Cleats

Professional and recreational athletes alike know all too well the importance of owning a good pair of cleats. The athletic shoes, specially designed to grip the particular sport’s playing surface, feature soles studded with plastic or metal.

Types of Cleats

Plastic cleats are most often used by youth sports leagues. It is illegal for these particular teams to use metal because the material is considered too sharp and dangerous, posing a potential threat to the team members. The metal-studded shoes are reserved for professional athletes and are shaped accordingly to accommodate the surface they are used on. The following is a list of select sports and the types of cleats favored by athletes:

• Baseball: The metal studs on a baseball shoe are thin and rectangular, providing reliable traction on the hard dirt of the playing field.
• Golf: A wide variety of golf shoes exist. From the more traditional metal studs to the increasingly common rubber studs, the spikes on the base of a golf shoe must be strong enough to literally dig into the golf course. Interestingly, certain golf shoes even feature removable studs, allowing the wearer to replace a worn spike or exchange rubber for metal (or vice versa). This has been shown to increase the shoe's longevity, and because a decent pair of golf shoes is often costly, the practice of exchanging studs also contributes to the shoe's value.
• Football: Most important in selecting an appropriate football shoe is the size of the stud. Depending on the playing surface, the stud must be able to comfortably accommodate the turf and allow the wearer to safely partake in the sport. It is crucial to remember that the shoe must not grip the surface too rigidly. This will cause potential injury to the wearer.
• Soccer: An exceptionally diverse selection of soccer shoes exists, and it is important that the wearer select a pair that suits the surface type and level of his or her game. The following is a list of types of soccer shoes:
  • Molded: This is a basic soccer shoe design. The studs are constructed of hard plastic or rubber, and are not detachable. The molded shoe suits all playing surfaces and is appropriate for beginners and intermediate-level players.
  • Detachable: Ideal for experienced players, the detachable shoe features hard plastic or metal-tipped plastic studs. The studs are easily replaced. This type of shoe is appropriate for wet, soggy or soft surfaces.
  • Indoor: Suitable – and often required – for indoor playing facilities, this type of footwear features a flat, rubber-like sole. This provides excellent traction and maintains the integrity of the playing surface.
  • Turf: Though turf shoes do not feature studs, they are similar to cleats in that the sole incorporates a variety of raised sections, making it an ideal shoe for training (or for anyone not accustomed to wearing shoes with studs).

Cleat Trivia

During World War II, metal spikes were attached to the soles of army boots. The boots provided traction for the diggers trekking through the slippery jungles of Papua New Guinea.

Prior to the invention of removable studs, nailed leather studs were removed by a cobbler, who would replace them with longer, mud-appropriate spikes. The removable stud was invented in 1922 by an Illinois high school football coach, John Tate Riddell.

In England, soccer cleats are called boots.

Brand Names

Cleats are readily available at sporting goods and apparel stores, as well as online at select retailers. The following is a list of popular name brand:

• Mizuno 9-Spike Lightning RP Low: This specialty softball and baseball shoe is considered one of the industry's most comfortable, providing stability and traction.
• Ecco Golf Casual Cool Hydromax: Smart, stylish and functional all at once, these golf shoes feature removable spikes.
• New Balance MF790: This football-appropriate footwear features 15 spikes. They are built to maintain the integrity of all types of grass and turf surfaces.

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