12 Best Football Cleats for Kids and Youth in 2023

During a football game, the foot does a lot of work, and hence it’s essential to make sure it’s protected. Most youth football players tend to run, jump, maneuver quickly, and in return, sprain the ankle joint. That’s where a top-quality youth football cleat can come in handy.

Indeed, youth football players should not enter into the field without proper protection to their feet. Luckily, some brands have come up with the design of shoes that can support and cushion the feet while sustaining performance and comfort on the field.

Quite too often, parents struggle to find the right football cleats for their children. A combination of different features determines the best quality football shoes for youth. In this review, we have assembled some of the best football cleats for kids and youth.

Best Football Cleats for Kids and Youth

Our Top Picks

Overall Best Football Cleat for Youth: Adidas Unisex-Kid’s Predator Firm Ground Soccer Shoe

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If you care about your child’s safety on the football field, then choose Adidas Kids’ Predator Firm Ground Soccer Shoe. This pair of shoes is classic and stylish, whose design will also complement everyday outfits. Youth players will look smart in them while their feet get maximum support.

These shoes feature FG outsole with lightweight comfort that protects the feet while offering maximum support. Therefore, this adapts to any ground types and helps with stability. The liner is easier to clean, and the upper consists of synthetic leather material with embossed details for better ball control.

When it comes to durability, you can be sure that this shoe will see better days. The TPU-injected outer sole is made of durable rubber, which doesn’t wear out easily. Furthermore, all the other parts are synthetic material.

We highly recommend the Adidas Kids’ Predator soccer shoe for youth players due to the fact that junior football players will love the look and feel of these shoes.

Pros

• Comfortable pair of shoe
• Classic design that blends style
• Durable outsole and high-quality material that will last long
• Offers maximum support
• Lightweight design

Cons

• The shoe may cause sweatiness as it’s a little on the narrow side

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Our next pair is Under Armour Jr. Football Shoe, which performs excellently in terms of traction, support, and comfort. They provide a superb lockdown and do a good job of keeping the ankle firm, thereby protecting the feet from twisting or spraining.

The traction on the outer sole is not bulky but lightweight to offer comfort and freeness as junior football players aggressively run all over the football field. It thus enables them to perform quick move while making impressive attacks on the opponent. Plus, the shoe will take time to wear out.

These shoes are designed to last and look good. They are best suited to someone who wears high tops.

With CompFit ankle support, you can adjust for comfort and added support. Similarly, the innovative lacing system ensures that the midfoot is properly secured. Thanks to the carbon fiber cleat plate, the shoe provides a high level of traction for breakaway speed.

An added benefit is the molded 4D foam that ensures the outsole contours to the feet shape, thus giving the perfect control in extreme lateral moves.

Finally, the shoe feels light since the upper has a lightweight material, and as a result, it guarantees an impressive speed on the field.

Pros

• Great lacing system
• Comfortable
• High-quality outsole
• Durable upper
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not enough ankle support

Overall Best Youth Football Cleat for Youth: Under Armour Men’s Breathe Trainer Football Shoe

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Under Armour Men’s Breathe Trainer is known for its great support around the ankle and style. With the combination of fashion and comfortability, it is one of the best youth football cleats for wide feet. Whether your child has wide feet or flat feet, he would love wearing this football shoe.

Because of its mid-top design, this shoe promotes free movement of the ankle. So, this cleat can also be a great choice for youth players who are running backs. The materials of this shoe allow the flexibility to loosen up around the foot. So they get to enjoy greater comfort with time.

The EVA midsole of this shoe offers a superb blend of cushion and support. The shoe provides excellent traction on all types of surfaces, thanks to the hard outsole with flex grooves for extra flexibility.

The shoe is also lightweight, thanks to its synthetic upper and soft textile tongue. This shoe’s integrated lacing system is a little different than the other Under Armour shoes. This might make the sides of the shoe a little tight. Other than that, it’s a top-quality football shoe for youth players.

