Recently, I received a pretty nice email from Taylor, who I had spoke to on a previous occasion using our ‘Olark’ instant messenger, located on our website.

Name: Taylor B
Age: 29
Location: Arlington Virginia
Soccer Position: Winger/Striker
Teams:Flirting with Sobriety (CCSL – Rockville Indoor)

A few months ago, I suffered a fracture to the top of my foot and was sidelined for months. As soon as it healed, and I was cleared to play by my orthopedist, I needed to find some cleats that would not only protect the top of my foot, but that were also comfortable. The fracture in my foot also brought on a minor arthritic joint on the top of my foot, so it was even more important to me to find something that would provide comfort, stability, and protection. I used Google to get reviews of soccer cleats, and came upon SoccerCleats101 through my searches. Very fortunate.

My main concern was finding out what cleat would provide the best comfort. Also, what would protect the top of my foot because I was very hesitant to start playing again because I did not want to get the same injury and sideline myself even more. Things that helped me were knowing whether SoccerCleats101 knew anyone that had played with the cleats. Durability, Protection to the top of the foot (most important to me), and how good they would be in regards to playing a certain position were all vital information I needed to know.

After being given some very in depth recommendations, we narrowed it down to two pairs. The Concaves, and theUnder Armours. After digging down a little more, and based wholly on the recommendation of Bryan, I chose to go with the Under Armour Dominate Pro FG – Black/White Firm Ground Soccer Shoes. They offered the right protection, were a decent price, and seemed to have the comfort I was looking for.

Were they the right ones for you?
I’m averaging about 2 goals per game at this point, and I couldn’t be happier with the cleats. They are comfortable, strong, lightweight, provide great touch on the ball, and offer the protection I was looking for. It was the perfect recommendation.

Can you give a brief review on the cleats (your opinion of them)?
Lightweight, great touch. Offer great protection up top for people who have suffered foot injuries. Very comfortable not only on the top, but also with the studs from the bottom. Offer great balance. Traction is ideal and easy to jump off from a standing start. Seem to mold to your feet, and provide a lot of precision. I’ve worn adidas and Pumas for years, but this is looking like one of the best pairs of cleats I’ve bought in a long time. Outclasses my other boots.

It is rare that you find great customer service and expert advice anymore, and I was pumped to find this site and receive both. I have been spreading the word to all of my friends regarding the site, because I was so impressed. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the great recommendation.

Thanks Taylor, your input is greatly appreciated and I hope you stay injury free! If you need some information or advice on cleats feel free to ping us using the Olark box on the bottom right hand side of the screen, we are always interested in helping where we can!

Full Name: ‘The Fan’s Attic’, contributor to UnprofessionalFoul.com

Tell us a little about the Fan’s Attic?
By day, I am a regular professional and by night I blog about the beautiful game at UnprofessionalFoul.com.  Actually, I blog during the day as well to escape the monotony of work.  I just hope my employer does not know that I am being so unproductive.  Unprofessionalfoul.com is a blog dedicated to all aspects of the soccer world from analysis to zany stories only professional footballers could produce.

When it comes to soccer, what position do you play?
I primarily play defender or outside back.  My playing career has consisted of high school  and adult recreation leagues, I have been a main staple with my teams!

As a kid growing up, what types of soccer cleats did you wear?
Growing up, I generally received the bargain bin cleats.  Not necessarily off-brand shoes like Nikey or Humbro, but certainly the sale items.  While the boots I received as a child certainly did not help me ascend the social ladder, the bargain boots made sense when I was outgrowing shoes every six months and my athletic ability was nowhere near the level that I could actually tell a difference between the $100 Copa Mundials or $60 Kaisers.  Frankly, I never got anywhere near either of the shoes until I was a teenager.

How often do you play now, and what cleats are in your bag?
I play twice a week–a weekly early Saturday morning pickup game and a weekly team match.  I wish I could play more, but soccer does not pay the bills and my body is not what it used to be.  The recovery time is slower, my time is limited, my body aches a bit more.  I always carry three types of boots–turf, moldeds and replaceable.  The screw-ins don’t get used much anymore because the blade boots work quite well in the soft ground.  In fact, the replaceable are 10-year-old Puma Kings that are great but certainly could be retired.  Thanks to a good hook-up I have mostly Nike equipment these days and my other boots are the Total 90 Laser II.  I just got the Nike Zoom 5 T-7 turf shoes but  I haven’t played in them yet.

Do you have any memories of specific cleats you wore?
I remember most of the cleats I have worn since high school.  I love to try out different cleats and one pair I had in 11th grade I really liked.  They were Kronos brand I found at a soccer shop in a town an hour away from me.  I have never seen them in a soccer shop before or after.  They had full kangaroo uppers, molded studs that were a little longer than normal and fit like a glove.  I absolutely loved those boots.  The only problem was that the studs weren’t affixed as well they could have been and after 9 months or so the studs started to break off.  A damn shame.

What cleats on the market do you like/not like?
I do not have any list of cleats I do not like but I have really come around on the Nike boots.  When they first came on the market the shoes were not as good as other brands, but in the past three to five years the shoes have really improved.  The Total 90 Laser II is the best shoe I have ever worn.  The touch, the grip, everything is great.  As it should be for a $200 pair of boots!

