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As artificial turf has become more affordable, more youth and school football leagues have installed the fake grass because it saves money from the ongoing need to water, mow, and maintain grass. Since all football cleats are not made for every surface, we spent some time trying to help young football players (and parents) with choosing cleats for turf fields.
We go over who needs football turf shoes, how to look for the right pair, and which might be best depending on a player’s position or style of play. For parents, we give insight into certain models ~ and we always present at least a single model on a budget.
We conclude with a special “extra insight” section which you might find, well, insightful. Happy shopping!
Summary
- The Nike Vapor Edge Turf Men’s Football Shoe tops our list with a nice slew of features that just rises this model above the competition.
- To go with a pair of cleats that are okay anywhere, check out the Mizuno Ambition 2 All Surface (AS) Turf Shoe. This model is good for grass or turf gridiron fields.
- This brand is preferred by a lot of pro players, and we suggest the all-inclusive football training shoe Under Armour Men’s Charged Commit Tr 3 Cross Trainer.
- Need a turf cleat designed for big and heavy linemen? Then Nike Force Savage Elite 2 Td Men’7 Football Cleats is for you.
- Dig how this brand still delivers coolness with the Puma Men’s King Top TT Sneaker ~ which plays well, as well. After all, sometimes looking cool on the field is a top priority.
- The Ziitop Men’s Football Cleats may be affordable with a no-frills appearance, but users say it performs plenty well. It’s our choice for football turf shoes on a budget.
- Adult men or women just getting into football play, whether the touch, flag, or even tackle variety, should look at the Adidas Goletto Turf Shoe. This model is on the affordable size, all the while maintaining a certain coolness in its look.
Who Needs Turf Shoes for Football?
Any football player who knows multiple games during a season will be played on artificial turf should have great interest in turf cleats, often simply called turf shoes. Why?
Mainly it’s for speed. Artificial turf is known to speed up players and the game; while natural grass fields allow cleats to sink deeper, and add moisture and it slows players ability to run and move fast.
Regular football cleats have thick round spikes, of varying depth. Some screw off so players can adjust the depth depending on height of grass on a field, or moisture from rain or snow. Problem is, they were not designed specifically for play on turf; those spikes might just be too long.
So for football players to excel on the synthetic grass, they have to keep up with the competition.
Artificial turf does not deep penetration of long, thick football spikes into the soil like grass does. Therefore many players can get away with playing in what look like simple cross-training shoes.
Players of certain positions, however, should pay close attention to details of turf models. Namely, linemen, who must have sure feet while they block other (large and strong) linemen, or be the dudes who charge forward against those guys.
While most people associate line play with sheer size, a lot of speed and balance goes into good line play. Linemen need footwear they can trust to dig in and hold ground (on grass), or not slide or slip (any surface).
Wide receivers and defensive backs are more likely to care about a light weight. Speed is the name of the game for these fellows. Kickers must have a top front side comfortable enough to kick balls off.
What to Look for in Buying Football Turf Shoes
For young football players, parents who finally realize their kid probably needs more than a single pair of cleats probably immediately think about the cost.
With that in mind, below we present turf shoes in a range of prices ~ and even a couple of models not necessarily made specifically for football, but could still work.
Here are things to research before you start looking for football turf shoes:
- Know the rules of the league to be played in. Some may outlaw certain models of shoes. Do they allow use of turf shoes made for soccer?
- Know the surface of the home field your team will play on, plus the surface of all the other fields in the league.
- If your league has artificial turf, try to find out what kind ~ the brand, style, length of blades, etc. As with natural grass, not all turfs are the same nor play the same.
- Try to find a pro stadium with the same type of turf, and check out which shoes those players wear.
- See how much “spike” (or spiky surface) on turf shoes of the pros. For old-school AstroTurf, the surface was so hard and the blades so low, tennis shoes could have been used; new turfs better emulate real grass and will need at least something to help with traction.
- Try to know your team’s colors, in case the model you like has options for colors or color combos.
