Soccer is a great sport in that it requires much less equipment than many others. But one thing that you will definitely need in order to succeed is a good pair of soccer shoes. Depending on the type of surface where you tend to play the most, the type of cleats that you'll want to purchase can vary.
Indoor vs. Outdoor vs. Turf Soccer Shoes
Many soccer shoes are versatile and can be used in many conditions, but there's one major distinction: outdoor vs. indoor shoes.
As a very basic definition, outdoor shoes have cleats while indoor shoes, also called flats, do not. But it also gets a bit more complicated than that these days.
The type of turf used at most indoor soccer facilities now allows them to permit hard ground cleats (but not soft ground ones, which are longer removable studs, sometimes made of metal, that are used for better traction in wet or muddy conditions).
And there's also the whole separate category of turf soccer shoes, which have small rubber studs to give you additional traction. (And these are often used both indoor and outdoor settings, upping the confusion level.)
But for the purposes of this article, we will focus on classic indoor shoes, which have a flat bottom and a non-marking rubber sole.
These indoor soccer shoes can be used at indoor facilities and also gym floors or street surfaces.
Additionally, many people like to wear indoor soccer shoes for everyday wear as they're much more practical than any other soccer boot for leisure use. (If it's your primary pair you certainly don't want to wear them out outside of soccer use, however!)
If you're wondering about the best brands for indoor soccer shoes, you'll see most lists dominated by the big players like Adidas and Nike, although there are certainly smaller companies that make quality indoor cleats as well.
Let's take a look at what we consider to be some of the best indoor soccer shoes out there on the market. You can read more including customer reviews at the links below.
The Best Indoor Soccer Cleats for the Money: Our Top 5
1. Adidas Samba Classic
The Adidas Samba Classic gets its name for a reason; it’s an iconic brand and has stood the test of time. It seems to never go out of style, dating back to when it first came onto the scene around the 1950s.
This shoe has a leather and suede upper with a rubber non-marking sole. It is one of the best selling indoor shoes and widely used among players just about everywhere.
The Nike Mercurial X Proximo is an example of a newer type of the cleat with a sock liner built right into the shoe. This is more or less a personal preference but many players like the feel and convenience.
This model is made up of synthetic upper material with tri-star flex grooves to improve movement. It also has ribbed lines across the upper to increase ball control, touch, passing, and shooting
3. Adidas Mundial Goal Indoor
The Adidas Mundial Goal is an upgraded version of the Adidas Samba Classic. It has softer leather and an upgraded rubber sole slightly similar to the Classic but with some added touches.
If you have long depended upon the Classic but now want to take it to the next step, this is a logical progression.
4. Nike Magista Onda IC
The Nike Magista Onda IC has a rubber web coating over the synthetic leather upper sole for more ball control, touch, passing, and shooting. It also offers an off-center lacing system.
A few players have reported that this particular shoe can run small, so you might want to try a half-size smaller than you would normally buy.
5. Nike Hypervenom Phelon II IC
The Nike Hypervenom Phelon II has a textured synthetic leather upper which can help to improve ball control, touch, passing, and shooting.
In addition, its foam padded collar and die-cut EVA midsole help with comfort. This model also has a stylish bright look that has been known to turn heads on the pitch.
All in all, playing indoor soccer can require different types of shoes depending on the surface that you play on. But if you're looking for a flat-soled shoe (which is the most versatile and can also be used on a gym floor or concrete outdoor surface), these are some of the best choices you can make.
Of course, there are other good ones too you might come across, but these are our picks for getting started. If there is another shoe in particular that you like, let us know in the comment section below. Best of luck on your journey to the right pair of indoor boots!
image credit, product images sourced from Amazon
Great read! I have been playing football for multiple seasons now and I’ve always went with Messi’s Adidas Nemeziz as well as a Predator Mutator for a laceless alternative that I switch from time to time, both of which I got from Soccer X. Now I’m considering giving indoor football a try so I’m currently looking for a new pair of cleats and I’m really considering some Nike Mercurials to shake things up a bit. Will definitely look for some of the shoes on this list and see if Soccer X got some of them in stock.