What boots should you buy? – part 3

Synthetic was the next material to be used in a football boot. Synthetic when compared to leather offers a tighter more responsive feel. Synthetic similar to leather does require some break in time for your feet to get used to it. Synthetic will not mold to your foot like leather will. It will generally speaking hold its shape for an extended period of time, the only time it will start molding to your feet is when it begins to slowly break down.

In terms of touch on the ball, synthetic materials provide a far less padded sensation. This brings you closer to the ball but also means that if you are going from a leather to synthetic boot you will notice that there is more of slapping sensation on your foot as you strike the ball. The more synthetic the more plastic the touch can feel, and because of this, most synthetic boots are quite thin.

Synthetic also weighs far less than leather and in a sport where any perceived advantage is highly sort after this means that synthetic boots have an advantage over there leather counterparts. It is why in recent years we have seen the development of boots that are a combination of leather and synthetic. This creates an enhanced comfort with the added benefit of being light.

Overall a full synthetic boot is probably not the best fit for someone with wide feet. As I mentioned before synthetic will not stretch nearly as much as leather will and this means that if it doesn’t fit you when you try them on, it’s probably not going fit you ever. If you do try and force yourself to wear them then you will end up with pressure points that can lead to blisters, as well if you wear football boots that are to small they can contribute to foot injuries and cause bunions later in life. Ideally you don’t want your toes to be squashed against the side or front of the boot.

In terms of durability synthetic boots are generally very durable especially when compared to leather. The plastics often hold up better against abrasive playing surfaces. However due to synthetic boots being made incredibly thin, they have been reported to tear in tackles. Studs are sharp and can cause abrasions on boots and the thinner the material the more likely it is to tear.