- Know your league’s atmospheric situation, whether it’s humid and wet all the time, or hot and dry. This could dictate how much mesh should be in the shoes, or other features to let out the steam.
Our Choices: Best Turf Shoes for Football for 2024 & Beyond
1. Best Turf Shoes for Football Overall ~ Nike Vapor Edge Turf Men’s Football Shoe
Analysis
A case could be made easily that this model, whether regular for grass, or the turf version, is the best you could find for young-level football play. That said, we feel that the Nike Vapor Edge Turf Men’s Football Shoe shines above its no-spikes competition.
It’s difficult to go wrong with the upper-end Nike sports shoes models. You will always get the quality foam for above-average comfort, plus a feature (or 2 or 3) really specific to your game. In this instance it’s how much the sole touches the turf for grip (running shoe-sized instead of narrow), and the tackiness of the rubber sole (Nike calls it “grippy” but we’re not sure that’s a word).
Specifications
- Weight: 2.3 lbs.
- Material: Rubber and vinyl
- Sole: Rubber, triangular-patterned
- Special Feature(s): Running shoe footprint for grip and speed
What We Like
- Thought in design regarding the pressure point of where rubber meets the turf
- Superior foam cushioning and not just on the bottom (important for football play)
2. Best Turf Shoes for Any Football Position ~ Mizuno Men’s Ambition 2 All Surface Mid Turf Shoe
Analysis
While the brand’s official football shoe is simply named and features low spikes completely usable for football, we recommend the Mizuno Ambition 2 All Surface (AS) turf shoe more for the gridiron.
It’s recommended so high in our list because this is a super-utility turf shoe, meaning it performs well whether you’re standing ground blocking, running fast on breakaways, or cutting to make moves and miss tackles. In short, parents, if your player seems to bounce around positions, this is probably the model for you. Oh, by the way, “all surface” means this shoe can be worn on grass or turf.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.81 lbs.
- Material: Rubber and vinyl
- Sole: Rubber
- Special Feature(s): Very versatile
What We Like
- Performs well on natural grass as well as artificial turf
- Superior comfort and stability
3. Best Turf Shoes for Football Training ~ Under Armour Men’s Charged Commit Tr 3 Cross Trainer
Analysis
If you look closely at the feet of National Football League players, you’re bound to see 1 of 3 brands: Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour. If you see Under Armour turf shoes marketed for football, you can’t go wrong. For this list we like its all-inclusive football training shoe, the Under Armour Men’s Charged Commit Tr 3 Cross Trainer.
In our mind, the Charged Commit can be used in football game play on fake grass. However, it’s even better in training and practice ~ and then some! This turf shoe is extremely well-priced, and user reviews are spectacularly positive. There’s a whole lot to like about this turf shoe, and if we had to pick 1, we would say look at the weight and compare this with other models. This shoe is an energy-saver between the lines.
Specifications
- Weight: 10.6 oz.
- Material: Synthetic, mesh on the upper, leather midfoot saddle
- Sole: Synthetic
- Special Feature(s): Charged Cushioning® for maximum impact absorption
What We Like
- Extremely lightweight and comfy
- Utilitarian (good for many needs)
4. Best Turf Shoes for Football Linemen ~ Nike Force Savage Elite 2 Td Men’s Football Cleats
Analysis
We mentioned above how it can be important to know the player’s position when looking for the best football cleats, including for turf shoes for the gridiron. Here, we suggest a turf cleat for those big linemen: Nike Force Savage Elite 2 Td Men’s Football Cleats.
On top of the cool high-top style for ankle support and stability, take a peek at the Nike Fastflex outsole, and what the company calls the Lunarlon foam midsole. Together these features team for superb gripping, all the while offering plenty of cushion, and ability to react as the player reacts. This surely is a top-performance turf shoe.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.61 lbs.
