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Best kids' football boots to buy
Score a winner this Christmas with our pick of the best kids' football boots to buy for your mini Messi.
By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Oct 25, 2021
Whether it’s for PE at school, a kickabout in the park or competitive games at the weekend, picking the right football boots for your child can help them up their game.
These days, kids football boots are available in a dazzling array of colours and styles, from hot pink to neon green, laceless to Velcro. And with more artificial pitches around than ever, it’s important to make sure you get the right type of studs to suit the conditions they'll be playing on, whether it's boggy pitches in December or astroturf in August.
If your child wants to bend it like Beckham or hoof it like Houghton, our list has you covered.
Here are the best kids football boots to buy in 2021.
1. Best overall football boots for kids: Adidas Predator Mutator 20.1
“DS suits Adidas Predator boots so I look out for those.”
Price: £29.74 | Buy now from Amazon
If your DS or DD wants to be the next DB (David Beckham!) then the Adidas Predator Mutator 20.1 could be the boots for them. The Adidas Predator was the boot that Beckham wore back when he was bending in free kicks, and these days you can see them on the feet of top players like Paul Pogba. The knitted textile upper is covered in rubber dimples to help create more bend on shots – so your little one can aim for perfect ball control.
While the look of the boot matches the style worn by the pros, this kids' version comes with standard laces, so it’s easier to get the best fit for your child’s feet. All in all, this is a great boot for any young player.
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic
- Sole: Rubber studs (best for firm ground)
- Fastening: Laces
Related: The best kids' bikes to buy, with great options for children of all ages.
2. Best budget football boots for kids: Saekeke Boys Girls FG/TF Football Boots
Price: £14.71 | Buy now from Amazon
No matter how talented your budding footballer is, you can be sure their feet are still growing so they can go through boots quicker than Ronaldo running down the wing.
With that in mind, you might not want to spend a fortune on their footwear, so these boots from Saekeke could be just the job. They have a PVC and leather upper, which allows for great touch on the ball and a comfortable fit. And they don’t scrimp on style either – you can choose from a dizzying array of colours from red to blue (and classic black). They have conical rubber studs which are best for firm grass, but can be used on 3G artificial pitches too. The only thing they’re missing is the celebrity player endorsement you get with some of the bigger brands.
Key specs
- Material: PVC
- Sole: TPU rubber, with conical moulded studs
- Fastening: Laces
3. Best laceless football boots for kids: Adidas Nemeziz 19.3 Ll Fg J Soccer Shoe
“Another Adidas fan here. Both my girls play – they need grass and astro trainers and they go through them like locusts through corn. Adidas seem to last longest.”
Price: From £28.68 | Buy now from Amazon
Laceless football boots are a style that has become ever more popular with the professionals, and are now starting to be seen in kids' football boots too. Devotees of laceless boots reckon the slipper-like styling offers unmatched agility and the lack of seams and laces provides more comfort and a bigger area to hit the ball. They’re Lionel Messi’s boots of choice too, so they come with a promise of emulating the world’s best player.
There are versions of these boots available in a range of colours for astroturf, indoor and artificial pitches and firm and soft ground studs, so make sure you pick the right ones.
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic upper
- Sole: Rubber outsole
- Fastening: Laceless
4. Best kids football boots for style: Puma Future 5.3 Netfit
Price: £40.45 |Buy now from Amazon
Once upon a time, football boots came in the same choice of colours as the first Ford cars – any colour you like, as long as it’s black. Those days are long gone and we’re used to seeing all the colours of the rainbow on the average football field – so standing out from the crowd can be tricky.
With that in mind, we think these Puma Future Netfit boots might get your player a few admiring glances for their footwear as well as their skills. Netfit is Puma’s way of combining a slip-on sock like boot, with multiple lacing options on top for an optimum fit.
The low silhouette of these boots make them really sleek for taking shots, and the outer part of the boot is covered in a textured patterned material to combine style and control. A couple of things to bear in mind: the dimpled soles are best for astroturf, and these boots are recommended for slightly older kids (8-16 years old).
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic
- Sole: Synthetic, rubber dimple studs
- Fastening: ‘Netfit’ sock and laces
Related: The best water bottles for kids, with great options in silicone, plastic and more.
5. Best kids football boots for wide feet: Puma King Monarch
“8-year-old DD has very wide feet (G/H) and can only have Puma boots. Adidas and Nike are both too narrow. We haven’t had to size up though – normal size has been fine.”
Price: From £11.25 | Buy now from Amazon
The design of Puma’s King Monarch football boots has stood the test of time – and for good reason. Featuring a soft, durable black synthetic leather upper combined with a classic tongue and laces, these provide some old-school cred. The conical moulded studs are ideal for firm, natural grass surfaces, and even though they’re football boots, some players use them for rugby too.
Mumsnetters rate Puma for being a good brand for wider feet and these particular Monarch boots get the thumbs up. Unlike some other boots, where a size up can give a better fit, these tend to come in true to size – so if you need a size 4, buy a size 4!
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic leather
- Sole: Rubber moulded studs (firm grass)
- Fastening: Laces
6. Best kids football boots for narrow feet: Under Armour Unisex Kids Ua Magnetico Select Tf Jr Football Boots
Price: £35.82 | Buy now from Amazon
These Under Armour boots are good for narrower feet thanks to UA FormTrue technology. With a closely fitting toe-cap design, the boots remain flexible when playing a pass or taking a shot and combine fit and feel.
