Do cleats make THAT big of a difference?

[Naco]

I use a pair of cheap $30 Kelme rip-offs, while most of my team has $100-150 Nike/Adidas/Puma. I am one of the better players on the team. Although these cleats will probably be torn apart by next year, do expensive "designer" shoes make that big of a difference?

[Becks7]

it won't directly make you a better play, but it could instill confidence in you. Also helps in the 80th minute of a 1-1 draw, that your feet aren't hurting.

Mid-ranged boots are what i find are the best. This is where straight-up no frills/gimmicks kangaroo-leather boots are found. As you get up there, your paying for crappy technology. (i.e. Supernova's vs. Predator Mania's)

[Naco]

Originally posted by Becks7
it won't directly make you a better play, but it could instill confidence in you.

I'd like to think I have enough confidence in my playing abilities I wouldn't need to rely on my shoes for that.

[Becks7]

Originally posted by Ekelund4life
I'd like to think I have enough confidence in my playing abilities I wouldn't need to rely on my shoes for that.

yeh, but you see not everybody is like you. There are definitely people out there, especially the younger ones are the easiest to fall to mass media and will think Predators will make them play like Becks or Zidane haha

[dagman111]

This is just like asking is it worth buying the Ferrari when you can just buy the beater from the used car lot. While cheaper shoes work just fine, putting on a pair of quality leather shoes and playing in them feels great. You don't mess up your feet and you can play longer, especially a flank player who runs the whole game. If there wasn't a difference there would be no market for the shoes.

[copaantl98]

I play pickup with sneakers and I'm much better with it than cleats.

[hovibaby]

If it was up to me i would play soccer barefoot. Thats the best and funnest way to play.

[lamu202]

Cheap shoes always gave me blisters. In fact, shoes are the only item of clothing I spend good money on. I wore Copas since I was 14(27 now) & tried out the Nike AZT2 90's this past season. I loved them & felt the quality of my first touch increased. Whether they worth the extra $50.00, that's another question. IMHO, Vapors should be labeled disposable. They just don't last long.

[Tmagic77]

Originally posted by Ekelund4life
I use a pair of cheap $30 Kelme rip-offs, while most of my team has $100-150 Nike/Adidas/Puma. I am one of the better players on the team. Although these cleats will probably be torn apart by next year, do expensive "designer" shoes make that big of a difference?

Um, if you need to buy new cleats all the time wouldn't it be better to get something that might last a little longer. Go buy some Copas. Amazing boot that will last a couple years.

[JRstriker12]

Originally posted by Ekelund4life
I use a pair of cheap $30 Kelme rip-offs, while most of my team has $100-150 Nike/Adidas/Puma. I am one of the better players on the team. Although these cleats will probably be torn apart by next year, do expensive "designer" shoes make that big of a difference?

If you kick a$$ in $30 cleats then the answer is no.

A more expensive pair maybe more comfortable and maybe provide more options as fars as cleat paterns. The uppers may provide a slightly better touch and they maybe lighter. However, more expensive cleats made out of Kanagroo may not last as long.

But overall, more expensive cleats are not going to improve your game that much. It's not the shoes, it's the player.

[No9 NEW]

i think that it doesn't matter what boots you wear but if you turn up for a match looking smart, wearing new boots, and everyone in your team in the same training jackets and equipment then the opposition give you respect and get slightly nervous making tem wonder what they got themselves in to.

[Tmagic77]

Originally posted by No9 NEW
i think that it doesn't matter what boots you wear but if you turn up for a match looking smart, wearing new boots, and everyone in your team in the same training jackets and equipment then the opposition give you respect and get slightly nervous making tem wonder what they got themselves in to.

Maybe if the team you're playing is crap. Players don't get nervous over what the other team is wearing. They might get nervous if they see you pulling off some crazy moves before the game starts, but that's about it.

[galperin]

I think boots DO make a difference. Mainly in comfort. I'd say it is worth it to try a more comfortable shoe, but you'll obviously have to pay more $ for it.

[Keep87]

Don't. Get. Vapor's.

[Grasshopper_7]

Originally posted by hovibaby
If it was up to me i would play soccer barefoot. Thats the best and funnest way to play.

Given all the press given over the last week to the, ahem, "horticultural practices" of Mr. Donovan and most other footballers I don't know that playing barefoot is advisable...

But seriously, like many others have said, it really ain't the boots, it's the player. To be fair, though, I think it's pretty important to play in something you're comfortable running around in for however long you're playing.

Besides, we all know of some guy who shows up to pickup games in jeans and canvas tennis shoes who can dribble circles around everyone, right?

[JRstriker12]

Originally posted by Grasshopper_7

Besides, we all know of some guy who shows up to pickup games in jeans and canvas tennis shoes who can dribble circles around everyone, right?

Too True.