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Five-a-side pickup games will always be a part of UK footballing culture.
For the avid football fanatic there are fewer things greater than going to watch your team play live at the stadium, be it at home or as part of an away day.
Playing the sport with friends however, does come close.
There’s just so much to love about five-a-side clashes, from the crunching tackles that go unchecked due to the lack of a referee; to the venomous shots struck into the top corners in the absence of spectators.
I chose to publish this detailed product roundup as there’s no doubt that people like me will be looking for a good pair of astro boots to wear.
To get straight to the point, here’s how we’ve ranked the top options:
Image | Product | Features | Rating | |
  | Adidas Mundial Team Astro Turf Boots |
| ||
  | Puma Men's King Astro Turf Boots |
| ||
  | Gola Rey Vx Men's Football Training Shoes |
| ||
  | Nike Phantom Vision 2 Academy Astro Turf Boots |
| ||
  | Nike Mercurial Superfly X6 Academy Football Boots |
|
To summarise the findings, the Adidas Mundial Team, Unisex Adult Astro Turf Boots are my top pick, followed closely by the Puma Men's King All Round Astro Turf Boots.
As a player myself, I actually now prefer to wear astro turf boots as opposed to proper football boots whenever I’m set to participate.
Here’s a quick look at my small collection (apologies for the poor lighting!):
What can I say…
I just LOVE Tiempos!
Anyway, now let’s move on to the individual reviews.
- 1. Adidas Mundial Team Astro Turf Boots
- 2. Puma Men's King Top Tt Football Boots
- 3. Nike Phantom Vision 2 Academy Football Shoe
- 4. Gola Rey Vx Mens Football Training Shoes
- 5. Nike Mercurial Superfly X 6 Academy Football Boots
- Distinguishing the different types of playing surfaces in football
- Frequently asked questions
- Why is it important to have a good pair of Astro turf boots?
- Do I need my boots to have modern fancy features?
- Can you wear firm ground boots on a 4G pitch?
- Can you wear football boots on an astro turf surface?
- Final thoughts
1. Adidas Mundial Team Astro Turf Boots
- Full grain leather upper for comfort and soft feel
- EVA insole for comfort
- Quick-drying synthetic lining
These Adidas Mundial astro boots are nothing short of iconic.
Adapted from the legendary Copa Mundial Football Boots, they are made of split suede with the EVA midsole and traction sole designed for use on synthetic surfaces.
The expert composition of the leather and the split suede provides players with fantastic levels of cushioning comfort.
In the last 20 odd years, these shoes have served as a reference model for footballers from all walks of life and it is a testament to their quality that they are the first recommendation on my list.
You could also check out the Adidas Kaiser 5 Astro Turf trainers which are a fantastic alternative for those on a tighter budget.
2. Puma Men’s King Top Tt Football Boots
- Fine leather - for added ball control.
- Sole with CELL shock absorption. Gently cushions your steps. Also goes easy on the joints.
- Outer sole with EverRide. Additional shock absorption. For every step.
Next up is this pair of Puma Kings.
The company has been in the limelight recently, with Brazilian sensation Neymar becoming the German sportswear brand’s flagship superstar after leaving a Nike partnership that spanned 15 years.
This 100% leather composed shoe can be used on both hard-natural turf and any artificial surface.
What’s more, is that the sole is made up of gum rubber and comes with shock absorption functionality that gives the wearer’s feet much better cushioning and joint support than other types of football boots.
If you’re after a Puma alternative you should have a look at the Puma Men's King Top Tt Football Boots which are cheaper than the ones I’ve reviewed above.
3. Nike Phantom Vision 2 Academy Football Shoe
- Full lace fastening
- Marke:Nike
- Ridges on the instep
A football related product roundup would rarely be complete without a Nike product recommendation.
The sportswear juggernaut makes fantastic products that offer comfort, performance and style all in a bundle!
These Nike Phantom Vision shoes have been carefully constructed with a mesh upper that comes with a NIKESKIN overlay that provides a snug fit for the wearer that conforms to their feet.
Asymmetrical lacing is partly covered by an elastic-like mesh that expands the striking area to enable consistently clean contact and increased precision when the wearer strikes the ball.
Additionally, these shoes sport a honeycomb textured upper that is said to aid with the wearer’s first touch when they attempt to control the ball with their feet.
Lastly, the moulded ridges on the instep are said to provide increased power and curve when the foot comes into contact with the ball.
