Determine Your Position
Are you an attacker or a defender? The type of lacrosse cleats you’ll need depends on your position on the field. Attackers tend to prefer lightweight, low-cut cleats that allow for speed and quick cuts. Defenders need more ankle support and protection, so high-top cleats are usually the best choice. Mid-cut cleats can provide a nice middle ground. Consider if you want cleats just for lacrosse or a versatile pair that could also work for other sports. Your position can help guide you.
Find The Right Size
It’s crucial to get properly fitted lacrosse cleats for comfort and performance. Youth sizes typically range from toddler to boys/girls size 7. Many brands offer wide sizing options too. If you have wide feet, avoid getting cleats too snug – go up half a size if needed. Trying cleats on in-store is ideal, but you can also trace your foot and measure the length to determine your size when ordering online. Don’t forget to account for growth if buying for a young player.
Select A Trusted Brand
Top athletic brands like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour are popular choices for lacrosse cleats. They offer a range of styles and prices. More specialized brands like New Balance, Warrior and STX also make quality cleats with lacrosse-specific features. Compare traction patterns, padding, weight and materials across different brands to find the right match for your preferences. Ask teammates what brands they recommend too.
Customize With Color
Personalize your cleats by choosing your preferred colors and color combinations. Bold neon hues have a fun, eye-catching effect. Two-tone cleats with a different base and accent color can help them stand out. Match your team colors or complement them with a style that fits your personality. Just be sure any custom colors or designs meet league requirements.
Examine The Traction
Having the right traction keeps you stable during cuts, accelerations and dodges. Molded cleats have permanent studs for excellent grip. Detachable cleats allow you to swap studs for different field conditions. Edge designs provide traction at toe-off. Consider trying both types to see which works best for your playing style. Focus extra traction at the forefoot and lateral edges.
Assess Ankle Support Levels
Lacrosse involves lots of lateral motion and change of direction, so ankle support is key. High-top cleats offer maximum stability for defenders and big hitters. Low-tops maximize mobility for speedy attackers. Mid-cut cleats hit a middle ground. Some cleats add protective padding or composite materials for extra support without the bulk of a high-top. Get the right amount of support for your position.
Determine Cleat Versatility
While lacrosse-specific cleats optimize performance, some athletes prefer the versatility of football or soccer cleats that can transition across sports. Features like deeper studs and ankle support still benefit lacrosse. Just ensure any non-lacrosse cleats meet league rules and provide needed traction. Multi-sport options can save money but sacrifice some lacrosse-tailored performance.
Check For Protective Padding
Added padding in lacrosse cleats helps shield your feet against impact from checks, errant sticks and balls. Padding zones on the tongue, sides and toes offer extra protection. Make sure padding doesn’t restrict movement or cause rubbing. Lightweight foam or gel pads work well. Some cleats also use reinforced materials for protection without bulk.
Consider Weight
In general, lighter lacrosse cleats translate to increased speed and agility on the field. Many high-performance cleats now use ultra-light synthetic materials and low-profile designs to shave off ounces without losing structure and durability. Try on different weights to find the balance you prefer. The range is around 8-14 oz per shoe, with most falling under 12 oz.
Factor In Affordability
Lacrosse cleats can range from $40 up to $200 or more per pair. Higher prices tend to signal premium materials, specialized designs and maximum durability. But more affordable cleats can still offer great quality and value. Set a budget and look for sales to offset costs. Many last year models go on clearance before new versions launch.
Read Online Reviews
Research cleats online before buying and read feedback from other lacrosse players. Sort reviews by verified purchases, position played and foot type for the most relevant input. Pay attention to commentary on sizing, durability, comfort and traction from real-world use. This helps assess if a cleat matches your needs.
Shop Locally If Possible
Visiting a sports store gives you the advantage of trying on lacrosse cleats before purchasing. Athlete’s Foot, Big 5 and DICK’s Sporting Goods are popular options. Staff can bring out multiple sizes and styles to find your best fit. You’ll walk out with cleats ready to test on the field.
Compare Online Retailers
When shopping for lacrosse cleats online, popular websites include brand sites (Nike.com, Adidas.com), sports mega-stores (DICK’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority), and specialty shops (Lacrosse Monkey, Lax.com). Compare selection, prices, coupons/promos, return policies, and shipping costs.