The inner layer of the boot is made from flexible synthetic material, and it has an antimicrobial Ortholite insole, to give a bit more breathability and to keep any post-match pongs to a minimum! There are black, white and blue versions to choose from and the dimpled sole makes these a good choice for astroturf.
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic leather
- Sole: Rubber dimple studs
- Fastening: Lace-up
7. Best kids football boots for speed: Mizuno Monarcida Neo Select Jr
Price: £27.72 | Buy now from Amazon
These boots have screw-in studs, so you can choose studs that will work well for grass pitches in the height of summer, as well as a winter mud bath. Being able to customise the boot to suit the conditions should have your mini-Messi flying down the pitch in no time, and the lightweight boot has a removable sock liner for enhanced foothold too. Something to bear in mind: some online reviews highlight the wide fit of these boots, so think about how wide your child’s foot is before making your purchase.
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic
- Sole: Rubber, removeable studs
- Fastening: Laces
8. Best indoor football boots for kids: Adidas x 19.3
Price: £28.27 | Buy now from Amazon
Adidas is mentioned again and again when it comes to football boot recommendations. Which is no surprise given its range of styles and endorsements from celebrity players. So it’s obvious that Adidas boots are a top choice for indoor football too. These shoes have a firm sole, specially designed for the indoor version of the game – sometimes referred to as futsal.
The low silhouette of the boots is designed for comfort, and the mesh upper should allow for some skilful touches from your little player too. As they don’t have studs, you might even find your more football-crazy offspring like to use them as trainers as well as for games of footy.
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic mesh
- Sole: Hard rubber
- Fastening: Laces
Related: The best kids' scooters to buy.
9. Best kids indoor football boots for wider feet: PUMA Unisex Kid's Future 4.4 It Jr Football Boots
Price: £29.81 | Buy now from Amazon
If your little footballer usually needs wider-fitting shoes, then Puma is a solid choice when it comes to football boots, and this indoor pair is no exception.
The indoor boots are designed for older kids between eight and 16, and combine a lightweight synthetic upper (available in a range of colours) with a gum rubber sole which is non-marking and flexible enough for the twists and turns of any budding footballer. And if they’re looking for a celeb endorsement, Puma boots are worn by Brazilian superstar, Neymar.
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic
- Sole: Gum rubber sole
- Fastening: Laces
10. Best kids football boots for comfort: Nike Unisex Kids’ Phantom Vsn 2 Academy Df Fg/Mg Football Boots
“I bought a pair of leather Nike firm ground plastic stud ones in a size 4. DS loves them, says they are really comfortable.”
Price: From £43.86 | Buy now from Amazon
One of the English Premier League’s top players is Man City star Kevin de Bruyne and you will see him wearing the elite version of these boots.
The internal bootie is lauded for being a comfortable snug fit, while the laces are hidden away under the textured mesh synthetic upper to give great ball control.
The shocking pink pair are certainly eye-catching (white is available too), but do bear in mind that Nike can be a snug fit so consider going a size up.
Key specs
- Material: Synthetic
- Sole: Rubber studs (firm/ medium ground)
- Fastening: Slip on
How to choose the best kids football boots
The most important thing to consider when buying kids football boots is the type of surface your child will be playing on. This will help you choose the right type of studs. Removable studs or blades are best for grass pitches, moulded studs suit artificial pitches, dimples go well on astroturf and rubber soles work for indoor games or futsal.
Once you’ve got the right type of sole, think about the width or your child’s foot. Some brands, like Puma, are better for wide feet while others, like Under Armour, suit a narrower foot. There is also a choice between boots with laces and those without (featuring a sock-style inner). These will come down to personal preference, so it might be worth having a chat with your superstar if you think you have a serious player on your hands.
Then it’s the fun bit! Do they want to be a star striker with pink boots, or a no-nonsense defender with black ones.
How much should I spend on a pair of kids football boots?
One of the big appeals of football is dreaming about trying to emulate the world superstars that strut their stuff in the Premier League and at World Cups – and this is something that the big sports manufacturers have cottoned on to.
The bigger the brand, the flashier the boot, and the more celebrity endorsements they have, the more expensive the boots are likely to be. If your boy or girl needs an adult size, the top boots can be priced well above £100 – a pretty hefty price tag for feet that are still growing.
Don’t panic though! You can get a decent pair of boots for about £20 – and there probably isn’t too much point spending much more, unless your little player has posters of star players on their bedroom wall.
What colour football boots should I buy?
Deciding which colour of kids football boots to go for is a real matter of personal taste. All of the colours of the rainbow are available these days, so virtually the only limit is your imagination. Although if your little player is really serious, they might like to know that some top football academies insist on black boots (perhaps to keep any prima donnas in check!)
What are the best kids football boots to buy?
The Adidas Predator Mutator 20.1 football boots are the overall best kids football boots to buy right now. They build on a heritage that saw them as David Beckham's boot of choice back in the day, and they’re still worn by top pros like Paul Pogba today.
Adidas has a good reputation for the quality of manufacturing and there are glowing online products reviews and recommendations in the Mumsnet forums. All in all, these are great boots for any young player.
How we chose our recommendations
Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from a real parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which kids football boots discerning Mumsnet users had bought. We compiled a list of boots they recommended, noting how much their little footballers liked them, and whether they were particularly good for any certain needs.
We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which football boots for kids had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites and print media, and what customers’ reviews said about them.
Having collated all that information, we picked the kids football boots we thought would make the best buys in several interest categories.
Why you should trust us
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