Best football boots for artificial pitches and astro turf, tried and tested

From humble beginnings in the 19th century, through huge innovations of the 20th century, to today’s multi-million-pound sponsorship deals, football boots have come a long way.

The football boot industry is huge, with brands paying top dollar for endorsements by the biggest and best-known players. Buyers could be forgiven for racing towards those popularised by the Erling Haalands and Lionel Messis of the world. But functionality is important, and different boots suit different surfaces – as well as feet.

Choosing the right boot is a minefield, and you’ll notice a series of confusing letters alongside many options. The letters refer to the type of surface the boot is best suited to. For example, SG means soft ground – a sodden grass pitch. More relevant here are your firm grounds (FG), but particularly your artificial grounds (AG) and astro turfs (TF). If you want a boot that does it all, you’re looking for an elusive multi-ground (MG) option.

For many regular five-asiders, you’ll most likely be playing on an artificial pitch or astro turf – for the sake of your knees, we hope it’s the former.

For astro turf, you’ll need a boot that grips, and for artificial ground - which is a firmer surface than grass - longer studs are not necessary and you’ll still need a smaller stud. Maybe you’re looking for a boot that suits multiple surfaces, in which case it’s an even shorter, rounded stud. Perhaps you’re a woman looking for a football boot, in which case good luck to you, because we’ve got some surprising news about women’s shoes for you – more on that later.

Whatever it is you’re after, be it value for money, fashion or fit, whether you’re a fair-weather footballer or a home and away stalwart, we’ve rounded up some of the best the market currently has to offer.

Best artificial pitch and turf boots at a glance

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Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite

Best: all-round

Hailed as one of the best on the market, the Phantom GX 2 Elite has the heft of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Rodri, and Kevin de Bruyne – to name but a few starry names – behind it. Nike claims that its Gripknit technology and Cyclone 360 traction helps wearers achieve greater agility on the ball, and with 10 goals in his first five league appearances of the 24/25 season, who is Haaland to argue? A sleek design, it is one of the better-looking boots on the market too.

Better still, as with all of Nike’s performance models, the Phantom GX 2 Elite comes with multiple plate offerings, including one suitable for artificial grass.

Buy now £239.99, Nike

Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro ‘Kylian Mbappe’

Best for: speed

Not as nice to look at as its Phantom GX counterpart, but with the backing of one Kylian Mbappe, and a much lower price point, the Mercurial Vapor is a decent alternative. These boots were made for running – not walking – and are built to propel with Nike’s Air Zoom unit. An extremely lightweight boot, these are designed to push the pace of the wearer, and are available in multiple plates, including one for artificial grass.

Buy now £154.99, Nike

IDA Classica FG/AG Multi-ground

Best for: women

As robustly detailed in Caroline Criado-Perez’s groundbreaking Invisible Women, all too often male bodies are seen as the default in everything from medical research to the positioning of handrails in public buildings.

Footwear is no exception, and generally, women’s shoes are designed on the basis of a scaled-down male foot. Of course, women’s feet are very different from men’s in terms of shape as well as size. As is now well documented, female football players are nearly six times (some research estimates as much as eight times) more likely than male players to suffer ACL injuries, so more thought is being given to how kit designed for male bodies might contribute to injuries in female players.

US brand IDA recognised this and designed a range of football boots specifically for women – in fact they are the only brand to make boots exclusively for women. The Classica is a good-looking as well as functional boot, suitable for firm ground and artificial ground, while the Rise Turf is a great alternative for astro turf pitches.

Buy now £134.99, IDA

Skechers SKX 1.5 Academy TF Boots

Best for: comfort

Skechers may not be the most immediately obvious brand that comes to mind when weighing up football boot options, having only launched its football line at the beginning of the 23/24 season. However, having signed Harry Kane as its poster boy, who then went on to earn the Bundesliga golden boot that season in their shoes, it’s little wonder that the limited edition SKX_01 gold boot launched in celebration, sold out in just 30 minutes flat.

The brand also has a range of boots for turf surfaces, including the SKX_1.5 Academy, boasting lightweight design and comfort, designed to assist with precise ball control.

Buy now £90.00, Skechers

Puma King Ultimate Tricks AG/AG

Best for: classic design

The Puma King is a classic and has real pedigree in its history. Famously worn by Pele, Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff, it’s fair to say that the modern reimagining looks a little different.

For a start, the brand has recently moved from a leather to synthetic upper, and claims that its GripControl 3D structure enhances ball control. The King comes in several editions and colourways, but we’re rather taken with this sunset glow edition, which can be worn on both firm and artificial ground surfaces.

Buy now £230.00, Puma

Adidas Predator League 2G/3G Artificial Grass Boots

Best for: instant recognition

You can’t talk about football boots without mentioning the Adidas Predator.

Launched 30 years ago in 1994, the Predator has graced the feet of some of the biggest names in the sport including David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane the current roster includes Jude Bellingham. The sleek look of a Pred’ is instantly recognisable, and they come in all manner of colourways and editions, including for artificial grass.

The Predator League also promotes sustainability, using a range of recycled and reused materials.

Buy now £80.00, Adidas

Adidas Copa Pure 2 Pro multi-ground boots

Best for: versatility

The classic Adidas Mundials aren’t currently available in an artificial pitch version, but the Copa Pure has a similar look about it, fusing old-school aesthetic with cutting-edge design. The Fusionskin leather forefoot claims to give players a silky touch, and even better still, it can be worn on a range of surfaces including artificial and grass.

Buy now £130.00, Adidas

New Balance Furon Pro AG V7+

Best for: snappy dressers

Previously known better for their running shoes, New Balance are an increasingly popular brand in the football boots market, and are worn by the likes of Bukayo Saka and Sadio Mane.

Performance-wise, they are not the hottest on the market, but they have a unique off-centre lacing design for players who want to stand out in a crowd, and you couldn’t not stand out in this striking yellow design.

Marketed as unisex, these are ideal for an artificial grass surface.

Buy now £220.00, New Balance