Labels
Articles
(1)
AUDL
(1)
Coaching
(5)
Contest
(1)
Design
(1)
Equipment
(1)
Logo
(1)
Moose Jaw
(1)
News
(2)
Rules Talk
(4)
Skyd Magazine
(1)
Tournaments
(2)
Travelling Teams
(2)
Zip's Tips
(4)
Friday, 18 November 2011
What kind of cleats should you get?
This is a really tough question to try and address for obvious reasons. So take this as one player’s advice, not cleat gospel. Don’t get mad at me if you break an ankle following this guide. But here's a bit of a breakdown of what I look for when purchasing a new pair and some miscellaneous tidbits I've picked up in my last 12 years of playing.
Also, it is important to note that although I have no experience with women’s cleats, this guide should still apply for the most part. Just be sure if you are buying online to look in the women’s section. They are designed for the female foot, ie. narrower, arches moved slightly, and typically lighter than men’s cleats.
Preface - Types of cleats.
There are two main types of cleats for Ultimate players; Football and Soccer. In the past few years Lacrosse cleats are becoming more and more popular, although most say that Football and Lacrosse cleats are fairly interchangeable.
In addition to these main types, there are different kinds of pegs/studs/treads (they go by a bunch of different names) that are available as well for each kind of cleat. You will typically only find these two in a store; bladed and round, some models have hybrids of both. Round pegs have a tendency to allow for quicker motion in all directions and are generally accepted as having better performance in wet/soft ground conditions. Bladed cleats however, are typically better performers on dry grass and some people say they leave players less prone to injury (although studies are on the fence, some come to the conclusion that round pegs activate the quadriceps more and thus lead to greater chances of ACL injuries, others say that the risk or injury is nearly identical).
Some things I will not be talking about:
Baseball cleats. I simply find that they have too much grip on turf and grass for the type of motions Ultimate players use. If you’re looking for a surefire way to tweak an ankle go ahead and try them. Or if you use ankle braces they might not be a bad option. But I’ve only tried them twice, both with terrible results (photos available upon request).
Removable/replaceable pegs. Some cleats come with removable/replaceable peg options. They’re great for really customizing the tread pattern for the wearer. But the pegs and “housing” do not last nearly as long as molded cleats, and are much for susceptible to breaking off mid-play.
First - Determine what type of player you are.
Cutters move differently than handlers. Quick players move differently than slow players. Deep threats cut differently than mid/under cutters. Men move different than women.
The basic idea is to think about the way you move (and want to move) on the field. The more aggressive you want your cuts to be, the more grip you are going to need. More grip, means greater risk of tweaking an ankle on a cut, and usually less comfort. But also means you can change your direction on the fly.
Many Football players have movements that are close to Ultimate players, especially in the wide receiver, safety, and cornerback areas; lots of lateral cutting and changing of direction. So I usually recommend going with a pair of Football cleats as opposed to soccer.
If you need vertical (for all you deep players), find a pair of cleats that are lightweight and have some ankle support. Avoid cleats like the
Fourth – Comfort.
Do not expect cleats to be incredibly comfortable the first time you wear them. It shouldn’t hurt to play, but they will not be completely broken in to your feet for at least a few games. Sometimes it can take months for them to feel just right. So try to avoid buying a brand new pair right before a big game or tournament. Other than that, it’s all about personal preference and making sure you have the right size.
After once game your feet should still feel good. After a tournament they will be sore no matter what you do. Double socks, insoles, and tape can all help with minor comfort issues for lots of play in a weekend.
Fifth –Insoles.
Sometimes you need them, sometimes you don’t. If you find that your cleats just aren’t supportive enough or don’t have enough cushion, or if you bought a pair of cleats that fit great length and width wise but just aren’t snug enough, don’t go to a larger size right away. Insoles might be the answer. My personal favourites are in almost every pair I own; the Sole Softec series. These will run you $30-$50 depending on the style you go with, but they are absolutely amazing! You get a set that has the thickness you are needing (for cleats I only use the Thin Sport, but the Medium Sport ones could work depending on how much room you need), toss them in the oven for a few minutes, put them in your shoe and stand in them for 5 minutes. The form fit to your feet giving you custom insoles.
One of the nice things about insoles is that you can move them to different pairs of cleats, so you really on have to buy them once. And after you bruise a heel stopping quickly, you will never play without them again.
OTHER NOTES:
Durability
A good pair of cleats should last the average player 3-6 seasons. Remember if you are playing in winter as well as summer it is two separate seasons. Touring and high level players can expect to go through one pair every year.
If you are looking for a pair that will last you a decade (figure of speech), your best bet is probably the Adidas Copa Mundials. One of the most popular cleats ever made, players say that they simply last forever.
Shop Online
A good general rule is to stick with brands you know (Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Reebok, New Balance, etc.), and do not buy cheap! If you are on a budget, take a look online or at outlet stores, but do not go to Wal-Mart or Zellers and expect to get a good quality pair of cleats for $20. I usually expect to spend somewhere in the $60-$150 range depending on style and popularity at the time.
Remember this is just advice and opinion. You need to figure out the fine tuning on your own!
Questions? Comments? Hit me up!
Stay frosty!
Jarrod
TL:DR -
Buy brand names.
Stick with football, lacrosse and soccer cleats.
Determine your playing style, and pick out cleats with a stud pattern that suits you best.
Look into insoles if the fit is close but not quite there, or if you need extra support.
Expect to spend $60-$150.
Buy online.
Talk to me if you need more info!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
So take this as one player’s advice, not cleat gospel. Don’t get mad at me if you break an ankle following this guide.
ReplyDeleteThank you................
Soccer Uniforms For Sale
Soccer Uniform Kits
Hey guys this is a Ultimate Frisbee startup company that I am currently working for http://taigaultimate.com/ we made custom uniforms for Ultimate Frisbee teams. Everything is done online you can upload your logo and we will have it printed in your uniforms for you. You can choose the color of the uniform the font for the number and the name of each player and the style of the uniform. Everything is done through our customizer tool. The uniforms are from a very high quality using Dye sublimation which means the logo and prints are parts of the shirts like if were parts of the fabric. Please check it out and let me know what you guys think.
ReplyDeleteThere are two main types of cleats for Ultimate players; Football and ... underarmourcleats.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThere are two main types of cleats for Ultimate players; Football and Soccer. ... bfootballcleats.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete