Your Guide to Perfect Cleats for Peak Performance

We often talk about proper footwear for the general population and how essential it is to prevent injuries and maximize comfort. But what about footwear that serves a specific purpose? Today, we at Goldsmith Podiatry will hone in on cleats for athletes, and give some general yet much-needed advice to help them stay on the field for as long as possible.

Choose Cleats for Your Sport

This is a no brainer, but sometimes, athletes do this for style purposes, or for some hunch they have that another type of cleat will give them an advantage. We only advise the pros to do this.

For everyone else, every sport has different demands, and cleat design reflects that. Soccer cleats, for instance, have a lower profile and a more minimalist design to give you a better feel for the ball and quick agility. Whereas football cleats have higher ankle support and strategically placed studs for powerful starts and stops.

Stick to your sport.

Fit for Your Unique Foot

One of the biggest mistakes athletes make is assuming their foot size is a fixed number. Don’t just trust the number on the box – move around in them before buying.

It’s also true that your foot’s size and shape can change, especially for kid athletes. Mom and Dad: A proper fit should be snug but not tight. You should have about a thumb's width of space between their longest toes and the tip of the cleat.

Also, for everyone, pay close attention to the width; a cleat that is too narrow will cause painful pinching, bunions, and nerve irritation, while one that is too wide can lead to your foot sliding around.

Consider the Playing Surface

The ground you play on is a major factor in cleat selection. Different cleat types are also designed for different surfaces to optimize traction and reduce injury risk:

• Firm Ground: These are the most common cleats designed for natural grass fields that are firm and dry.

• Turf: These cleats are made for artificial turf and have numerous, shorter rubber studs to provide grip without getting stuck, which can help prevent knee and ankle injuries.

• Soft Ground: For wet, muddy fields, these cleats have longer, often metal studs for maximum penetration and grip.

Using the wrong cleats (like firm ground cleats on artificial turf) can create too much friction and increase your risk of foot and ankle injuries.

Your feet are more than just your foundation—they're messengers of your overall health. If you notice any of the symptoms above, don’t wait. Contact Goldsmith Podiatry today at (212) 877-1002 to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Howard Goldsmith, Dr. Rosanna Troia, or Dr. Kristina T. Ruff. We're here to help you stay one step ahead of foot-related health problems—because healthy feet support a healthy you.