Now that you have found a pair of football boots that suit your requirements don’t be an idiot and undo all your hard work by sacrificing performance for looks.

To help you determine the right shoe size for your football boots we have written this short and simple guide. CARDINAL SIN: don’t assume that your shoe size is the same as it has always been. The shape and size of your feet can change over time.

Make sure that you choose the right size, ensuring that the boot fits like a glove. Football boots are sized like regular shoes, however with a soccer shoe a tighter fit is generally recommended so your standard shoe size may not transfer directly. Football boots are generally constructed of soft and supple, thin leathers and to ensure proper ball feel a tighter fit is optimal.

Football boots are designed with a more narrow upper, which allows for better feel and control of the ball. Your boots should fit as close to the end of your foot as possible without touching your toes for performance and comfort.

MEASURE YOUR FEET FIRST

If you want to buy a pair of football boots online then we would recommend that you measure your feet first. The easiest option is to stand on a ruler and measure your foot length and width.

To measure the length measure the distance between the two longest points (heel to big toe or heel to second toe) then reduce this number by 5 mm, to determine your shoe size. And for the width Foot width; measure the distance between the two widest points and again reduce this number by 5 mm, or 1/5-inch, this is your foot width. Finally use the table on the left to determine your size.

One thing to make note of is that the material of the upper can have a massive effect on the fit. Cheap synthetic plastic uppers are satisfactory for the occasional player but for those playing at a higher standard there are comfort and “feel” benefits from buying a kangaroo leather upper or one of the modern lightweight hi-tech synthetic boots. The top-of-the line leathers, especially kangaroo leathers, will generally stretch after a few uses. High-quality shoes will actually mold to the shape of your foot therefore you will want these to fit snugly in width when they are new, out of the box.