Quick players looking for the best soccer cleats for speed should look no further - because I've got you covered.
Lightweight cleats are of paramount importance to anybody wanting to improve their speed, with thin uppers and minimalist soleplates shaving off any extra weight to really heighten that barefoot playing experience.
And while there's a range of best soccer cleats around, with plenty of options for defenders, midfielders, wingers, strikers and even players with wide feet, pace and lightweight isn't the primary concern of those guides. Instead, here you'll find the best soccer cleats for speed, meaning you'll have to look no further.
The quicklist
One of the thinnest cleats any player could wish to wear, the brand’s aeropacity speedskin allows for the perfect barefoot feel. This gives a light structure, allowing the player the ability to hit top speed at a rapid rate. Adidas' aerocage skeleton design combines comfort with a featherweight feel.
The lightest Mercurial cleats to date remove the barrier between ball and foot. Nike’s air zoom technology gives breathing room, while the Vaporposite+ material combines means you'll still be quick off the mark when chasing down a loose ball.
If cleat comfort is a prerequisite the Skechers Razor is something of a must. Perfect for those needing a wider fitting, yet not compromising on lightness, the brand continues to offer a viable alternative to traditional manufacturers.
Combining comfort, traction and flexibility the Furon V7+ Pro is the new market leader. The latest Hypoknit material make this a standout option for those chasing top speed.
With Puma's Ultraweave material used to create a thin and lightweight upper, these cleats combine comfort and solidity. Perfect for those who wanting sharp touches when changing pace.
If you’re looking for a new option in the speed category, the Alpha from Mizuno could be well worth a try. Particularly if you’re after structure and flexibility whilst maintaining a slim, lightweight feel.
Best barefoot feel
The Adidas X Crazyfast+ is the top of the range ‘speed’ cleat currently available
from the Three Stripes, sitting above the Crazyfast.1 and laceless variation. The current cleat of choice for the likes of Mohamed Salah, Ousmane Dembele and Gabriel, it has an extremely lightweight build and aggressive traction, making them perfect for speed demons.
With the upper constructed with the brand’s aeropacity speedskin, a semi-translucent mesh covered with a thin film, the Crazyfast+ is one of he thinnest and lightest cleats you are ever likely to wear. This is reinforced using what Adidas calls an aerocage skeleton, providing some structure without adding much weight, which maintains that barefoot sensation without any feeling like anything is stopping you from reaching top speed. However, I found there's still a lack of structure that could pose a problem for some players, which also contributes to the folding and bulging in certain areas of the cleat.
Under foot, the cleat boasts one of the most aggressive soleplates on the market, with chevron studs making up the forefoot and midfoot, while in the heel area bladed studs feature. The level of traction offered by this configuration is perfect for a cleat built for speed, and is elevated through the plastic insert running through the middle of the outsole to provide an energy return that is unrivalled.
As the name suggests, the speed cleat category is one with pairs that have speed
as a primary concern and whose features are then built around this. Even within
this category, the X Crazyfast+ stands out as something that is willing to sacrifice all else in the pursuit of pure speed, with there being almost nothing to the upper aside from very thin synthetic material – even the laces are thin.
Best for speed
A cleat that has long been the most popular in the speed category, the Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite is often at the very cutting edge of technology, setting trends that the rest of market follows. For the Superfly 9, the most interesting piece of tech added for the latest iteration is a soccer specific air zoom insert in the soleplate. Nike’s air zoom technology has been used in their cleats in the past, but this is the first time that it has been tailor made for use in a soccer cleat. The result is a noticeable extra spring when taking off, and is something that I found sets the Mercurial apart from its rival in the speed category.
The upper is made up of Nike’s Vaporposite+ material, an upgraded version of the grippy mesh found in the previous Mercurial generation, which, as you might expect, is a wafer thin, lightweight material that creates very little in the way of a barrier between foot and ball.
When it comes to the soleplate, there's a mixture of tristar and bladed studs that provide a good level of bite when taking off and building speed, making the cleat perfect for those looking at every single detail they can to improve their speed. I personally felt an extra spring while wearing these, with the responsiveness as good as anything I've tried before. In all, it's never been a bad idea to consider a Mercurial when looking for a speed boot and with the Nike Mercurial Vapor 15 and Superfly 9, this is certainly still the case.
Best for comfort
Skechers' first attempt in the speed cleat category, the Razor matches up to its rivals excellently - in particular, it outperforms all of them when it comes to comfort. The brand also continues to slowly build its roster of recognisable stars with West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus recently making the switch into the Razor, highlighting how this brand is fast becoming a main competitor to the big boys in the market.
But while the comfort is great, perhaps the star of the show is the Skechers Razor's upper. The forefoot is made up of an ultra-soft synthetic reminiscent of that used on the legendary Nike Mercurial Vapor 10, providing wonderful comfort and a soft touch on the ball. The upper then transitions around the midfoot into a knit that makes up the rest of the boot towards the heel, which is constructed brilliantly, in my opinion.
While most speed cleats tend to fit more snugly, the Skechers Razor is much more accommodating for those with wide feet, too, as the brand appears to be attempting to carve out a niche within the speed cleat category with a wider fitting, more comfortable alternative. This does not come at the expense of the lightness that is expected from a speed cleat as the Skechers Razor is also extremely lightweight.