Pros

• Looks great
• Excellent performance
• Lightweight
• Affordable

Cons

• A little bit tight

Best Budget Football Cleat for Youth: Vizari Infinity FG Cleat

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If you’re searching for a youth football cleat that is super affordable, you can consider Vizari Infinity FG Soccer Cleat.

The synthetic upper has a textured surface for excellent controllability. The two different color combination makes it look cool.

This product features a lightweight EVA sock liner to ensure your child feels comfortable and can move freely. The rugged outsole comes with rugged studs for superior traction on different surfaces.

We like the composition of the outsole, which comprises of high-quality rubber materials and a two-tone design. This is ideal for traction, free movements and ensures firm grip so that junior football players don’t slide on the field.

These cleats are stylish and come in nice colors that will blend well in a wide selection of casual wear.

Pros

• Cheap yet quality football cleats
• Comfortable to the feet
• Stylish design
• Lightweight design
• Durable

Cons

• Not great heel support

Good Youth Football Cleats

Rated Highly by Parents and Experts

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Under Armour Kids’ Spotlight Franchise Rm Jr Football Shoe

Are you looking for a high-quality youth football cleat for maximum ankle support and stability? Choose Under Armour Kids’ Spotlight Franchise Rm Jr Football Shoe for an active kid or toddler. With this shoe, your child will get more coverage on his feet and support. Consequently, this will prevent ankle sprains and twisting of the joint which results in serious injuries.

The synthetic upper with screen-print overlay wraps perfectly around the foot, and the lightness guarantees maximum comfort.

Its exterior is made of a durable rubber which is equally supportive to the feet. Together with the three-piece rear panel, the shoes are comfy and perfectly fitting.

The exterior shank, in conjunction with the heel counter, delivers lock-in stability that ensures support to your child’s heel, forefoot, and arch.

The sock liner molds are designed with the shape of the foot and have an anti-friction top liner that provides airflow, thus cooling the feet.

The height of the shoe allows youth players to veer in any direction at any speed without feeling the impact on their soles. As a final point, the midsole is made of full-length EVA foam that delivers cushion and comfort.

Pros

• Made from durable materials
• Stable and excellent ankle support
• Excellent traction
• Lightweight design
• It’s comfortable

Cons

• Not for players with wide feet 

Under Armour Men’s Highlight Mc Football Shoe

Wearing a shoe that doesn’t fit can be uncomfortable during a football game. A reliable pair of cleats should offer your kid maximum support, and that’s why we settled on Under Armour Men’s Highlight Mc Football Shoe.

Without a doubt, Under Armour is a signature brand loved by millions around the world. The uppers are made of high-quality synthetic material that is strategically zoned in the upper to offer more stability and breathability. The high-top design of this shoe ensures support and firmness on the ankles and prevents any sprains or injuries.

This remarkable pair of shoes is not only reasonably priced but engineered for speed and agility. It also includes a molded 4D foam footbed, which adds comfort, reduces cleat pressure and slippage. Additionally, it fits properly, maintaining firmness such that your child’s feet cannot slide sideways.

The cleats are durable since the outsole is made of high-quality synthetic leather. Likewise, it has high traction thanks to the UA scatter traction cleat system on the outer rubber sole that assures a firm grip on the ground. Thus, youth football players can turn swiftly at high speed if they are playing as running backs.

Lastly, these cleats are lightweight and good for quick maneuvers.

Pros

• Lightweight for easy maneuvers
• High-top design
• Stylish pair of cleats
• Breathable design
• Comfortable

Cons

• Some customers feel this cleat isn’t great for someone with wide feet

DREAM PAIRS Boys Girls Athletic Soccer Football Cleats

A right shoe can help youth football players with supreme ankle support and increased flexibility. If you wish for such a pair of cleats, then the DREAM PAIRS Boys Girls Football Cleat is an excellent choice.

The first thing about these sneakers is the upper that consists of synthetic material with textured mesh for better ball handling.

This cleat is for an all-around player since they’re lightweight, and this increases the speed and ability to react fast.