- Material: Rubber and synthetic
- Sole: Rubber
- Special Feature(s): 3 hook-and-loop straps to provide exceptional ankle support for a position that is brutal on the joint
What We Like
- High-top style specific for football lineman play
- Kurim armor on top for protection peace of mind
5. Best Turf Shoes for Football Style ~ Puma Men’s King Top TT Sneaker
Analysis
We admit it, this classic is included on the list because it’s sure to wow the dads who remember how cool Puma was for sports back in the day. We love how the brand still delivers the Puma Men’s King Top TT Sneaker ~ and it still plays well on the football field.
It should be noted that this model is solid for soccer, also. And if you think about the performance required for that sport, you know it does well in football. The design remains iconic, but Puma modernizes the King Top for today’s advancements and stronger players.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.45 lbs.
- Material: Synthetic and fabric
- Sole: Rubber
- Special Feature(s): Old-school exterior folded tongue!
What We Like
- Cool stylistic appearance
- Modernized the model with a sleeker silhouette
6. Best Turf Shoes for Football On a Budget ~ Ziitop Men’s Football Cleats
Analysis
As with the model above, the Ziitop Men’s Football Cleats are marketed for both the gridiron and the soccer pitch. The appearance may look no frills, but the price is right, and this model has received very solid customer reviews. What users say is this turf shoe is light in weight, and performs well. You can’t ask for more at this price point.
This model applies a textured synthetic leather upper as its base, which contributes to a splendidly light weight. A sweat-absorbant inner lining helps keep game-induced moisture down, a big deal when weight slows the legs. This model fits nicely, and we like the application of small rubber studs on the bottom for peace of mind out there on the turf.
Specifications
- Weight: n/a
- Material: Textured synthetic leather upper; rubber
- Sole: Rubber
- Special Feature(s): Utilitarian, designed for use on grass, artificial turf, indoor surfaces, ground, rubber playground, and more
What We Like
- Very well priced
- Great performance ~ and look! ~ for killer bang for the buck
7. Best Turf Shoes for Football for Adults ~ Adidas Unisex-Adult Goletto VIII Turf Soccer Shoe
Analysis
The Adidas Goletto Turf Shoe is so straightforward for turf play, it makes this all seem easy. Seriously, this model has plenty of old-school style and cool, to go along with an excellent underside design, and low price point.
This is our choice for adults new to playing football, for a number of reasons, among them this brand’s history with quality football shoes, and its design on the bottom that you know will grip best when you need it. The synthetic top cuts weight, and the quality of the rubber top-level. Note that this is a unisex product listed in men’s sizing; for women, downsize 1 to 1.5 sizes.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.33 lbs.
- Material: Synthetic upper, rubber bottom
- Sole: Rubber
- Special Feature(s): Vamp stitching
What We Like
- Looks cool
- Low priced
Extra Insight into Buying Football Cleats
- The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has an externship agreement with Under Armour. It’s been noted in publications that most NFL players prefer Under Armour cleats, so keep this in mind while perusing models.
- When NFL players are asked for their preferred football cleats, Under Armour models usually top the list, followed closely by offerings by Nike and Adidas. While New Balance has made significant impact on the baseball market, it has yet to produce notable models for football, or for turf.
- Know the turf. If possible, visit the artificial grass of your home field, and press down on the blades for stiffness, and stick a finger down to the bottom to measure length of blades. Some new turfs act so much like natural grass, you can still go with models with rubber or plastic spikes. The length of them would depend on what you learn from touch. See more: How Many NFL Fields are Turf?
- Kickers and punters will want a soft upper ~ the top where the ball is struck on the top of the foot.
- Artificial grass can get really hot, absorbing ultraviolet rays (UV rays) and infrared rays (IR rays) and bouncing all the heat up into the players. All-leather is not a top choice by many players for turf shoes; most prefer some mesh or holes or any feature to let air flow and the feet to cool.
- Some turf shoes put something special down below, sometimes inside the shoe between the foot and cleats, to keep heat from baking. Standing on artificial grass, especially old AstroTurf, in the sun is like standing on bare concrete. Feet will get hot.
- Some football players are rough on the toes of their cleats. This can be especially true for defenders, like linebackers or defensive backs who might get dragged a lot while holding on to a tackle. If you noticed toe troubles with grass, make note of any special features to protect up front.