From your experience, what is the most important feature of a good cleat?
The most important feature of a cleat depends on the player.  Whether you need light shoes for speed, shoes designed for touch, or shoes with great traction, it just depends on your needs.  However, the most important thing you need in a shoe is comfort.  The shoe has to feel good on your foot.  No pressure points from the studs.  Minimal rubbing to lessen chances of blisters.  If the comfort is right then you can worry about the rest of the shoe.

Thanks for taking the time to chat to us the Fans Attic, we appreciate you taking the time and giving us some great info!

Also Check Out:
Cleatology: The Original Winger
Cleatology: The Fullback Files

Brian, as a kid growing up, what types of soccer cleats did you wear?
I always rocked Copa’s…Couldn’t ever go wrong with them and at the time, they were by far the most affordable for the quality. They cost $77 back then and Moms would never drop more than $50 twice a year. So, I’d have to come up with the rest (or all if they tore before Xmas or summer).

How often do you play now, and what cleats are in your bag?
I try to get out as often as possible, but the television travel schedule makes that a little difficult. Every Tuesday it’s indoor and I’ve got on the black Adi Nova’s. For outdoor on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings, the white Adi Nova TRX’s or dark grey Adi Predators.

When I say ‘soccer cleats’ whats the first thing that comes to mind?
Boots.

Do you have any memories of specific cleats you wore?
Other than the Copa’s, I can remember picking up a pair of Perla Negra’s that ripped after two weeks, some Lanzera’s that were soft as can be but warped after one game in the rain and a pair of Lotto’s with the big logo on the side that were pretty good to me.

Dunny, wearing Copa's, getting stuck in!

During your pro playing days, were there any players that you specifically remember for funky cleats?
Back then you had to be damn good to be able to rock any boots that weren’t black. But the young Nike kids started showing up with some boots that the older vets used to just tape together (when they’re back was turned) and throw them in the freezer.

From your experience, what is the most important feature of a good cleat?
Comfort. I love a new pair of boots straight out of the box because they’re nice and tight. I would train in the same boots (2 or 3 different pairs) over the course of the year, but game day were boots I’d only worn once or twice (just to make sure I wouldn’t get blisters) that would never make more than a three game appearance.

What tips/advice can you give to young players in terms of taking care of their cleats?
Make sure you go to the shop and test out EVERY pair to see which boot feels the most comfortable with your game socks on to replicate how they’ll feel when you’re on the field. There were certain brands that I couldn’t wear because they were either too narrow or I felt like I wasn’t getting enough support in my heel.

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Brian. Also of note, you should check out the amazing Bump Pitch clothing line. This is a clothing range put together by Dunny and fellow soccer enthusiasts Ben Hooper and Ace Harrison. In the past few months, I have seen pics of celebs like Steve Nash and Ryan Seacrest sporting Bumpy Pitch t-shirts, so they definitely have huge appeal! To finish out, you can also find the team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bp_tow

Michael, as a kid growing up, what types of soccer cleats did you wear?
Ah, the 80′s. Adidas, Adidas, everywhere, and not just the cleats. My standard school shoes were always Adidas flats that saw double duty for indoor soccer in the winter as well. Not being a fancy-pants attacking sort (my blog is called the Fullback Files for a reason!), pretty much the only thing I looked for in a shoe in those early years was “the blacker the better.” And while that generally ended up being Adidas, I do have fond memories of a couple pairs of Diadoras as well.

Do you have any memories of specific cleats you wore?
Oh, those Diadoras! There was one pair I remember loving so much that I wore them well beyond the point where my feet had outgrown them. The blisters were unbelievable! The backs of both heels were rubbed raw. Most of my toes were a mess. The ball of my left (plant) foot was a bloody, puss-filled ruin. But they were worth it. The last time I scored more than once in a game during a competitive match was in those shoes. Of course, that might have been due more to the coach yanking me off the back line and sticking me in attacking midfield for some reason, but I’ll always attribute that final brace to those fantastic Diadoras.

What cleats on the market do you not like?
Nike. They weren’t making soccer cleats during my glory days in the 80′s, but I’ve never been a fan of Nike shoes in general. Why? Because they’re too narrow for my wide German-Irish peasant trotters! So you can imagine my complete lack of surprise when I got a pair of Nike’s to review recently and found that the problem persists. It wasn’t that they were so completely uncomfortable that my feet couldn’t take the pain (I think I established in the Diadora anecdote above that they can take a fair amount of abuse), but I was constantly worried about turning an ankle–the narrow base had me feeling like I was on ice skates sometimes!

From your experience, what is the most important feature of a good cleat?
While I’ve not yet outgrown my youthful obsession with having footwear be as black as possible, my priorities have shifted a bit as I enter my fourth decade of playing the game. Not having the youthful energy I once possessed, a light shoe has become increasingly important. But far and away, the thing that I now value most in a cleat is grip. These days, if my footing goes, I count my lucky stars if I haven’t pulled something in the bargain. The road back to fitness from a tweaked groin is much longer now than it was as a teenager.

If you enjoyed Michael’s humorous approach to all things soccer cleats then hop on over to The Fullback Files, and get the latest on the world of MLS as the playoffs quickly approach! We will continue the series with more interviews later this week. Make sure to sign up to our email updates and get all the latest stories from Soccer Cleats 101!