If you are struggling to find soccer cleats that can accommodate your foot shape, wearing the best soccer cleats for flat feet might be a good option.
Having the right cleats can make a huge difference to a player's game, with certain ranges specifically designed for those that require a little additional comfort. FFT has been dedicating itself to categorizing designs to make cleat shopping easier for you. If you're simply looking for the best soccer cleats out right now, or the best cleats for defenders, midfielders, strikers or wingers, be sure to check out our other reviews.
But right here you'll find the best soccer cleats for flat feet...
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World-renowned for putting comfort at the forefront of their products, Skechers' forray into the soccer cleat market has continued. Straight out of the box they feel like slippers, regardless of foot shape.
Flexible throughout the soleplate, the Nike Phantom GX Elite provides the room flat-footed players need to manoeuvre, while also maintaining brilliantly high levels of performance throughout training and games.
A lightweight cleat that has seen great improvements since the last iteration of the model, the Furon V7+ Pro is great for speedsters seeking something that provides aggressive traction. There's a large, clean striking zone, too.
Coming in at a low price point, the Nike Premier III still retains a high quality kangaroo leather upper, which is perfect in conforming to the shape of flat feet. It's comfortable underfoot, too.
Finding a cleat that lasts a long time is often hard to come by in the modern day, with super-thin synthetics often tearing apart after a couple of months. Fortunately, the leather on the 442 Pro is tough-lasting.
The Adidas Copa Mundial is the most iconic soccer cleat of all time for a reason, with the traditional leather upper and no-thrills soleplate having stood the test of time. It's unbelievably comfortable and great for flat feet.
Best for comfort
Skechers dove head first into the soccer cleat market in 2023 with the SKX_01, and has created a surprisingly brilliant option at the first attempt. Coming in both a low cut and high collar option to suit everyone's preferences, the SKX_01 is comfortable straight out of the box and provides a width that is accommodating for a range of different foot types.
Through a low-profile soleplate flat feet are catered for, while the internal chassis under the FitKnit upper allows for an optimized fit that my flat feet had no qualms with. I felt no discomfort immediately after putting these on, nor did I for the multiple sessions I wore them.
Note, that these cleats do have a bit of space in the toe-box area, but not enough to warrant going half a size down. If you’re looking for a cleat the packs a punch all while having the comfort of a running shoe, the Skechers SKX_01 might be the best option.
- Read our full Skechers SKX_01 review
Best cleat overall
The most innovative of the best soccer cleats are often some of the most narrow, but thankfully the Nike Phantom GX Elite doesn't fall into that category. Instead, the highly-advanced cleat offers plenty of room to accommodate players with flat feet through two distinct pieces on the upper. This allows players to slip into the cleat without any problems.
What certainly helps the experience for players with flat feet is the soleplate. With plenty of flexion, I found there's loads of give for my foot to move more naturally with the cleat, while it's a lot flatter to start with than other options. While some might find this to be a bit too much, I personally really liked it and believe it's an excellent feature to help flat-footed players excel.
- Read our full Nike Phantom GX Elite review
Best for speed
The successor to the Furon V7, the Furon V7+ has gotten even better, with New Balance making minor improvements everywhere on the cleat.
When it comes to the fit of the cleats, they're truly unique. I found that going true to size meant there wasn't an inch of space, fitting like a vacuum as a result. Where these really suit flat feet, though, is that these come in a wide fit variation, with both options offering offset lacing and cored-out canopy. These factors help to create comfort in the midfoot around the arch, while also providing a much larger area for controlling and striking the ball.
The hypoknit upper is also soft and pliable, providing some give for your foot to adjust to the shape of the cleat when on foot.
- Read our full New Balance Furon V7+ Pro review
Best value for money
Featuring a kangaroo leather upper, the Premier will stretch and form to the shape of your foot over time, providing a buttery-soft, comfortable fit – perfect for those who have flat feet. It also helps provide a cushioned touch on the ball, due to the padded feel.
Also built for long-lasting durability and comfort, the short round conical studs eliminate any chance of stud pressure, while still offering a good level of traction and stability with the playing surface. The shape of the studs, even though they are meant for turf pitches, could allow you to get away with wearing them on artificial surfaces, too.
