Cleat Feet

If you’ve ever had a child in sports – little league, soccer, football, golf, or even cycling -you are amazed at the sheer number of cleat choices on the market. And, yes mom, there is a difference between baseball cleats and soccer cleats. Just ask any 8-year-old bound for Mensa status.

The etymology of the term, “cleat,” derives from Old English meaning “lump.” Additionally, it is found in West Germanic languages referencing similar shapes of “clod” or “dumpling.” Over time, the meaning sharpened to be a wedge-shaped piece of wood or metal used, essentially, for grip and support.

But before there were cleats in sports, there just a cleat. Sixteenth century’s King Henry VIII is not only memorialized for his harem of spousal fun, but also for engaging his personal shoemaker, Cornelius Johnson, to outfit leather boots with metal studs for playing football (soccer), particularly for kicking. This is the first appearance of cleats used for skill in sport. 

The Industrial Revolution gave way to mass, standardized cleat production. Today they are highly specialized by sport, and thanks to ever-advancing technology, continue to evolve in fashion and function. But for the sake of everyone’s favorite fall rah-rah, let’s focus on football (not soccer).

 

 

The Cleat Primer

 

The actual cleats themselves are specified as “molded cleats” or “MC cleats” which are built right into the sole of the shoes themselves and typically made from rubber or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). They are light weight – therefore preferred for speed – low maintenance and durable, not requiring frequent cleat replacement. However, they are less flexible than rubber cleats and are not ideal for muddy or varying field conditions. 

Alternately, rubber-molded cleats tend to be more versatile and are used across multiple sports. They are generally more comfortable, flexible and provide more reliable traction on differing fields. So if you have a kid who needs different cleats for different interests, it’s a valid argument to go the way of rubber, to minimize quantity (and cost).

Cleats are designated by high-cut, mid-cut and low-cut, each named by how far up the shoe comes toward the ankle. Low-cut cleats are perfect for offensive skill positions, like quarterbacks, running backs and receivers, because the primary focus is on maintaining speed and agility. Mid-cut cleats offer a balance of mobility and support and are typically selected by linebackers and running backs who benefit from a combination of both stability and flexibility. Finally, high-cut cleats provide the utmost support and protection for ankles and are ideal for high-contact positions like offensive and defensive linemen.

 

Which Cleat for What?

 

It’s important to consider four main things when in the market for cleats: playing surface, fit, material and playing position. Playing surface can be natural grass or artificial turf, each reacting to adverse weather conditions differently. Fit and comfort should also consider the inclusion of insoles and ventilation. Cleats can be made of leather or synthetics, each offering a range in durability and weight for thought.

Cost may or may not be footwear food for thought, unless the funds to purchase them are still coming out of your personal pocket. If a pee-wee, flag, middle school or high school player still lives in your house, expect to pay to play. A quick plunk around the Internet shows a range of cost, from $50 to a little over $200. If you’re lucky enough to have a player who has moved onto a college roster, (and, of course, the pros), cleat cost (or design) is something a sponsor will have to worry about, not you.

 

Fashion Cleats with a Price

 

Speaking of the pros, leave it to the NFL to take things to the next [ridiculous?] level. Odell Beckham Jr. wore bright green Grinch-themed cleats as a Baltimore Raven during warm-ups; Buffalo Bills wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, wore Betty White cleats to honor the late actress (he also has Starbucks cleats); and Ja’Marr Chase wore his Fruity Pebbles cleats (a gift from LeBron James) in a Cincinnati Bengals game. Ray-Ray McCloud III wore blingy gold cleats, worth more than $23,000, in the 49ers Super Bowl game against Kansas City. 

But the priciest cleats belong to Beckham, who commissioned custom cleats worth $200,000. His team colors overlay python skin with 14-karat yellow gold details and a Nike logo made of 1,500 diamonds. He strutted the 2022 Super Bowl warm-ups in his fancy footwear and scored the game’s first touchdown for the Los Angeles Rams who went on to win, defeating the Bengals. Which makes one wonder … did those quarter-million-dollar shoes really help clinch a win? Unlikely. 

Bottom line, it’s best to kick-start your cleat purchase experience with a scrutinous look at return-on-investment, Super Bowl bound or not.

 

Text by Nancy S. Moseley
Photos by Jon Fleming

 

Nancy S. Moseley is a freelance writer and mom to two boys who always know WAY more than she, about everything, but especially when it comes to sports equipment and fashion. She’s currently taking sponsor requests, if only to take the wardrobe burden off her.