Do you need new lacrosse cleats but need to know whether your football cleats will work? Since lacrosse cleats are pricey, you might be wondering whether to use your football cleats. Whether for a lacrosse player or an enthusiastic fan of it, this is a common question.
Cleats for Lacrosse and football serve much the same function, giving players comfort and sturdiness. However, wearing different cleats during a lacrosse game can have an adverse impact on your performance. Also, it brings the possibility of injury.
How and why? Here, we’ll tell you everything regarding lacrosse cleats vs football cleats to make an informed decision.
Also, we have a discussion here about why soccer cleats and softball cleats aren’t the same.
| Quick Summary You can still play Lacrosse wearing football cleats. But you won’t have a strong grip on the field. If you don’t have lacrosse cleats, rubber-tipped turf shoes are the best thing. |
Why Do You Need Cleats For Lacrosse?
In most cases, the lack of cleats on shoes increases the danger of sliding and even injury. In competitive Lacrosse, cleats are an essential factor.
This sport requires running, but not only in straight lines. Players often change their pace, direction, and zigzag while running. Players need to exert force to execute complex motion patterns like cutting and direction changes.
Whether on dirt, grass, or field turf, contacting the ground is the first step.
More flexible and compressible than conventional cleats, flexible cleats modify the shoe’s contact with the ground.
To physically defeat and compete with your opponent in Lacrosse, you’ll need the ability to swiftly alter your speed, either by increasing or decreasing it. Lacrosse cleats improve this capability by enhancing traction, allowing safer movement on such terrain.
Can You Wear Football Cleats For Lacrosse?
Not all shoe cleats are of the same designs and features. For Lacrosse, any cleats will do. The only catch is that you may not get to play or might not do very well.
You can use football cleats. However, It would be better to pick the shoes that are designed for the field’s surface (grass or turf). Many of the midfielders feel more comfortable playing in soccer cleats. However, they only prefer to wear the cleats better suited to the quick cuts and sprints that were part of their performance.
What makes these two types of cleats separate is their breathability. The lacrosse shoe has better ventilation. Mesh is always used for the sides, regardless of whether the top is synthetic or leather. This will allow air to circulate and keep your feet healthy.
The amount of stud also has a significant effect. Cleats on lacrosse shoes are far more numerous than those on football cleats.
The Consequences of Using Non-Lacrosse Cleats
There is obviously some variation when you choose to carry non-lacrosse cleats during a lacrosse game. Your results will fluctuate, most notably in balance and stability. You may notice an unnatural sensation while running and cradling if your shoes do not contain a toe cleat.
Support is another noticeable difference. Remember that every lacrosse shoe has cleats on the sides! That’s why we use them.
If the shoe you choose has just a few studs on the sides, it will be challenging to maintain your footing and stability. Wearing any shoe, even football cleats, might be detrimental to your performance if you aren’t used to them.
Lacrosse Cleats vs Football Cleats: What’s the Difference?
Cleats or studs, whatever you say, are the spikes attached to the shoe’s outsole in the bottom. They vary by size, shape, pattern, and material. They help players to have a grip on the surface.
Understand Football Cleats
Football cleats provide protection and mobility on the field. High traction is essential because of the game’s brief, high-intensity spurts. Football cleats are designed to survive frequent, substantial contact with the ground; thus, they might be heavier and have a firmer outsole than those used in soccer and baseball. The abundance of aggressive studs provides an advantage and allows for more agile play.
However, different players may have varying preferences. Each position is best for a specific job.
For example, a linebacker might like a high-top shoe because it makes their ankles more stable while moving from side to side. Running backs and wide receivers often wear low-cut cleats because they allow them more on-field flexibility on cutting plays.
What Are Lacrosse Cleats?
Football cleats are a lot like lacrosse cleats. They have a toe spike in the middle that helps the player’s feet dig in when going forward. The shoe is designed to be rigid and has strong studs for quick direction adjustments and stopping on turf or grass.
Cleats designed for Lacrosse are very sturdy and supportive. As a result, they won’t get in the way while running and jumping about the field.
How exactly can lacrosse cleats do this? Because of the extra cleats on the feet.
In addition, a lacrosse cleat is often a mid-cut shoe, which means it does not go all the way down to your ankles. The reason for this is so that your ankles get extra support and stay safe from harm.
