navigate that inconvenience even better.
The right pair of soccer cleats can invariably have a huge impact on a player's game. Fortunately, FFT has been dedicating itself to categorizing every single of the best soccer cleats available on the market, helping make your life so much easier. If you're also looking for the best soccer cleats for comfort, have an eye on the best soccer cleats for flat feet, or even want the best grip socks for soccer, then be sure to check out our other guides.
But here you'll find the best laceless soccer cleats on the market...
The quicklist
A laceless Predator might not feel right for traditionalist lovers of Adidas' flagship model, but the latest iteration of the cleat is truly sublime. This offers the best of Predator in a lightweight design.
Comfortable immediately out of the box, the Tekela V4+ Pro features an improved heel shape that ensures it's even better than the previous model. This also helps slipping into them even easier, too.
The original pioneer of the laceless soccer cleat, Lotto has returned with the masterful Solista 100 VII Gravity. Snug, speedy and a competitive price in comparison to other laceless models.
Returning to a warm reception, the F50 sees improvements made rather than a drastic overhaul. That's a good thing, however, with the laceless version exactly what you'd expect.
Technologically advanced, the F50+ is a step up above even the F50 Elite Laceless - and the price tag certainly shows it. There's plenty to get excited about here, though, with its truly unique design.
Best for style
Adidas took a risk in 2017 when releasing its first laceless Predator, but the 2024 version is quite possibly the best one the Three Stripes has produced. A clear frontrunner among the best Adidas soccer cleats, the Predator Elite laceless is lighter, sleeker and carries an all-round much lower profile than the foldover-tongued Adidas Predator Elite.
Thanks to the lower cut of the laceless Predator, it's now able to compete with the best soccer cleats for speed, too. Indeed, it's one of the best lightweight soccer cleats available on the market right now, with the narrow fit helping contribute to its feather-like feel.
What I truly love about the laceless Predator, though, is that it manages to combine this lightweight feel with all of the hallmarks that made the model so popular in the first place. With rubber striking elements still adorning the cleat, it offers the best of both worlds - and then some.
Best overall
When it comes to laceless soccer cleats, it's difficult to look past the New Balance Tekela V4+ Pro. I found they wrap your foot tightly, helping provide them with the best lockdown available. This helped feel like I had tied my laces as tight as I wanted - though of course I didn't have that option.
New Balance's Hypoknit upper material is also extremely soft and flexible almost immediately, helping make them super comfortable and capable of stretching to the shape of your foot over time. But if you're seeking the best soccer cleats with wide feet, then you're in luck! New Balance also offer a wide fit variation on all of its soccer cleats.
Traction underfoot is also aided by the additional studs dotted around the outside of the cleat. Honestly, these provided my favourite playing experience in laceless soccer cleats.
Best value
Lotto shocked the market when it released the first laceless soccer cleat back in 2006, but it failed to take off in a way the brand would have hoped. The Italian manufacturer hasn't given up in the intervening period, though, this time releasing a no-frills, yet shrewd, design that comes in at a much lower price point than its competitors.
For a cleat focussed on speed, the Lotto Solista 100 VIII Gravity is also comfortable and a suitable option within the best soccer cleats for artificial turf. Comfort is achieved through extra padding inside the boot, which adds only a minimal amount of weight.
Money is also a factor to consider here. Laceless cleats invariably cost more than $250, while the Lotto Solistas can be found closer to the $200 mark - making them the perfect option for players wanting to dip their toes into the laceless experience without shelling out as much as other options cost.
Best lightweight
Offering a minimalist experience for speedy players, the Adidas F50 Elite Laceless just needs to be slipped onto your feet and you'll be away. Extremely similar to the standard Adidas F50 Elite - just without the laces, of course - this variation still features Sprintweb 3D texturing that adds grip while dribbling with the ball, which is actually improved upon due to the laceless design.
They're much more comfortable than other designs Adidas has produced in the past, too, highlighting the brand's focus on perfecting the laceless cleat. Lockdown is decent if not spectular, while underfoot the traction is aggressive thanks to a well-designed soleplate.
I'm a huge fan of this cleat, and can see real promise for future models if Adidas further develop the F50 Elite Laceless.
Best technology
Taking the F50 Elite Laceless to the extreme, Adidas' F50+ is unique and far more technologically advanced than its counterpart - though that's not necessarily a major positive.
The implementation of Lightstrike pro into the soleplate isn't dissimilar to the air zoom unit employed by Nike in some of its models, and creates a super responsive feedback system when sprinting. This does take some getting used to, though, so I certainly wouldn't recommend these cleats if you've never tried a laceless cleat before, either.
I am a fan of the boundaries Adidas is attempting to push here, though, which bodes well for the future of laceless cleats as the brand further looks for innovation.
How we test soccer cleats
Here at FourFourTwo, we take our testing of soccer cleats extremely seriously. Whenever a new cleat is released, we try them on as early as possible, testing them at training, in games or just with our friends. Nobody can 'buy' a good review from us, so everything we say is hoenst and will focus on every aspect that we think is important to provide as much detail as possible.
For this guide, we tested every single laceless soccer cleat available on the market, helping us ascertain which ones we'd actually wear during important game and which ones we'd leave on the sidelines.
How to choose the best soccer cleats
There are a huge range of options to consider when selecting the right pair of soccer cleats. From sizing to design, comfort to lockdown, we believe there's no 'one size fits all' (pardon the pun) approach to choosing the best soccer cleats.
Take what brands say with a pinch of salt - they'll all inevitably champion the latest pieces of technology that will improve performance by 84 per cent, though that's not always the case. Instead, it's best to consider these aspects...
Getting the right fit
The single most important factor to take into account is how a pair of cleats fit. Laceless boots are a lot riskier for players prone to developing blisters, so ensuring they fit correctly first of all is the most important factor. After all, no one wants to be hobbling about the field with blistered feet.
But while you don't want your foot to be sliding around in the cleat, you also don't want it suffocated, either. That's why we'd always recommend physically going into a store and trying cleats on, because that will help give the best indication as to which cleats fit you best and which ones don't.
Styling
Though this is the least important consideration, everyone wants to look good and feel confident when playing soccer. Styling, therefore, is super important - but make sure the cleats actually fit you and are comfortable first.
Plus, there's such a vast array of colorways and designs for each individual model that there'll invariably be something for everybody. And even if there's not, it's certainly not the end of the world. Because if a cleat fits your feet best, what's there to worry about.
