What cleats should I wear when playing Ultimate?

What Cleats Should I Wear When Playing Ultimate?

Cleats are a hot topic in the ultimate community. There are various opinions going around as to what the best cleats are for ultimate frisbee. As Ultimate is a relatively smaller sport compared to its counterparts such as soccer, lacrosse, and football, I will be going over the benefits and downsides of these three common cleat styles. Each style has its own advantages and drawbacks. Choosing the right cleat is essential to playing ultimate at a competitive level. If your cleats don't fit your needs, or are uncomfortable, its likely your gameplay will reflect that. Throughout this article you will learn what sets these cleats apart from each other, and this should allow you to get a better idea of which style will best suit you when playing Ultimate. 

Soccer Cleats: The Lightweight Choice

Being around the ultimate community, or even just playing a pickup game you will likely notice many players wearing soccer cleats. The main reason behind this is the weight of the shoe, soccer cleats are light. Soccer cleats are designed based of the gameplay of soccer, which involves lots of running, constant movement and very quick changes of direction. 

An advantage of soccer cleats, compared to lacrosse and football is the stud profile. Soccer cleats generally have shorter studs, giving a more natural feel for the surface you're playing on. Soccer cleats are great for short bursts of acceleration, and the lightweight design allows players to do this without feeling weighed down from their cleats. 

Additionally, soccer cleats are made for dribbling and ball control. Because of this, soccer cleats are very thin and form fitting to your foot. This tight design allows you to have better stability when planting your foot or pivoting. 

Downsides of soccer cleats are definitely present. Because of the short stud profile, soccer cleats often become more difficult in wet and rainy conditions. Because these cleats have less reach into the ground, playing on soft ground can cause you to slip more often and lose traction. Also, soccer cleats usually sit right below the ankle. This often lacks ankle support, and can be a difficult choice for someone who is injury prone or has a history of injuries. 

Football Cleats: 

Football cleats are often seen as the opposite of soccer cleats. They are usually heavier in weight, and made to handle shorter acceleration bursts compared to soccer cleats. Football cleats are often designed for short plays, opposed to soccer cleats that are designed for constant movement. As I mentioned a downside to soccer cleats is their ankle support. If this is a major concern, you may want to look into football cleats for ultimate as these cleats are often designed in mid or high top varieties which provides excellent support for your ankles.  

Another difference from soccer cleats is the stud profile. Football cleats often have more aggressive, longer studs compared to soccer cleats. This different stud makeup gives more grip in uneven and wet conditions. Football cleats are definitely the way to go if you play on poor ground, or wet conditions. 

Downsides of football cleats do not go without mention. The weight and flexibility of these cleats just does not compare to soccer. Football cleats will feel heavier compared to soccer cleats. These cleats will also not be as soft and form fitting. This stiffness can make it more difficult to break these cleats in and may result in slower cuts as compared to soccer cleats.

Lacrosse Cleats:

Lacrosse cleats are often seen as the middle ground between  soccer and football cleats when it comes to ultimate gameplay. Lacrosse has many similarities to Ultimate as fast cuts and direction changes are present in both sports. These cleats often are great with both support and stability. Lacrosse cleats often come in mid style cuts, which protects the ankle more than soccer cleats, but not quite as strong as football. 

Playing in different field conditions makes having lacrosse cleats have a strong edge compared to soccer and football cleats. These cleats are generally made for all weather, and will hold up in both stiff, and wet grounds. Comfort and feel wise, these cleats once again fall in between the two. Lacrosse cleats offer more cushion than soccer cleats, but are more breathable than football cleats at the same time. 

If you want a middle ground between the speed and weight of soccer cleats, but still want that added traction and support from football cleats, then lacrosse cleats would suit you perfectly. The main downside to lacrosse cleats is that many retail stores may not carry this style. Some stores may only carry them during the main lacrosse season, opposed to soccer and football cleats which are often easy to grab in stores year round. 

Conclusion

To summarize, here are the main takeaways between the different cleats available. 

Soccer Cleats: Great for agility, speed and the most lightweight among the choices. Best for firm ground and turf fields.

Football Cleats: Best for traction, and ankle support. Best perform on soft or wet fields. Heaviest of the choices, but have the strongest foot stability. 

Lacrosse Cleats: The most balance cleat when it comes to speed and support. Great on all ground types, and offer a mix of being both lightweight but also supportive enough for your feet. 

In all, the cleats that you choose to wear for ultimate frisbee all comes down to personal preferences. If you are a beginner and can't decide between these three, soccer is ultimately the cleats most people will start with. You'll be able to pick them up almost immediately, and many ultimate players stick with them for a reason. Thinking about your personal needs is also a major factor in to choosing which cleats will work best for you. Some players need the lightest cleats on the market, and others need the most supportive and secure cleats. Once you know what you need, and understand the factors you want as an ultimate player, you'll realize how important wearing the right cleats can be.