For comfort, the cushioned insole promotes free movement of the ankles during the game. The lace-up closure enables a comfortable fit, thus ensures additional ankle support and stableness.

These shoes come in many stunning bold colors. Even though they are for football or soccer games, little kids can still wear them to complement their casual wear.

Finally, the rubber molded outsole features a lightweight and comfortable design that makes the shoes maintain a firm grip on the ground.

Pros

• Sturdy and offers maximum support
• Breathable textile linings
• Lightweight design
• Durable material
• Comfortable
• Affordable

Cons

• The heel area feels rigid when new

Adidas Men’s Nemeziz Firm Ground Soccer Shoe

To play youth football, it is important to maintain fluidity and make easy maneuvers while communicating with their teammates. That is why youth players need a reliable pair of football shoes. Their best bet could be the Adidas Men’s Nemeziz Firm Ground Soccer Shoe.

These cleats feature an elasticated mesh upper for speed and agility. Engineered bandage offers enhanced ankle mobility and side support.

Certainly, a poorly cushioned shoe can result in pain on their feet as they hit the ground. Adidas Nemeziz midsole has a high-quality cushion that returns the energy on every jump. The outsole is made of rubber blended with herringbone patterns, thus providing superior grip and high traction.

The Adidas logo featuring three stripes gives you the guarantee of the authenticity of the brand. With the stylishness of these shoes, junior football players can wear anytime as a casual outfit.

Pros

• Excellent padding around the ankle
• Comfortable pair
• Lightweight design
• Stylish design
• Excellent traction
• Affordable

Cons

• The shoelaces lack quality

Other Recommended Youth Football Cleats

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Nike Kids’ Alpha Menace Shark Football Cleats

Are you looking for a stylish and unique football cleat for your child? Choose Nike Kids’ Alpha Menace Shark Football Cleats if you want a great looking and comfortable cleat for your junior football player.

The overall quality of this shoe is pretty amazing, and it fits perfectly on a little child’s foot, whereas the mid-top design guarantees good ankle support.

We love the outsole of this shoe, which offers multidirectional traction. Thus junior football players will not slide irrespective of the status of the surface. By the same token, the upper is made of synthetic textile, which is durable and lightweight.

On the issue of breathability, the Adidas Alpha Menace Shark shoe has a mesh tongue for maximum airflow. The lace-up system ensures the shoe wraps excellently around the feet.

The merits of the case are that the Adidas Alpha Menace Shark shoe is designed to provide the best cushioning and comfort, thereby protecting your child’s tender feet from sprains and injuries.

Pros

• Provides good traction
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Stylish and versatile
• Affordable price
• Stable

Cons

• These cleats are only for narrow feet size

Nike Men’s Vapor Untouchable Pro 3 Football Cleat

Would you like to boost your child’s speed and flexibility? Then, get him this premium football cleat from Nike. Regardless of the position he plays, this is the shoe that will allow easy and fluid movement.

On the other hand, you need to ensure that your child’s ankle is properly supported because most injuries suffered by the youth players usually occur around the ankle.

Nike Men’s Vapor Untouchable has a high-top design for better ankle support. The carbon fiber plate ensures lateral support and swift movement.

The midsole offers the best cushion to the feet in light of the bounce technology and also absorbs shock to the feet. Due to impact absorption, the joints, muscles, tissues, and tendons are well protected from injury, fatigue, and soreness. In addition to that, this boosts young player’s energy levels as they run across the field.

The lace-up system in these shoes is great for a tight fit and for easy taken on.

To sum up, the Nike Men’s Vapor Untouchable Pro has a one-piece bootie construction that ensures excellent lockdown and an amazing fit at all times.

Pros

• Comfortable
• Well-cushioned
• Lightweight
• Breathable material
• Durable material

Cons

• It’s a little pricier but worth the money

Nike Kids’ Mercurial Superfly 7 Academy FG Soccer Cleats

This is Nike’s one of the best-rated football cleats for football-loving youngsters. It is known more for its lightweight and responsiveness. You won’t find a shoe for that price that delivers a fantastic and responsive feel on the field.