4. Gola Rey Vx Mens Football Training Shoes
- A classically styled turf trainer ideal for artificial grass and hard ground surfaces
- The non-marking sole unit makes it perfect for play on a range of surfaces
- Lightweight, durable synthetic leather upper
Gola is a brand that not many readers will have heard of until today’s article.
But I can assure you that they have made a quality pair of AstroTurf boots here.
This retro-styled trainer incorporates a faux leather upper featuring quilted effect stitching.
More so, the non-marking sole unit makes it versatile which is great if you intend to play on different surfaces.
5. Nike Mercurial Superfly X 6 Academy Football Boots
- Fabric and synthetic upper wraps the foot for a second-skin-like feel
- Turf (TF) outsole has rubber studs for traction on synthetic surfaces
- Heel lining grips the foot and helps hold the boot in place
Last up we have the Nike Mercurial Superfly.
They feature a contoured sock liner that provides excellent low-profile cushioning for the wearer.
Furthermore, the heel lining of the shoe is designed to grip the foot firmly and keep it in place while the wearer moves around.
This is great for situations where you want to pull off short bursts of pace to change direction or outmanoeuvre an opponent.
It’s safe to say that these shoes were built primarily with speed and acceleration in mind.
So that completes my top five best astro turf boots that you can buy today.
Distinguishing the different types of playing surfaces in football
Natural turf pitches
Synthetic pitches
2G pitches
3G pitches
4G pitches
Hybrid pitches
As the name hybrid suggests, these are pitches that combine both natural turf and synthetic fibres. The percentage distribution of natural turf to synthetic fibre is said to be 95% to 5%.
Derby County are a great example of a club that have adopted this technology within their own stadium:
Frequently asked questions
Why is it important to have a good pair of Astro turf boots?
Now if you’ve read through that long list of pitch surface types, you’ll be pleased to know that Astro turf boots can be used on each one of the aforementioned surfaces!
Other options like artificial grass football boots come with conical or blade-like plastic studs that were specifically designed for only the synthetic 3G and 4G pitches.
In addition to this, firm ground football boots are not ideal for 3G and 4G surfaces as the studs sink deep into the surface which increases the odds of injury when used.
The versatility of AstroTurf boots means that you can buy a single pair and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be used on pretty much any natural, synthetic or hybrid surface.
But don’t use them on concrete and to a lesser extent indoors, as you’ll wear out the bottoms which provide the grip.
Do I need my boots to have modern fancy features?
The answer to this question is a big resounding NO.
Companies try to market the latest technology with the spin that it aids performance in some way.
From my own past buying experience I have discovered that it’s better to prioritise comfort because with comfort in check, the performance will generally follow naturally.
So, I’d suggest forgetting about that pair of lace less boots that promises “increased speed” or something to that tune.
Can you wear firm ground boots on a 4G pitch?
In a practical sense, of course you can.
But it is not at all recommended due to the risk of injury.
As I had mentioned earlier in the article, form ground boots come with sharper and more pointier studs that are likely to get stuck in the 4G turf if you wore them on that surface.
That’s a recipe for disaster waiting to happen.
So, stay safe and only wear AstroTurf or Artificial Grass boots on 4G pitches.
Can you wear football boots on an astro turf surface?
The answer here is yes, but again there is a distinction that needs to be made.
You’ll find that models of firm ground (FG) boots often have longer or wider plastic blade shapes, designed to grip and churn into dry soil. Artificial ground (AG) boots have slightly conical or entirely rounded plastic, which are specifically designed to enter and release easily from 3G and 4G plastic turf with ease.
FOOTY.com
So firm ground boots should really only be used on natural surfaces due to the risk of injury if your foot gets caught in the turf.
Whilst on the other hand, the artificial football boots can and should be used on astro turf surfaces such as 3G or 4G.
Final thoughts
Hopefully that didn’t put you to sleep!
After a lot of intense research, I can confidently conclude that the Puma Kings are the top pick for an Astro turf football boots.
They simply offer the best fit for people with wider feet; great ankle support and overall comfort, which is why I would place them at the top of the purchase list for those looking to purchase.
If you’ve enjoyed this article you may also want to grab a pair of shin pads to accompany your purchase.
With a solid educational background in business management, the Soccer Whizz website is his first foray into the digital web space and it has been created with the intention of providing the absolute best soccer content for its readership.
Have a read through Samuel Waihenya's author bio page here.
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