We have put together some of the best artificial pitch boots so you can see which ones you should choose for playing on a synthetic sports surface.
Many sports clubs and schools are now having 3G pitches installed as a more durable alternative to natural grass. The synthetic material is made to mimic the playing qualities of real grass, while being an all-weather surface and requiring less maintenance. Today’s 3G and 4G sports pitches are made up of long pile plastic carpet fibres, with sand and rubber infill within the pile.
But what kind of boots should you be wearing to play on these surfaces? Some styles of footwear used for football and rugby can damage the artificial pitch surfacing so you need to choose appropriate shoes.
Wearing the correct football boots will also help to improve your performance, creating an all-round better experience. Whether it’s just your weekly game of five a side football or a higher level of play, your footwear can make all the difference.
What Football Boots Can You Wear on AstroTurf?
Experts recommend football boots with moulded circular studs for playing football on an astroturf pitch. This includes 3G and 4G pitches for competitive matches and training, and boots with dimpled soles are also suitable for training.
Here are a few examples of suitable footwear for astroturf pitches:
- Nike Tiempo Legend VII Academy TF – The name is a bit of a mouthful, but these astro turf football boots are specially designed for use on artificial pitches. They have a number of comfort-enhancing features as well as a fairly modern design.
- Mizuno Monarcida Neo AS – Again these are designed specifically for playing on astro turf. This is a more affordable model from a brand which usually focuses on premium products.
There are plenty more options available from various brands, keep reading to see more recommended footwear for synthetic grass.
What Boots to Wear on a 4G Pitch?
The best style of boots for a 4G pitch are those with plastic moulded studs.
Wearing football boots with metal studs on a 4G pitch can damage the surface and even cause injury to the player. We also wouldn’t recommend wearing leather footwear if you’re playing on artificial turf as the plastic carpet can scratch the shoe material.
4G is still a term which is not officially recognised by FIFA so there’s no standard set for this yet. People still use the name when talking about rubber filled synthetic pitches (which are generally 3G products).
A few models we’d suggest using as 4G pitch boots include:
- Adidas Mundial Team
- Puma EvoPower 1.3 AG
- Nike Tiempo Legend VI AG Pro
- New Balance Visaro Pro AG
What Boots Can You Wear on a 3G Pitch?
Again, the style of boots recommended by experts for playing on 3G pitches are those with moulded plastic studs.
3G, also known as third generation, is the official specification for artificial pitches which contain sand and rubber infill. These are commonly found at leisure centres, sports clubs, 5 a side pitches and schools, and they can be used for playing football and rugby. Often they will have a shockpad installed beneath the carpet to enhance the safety, particularly if rugby is being played.
You definitely shouldn’t use any football boots with metal studs or blades on a 3G pitch as these can cause a lot of damage to the surface. It’s best to go for footwear specially designed for artificial grass or with moulded studs.
Here are a few examples of boots which are suitable for 3G pitches:
- Adidas Predator 18.3 AG
- Nike Mercurial Superfly 360 Elite AG-PRO
- Nike Phantom Vision Elite Dynamic Fit AG-PRO
- Puma One 18.3 AG
- New Balance Furon 2.0 Pro AG
The type of boot which suits you best will depend on a number of things including fit and price. Sometimes cheap astro turf trainers can work perfectly well. It all depends what you’re looking for with the best astro turf football boots.
Can You Use Soft Ground Boots on Astroturf?
You definitely can’t use soft ground boots on an astroturf pitch as they’ll damage the artificial surface.
This style of boot is designed for muddy natural pitches as the metal studs sink into the ground to give you more grip when running around. Most players use these during winter when the grass has probably been soaked with rain and you need a pair of boots that gives you a bit more traction.
As for synthetic turf pitches, most will have rules stating that you can’t use metal studded boots due to the damage they cause. These can also increase the likelihood of injury when playing on a 3G surface so it’s best to get shoes that are designed for these pitches.
Can You Wear Firm Ground Boots on Astro?
You can usually wear firm ground boots to play on an astroturf pitch as long as they have plastic or moulded studs.
The firm ground boot design is typically used for natural grass pitches with short grass in dry conditions. They are usually fine if the pitch is a bit damp as well but they are not recommended for wet and muddy pitches.
These boots usually have studs made from plastic or hard moulded rubber. As opposed to the standard six studded shoes, these will have different sized and shaped studs spread out across the soleplates. If you’re playing football on a 3G or 4G pitch, this style of boot will be perfectly fine to wear.
While these are fine for the rubber infilled sports pitches, we wouldn’t recommend them as sand filled 2G pitch footwear. These can wear the studs down and affect the performance quality over time. Check out this post to learn more about the different types of boots available.
This video below from Unisport shows some of the top-rated boots which are recommended for playing on synthetic surfaces:
Best Astro Turf Boots
The best astro turf boots to wear are ones which have been specially designed for use on artificial grass. These will typically be similar to firm ground boots but they’ll often have hollowed out studs to keep them lightweight and offer shock absorption.
Adidas Predator AstroTurf
The Adidas Predator range features a number of different models designed for various ground types. They have a specific pair which is designed for artificial surfaces, known as the Adidas Predator AstroTurf boots.
They have moulded studs and a non-marking rubber outsole, giving added stability for the player. There is also a stretchy ankle collar which keeps your foot in place and helps stabilise the ankle joint.
Puma One 5.4 Astro Turf Trainers
The Puma One Astro Turf boots are designed with a soft synthetic upper to improve control. They also have moulded studs to provide the right traction for playing on artificial turf.
They have a classic lace up fastening for comfort on any foot shape as well as a padded ankle collar. The design of these boots is great for anyone playing football on 3G surfaces.
Nike Tiempo Legend Academy Astro Turf Trainers
Another sports shoe which has been designed with astroturf users in mind, the Nike Tiempo Legend boots are a great choice. These have lace fastening, cushioned insole and low-profile moulded studs which give the necessary traction for use on a 3G pitch.
A few different colour options are available for this model of artificial grass football boots. They also come as unisex with a junior version available too.
Summary
When it comes to finding the best artificial pitch boots, the best ones are the ones which are comfortable and work best for the player. Of course, you have to be mindful of the playing surface and always avoid metal studs when using a synthetic turf pitch.
We’d always recommend trying on any pair of sports footwear before buying to make sure they are completely comfortable for your foot shape. The best astro turf trainers for one person may no work for someone else. Different designs suit different people so the best piece of advice is just to try out a few options and see which feels right for you.
