2023 SP APPROVED CLEATS

With another safe Spring season nearly complete, I have scoured the internet for our list of SP APPROVED cleats for ultimate injury prevention. With sports apparel marketing surpassing 200 billion dollars in 2022, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify the safest cleats while still considering playing surface, sport demands, and of course, style trends.

We believe that only two styles of cleats are safe, regardless of playing surface. Rounded studded cleats and turf shoes are the only cleats we suggest for our athletes. As a reminder, the following data illustrates the torque intensity at the knee, relative to playing surface and cleat selection.

SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TORQUE AT THE KNEE, RELATIVE ONLY TO CLEAT SELECTION.

1. The safest cleats are ROUND STUDDED.

2. TURF SHOES produce 8% more torque at the knee than ROUND STUDDED cleats.

3. BLADED CLEATS produce 20% more torque than ROUND STUDDED cleats.

4. SOFT GROUND generate 27% more torque than ROUND STUDDED.

SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TORQUE AT THE KNEE, RELATIVE ONLY TO PLAYING SURFACE.

1. GYM TURF is the safest playing surface for athletes.

2. OLD TURF creates 22% more knee torque than GYM TURF.

3. GRASS produces 32% more torque than GYM TURF.

4. NEW TURF 1.5 produces 39% more torque than GYM TURF.

5. NEW TURF 1.0 produces 46% more torque than GYM TURF.

My full blog entry that explains the importance of cleat selection can be found in extreme detail here: It’s not just the turf, it’s also the cleats. After studying hundred’s of lacrosse, soccer, and football cleats, I have curated a list of NINE cleats that are superior in both safety and functionality.

HIGH TOP UNISEX (OLD TURF, NEW TURF, & GRASS):

FREAK 23 – 7V7 SMU FOOTBALL BOUNCE CLEATS (ADIDAS)

HIGH TOP LINEMEN DETATCHABLE (GRASS & SOFT GROUND):

Men’s UA Highlight Hammer D Football Cleats (UNDER ARMOUR)

MID-CUT MEN (OLD TURF, NEW TURF, & GRASS):

MEN’S UA BLUR SMOKE 2.0 MC FOOTBALL CLEATS

MID-CUT WOMEN (OLD TURF, NEW TURF, & GRASS):

WOMEN’S UA GLORY MC LACROSSE CLEATS (UNDER ARMOUR)

LOW-CUT UNISEX: (OLD TURF, NEW TURF, & GRASS):

UNISEX UA CLONE MAGNETICO PREMIER 2 FG SOCCER CLEATS (UNDER ARMOUR)

UNISEX TURF (OLD & NEW TURF):

NIKE ALPHA HUARACHE 7 PRO TURF LACROSSE CLEATS (NIKE)

UNISEX TURF (OLD & NEW TURF):

FREEZELX V4 TURF (NEW BALANCE)

UNISEX ASTROTURF (GYM TURF):

FREEZELX V4 BOX (NEW BALANCE)

UNISEX ASTROTURF (GYM TURF):

NIKE ALPHA HUARACHE 8 PRO TURF

For a full list of the shittiest cleats available, click here.