Best soccer cleats for wingers: The latest ranges designed for wide players from Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance and Skechers

The best soccer cleats for wingers will enable any speed merchants, silky dribblers and expert playmakers to enhance their performance.

While there's such a vast amount of amazing soccer cleats available right now, not all of them are suited for wingers looking to wreak havoc against the opposition's full-back. That's because certain ranges are specficially designed for helping defenders, midfielders and strikers, assisting their ability in their respective positions on the field.

But, if you're simply looking for the best soccer cleats available right now, be sure to check out our other reviews - FFT has been putting in the hours to categorise each cleat, making shopping that little bit easier for you. 

For now, though, it's all about the best soccer cleats for wingers...

Best soccer cleats for wingers 

These are so lightweight and so thin that it barely feels like I had anything on my feet while playing. They offer a true one-to-one sensation with foot and ball due to the thinness of the upper, while the Mercurial Superfly is one of the lightest cleats on the market - ideal for fleet-footed wingers looking to sprint away from defenders. 

While that also makes them great for strikers, the slight texturing on the upper helps with dribbling, providing a tiny bit more grip that wingers need when taking on their opponent. 

My feet were truly locked in with the Superflys, too, thanks to the dynamic fit collar, though the low-cut Vapors are just as sound an option to choose. Considering how tightly they hug your feet, they're not the most suitable option for players with wide feet. 

• Read our full Nike Mercurial Superfly 9 review

There's nothing better than lacing up a pair of cleats and forgetting they're on your feet due to how lightweight and minimalist they are - and the Adidas X Crazyfast+ certainly falls into that category. Though the minimalism comes at a slight expense to the structure and lockdown I would ordinarily prefer, what truly stands out is the upper design and aggressive soleplate.

Indeed, the stud configuration meant pushing off from a standing start was so much easier, while twisting and turning ensured that my sharp dribbling was elevated even more on the field. And with the upper so thin, you're offered a barefoot sensation that allows for ball manipulation to become even easier. 

I thoroughly enjoyed playing in these cleats while hugging the touchline, with the Crazyfast+ providing me with the confidence to beat defenders in any race as well as cut inside to deliver devastating crosses and finishes. 

• Read our full Adidas X Crazyfast+ review

New Balance has made minor improvements across the Furon V7+ to create an even better cleat for wingers, with the hypoknit material upper even more flexible and hugging your foot even tighter to create a better locked-in feeling.

Soft and thin, there's little break-in time with the Furon V7+, while I felt a really close connection between my foot and the ball while playing. I loved the off-centred lacing system, too, which provided a cleaner striking area of the ball, and the soleplate is responsive and snappy when pushing off and changing direction.

What's more, there's a wide-fitting version of the cleat available, meaning wingers with wide feet can still feel all the benefits of a lightweight cleat without having to suffocate their feet in the process.

Entering the soccer cleat market is never easier, but entering the speed category is even more difficult. But that's exactly what Skechers has attempted with the Razor, and it's a brilliant first-time effort.

Wingers will love playing in these cleats. Not only did I find them super comfortable, but they're as lightweight as any other option while providing superior levels of protection: ideal for when brutish defenders try and inflict as much damage on your feet during games as possible.

Plus, they're also accommodating for players with wide feet, making them an ideal option for wingers of all variations. I've been impressed with Skechers' forray into the soccer cleat market, and look forward to what they try next.

• Read our full Skechers Razor review

Constructed with a lightweight design through Puma's Ultraweave material on the upper and track running spikes-inspired Speedplate outsole, the Ultra Ultimate is responsive, super thin and offers a great barefoot feel.

But what makes them truly suited for wingers is Puma's Pwrtape on the upper, which is technology on the upper designed to provide natural support and stability during sharp changes of pace and direction. It's quite noticeable, too, as it locks your foot in place while you sprint past and dribble round defenders.

Puma does claim that the FG/AG option makes them suitable for both surfaces, but I found they didn't perform quite as well on artificial ground as I would have hoped. Therefore, I'd recommend taking a look at the best soccer cleats for artificial grass, if that's where you play the majority of your soccer.

Made to suit players who are light on their feet, the Adidas X Crazyfast.1 provides slightly more structure than the aforementioned Crazyfast+, though similar levels of performance. With the upper still super thin and the same soleplate featuring a plastic insert to provide excellent energy return, the cleats are both aggressive and offer a close contact with the ball.

With the soleplate great for turf pitches, dribbling past opponents is made easier in these cleats, as I loved the bladed studs and minimalistic upper. The knit implemented around the laces and foot opening is also comfortable, reduces weight and creates a seamless transition from the sock to the cleat.

They might suit players with slightly wider feet, too, with the upper and knit able to stretch ever-so-slightly.

• Read our full Adidas X Crazyfast.1 review

How we test soccer cleats

Each pair of cleats is worn over a number of demanding training sessions and matches by our expert testers, helping them determine the true performance levels of every model available on the market. There are key factors they consider, such as the comfort levels, stability, fit and feel, helping to balance out what a cleat is truly like when compared to the claims from brands about the new features they've implemented. 

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 right soccer cleats

There's such an array of options on the soccer cleat market that can often make it impossible to decide what to pick. Wingers will generally prefer a lighter model, due to them wanting to utilise their pace more often, but if that doesn't suit then don't fret. 

Ultimately, your choice should come down to what is most comfortable for you and your game. Below are some factors to consider when looking for your next pair...

Getting the right fit

Cleats for wingers are often extremely lightweight and, in order to save extra weight, brands like to make them particularly narrow. That's not ideal for wingers with wide feet, however, meaning it's imperative you try pairs on in store before parting with your cash.

Physically seeing if a cleat fits both the length and shape of your foot could be the difference between your performance improving and average levels on the field, because discomfort can have a greater impact than you might realise. 

So, your number one concern needs to be finding a cleat that fits your foot before worrying about anything else. 

Styling

Now for the fun part - choosing which colorway you like the most! After all those arduous tasks of finding which cleats fit and suit your feet the best, you're now left with free reign to pick the pair you most want to dazzle defenders in. 

With each model released in a range of new colorways, there's always an option for everyone. So don't let us stop your from expressing yourself on the field - whether it's a bright pink pair or understated black, picking a cleat colorway you'll feel most comfortable in will only help your performance.