I found the low-profile nature of the Premier to be especially accommodating for flat feet. The simplicity of the cleat, and less emphasis on modern technology ensured comfort remained of paramount importance.
Best for durability
Comfort is the key recipient of praise when trying the New Balance 442 V2 Pro. These cleats are sturdy, offer a flatter foundation for all foot types and fit nice and snug.
This is what all soccer cleats used to feel like: soft leather slippers that could blast a rain-soaked ball into the upper 90 with might. Yet with the color choices, the new lowercase New Balance logo on the heel and the ridged material around the ankle, these things feel not like relics of the past but callbacks, perfectly suited to soccer in 2023. New trends may come and go – but the 442 always has a place in the game. But you'd expect to hear that from FourFourTwo, right?
Finally on these, the soft kangaroo leather upper offers a cushioned touch on the ball, while the grippy suede lining and inner cushioned pillows will help provide an effortless fit.
- Read our full New Balance 442 V2 Pro review
The Adidas Copa Mundial has a flatter soleplate than any of the best soccer cleats on the market, meaning they're ideal if your feet require a more level surface to perform at their best.
Iconic and built for comfort, everyone I know that has worn these cleats say they offer the most comfortable playing experience available – and that's no different for those with flat feet.
With the kangaroo leather upper stretching to the exact shape of your foot, alongside the EVA foam insole, getting grief from your dropped arches shouldn't prove too much of an issue in the Copa Mundials.
I love the soft, cushioned touch that the upper provides, with the kangaroo leather offering both padding and the ability to stretch to your exact foot shape. This eliminates any danger of your dropped arches causing too many problems, because I've worn these for years and have never had a problem in them.
How we test soccer cleats for flat feet
Here at FourFourTwo, our cleat testing procedure is all about getting cleats on our feet and personally trying them out as many times as possible. One of our experts is well-versed in trying to find the right cleats for flat feet, with their dropped arches having caused various problems over the years. Each pair has been tested over a number of weeks, in various playing conditions, in order to get a proper idea of what they're like on a soccer pitch.
This is the best way to find out if cleats are better suited for firmer or softer ground, what level of traction they offer and how else they're geared towards improving a player's game. We're passionate about soccer cleats and regularly attend launch events, testing days and Q&As to get as much information as possible from manufacturers and designers before we begin.
All of our reviews are honest (despite working with brands, nobody can "buy" a good review from us) and we always have real soccer players in mind when giving recommendations.
How to choose the best soccer cleats
Finding the right soccer cleat can prove a difficult task in the modern day, with each brand claiming they've created something with the best technology humanly possible. What we've tried our best to do, however, is cut through the marketing jargon right to the core of what each cleat is like.
Each individual will have preferences, though, so ultimately it is up to you what you choose. Whether that's based on fit, feel or even looks, there are multiple different factors to consider when making your next choice.
Leather or synthetic
When it comes to flat feet, leather options are generally safer. That's because they offer slightly more support across your entire foot than the lightweight, minimalist designs often seen on synthetic boots, ensuring your flat feet don't become an issue.
Plus, the leather is more likely to conform to the shape of your foot, helping to eliminate any issues you might have with your lack of arch. This means you are less likely to get injured.
Synthetic options can work well, however - it just depends on the shape of the cleat and what support is offered through the soleplate. Skechers, for example, is a brand synonymous with comfort in the everyday shoe market, and have managed to transfer that expertise into their soccer cleats.
Styling
There are a number of great options available on the market, but that doesn't necessarily mean every cleat is suitable for players with flat feet. It's best, therefore, to focus on the correct fit and feel first, before worrying about the aesthetic you're preferring.
Indeed, brands release multiple colourways of each cleat these days, meaning you're never short of options with whatever style of soccer cleat you choose.
Getting the right fit
We'd always recommend trying a pair on before buying if you have flat feet, otherwise you risking spending a lot of money on something that doesn't even work with your foot type. Finding out how they fit in person is much better than trying to guess online, especially when the market is littered with so many options that could see you make the completely wrong decision.
Sizing often varies between brands, too, with Adidas US 8 soccer cleats differing to what a US 8 from Nike fits like. Before parting with your hard-earned money, it's always wise to try every pair on in person.