Uppers for lacrosse cleats may be either leather or synthetic. You won’t have to worry about stubbed toes because of the sturdiness and thickness of these materials. Furthermore, the rigid material also serves to protect against ankle fractures.
Football Cleats vs Lacrosse Cleats
There are several subtle distinctions between lacrosse and football cleats despite their similarities. Let’s look at the comparison chart.
| Sports | Materials | Longevity | Purpose |
Lacrosse | Upper: Synthetic, mesh, leather Sole: TPU, rubber | Depending on quality, it may last a while but not forever. | A mid- or high-cut design provides ankle support, and the shoes are light and flexible. |
Football | Upper: Synthetic leather, mesh Sole: Rubber, TPU | Depending on the quality, it has a moderate to long lifespan. | Supportive high cut; available in a variety of stud patterns for use on natural and synthetic grass, respectively. |
Breathability
The level of ventilation provided by shoes designed for the two activities is distinctive. While lacrosse shoes prioritize breathability, football cleats must shield the wearer’s feet from the studs of opposing players.
Mesh vents on the uppers of many lacrosse cleats provide ventilation. Even without holes, which don’t come on many football cleats, leather uppers let more airflow than synthetic uppers.
Number of Studs
The stud amount may range by cleat model and the player’s discretion. Still, if you look more closely, there are more cleats on a lacrosse shoe compared to football cleats. The cleats on the shoe’s outside sole provide additional grip and stability.
Lacrosse shoes typically have four studs around the heel and anywhere from six to eight spikes throughout the toe and foot’s ball area. In contrast, there are usually two spikes at the heel’s back and five beneath the toes and foot’s ball area on a standard pair of football cleats.
Ankle Heights
Cleats for football and soccer are available in a wider range of heights than those for soccer. Mid-cuts provide stability, while low-cuts enhance mobility in lacrosse shoes. Cleat designs in football are often position-specific. Since they require a lot of support for their ankles, linemen usually wear high-tops.
Mid-cuts are great for passers because they stay in place around the feet and are also very bendable. Low-cut cleats, which are often lighter, are a good option for players who want to maximize their speed and agility.
What To Look For in Lacrosse Cleats Before Buying
Want to find the right lacrosse cleats? Follow these tips:
- To improve your respiration when playing Lacrosse, your cleat has to provide enough ventilation. If you want to retain the same level of speed and stamina you had before starting Lacrosse, it’s important to wear the right kind of loafer socks, which are designed to wick away sweat.
- The cleats’ stud count is the second item to consider while shopping for lacrosse shoes. Avoid buying low-quality cleats.
- Go for the combination of a high top and midsoles.
- If you want to be able to sprint for a long time, you should use cleats whose ankle height is clearly visible. Don’t choose a pair of shoes based on their appearance alone; good comfort and long life are just as important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Football And Lacrosse Cleats The Same?
They are similar but not the same. Cleats for football are made for use on natural grass, whereas lacrosse cleats are made for use on synthetic turf or concrete. When playing football, you need greater traction than when playing Lacrosse since players drive off the turf with their toes. When running, lacrosse players’ feet tend to remain level on the ground, so they don’t need shoes with as much traction.
How Should Cleats Fit Lacrosse?
Make sure the cleats you buy are the ideal fit by trying on a few pairs. Please ensure they are comfortable and have enough room for your toes by leaving a little gap at the front.
Can Kids Wear Lacrosse Cleats For Soccer?
You can’t play soccer with lacrosse shoes because of the toe cleat, but baseball shoes work just fine for the sport. Ankle support is often included in a mid-cut shoe. Heavy like soccer cleats.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide on lacrosse cleats vs football cleats was helpful to you. Though both cleats are different and have particular purposes, there is no universal need for specialized lacrosse footwear. In reality, most lacrosse players use baseball or soccer cleats.
But, of course, only if they have the confidence and practice to carry other cleats during lacrosse games.
If you’re starting, flat-soled shoes that feel good on your feet and grip well are the best choice. As you gain playing experience, you can try out various cleat designs to determine the best ones for you.
If you are looking for alternatives and explorations, find our guide on lacrosse cleats for baseball players here.
