The little person in your life has taken a shine to soccer, awesome!
Soccer is a great way for a child to keep fit, make friends, have loads of fun, develop discipline, and learn about healthy competition.
Even if their preschool or early elementary doesn’t have a team, there’s probably a few local teams that start training players from the age of 4 or 5.
So, this toddler has the passion, a team to join...now they just need some amazing cleats to bring out their inner Pele.
It can be confusing choosing soccer cleats for a toddler as they come with such a variety of price tags.
The really great ones, despite being ever so small, are equally expensive as cleats for adults, and the entry-level ones don’t seem all that different to the untrained eye.
Not to worry. We’re going to be checking out five of the very best soccer cleats for toddlers to give you an idea of the kinds of products you should be looking at.
Then we’ll storm through an in-depth buyer’s guide and brief FAQ section so you can continue your search beyond this article and find the best soccer cleats for your little ones.
Game Day Approaching?
No worries, sports fan. Here’s our top pick right here.
OUR TOP PICK
Putting fire in their little feet at our number one spot is an uber-modern cleat sure to give your toddler the edge they need to stand out on the field.
It’s a completely laceless shoe which helps to make solid, unobstructed connections when striking the ball.
It also means your little Ronaldo won’t have to worry about tying laces if they’re not too confident with it yet.
What actually keeps the cleat secure on the foot is an agility bandage system inspired by and reminiscent of medical taping and support bandaging.
This 360 Torsion tape design gives their adorable little feet lateral and medial support as they make their first explosive moves in the world of soccer.
They’re made from a synthetic fabric known as Agility Knit that offers unparalleled touch control.
Being that they’re laceless, but designed to be a tight fit, they can be difficult to get on. Toddlers will definitely need some help, but once they’re secure, they’ll feel like a second skin.
Pros
- No laces mean nothing to come undone and facilitates pure connection with the ball
- AgilityKnit synthetic fabric makes for a more natural and comfortable feel on the field
- Striking design will give your tiny tot huge amounts of style
- Effective cleat pattern for maximum traction on firm or soft surface fields
- Medical tape and bandage design offers support for challenging movements
- Second-skin feel
Cons
- They’re expensive, especially considering they’ll be outgrown before long
- Quite hard to put on and take off
EDITORS CHOICE
Adding some twinkle to those tiny toes at our number two spot is another sleek design that will help your little Alex Morgan develop their skill and appreciation of the game.
The Phantom isn’t quite a laceless design, yet they aren’t on show which is perfect for making good contact with the ball. Their internal ‘Ghost Lace’ system gives them a lovely snug fit.
Hexagonal cells run across the outside of the synthetic upper for optimal traction on the ball at the moment of impact, allowing for greater accuracy and control. The inside upper features a pronounced dot and star texture to enhance block passing.
Another cool thing about these cleats is the raised sock-fit cuff that offers some extra ankle protection and makes them feel even more secure on the foot.
You also get a really interesting hybrid cleat design on the outsole. There are both rounded and elongated cleats strategically placed to provide maximum grip on both synthetic and natural grass.
Pros
- Ghost Lace system keeps them tight to the foot
- No need to worry about laces coming undone
- Smallest sizes are relatively affordable
- Hexagonal cell pattern offers more grip on the ball
- Sock-fit ankle cuff protects and adds comfortability
- Hybrid cleat design for grip on multiple surfaces
- Come with a fingerloop to help put them on
Cons
- Even harder to put on than our top pick
- Nike cleats tend to run narrow
BEST VALUE
Bringing tears to the eyes of opposing teams and their parents at our number three spot is another great Nike design that will give your toddler an extra bit of zip on the field.
Contrary to our first two picks, these cleats are laced, but it’s nothing to worry about.
Firstly, they’re a tonal lace-up design which means they don’t need a knot. They simply thread in and out of the shoe and are secured internally.
Secondly, they’re incredibly thin yet durable laces meaning they’re not going to snap or get in the way when striking the ball.
Again, you get the modern sock-fit ankle cuff that provides a little extra protection and helps to keep them feeling snug as your toddler makes lightning-fast movements on the pitch.
The entire soft-touch synthetic upper is tooled with hundreds of tiny diamond cells to enhance fluency with the ball by providing extra grip.
The cleats are V-shaped allowing for much quicker acceleration from a stationary position on natural short grass surfaces. Wearing these cleats, it’ll seem like they’re everywhere at once.
Pros
- Covert lace tie
- Thin laces won’t alter the trajectory of the ball
- Diamond cell grip for better traction on the ball
- V-shaped cleats for maximum acceleration on softer surfaces
- Sock-fit ankle cuff protects ankles and makes them feel more secure
- Come with a finger loop to help get them on
Cons
- They’ll be equally as difficult to put on as our other top picks
- External laces seem unnecessary
RUNNER UP
Bringing the game to our number four spot is a super comfortable design that might be the perfect cleat to ease a toddler into the dynamics of the game.
The laces are a little more prominent on this cleat than our other options, but they’re really flat so they shouldn’t interfere with connection too much.
Once again, they’re self laced, so don’t worry about stopping the game to tie the little one’s laces every two minutes.
The sock-fit ankle cuff comes up higher than our second and third pick, providing a small amount of ankle and tendon protection.
This will help to make the cleat feel more secure by reinforcing the connection to the shin and calf.
The 3D printed ‘Demon Scale’ cell design reaches across the strike zone to maximize connection to the ball even in the rain.
The strategically placed quintessential Adidas stripes have been relocated to serve as a visual aid for perfect foot placement as you strike the ball.
