One of the most important pieces of football equipment is footwear. The football boot industry is a multi-million pound business with several top manufacturers spending millions on developments trying to enhance their product. We have put together several pages of the big brands to help show what they do and how the products have advanced.

A problem with the new style of boots has been the lack of protection the boot gives to the top of the foot. The now infamous metatarsal bone has been broken many times in recent years during football matches and a lot of the blame on that has gone on the new style of boots, which provide a ‘slipper-like’ feel but fails to protect the foot from serious injury.

Adidas football boots have become an integral part of the ability of a football player in the last decade. In days past, a batsman would face a ball with just a peaked cap on his head for protection and a rower would drag along a solid wooden boat with solid wooden oars. Now we have a vast range of pioneering sporting equipment at our finger-tips and many argue that in the world of football boots, Adidas has created the biggest phenomenon of all time.

ADIDAS adiPURE REVIEW - These boots have a soft upper that is super comfortable and allows for a great touch. These are the same as the adiNOVA, just these have blades. I felt the adiNOVA's studs created pressure points. Built sturdy and laces are strong. Thinking about getting a second pair to have as backup.

The Adidas Predator was the first football boot of its kind to claim it could actual change the way you kicked the ball and suggested the idea that the equipment would make you a better player on its own. Adidas is one of the largest football boot brands and the sport’s most iconic player, David Beckham, has scored dozens of a free-kicks wearing a pair and he wouldn’t be seen without them on the pitch. They are certainly more than just a few studs and a bit of leather.

NIKE MERCURIAL REVIEW - The Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II FG optimizes four of Nike's key soccer cleats with premium materials, decreasing weight for competition on sports' biggest stage last summer. Available to players at all levels, these super-light and incredibly strong silhouettes have been worn by the world's best. The carbon-fiber engineered soles strip weight to the absolute minimum while maximizing strength.

There are just three different series of Nike soccer cleats. Every series has one leading model followed by two or three less expensive versions. Also there is usually a choice of the prior edition of the leading model. By the way, very smart choice in my opinion (much lower cost for these ‘descending’ models of Nike soccer cleats).

An example of this are the two versions of the Nike Mercurial Vapor SL (super light) soccer cleats. The special, limited edition (only 2000 pairs). They are almost entirely made of Carbon Fiber and are the lightest soccer cleats ever (6.7oz. – 190 grams) and one of the most expensive soccer cleats ever – $400 (crazy).

The second version, which I call ‘a public edition’ is the combination of SL’s outsole (carbon fiber) and Vapor IV’s midsole and upper (Teijin microfiber).

There are many factors to consider while selecting soccer cleats. If you already narrow your option to Nike soccer cleats, understand which outsole type will suit you the best and know the size you need to get, the only thing to contemplate is which shoes are the most adequate for the level of soccer you play.

NIKE MERCURIAL REVIEW - My kid is in a soccer semi-pro team and he is happy with the pair of shoes he got, light very comfy, good for running and for sure for kicking and making goals.

Basically, the higher level the better cleats you should have. Every single soccer boot has my recommendation for what level of play it would be the most proper for. Remember, it’s not a strict rule. It’s just my suggestion but if money is not a subject, forget about it. The high-end soccer cleats won’t hurt anybody, not even beginners.

What about the material of uppers? Well, nowadays the choice, which cleats are better, the one made of true leather or the synthetic one, has become more as everyone’s own preference. Today’s technologies can create high quality synthetics (microfiber) that in some cases are as good as true leather. I still don’t like synthetic soccer shoes, especially those made of low-grade, cheap artificial material, but it’s how I said, it’s what you prefer.

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