We know you're on the lookout for the best soccer cleats for kids - why else would you be here? Here's where to find the best cleats and the best deals.
It's essential that children's soccer cleats fit correctly and aren't too battered or bruised, otherwise there could be a detrimental impact on their performance or enjoyment of the game. Fortunately, FFT has been dedicating itself to categorizing a range of the best soccer cleats to make shopping that little bit easier for you. If you're wanting the best soccer cleats for wide feet, or even the best soccer cleats under $100, then be sure to check out our other reviews.
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The Predator model in kid's sizes is an excellent choice due to its well-designed MG soleplate, which provides a comfortable ride crucial for developing feet on AG or hard surfaces, and its inclusion of a grippy striking area on the soft upper, showing a focus on comfort and valuable features even in a lower-tier model.
The Nike Mercurial Academy is an excellent, affordable choice for kids, featuring a soft, thin upper that breaks in quickly and offers good texture for ball control, with a better-than-average insole, though the AG outsole is recommended over the overly aggressive FG option.
The adidas Copa Pure Elite III is a great, high-quality leather option for junior sizes, featuring a premium Fusionskin upper and a comfortable, well-padded heel construction, along with a multifunctional soleplate designed with extra studs for superior pressure distribution, making it worth the higher price point.
More models
Nike's Phantom 6 for kids represents a great stride forward, featuring a soft, premium knit upper (previously reserved for elite adult models) that is comfortable out of the box with a short break-in period and a surprisingly versatile fit, complemented by a comfortable soleplate with lowered molded studs and good heel padding.
The Predator FT Elite Kids is the highest quality junior cleat available in the smallest sizes, offering premium materials, excellent fit adjustability via its floating tongue, and a functional Strikeskin area for aiding ball spin, which justifies its expensive price.
Best soleplate
One of the best things about Adidas’ more recent Predator models in kid’s sizes is their MG (multiground) soleplate. It is well-designed and does a great job of giving the player a comfortable ride when running on AG or harder surfaces.
This is important because as kid’s feet are still growing and developing, they need more comfort than performance-based cleats. I also appreciate that adidas made the upper still have the grippy striking area, even on a less expensive model like this as often brands will just put a print on the upper and call it a day. The upper itself is fairly soft, and while it could be a bit better, it is fairly nice overall. However I do appreciate the overall shape and focus on comfort for a cleat that leans more on the lower level of cleat models.
Best colors
Nike excels at making great takedown models, especially in kid’s cleats. This trend continues with the newest Mercurial Academy. The upper is soft, and breaks in quickly. It has some nice texturing on it as well in order to help with ball control. It is also surprisingly thin, as many kid’s cleats often have overly thick uppers for comfort, when in reality it can often affect the feel on the ball.
I particularly appreciate the nicer than average insole, which is another thing Nike has done well on their kid’s models for some time now. Another thing that is nice is there always tends to be a lot of colourway options, meaning there is something for almost everyone. It would be nice if the fit was a bit wider, and the FG soleplate is far too aggressive for a kid’s cleat.
However, the AG outsole is a great option, and the cleat remains a great choice for a lot of kids without being too expensive.
Best Leather
It can often be difficult to find a great leather option in kid’s cleats, with many brands not bothering to offer anything a lot of the time. This is the case for the current market, with a lot of great leather cleats stopping at a size UK 3 ½ . However, Adidas has offered something really nice and high quality in the form of the Copa Pure Elite III. The Fusionskin leather upper is of a high quality, even better than some offerings in adult cleats. There is also a nice heel construction that has a great amount of padding and comfort.
I also like the multifunctional soleplate that has an additional stud added for extra pressure distribution, which adds to the comfort of the soleplate. The Copa Pure III is on the more expensive side for a kid’s cleat, but you are getting a premium package for the price point that I would argue feels higher quality than the price you are paying.
I am a big fan of leather cleats in general, so I appreciate that Adidas has a high quality option in junior sizes.
Best knit
Nike’s Phantom series has grown in popularity over the past few years and they have recently really made great strides with their newest Phantom 6 model for kids. The upper is a really nice knit material that previously could only be found on their highest end models in adults. It is soft out of the box, and has a short break in period. The overall fit is surprisingly versatile for various foot shapes, with both slightly narrow, and wider foot widths able to feel at home in the cleat.
Just do not expect to work if your kid’s feet are overly wide. I am personally not a fan of the Cyclone360 technology at the front of the soleplate, but I do appreciate the lowered height of the molded studs as that means that the soleplate is more comfortable to run in as it distributes pressure better. Another positive for the Phantom 6 in kids is that the heels have some good padding and a good shape to them. While the cleats are much more expensive than others on the list, they do feel like a premium product, and again the knit upper is really nice.