Nike Kids’ Mercurial Superfly has a versatile multi-ground plate midsole. The lightweight midsole is designed to offer traction for both natural and artificial grass surfaces. Moreover, the combination of the lightweight midsole and a Nike Aerotrak zone allows a rotational motion.

The shoe has excellent cushioning because of the Sockliner. Thanks to the padded collar, this shoe offers excellent ankle support and containment. As a result, young football players will feel ready every time they step on the field.

Moreover, it has a high-quality upper mesh material that is textured from heel to toe to provide high speed on different types of surfaces. So if you are looking for a top-quality football shoe for someone to play in middle school, high school, or college-level competitions, it is a great option. 

Pros

• Excellent ankle support
• Quality grip
• Very sturdy
• Feels comfortable
• Affordable

Cons

• No issues found

Adidas Kids’ Copa Firm Ground Soccer Shoe

Youth football cleat should offer optimum comfort and cushion as players jump up and down in the field. Adidas Kids’ Copa Firm Ground Soccer Shoe could be an excellent choice for the price.

The mesh and textile upper takes care of breathability, whereas the molded heel ensures maximum support. When you look further, you’ll find that there is a stitched vamp that reduces slippage. In addition, innovative design makes the shoe secure and comfortable.

The durable firm ground construction is strong enough to withstand abrasion. Therefore, this shoe will last quite some time. While still reasoning from this point, the low-top design provides extra mobility and a range of motion on different surfaces.

The FG outsole offers excellent traction for flexible movement and maximum grip. Finally, yet importantly, the molded midsole is lightweight, and this delivers a swift experience.

Pros

• Durable
• Breathable
• Comfortable
• Lightweight
• Stable and supportive
• Affordable

Cons

• The midsole cushion a bit thinner as compared to other models

Read Also: 10 Best Baseball Cleats For Kids And Youth 

Best Football Cleats For Youth

Questions & Answers

What are the best football cleats brands for youth?

To keep up with audience demand, top football cleat brands are releasing new shoes for youth players on a regular basis. On our above comprehensive list, we have tried to review the best football cleats for youth in the market right now.

Brands Like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armor are popular among ambitious youth players. But we recommend the Adidas Kids’ Predator Firm Ground Soccer Shoe for kids and youth.

For the best youth football cleats for wide feet, the Under Armour Men’s Breathe Trainer Football Shoe is the best choice. It looks pretty cool and offers a decent amount of support for wide feet.

We will try to update the list whenever there’s a popular new shoe in the market. So check our reviews on a regular basis and try on what you like.

How to choose the best youth football cleats?

A right pair of football shoes don’t just keep youth player’s feet protected; they can also significantly improve their performance on the field. But how can you pick the best one that offers great support and fits properly? Check out these factors before buying a pair of youth football cleats.

Comfort and Fit

The right football cleats should offer the right support for your child during the practice and game. Lightweight shoes usually provide maximum support and comfort. Proper fitting shoes should also be an important consideration. And a stylish shoe can be used for casual occasions.

Shoes with a high-top design

For years, high-top football cleats have been catered towards youth football enthusiasts who seek better support for their ankles. They usually come with additional collar height to prevent ankle rolling. However, recent studies found that there are no major differences between high- and low-tops in how much ankle turns. So instead of focusing much on design, focus on comfort and fit.

Upper material and lockdown

Lockdown is important to keep the foot secure and prevent unnecessary side-to-side movement. Check the lacing system to ensure that the shoe fits perfectly. The upper material quality is also important for improved breathability and cushion.

Other than the above-mentioned factors, there are some other features to consider. These are durability, traction, price, and weight. With these in mind, you should be able to shop for a suitable pair with some peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right footwear is important when it comes to youth sports. Investing in a quality pair of shoes can significantly reduce the chance of injuries while offering the support your child needs.