Cleat-wise, you get a pretty standard setup. They’re elongated which gives them great traction on both firm and softer ground.
Pros
- They’re self laced
- Extra high sock-fit ankle cuff make them extra comfortable and supports the ankle
- Demon scale grip cells offer lots of grip on the ball for dribbling at speed or striking
- Traditional Adidas lines relocated to aid connection to the ball
- Slightly more affordable than our top picks
- Quality cleat design
- Comes with small fingerloop to help with donning the cleat
Cons
- Prominent laces
- The hardest cleats to put on and take off on the list
RUNNER UP
Our final pick is a more traditional design with some modern appointments to help them compete with more expensive cleats.
A classic lace-up function secures these soccer cleats, with a little help from a subtle, soft under ankle ridge.
The ridge won’t provide the support and protection of a larger cuff, but it will stop chafing and bruising as the ankle bends against the cleat.
The entire synthetic upper is augmented with overlapping fingerprint style grip patterns.
They’re not as specialized as our other picks but they should still help facilitate a good amount of ball control.
These are a much more affordable option, but there’s no massive dip in quality. The cleat layout is identical to some of the more expensive options in this list, but they’re all a classic round shape.
Circular shaped cleats tend to suit artificial grass, but will perform fairly well on organic surfaces as well.
Pros
- Little soft-texture ankle ridge prevents chafing and bruising
- Overlapping fingerprint grip gives more control over the ball
- Affordable
- Advanced cleat layout
- Good for artificial pitches
Cons
- Laces may alter the direction of the ball
- Not as advanced upper grip
- Cleats aren’t as impressive as other picks
Best Toddler Soccer Cleats Buying Guide
Let’s take a quick look at some of the things to consider when searching for the best soccer cleats for toddlers.
Cost
As we’ve mentioned, some of these high-performance cleats can cost an arm and a leg, and toddlers grow at an alarming rate. Typically, their shoe size will change three to four times a year.
With regular shoes you can buy large so they grow into them, but with soccer cleats, that extra room is going to give them sore feet and limit their play.
You have to decide if the price is worth the use a toddler will get out of them.
It’s worthwhile spending more money if they have younger siblings or friends that can use them, once they’ve outgrown them.
It’s also important to note that while high-performance specs will make a great deal of difference to an older, more nuanced player, they’ll make very little difference to a toddler’s game.
Application
To find the perfect cleats for a soccer mad toddler, you’ll need to know what kind of surfaces they’ll mostly be playing on. Different cleat shapes and layouts suit different surfaces.
Sand-Based Synthetics
If they’re playing on a sand-based synthetic surface, they won’t need cleats at all. They’ll need a shoe with the same style soccer primed upper, but with an advanced rubber outsole.
Astroturf
Rounded cleats work well on synthetic grass, but elongated and V shapes should be more than capable of providing plenty of grip too.
Field
Elongated, V-shape, or hybrid cleat designs offer the best performance on firm and soft natural ground.
Upper Grip
Grip cells are a relatively new addition to soccer cleat design. They provide slightly more grip on the ball that will improve overall control.
It’s good to look closely at the primary striking surfaces of the cleat.
These are the inside center used for block passing and receiving the ball, and the front center used for clearing the ball, long passes, and shooting.
If a cleat has specialized grips in these zones, it’ll likely offer the best performance.
Cuff
Another modern addition to soccer cleats is the ankle cuff. This serves two purposes.
Firstly, it offers support similar to a bandage, as soccer puts a lot of strain on the ankles.
Secondly, It adds a thin layer of protection against knocks and provides a soft surface for the ankle to flex against.
Cuffs aren’t essential. You’ll mostly find them on more expensive cleats, but they do provide the most comfortable fit. That said, they’re famously hard to put on and take off.
Fit
We always recommend trying soccer cleats on before purchasing them. A good fit is essential.
They need to feel comfortable, yet secure, breathable, yet durable. If they’re too small, your poor toddler will be in agony, too large they’ll develop blisters and their performance will suffer.
Brands tend to have their own style of shaping. This could make them an ill fit for you toddler.
For example, Nike are known for their incredibly narrow fit soccer cleats. If a toddler has wider feet, they may not feel supported enough.
Material
Almost all soccer cleats are made with soft synthetic materials these days. It’s cheaper, lighter, and easier to manipulate than leather.
Laces
If you’re constantly tying your toddler’s shoes for them, it might be beneficial to choose a laceless design.
They’re harder to put on and take off but fit well. Laceless designs provide optimal contact with the ball.
Another option is laces that are secured internally. They’re present on the outside of the cleat but you don’t have to tie them.
The next option would be a traditionally laced cleat with a fold-down cover.
This won’t stop the knots affecting the direction of the ball, but it will stop them from coming undone so often.
Beyond that, there’s normal laces. There’s nothing wrong with standard lacing.
It’s a very small chance they’ll interfere with a strike, and as long as they’re secured properly, they should stay tied the whole game.
Weight
Soccer cleats need to be as lightweight as humanly possible, especially for toddlers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do 5 year olds need cleats for soccer?
If they’re playing on a field, yes.
They need as much grip as they can get.
Are soccer cleats too dangerous for toddlers?
It’s actually more dangerous if they don’t wear cleats on a slippery surface.
Constantly falling over in a match increases the chance of injury and opens up risks of being trampled by other players.
Make sure you get them an appropriate toddler soccer ball as well.
Final Whistle
There you have it, folks. Any one of these pairs of these soccer cleats could be the very thing a toddler needs to set them off on a fulfilling and fun sporting adventure.
And you never know, maybe they’ll go pro. They’ll be able to reimburse you with interest.
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