If your child has outgrown their soccer cleats and are in desperate need of a new pair, then you're in luck as we've detailed all of the best soccer cleats for kids.
Having the right cleats can make a huge difference to a player's game, especially if they don't fit correctly or have been worn into the ground. FFT has been dedicating itself to categorizing designs to make cleat shopping easier for you. If you're wanting the best soccer cleats for wide feet, or even the best soccer cleats under $100, then be sure to check out our other reviews.
But here you'll find the best cleats specifically for kids looking to take their game to the next level and emerge a world-beater.
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In implementing a super-thin upper onto the kids version of the Vapor 16, Nike has created something incredibly lightweight. Your child will fly through the air like they're weightless in these cleats.
Best for versatility
With a large, clean striking zone, plenty of space for wide feet and an aggressive stud pattern, the Nike Kids Phantom GX are well-suited for young stars in the making.
Lightweight and of high-quality, the kids version of the Adidas F50 largely resemble what the professionals wear in the elite model. They're super lightweight and offer a great touch.
While certain elements of these cleats seem a little gimmicky, the majority of the Puma Kids Ultra Pro is of good quality and comes at an even better price.
Best lightweight cleats
Tailor-made for all those budding Kylian Mbappes, the Nike Kids Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro provide a true one-to-one sensation between foot and ball, thanks to the brilliant Gripknit upper and sock-like construction - the same materials used on the Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 Elite.
In the adult game, they're the best soccer cleats for speed as well as the best lightweight soccer cleats, with the aggressive soleplate offering great traction for your child to speed away from their opposition defender. The new soccer-specific Air Zoom insert introduced by Nike for the latest generation also means there will be an extra spring in their step when pushing off.
Fortunately, Nike's Speed Cage lining inside the upper ensures this lightweight feeling doesn't come at the expense of stability, providing the perfect level of structure so they can feel supported at all times inside the cleat. They're comfortable, too, with the cushioned insole reducing impact upon landing. A great option for those seeking cutting-edge technology.
Best for versatility
I absolutely love the adult version of the Nike Phantom GX Elite, rating them extremely highly on my list of the best soccer cleats of the year, and the kids Academy version manage to retain the majority of the best aspects of that cleat. Indeed, they're one of the best options if you're in need for a new pair for a young star in the making.
With the dynamic fit collar extending into a ghost lace system that covers the laces, the Phantoms are geared towards a clearer striking surface - great for those wanting the best soccer cleats for strikers. Plus, there's the added advantage that the laces won't come untied during a game, meaning you won't have to redo them for your child mid-match. Let's go!
A mixture of chevron and conical studs provides a balance between aggression and
stability when pushing off at speed, as well as ease when twisting and cutting. There's an agility line that runs through the soleplate, too, helping provide extra stability under foot, while there's plenty of flexibility in the outsole to improve comfort.
Best quality
Cleats for kids are quite often much lower tech versions of their adult counterparts. Kids feet grow quickly and the merits of splurging the kind of money that elite adult cleats cost are limited. With the kids version of the Adidas F50 Elite, though, we have something of a rarity: a junior’s cleat loaded with much of the cutting-edge technology available to the world’s best players.
Built with the brand's super lightweight Aerocage skeleton and the thin, semi-translucent Aeropacity upper, the Adidas Kids F50 Pro are lightweight but with adequate structure. So don't be surprised to see your young star flying away at speed with very little weighing them down - without sacrificing any support.
What's more, the soleplate is the snappy, ultra responsive one that Adidas use across the F50 range. A plastic insert through the midfoot gives it great energy return and a mix of bladed and chevron cleats provides significant traction and aggression.
Best value for money
The Puma Ultra is the brand’s answer to the ‘speed’ cleats offered by Nike (Mercurial) and Adidas (X), and in recent years has developed into a more than viable alternative to these more established models from the two biggest brands.
Puma's offering in the speed cleat market, the Ultra is certainly a viable option to the alternatives offered by Nike and Adidas. The Puma Kids Ultra Pro is yet another significant step in the right direction, too, with Puma's superlight Ultraweave material, a thin, light and remarkably stretchy woven fabric, incorporated onto the upper. It's highly adaptable to foot movements - as evidenced by the fact the material features in some of their team uniforms.
The soleplate is Puma’s Speedplate outsole and is in keeping with the rest of the cleat’s emphasis on speed. Its springy design provides good energy return when pushing off from a standing start, while the mixture of chevron and tristar cleats add significant traction. What's more, they're significantly cheaper than the aforementioned cleats on this list, with a range of colorways also available.
How we test soccer cleats
We put each pair through its paces for several sessions across all surfaces to determine their true level of performance across key factors including comfort, stability, fit and feel. This also allows us to balance them against the claims from brands about new features and technology.
If a brand says that a new aspect of its soleplate means you will be able to push off faster or a new synthetic upper is just as comfortable as leather – we will test to see how accurate this really is.
Each pair is tested by an expert member of the team who lives and breathes soccer cleats, and are therefore able to cut through the marketing minefield and provide simple yet detailed advice for all players regardless of level.
In depth knowledge of the market means that factors that are important to consumers like value for money will always be flagged.
How to choose the best soccer cleats
The soccer cleat market can be a bit of a minefield at the best of times, with an array of options available and brands championing the latest tech that will have you jumping higher, running faster and never miscontrolling a ball ever again.
Ultimately, your choice should come down to what best suits you and your game. Below are some factors to consider when looking for your next pair...
Leather or synthetic
When trying to work out what pair of cleats suits you best the material of the upper is a vitally important factor to consider. There was a time when virtually all cleats were made from natural leather but these materials are slowly being phased out by many brands in favour of man-made options.
However, ample leather options remain. Leather offers a traditional fit, moulding to the shape of your feet. It is also soft, pliable and durable.
Most synthetic uppers will be slightly thinner and offer less padding than their natural leather counterparts. They will, though, offer a much closer connection to the ball with the thinnest synthetics providing a close to barefoot feel.
There is also the option of leather-imitating synthetics that represent a nice in between. These are often more lightweight than natural leather but come with much of the same comfort and pliability.
Styling
This is the area where there is perhaps the greatest range with something for everyone. Most brands will offer pairs that are simpler and more traditional in look and also ones that are flashy and colourful.
Whatever your personality or preference, there are likely many pairs that complement it perfectly.
Soleplate
The soleplate is where the bulk of the technology of a cleat lives, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a pair.
‘Speed’ cleats, such as the Nike Mercurial range, feature responsive, aggressive outsoles with high levels of traction, but more traditional pairs, such as the Copa Mundial or the Nike Tiempo, are slightly lower tech and the soleplates concentrate more on comfort under foot than raw speed.
There is also surface to consider. If you play exclusively on artificial ground then an Artificial Ground (AG) specific soleplate is the best option, whereas if you are playing on turf every week then a Firm Ground (FG) pair is the best bet when it is relatively dry and a Soft Ground (SG) when it is wet or slippery.
Getting the right fit
We would always recommend trying a pair before buying because making sure your cleats are the perfect length and width is key.
Pairs of the same size often vary slightly in length between brands and across models, so it important to try a pair on in order to know whether it is better to go a half size up or down for a particular pair or brand.
Foot shape is highly personal so consider the shape of your feet when looking for a pair. Some cleats are very narrow so will not suit anyone with wide feet and likewise very wide fitting pairs can sometimes feel slightly awkward for those with especially narrow feet.
This is especially important if considering a pair of laceless cleats as the lack of laces means there is very little adaptability – they will either work for your feet or they won’t.