Best appearance
It’s a Predator with a tongue, it has to be on the list. An iconic look on a kids cleat, the Predator FT Elite Kids is a high quality option for a junior cleat. The materials feel premium and it does not feel like Adidas looked for spots to try and save money, as often can be the case with kid’s cleats.
It is very expensive, but it does feel like you are getting what you paid for. The floating tongue allows for a lot of adjustability in the fit, so a good variation of foot shapes can fit in the cleat. I do wish the AG option was available in kids, and I do think the heel could use more cushioning (the same could be said for the adult models). At the same time, the cleats are fun for kids to play in as the Strikeskin area not only helps with kids trying to put more spin on the ball, but offers a nice visual guide to show the kids where to strike the ball.
The Predator Elite FT Kids is the highest quality cleat available in the smallest kids sizes, and I appreciate that it exists.
How we test soccer cleats
We put each pair through its paces for several sessions across all surfaces to determine their true level of performance across key factors including comfort, stability, fit and feel. This also allows us to balance them against the claims from brands about new features and technology.
If a brand says that a new aspect of its soleplate means you will be able to push off faster or a new synthetic upper is just as comfortable as leather – we will test to see how accurate this really is.
Each pair is tested by an expert member of the team who lives and breathes soccer cleats, and are therefore able to cut through the marketing minefield and provide simple yet detailed advice for all players regardless of level.
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 best soccer cleats
The soccer cleat market can be a bit of a minefield at the best of times, with an array of options available and brands championing the latest tech that will have you jumping higher, running faster and never miscontrolling a ball ever again.
Ultimately, choices should come down to what best suits your child and their game. Below are some factors to consider when looking for their next pair...
Soleplate
The soleplate is where the bulk of the technology of a cleat lives, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a pair.
Firstly, the surface the cleats are intended for is extremely important. If your child plays the majority of their soccer on artificial surfaces, then it's no good buying them a pair of soft ground cleats, and vice versa.
Different cleats have more aggressive stud patterns than others as well, so it's worth considering what type of traction and comfortability your little one will want from their soccer cleats.
Getting the right fit
We would always recommend trying a pair before buying because making sure cleats are the perfect length and width is key. When it comes to cleats for kids, however, this is even more important.
Of course, kids' feet are constantly growing and changing size, meaning you'd ideally want a little bit of extra room when you first buy them so that your child doesn't grow out of them too quickly - after all, no one wants to see a good quality pair of soccer cleats discarded after just a month because they're now too small.
Plus, with pairs of the same size often varying slightly in length between brands and across models, it is important for cleats to be tried on first in order to know whether it is better to go a half size up or down for a particular pair or brand.
FAQs
How do I choose soccer cleats for kids?
Some key factors to consider when buying include the sizing and fit of the cleat. It's ideal to have a snug fit so it feels comfortable and offers support to your child, allowing them to enjoy their soccer-playing experience, but you want to try and leave a little bit of room in the toe area, so that they're able to grow into the cleat throughout the year/season.
You'll also want to test out the fit of the cleat with socks on, as your child won't play soccer without socks on. Then, you should consider what surface they're likely to play on. If they're likely to play on Astro turf, you should look for AG cleats or FG, failing that. If they're going to spend their time outside playing on natural grass, you should look for SG cleats.
Are expensive kids' soccer cleats worth it?
This absolutely depends on what's worth it to you and your child. If your child plays casually and is at an age where they're likely to outgrow a pair after a year, then you'll need to judge whether or not you want to pay lots of money on soccer cleats that don't need to have sophisticated technology and will need replacing before too long.
However, if your child plays a lot of competitive soccer, then paying extra for cleats that are designed to maximise performance could be worth it.
Which brand of soccer cleats is best?
The best brand of soccer cleats is subjective. Above, we've got our guide to the best soccer cleats for kids, but you can also check out our guide to the best soccer cleats overall. It's subjective because the best cleats will come down to your personal preference on comfort, feel, technology, looks etc. But brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma feature multiple times in our guide to the best soccer cleats, so we would recommend checking them out.
Should I buy SG or FG cleats?
This depends on the surface your child is likely to play on. If your child is going to play mostly, or exclusively, on natural grass outside, then you'll want to get them SG cleats, which stand for soft ground. This will allow them better traction in muddy conditions as they're designed for outdoor use on natural grass.
If they're going to play on a harder surface, or even on fake grass, then you should consider FG cleats. FG stands for firm ground and they offer better support for quick turns of movement and comfort on a firmer surface.
What are the best kids' soccer cleat brands?
There is no definitive answer to this question, as different people will prefer different brands for a variety of reasons. But with so many options available on the market, we appreciate it's helpful to know where to start. The big-hitters dominate the market for kids' soccer cleats - as this guide shows - so if you begin your search with the likes of Nike, Adidas and Puma, you can't go far wrong.
