The best soccer cleats for wingers will ensure that any silky dribblers, expert playmakers or, of course, speed merchants will improve their performance even by just one per cent - which could be crucial during any game.
Boots are manufactured with performance in mind these days, with certain ranges specifically designed to assist defenders, midfielders and strikers. FFT has been dedicating itself to categorising designs to make boot shopping easier for you. If you're simply looking for the best football boots out right now, be sure to check out our other reviews.
For now, though, it's all about the best football boots for wingers...
With an aggressive soleplate and super-thin upper, the Adidas X Crazyfast+ is built specifically for wingers looking to sprint away from defenders and dribble religiously at opponents. Sharp movements are aided by the stud configuration, while there's a truly barefoot sensation when you put these on thanks to the minimalist upper.
While this does come at the slight expense of structure and lockdown, I barely noticed any ill-effects from the Crazyfast+. In fact, I loved hugging the touchline, drawing in the full-back with my ball manipulation before sprinting past him thanks to the ultra-light wheels stuck to my feet.
Plus, the traditional upper construction means that these are more suited to players with wide feet, with the tongue allowing for a bit more stretch and room.
As worn by: Anthony Elanga, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Oleksandr Zinchenko
Reasons to buy
+
Great comfort
+
Excellent traction
Reasons to avoid
-
No artificial ground (AG) or soft ground (SG) option
After entering the football boot market with the Skechers SKX_01, the brand tested the boundaries even more by attempting something even more difficult: creating a boot made specifically for wingers and quick players.
But Skechers, in my opinion, has clearly exceeded expectations, with the Razor not only super lightweight, but also extremely comfortable, too. Often, comfort can come at the expense of weight, but not on this occasion. What's more, they offer great protection, too, so whenever a lethargic defender clobbers your feet, the impact won't be quite as much as other lightweight, thin boots.
Plus, they're also accommodating for players with wide feet, making them an ideal option for wingers of all variations. I've been impressed with Skechers' forray into the football boot market, and look forward to what they try next.
As worn by: Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Beth Mead
Reasons to buy
+
Unbelievably light
+
Beautiful design
+
Barefoot feel
+
Unique air zoom unit
+
Aggressive studs
Reasons to avoid
-
Nike Swoosh isn't as prominent
-
Unsuitable for wide feet
There's a reason the Mercurial Superfly is now in its ninth iteration, with Nike developing the boot with such consistency and quality that it has truly become the model for wingers and speedsters alike.
Unbelievably thin and ultra lightweight, it barely feels like I had anything on my feet while playing. They offer a true one-to-one sensation with foot and ball, though the slight texturing on the upper provides a tiny bit more grip wingers can often need when taking on their opponents.
The Superfly offers a locked-in feel thanks to the dynamic fit collar, too, though the low-cut Vapors perform just as well, making them just as good an option. Indeed, both versions of the Mercurial rank highly in our list of the best football boots, with the aggressive stud pattern great for wingers on grass pitches especially.
Suited to wingers wanting a little more structure than the Adidas X Crazyfast+ offers, the Crazyfast.1 is just as sound an option in today's market. Lightweight, thin and aggressive, Adidas has continued the great tradition of F50s with the latest model in the speed boot category.
What I enjoyed the most about these boots was the soleplate, which features a plastic insert to provide an excellent energy return. This made them great for all surfaces, though especially on grass pitches where sprinting past defenders and chopping direction became that little bit easier.
The knit implemented around the laces and foot opening is also comfortable, reduces weight and creates a seamless transition from the sock to the boot.
With minor upgrades added to the already sound Furon V7 Pro, New Balance has upgraded its speed boot option to great effect, making them an even better option for wingers. The hypoknit material on the upper is soft, flexible and thin, meaning that break-in time is minimal and confidence on the ball is optimal.
I felt a great connection between the foot and the ball while playing in these, but what I loved most was the off-centred lacing system. Something not seen as much in modern football boots, this helps to provide a cleaner striking area - perfect for making that inch-perfect through ball or hitting that stunner from 30 yards out.
What's more, there's a wide-fitting version of the boot available, meaning wingers with wide feet can still feel all the benefits of a lightweight boot without having to suffocate their feet in the process.
Puma Ultra Ultimate (Image credit: Puma)
Puma Ultra Ultimate
Keep your foot locked firmly in place as you speed past opponents
Our expert review:
Specifications
Colourways available: 14
Studs: FG/AG, Soft Ground
Sizes available: UK 4 - 13
As worn by: Kyle Walker, Marco Reus, Antoine Griezmann
Reasons to buy
+
Responsive and stable through different technologies
+
Inspired by track running spikes
Reasons to avoid
-
FG/AG unsuitable for artificial ground
Featuring Puma's Ultraweave material on the upper along with its Pwrtape technology, the Ultra Ultimate is both super thin while also providing a good amount of support and stability. This is great for wingers wanting a barefoot sensation when dribbling with the ball, as well as a locked-in feeling during sharp change of pace and direction.
They're one of the most responsive boots I've tried, too, with the Speedplate outsole inspired by track running spikes. The feedback when pushing off into a sprint is noticeable, and the performance provides more confidence for players when fighting with a defender.
Puma does claim that the FG/AG option makes them suitable for both surfaces, but I found they didn't perform quite as well on artificial ground as I would have hoped. Therefore, I'd recommend taking a look at the best football boots for artificial grass, if that's where you play the majority of your games.
How we test football boots
In order to provide as much detail as we possibly can, our testers wear each pair of football boots over multiple training sessions, matches and kickabouts to ascertain the true performance levels each pair offers. We focus on a number of key areas to get provide plenty of useful information, including the stability, comfort, fit and feet of each boot.
Of course, this guide is for wingers looking for options that will help them speed away from opponents, so more lightweight boots that perform well when chopping and changing direction will inevitably feature.
With our experienced testers cutting right to the crux of the performance levels of each boot, you won't have to worry about the marketing jargon each brand claims makes their boots the best - because we've worn them on a number of occasions!
How to choose the right pair of football boots
Finding the right soccer cleat can prove a difficult task in the modern day, with each brand claiming they've created something with the best technology humanly possible. What we've tried our best to do, however, is cut through the marketing jargon right to the core of what each cleat is like.
There are a range of different factors to consider. From sizing to fit and feel, there are some important aspects of choosing the right pair of football boots.
Styling
It all comes down to personal preference, but there are so many options available on the market nowadays that each model comes in a range of different colourways - meaning there's inevitably something for everyone. What your boots look like ulitmately isn't important, but feeling good can certainly help with confidence levels and performing to your best.
Leather or synthetic
The majority of football boots are now made from synthetic, though there are still a good amount of leather options. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference, though we'd recommend wingers go for synthetic.
That's because synthetic boots are generally a lot lighter, the upper is a lot thinner, and thus better-suited for wingers wanting to utilise their pace and dribbling abilities.
Leather does provide more protection than synthetic boots, however, so if you're concerned about defenders injuring you, choosing the more natural option could actually be a benefit.
Getting the right fit
We'd always recommend you try a pair of football boots on first before buying, especially when considering how expensive they can be. So head to a shop, see which boots suit your foot type best, and ascertain what feels most comfortable.
After all, it's more important your feet are protected and don't get riddled with blisters than what the pair you're playing in actually look like.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.