The stud pattern on the soleplate is very aggressive, consisting entirely of chevron studs for the traction needed when taking off at high speed. It also features a carbon fibre insert for that extra bit of stability and responsiveness. In terms of the latter, it does lack a little in this regard compared to other speed cleats, with Skechers opting for more flexibility as part of a greater emphasis on comfort. Disappointingly, there is no dedicated AG or SG option for the Skechers Razor at the moment, though.
Best overall
As the name suggests, the New Balance Furon V7+ Pro is a slight update on the Furon V7 – but a slight update is all that was needed on what was already one of the best speed cleats available. New Balance has a very strong claim to having the best current roster of cleats outside of Nike and Adidas, with Hypoknit material my favourite knit upper of all brands.
The one-piece construction with a knitted upper has been a popular formula amongst brands for several years and the quality of these knitted materials is generally good without any necessarily standing out dramatically. With the Hypoknit material that forms the upper of the Furon V7+ (and the Tekela V4+), New Balance may have just have that standout, though. Wonderfully comfortable straight from the box and requiring no break-in time, the Furon V7+ Pro is soft, flexible and completely faithful to all of the movements of your feet. It is also thin and allows you to feel completely at one with the ball.
Traction is aided by the aggressive soleplate, which features heavily angled chevron studs throughout for a level of traction that is essential for a good speed cleat, while the outsole is responsive while also possessing flexibility where needed.
One slightly awkward aspect that buyers should be wary of is sizing. I would recommend going at least a half size up for the Furon as the sizing is different to
most other brands on the market. Finding your perfect size may prove a little more difficult as I felt that my best fit would probably have been somewhere between a half size and full size up but settled for the half size increase on my usual.
Best for touch
Now an established name in the speed cleat category after a run of very good models, the Puma Ultra Ultimate represents an ideal option for those wanting a pair that complements pacey play and with sharp touches on the ball.
With the upper constructed using Puma's Ultraweave material, the same material used on the brand's soccer jerseys, it's clear just how thin and lightweight the cleats truly are. Pwrtape technology has now also been added to the Ultra upper to provide support in key areas and can be felt on foot, which is something I especially noticed as I had great lockdown while sprinting.
On the soleplate, there's plenty of responsiveness through the chevron studs and stiff mid-section, however, despite being advertised as FG/AG, this is definitely not a plate suitable for artificial ground and it would perhaps be better if this was classified as simply an option for firm ground. The aggressive traction on the Ultra means using this on AG comes with risk of injury, meaning the MG option of the Puma Ultra Ultimate is a much safer alternative for those looking to try the Puma Ultra on artificial surfaces.
Best for build quality
The Made in Japan range from Mizuno is home to some of the very best quality
boots on the market, but, due to the brand’s smaller presence in Europe, these
are not as commonly seen on pitches outside of Japan. The Alpha, Mizuno’s synthetic speed cleat offering, has a legitimate claim to be as good or better than anything else available in this category and is more than worth a try for anyone looking for something a little different to their usual.
One thing that is guaranteed with a pair of Mizuno MIJ and present in the Alpha is build quality. The thinness and lightness of the cleat does not come at the expense of any structure or comfort as the quality of the materials used can be felt from the moment you put these on. The soleplate features triangular studs in a configuration that provides a good level of bite when pushing off.
Mizuno have utilised the Enerzy foam seen on the brand’s running shoes to aid energy return to add to the responsiveness of the Alpha outsole, but the price is possibly the biggest drawback as these retail for significantly more than any other cleat in this category.
The Mizuno Alpha Made in Japan should be high on the list of anyone looking for
a slim, lightweight pair that keeps structure and comfort high on its list of
priorities. This is a very expensive cleat in a market of very expensive cleats, but
such is the quality of the Alpha that it is very unlikely that anyone who does take
the plunge will regret their choice.
How we test soccer cleats
With an abundance of experience in testing soccer cleats, our expert reviewers put each and every pair on the market through their paces across training sessions, games and kickabouts. They focus on key factos, such as comfort, fit, feel and stability, as well as how quick they were underfoot.
The testers are able to cut through the marketing jargon straight to the crux of the detail, with their simple yet detailed advice suitable for players of all levels.
Factors that are important to consumers will be flagged through our in-depth knowledge of the market.
How to choose the best soccer cleats
There are so many soccer cleats available nowadays, that it's a minefield attempting to navigate all of the options. Each brand will always champion the latest tech, but that doesn't necessarily mean any of it will work as well as intended.
Therefore, it's best to consider what suits your game the best, though ultimately it's down to personal preference. There are a few key things to consider when looking to purchase your next cleats, though...
Getting the right fit
Before worrying about anything else, whether that be aesthetics, models or stud configuration, the main thing to focus on and concern yourself with is finding a pair of cleats that fit your feet perfectly.
For that, we'd recommend heading into a local soccer cleat store and physically trying on as many models from as many different brands as possible, helping you to ascertain what is the most comfortable cleat for your feet. Because it's no use having the lightest cleats available when they give you blisters and cause you agony for every 90 minutes you put them on.
Leather or synthetic
While leather has become a more lightweight option in recent years, synthetic is still the way to go for players looking for speed cleats. Leather is generally bulkier and more padded, while synthetic cleats offer a thin, close feel to the ball - shaving off as much weight in the process as a result.
Soleplate
Aggressive stud patterns are great at helping with speed, because they provide better traction when pushing off or twisting and turning direction. Make sure you're using the cleats on the intended surface, though, otherwise you risk injury.
Firm ground cleats, for example, aren't suitable for artificial ground because the studs can often get caught in the turf, leaving you at greater risk of twisting your ankle or knee in the process.
