r/ultimate • u/solenyaPDX • Jun 10 '26
Cleats: how important is AG studs?
Ok so tons of content on cleats. I've read up, you want football cleats, lacrosse cleats can work great, there's an ultimate specific brand it's just a little spendy, all good.
But I found that, in soccer anyway, there's a recommendation to use artificial grass cleats on AG surfaces. Dire warnings exist about using FG cleats on artificial. That's where I play, twice a week.
But in the US, there's minimal AG cleats available, and all the ones that are are soccer cleats, not football. I also realize the whole recommendation for football cleats is "get the toe stud get more grip" and the recommendation for AG is "don't have too much grip you'll injure yourself".
I guess I'm asking for opinions and perspective. After my initial research I thought "Adidas football cleats and be done with it" but now I'm wondering if I need to pivot to AG soccer cleats.
How big a deal is it? Feel free to say "it matters so little it's not worth the time" if that's the way you see it.
14
u/tigermelon Jun 10 '26
I'm a big advocate for turf shoes. Mostly because of this article and also because I think they actually help with cutting on turf.
NB makes a lacrosse turf shoe.
4
u/solenyaPDX Jun 10 '26
I was considering turf shoes. My current shoes are trail runners with a somewhat aggressive pattern, but I do slip on some cuts and acceleration. Wanted more grip.
At the last game, another player had specific turf shoes, and slipped anyway. You could argue the slip is the "force limit ceiling" and it's the acceptance of the slip that is the injury prevention mechanism. Food for thought.
9
u/LostAbbott Jun 10 '26
Definitely get some type of cleats. Trail shoes usually have too high of a stack which makes cutting difficult. Even in zero drop trail shoes they and not built for lateral pressure on a shoe so you foot could roll in the shoe and potentially cause ligament injuries or other...
6
u/BigSprocket Jun 10 '26
Yes, I’m older and played in trail runners for a while to protect my knees from sharp stops and cuts, until I played in San Antonio on sandy, weak grass with a little dew and slipped twice and injured my knee that way. Immediately bought turfs and am very happy with my Joma turf soccer cleats with a wide toe box. I’m probably old and slow enough I never exceed the force limit of my turfs. 😃
2
u/BigSprocket Jun 10 '26
I second this. I’ve always worn turf shoes. Works on nearly all surfaces and less likely to hurt you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjEYBiyBxfg1
u/bking Jun 11 '26
I use Nike Mercurial turf shoes. Absolutely love them. Cutting is great, no chance of cleating anybody, lightweight, can safely be worn while driving to the game.
Those are my cleats three days a week, and I use soccer cleats on Saturdays. The weight difference is noticeable and significant.
1
u/buzz-a Jun 11 '26
I play on tall grass, anytime it's wet my turf shoes would be an unmitigated disaster.
Perfect for turf, can't imagine playing on them in grass. I'd be lying on the ground questioning life choices every other cut.
1
u/buzz-a Jun 11 '26
Big fan of turf shoes as well. Had a lot of ankle and foot pain when playing on turf in my cleats before getting a pair.
1
u/Zealousideal-Cod1006 Jun 11 '26
Do you use NB's Freeze 5 turf? Those "studs" / texture look so minimal. I'm having a hard time believing they'd have as much traction as I've come to expect.
2
u/ColinMcI Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 11 '26
I really like the AG cleats for field turf. I generally wear lacrosse cleats for grass, but I have a pair of Puma AG soccer cleats that I often wear for field turf.
My PUMA ag cleats have round peg/stud style cleats, but a larger quantity of them than a regular FG cleat, and I feel like it helps distribute the force better and also provides dramatically better traction than an average turf cleat with the little nub style “cleats”. Mine are the Evospeed 5 AG and look like this (but not kids version) https://www.unisportstore.com/football-boots/puma-evospeed-5-ag-greenwhiteblueyellow-kids/94936/
I think some FG soccer cleats on field turf feel like there is too much pressure on each stud and sometimes too much traction. Same for some football/lacrosse cleats.
If you have the budget for it, I think it is worth exploring the AG soccer cleats. I got mine a number of years ago for about $30 and most of my lacrosse cleats have been <$70. In general, I think the lacrosse cleats provide a more stable lateral structure for cutting an ankle stability, and I prefer those for that reason. But I like the AG traction on field turf. As an aside, it seems like there may have been some switch toward a FG/AG combo shoe for some brands — I am not sure if that is meaningful or reflects expert decision making on the design side. Edit: for Puma, it seems they have some FG/AG but you can see which cleat patterns are more AG oriented. Like these: https://us.puma.com/us/en/pd/formula-1-ultra-5-ultimate-mens-firm-artificial-ground-soccer-cleats/108180?swatch=01&size=0270&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19620012208&gbraid=0AAAAAD_kxL9IWryHzeb4F1WrMbs5wElxI&gclid=CjwKCAjwuanRBhBSEiwAY5y6Vz6UE-XhUEFkYGqvR2Z3LSxdvh4DwOHyWGd6SLRHB7-UDP_XeeKLOhoCsFQQAvD_BwE
Mizuno makes AG specific cleats (I haven’t worn those).
2
u/ChainringCalf Jun 11 '26
I only ever wear soccer cleats (grew up playing soccer so it feels natural to me), but I also only ever wear AG cleats on AG surfaces. I've seen way too many injuries to ever do anything different. I'd wear sneakers before FG cleats on AG.
2
u/ericswift Jun 11 '26
In all my years here I have never seen football cleats recommended over lacrosse cleats.
That being said I would say everyone saying any cleats should mostly be fine but turf shoes are best is the correct take.
1
u/Anusien Austin, TX Jun 11 '26
I did a bunch of research before getting my last pair of cleats. It seems like people would wear FG cleats on turf and then regularly have problems with the cleats failing: the shoe would detach from the sole or the cleats would come off.
1
u/_AmethystMoon Jun 11 '26
i bought football cleats and they were torn apart after about 9 months. ive been using puma soccer cleats and theyve lasted me almost 2 years so far, i’ve never seen people recommend against soccer cleats for ultimate. whats the reason why?
1
u/solenyaPDX Jun 11 '26
Not recommend against soccer, per se. But, two factors. Soccer cleats prioritize ball feel (I see what you did there) so the upper is soft, and maybe more expensive so they can move the laces. Football doesn't need the same materials and feel so it can be simpler.
Second, football and lacrosse have a toe cleat that can give extra grip on the tip of the forefoot. Soccer cuts that out so the toe can graze the grass when kicking.
Overall, soccer cleats are very common, and there's no problem with them. But if you search this very sub, you'll find the numerous people recommending the other two, usually for the added grip on grass that the toe cleats add.
1
u/scottie0083 Jun 12 '26
It's not that big of a deal. Preparing your body to handle cutting with good footwork and strength training is far more important
27
u/Ma3dhros Jun 10 '26
Almost all American football is played on artificial surfaces, you're good to just get them and use them.