The Best Lacrosse Cleats

Buying Guide

Cleats can be found in many sports, especially those that involve playing on outdoor turf. Unlike shoes with smooth or slightly grooved bottoms, cleats are built for traction. The last thing an athlete needs out on the field is the distraction of sliding around.

But cleats are not interchangeable from one sport to the next. Football and baseball cleats are heavier, while soccer cleats are closer to lacrosse cleats in design. That doesn’t mean you can wear soccer cleats for lacrosse, though. Lacrosse cleats have a toe cleat, as do baseball cleats, which is designed to help with fast acceleration. You could technically wear a baseball cleat for lacrosse, as long as your team and district allow it, but you couldn’t wear a lacrosse cleat for playing baseball.

For parents, the biggest issue with buying cleats is that their children’s feet are still growing. Cleats aren’t cheap, and kids can rapidly outgrow them from one season to the next. You could ask around and see if you know anyone with cleats their children no longer wear but be careful with that. Shoes tend to adjust to the unique features of a wearer’s feet, so even if you find one in your child’s size, you could find it doesn’t fit properly, which can lead to both temporary and permanent foot issues.

In addition to a toe cleat, lacrosse cleats have four studs in the heel area and between six to eight in the toe and ball of the foot. Lacrosse players tend to employer more side-to-side movement, which is why you’ll find cleats for the sport have studs on the outside of the sole for stability. However, you’ll find they’re similar to weight and appearance to soccer cleats, with the toe cleat being the biggest differentiator.

• Lacrosse cleats tend to be what’s known as mid-level shoes, which means they fall between football-style high tops and the low-cut design you see with other sports. The benefit of high-top shoes is that they protect the ankles somewhat, while low-cut shoes don’t slow you down. Since lacrosse is a high-speed sport that requires some ankle support, the mid-level cut is a great compromise.
• Traction is essential with any cleat you choose. Players don’t need to worry about slipping around on the field, but they also don’t need the distraction of shoes that allow their feet to slide around inside.
• Multidirectional cleats are a nice touch with lacrosse shoes. They’ll provide plenty of traction on turf without inhibiting movement.
• If you were barefoot on the field, you’d have the freedom to flex your foot as needed, but you wouldn’t have the support. A good lacrosse cleat allows this flexibility while still supporting your foot and preventing injury.
• When sizing any shoe, it’s not just about size but width. Lacrosse cleats can tend to run on the narrow side, so unless your foot is narrow, you may have to shop around for one that’s wider or size up slightly.
• You’ll find many cleats are solid white, which is neutral enough to be passed around your family if your other kids eventually play lacrosse. However, this can be a problem if your child wants a little more personalization.
• As with the rest of the body, your feet can sustain impact during a lacrosse game. Some shoes have protection for both the toe and heel while players are moving around and running into each other.
• Lacrosse games can be played in extremely high heat. Look for a shoe with a breathable design to help keep the foot cool and dry during games and practices.