One of the more overlooked aspects when searching for cleats is finding ideal ones when you have flat feet. However, there are more options on the market than many people realise. It is just a matter of doing a bit of research ,which I suppose you are doing right now!
You've come to exactly the right place. I've saved you time by curating FourFourTwo's five favourite cleats for flat feet this season. Also, if this list seems very similar to our guide for the Best Cleats for Wide Feet, it is because these two often go hand in hand.
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Perfect for players with wider, flatter feet, thanks to its neutral shape and soft kangaroo leather upper that molds to the foot. Its deep lacing system offers exceptional adjustability, allowing for a personalised, comfortable fit that is tight around the ankle while remaining loose where needed.
A versatile cleat with a neutral shape and deep lacing for excellent adjustability. It offers a modern soleplate and an external heel counter for stability, which some may prefer over the Morelia. With out-of-the-box comfort, it's an excellent choice, though the synthetic midfoot may slightly affect the fit for flatter feet.
Offers the most neutral and widest fit, featuring a full kangaroo leather upper that requires almost no break-in. While this leather molds readily to any foot shape, it provides less side-to-side stability. Included ReaLine insoles offer optional midfoot support, making it difficult to beat for pure fit and shape.
More models
The Furon's biggest advantage is its multiple width options, catering to various needs. While the knit upper and shallow lacing limit stretch, the cleat is still recommended for flat feet because the arch and upper soften quickly, avoiding constraint. The availability of an MG soleplate further enhances comfort by improving pressure distribution.
An easy, value-for-money choice, featuring a floating tongue and availability in multiple widths. It offers a neutral fit with low arch pressure and a standard soleplate. While newer models use synthetic, the deep heel cup easily accommodates thicker replacement insoles, making it a reliable option for fit.
Best fit
Naturally, the Mizuno Morelia makes this list. A lot of players in Japan do tend to have wider and flatter feet, so it makes sense that the most popular cleat in Japan works well for people whose feet are flatter and wider.
One of the things that needs to be appreciated here is that the Morelia is a very deep lacing system, which allows a lot of adjustability in the overall fit. This allows you to still have a tighter fit around the ankle while still letting you adjust and loosen up the cleats wherever they feel overly tight.
The cleat itself also has a fairly neutral shape overall, and when accounting for the soft kangaroo leather upper found on the Morelia, the cleat will shape to your foot, rather than forcing you to get used to the shape of the cleat. Probably the easiest choice if you want something very neutral.
Best structure
Another one that appears on multiple lists, the Copa Icon II can kind of do it all. It is another cleat with a fairly neutral shape, and just like the Morelia, it has a deep lacing system to help with adjustability and fit.
The reason some may prefer the Copa Icon II over the Morelia is more down to the soleplate. The Icon II has a much more modern soleplate, and the addition of an external counter can be handy for people who want to have a stronger heel counter to help reduce fatigue in the heel.
The one drawback with the Icon II for people with flatter feet is that the midfoot is a synthetic leather. That being said, it is still on the softer side and might not be that much of an issue, but it is something to be aware of. Overall, however, the Icon II is an easy and excellent choice because of its out-of-the-box comfort and neutral shape.
Best neutral shape
The Adler Yatagarashu has probably the most neutral shape out of any cleat on this list. On top of this, it is also wider than any other cleat in the guide.
It is also a full kangaroo leather upper, so it will take almost any shape. One of my favourite things about the cleats is that the break-in period is so quick that they feel ready to go almost immediately.
The flip side of the full K leather upper is that there is not a lot of side-to-side stability, so if you prefer to have some structure, it might be best to choose another cleat. Also, the extra ReaLine insoles are fairly handy and do offer some extra support.
They are not for everyone, but they provide more support in the middle of the foot rather than the arch. In terms of pure fit and shape, it is difficult to choose anything else. Just make sure you check sizing guides beforehand.
Best value
As has happened with our Best Soccer Cleats for Wide Feet, we have once again featured the 442 Pro. I chose the Pro over the Elite since the Pro has a floating tongue and allows for more adjustment to the fit.
The Pro can also often be readily found on sale, making it great value for money. Add this to the fact that you can still get different widths means that it is an easy choice for this list. The fit is fairly neutral as well, with not much pressure against the arch of the foot.
You also have a very neutral soleplate, which means there are no weird stud shapes to think about. The only really frustrating thing is the fact that they stopped making them with a leather upper. The leather models can still be found, and the newer synthetic is fairly soft; I just personally prefer leather.
At the same time, though, I do appreciate how deep the heel cup is, as this means it is easier to get a thicker replacement insole in there. If you are struggling with deciding what to get, the 442 Pro is probably one of the easier choices out there.
Best knit
The fact that the Furon comes in multiple widths is a huge selling point here. I think brands underestimate how many people need access to different widths.
The flip side of this is that, as a knit cleat, there is not a lot of stretch available to the upper. This means that you are somewhat confined to a predetermined shape. The lacing system is also not very deep, so there will not be as much variation in the fit.
In spite of those two issues, I still think that the Furon is a great recommendation for flat feet. Part of this is because the arch area of the cleat is soft and breaks in easily.
The other part is that the upper as a whole gets soft easily, so your foot does not feel overly constrained in the cleat. There is also the fact that there is now an MG soleplate option, which means you can get a soleplate that will help distribute pressure on the bottom of the foot better, thus increasing overall comfort.
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 cleats, 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.
Best Soccer Cleats For Flat Feet: FAQs
Are there soccer cleats for flat feet?
If you want to check out the best soccer cleats for flat feet, you should read through our guide above. However, we think the Mizuno Morelia II Made in Japan is the best fit for flat feet. This is due to their deep lacing and neutral, adaptive kangaroo leather structure.
What is a good cleat for flat feet?
This is a tricky question to answer, as you can see, four different manufacturers feature in our guide to the best soccer cleats for flat feet. If you're looking for the best overall, consider brands like Mizuno and New Balance, as they feature in our guide above as well as our guide to the best soccer cleats. They also make several lines of cleats worth getting, more generally.
If you want to look away from those two brands, Adidas also makes top soccer cleats and features above, and, if you're looking for a brand you may not have heard of, then Adler's Yatagarashu is worth considering, as their Morelia II cleat offers the most neutral and widest fit.
Is Nike good for flat feet?
In short, yes. Their Phantom GX 2 Elite cleats featured in our guide last season as the best overall, but they also have several lines of cleats worth considering, regardless of your foot shape. Nike is one of the top soccer cleat manufacturers in the world, so it's no surprise that they accommodate flat feet too. If you want to check out more of what Nike has to offer, you can scroll through our guide to the best Nike soccer cleats on the market.