Break Them In Gradually
New cleats need a break-in period for comfort. Wear them around the house to start. Transition into drills and short practices before games. Blisters and hot spots are common if rushing the process. Take time to allow cleats to properly mold to your feet before heavy use.
Consider Your Size
Getting properly fitted lacrosse cleats is crucial for comfort and performance. Youth sizes typically range from toddler to boys/girls size 7, and many brands offer wide sizing options too. If you have wide feet, go up half a size to avoid getting cleats too snug. Trying on cleats in-store allows you to find the best fit, but you can also trace your foot and measure length to determine size for online ordering. Don’t forget to account for growth if buying for a young player.
Select A Trusted Brand
Top athletic brands like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour are popular choices for lacrosse cleats, offering a range of styles and prices. More specialized brands like New Balance, Warrior and STX also make quality cleats with lacrosse-specific features. Comparing traction patterns, padding, weight and materials across brands helps find the right match for your preferences. Asking teammates for brand recommendations can provide additional insight.
Customize With Color
Personalizing your lacrosse cleats with your preferred colors and color combinations can give them a fun, eye-catching effect. Bold neon hues stand out, while two-tone cleats with different base and accent colors also help them pop. Matching team colors or complementing them with your own style works, as long as any custom colors meet league requirements.
Examine The Traction
Having the right traction keeps you stable during cuts, accelerations and dodges in lacrosse. Molded cleats offer permanent studs for excellent grip, while detachable cleats allow swapping studs based on field conditions. Edge designs provide traction at toe-off. Trying both types can help determine which works best for your playing style. Focus extra traction at the forefoot and lateral edges.
Assess Ankle Support Levels
The lateral motion and change of direction in lacrosse make ankle support key. High-top cleats provide maximum stability for defenders and big hitters. Low-tops maximize mobility for speedy attackers. Mid-cut cleats offer a middle ground. Some cleats add protective padding or composite materials for extra support without the bulk of a high-top. Getting the right amount of support for your position is important.
Determine Cleat Versatility
While lacrosse-specific cleats optimize performance, some athletes prefer the versatility of football or soccer cleats that can work across sports. Features like deeper studs and ankle support still benefit lacrosse. Just ensure any non-lacrosse cleats meet league rules and provide needed traction. Multi-sport options can save money but may sacrifice some lacrosse-tailored performance.
Check For Protective Padding
Added padding in lacrosse cleats helps shield your feet from impact of checks, errant sticks, and balls. Padding zones on the tongue, sides, and toes provide extra protection. Ensure padding doesn’t restrict movement or cause rubbing. Lightweight foam or gel pads work well without bulk. Some cleats also use reinforced materials for protection without added padding.
Consider Weight
In general, lighter lacrosse cleats translate to increased speed and agility on the field. Many high-performance cleats now use ultra-light synthetic materials and low-profile designs to shave off ounces without losing structure and durability. Trying on different weights helps find the balance you prefer, with most in the 8-14 oz per shoe range and falling under 12 oz.
Factor In Affordability
Lacrosse cleats can range from $40 up to $200 or more per pair. Higher prices often reflect premium materials, specialized designs, and maximum durability. However, more affordable cleats can still provide great quality and value. Setting a budget and watching for sales, like clearance of last year’s models, can help offset costs.
Read Online Reviews
Researching lacrosse cleats online before buying and reading feedback from other players is helpful. Sorting reviews by verified purchases, position played, and foot type provides the most relevant input. Pay attention to commentary on sizing, durability, comfort and traction based on real-world use to assess if a cleat matches your needs.
Shop Locally If Possible
Visiting a sports store gives the advantage of trying on lacrosse cleats before purchasing. Popular options like Athlete’s Foot, Big 5, and DICK’s Sporting Goods allow staff to bring out multiple sizes and styles to find your best fit. You can walk out with cleats ready to test on the field after an in-store fitting.
Compare Online Retailers
When shopping for lacrosse cleats online, popular websites include brand sites like Nike.com and Adidas.com, sports mega-stores like DICK’s Sporting Goods and Sports Authority, and specialty shops such as Lacrosse Monkey and Lax.com. Compare selection, prices, coupons/promos, return policies, and shipping costs across retailers.
Break Them In Gradually
New lacrosse cleats need a break-in period for comfort. Wear them initially around the house, then transition into drills and short practices before games. Blisters and hot spots are common if rushing the break-in process. Take time to properly mold cleats to your feet before heavy use.