Laceless cleats in soccer have become all the rage in the past five years as they eliminate the constant nagging of tying your cleats. In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at laceless soccer cleats to learn how they may improve your game and help you determine the best laceless soccer cleats on the market.
If you already know you want laceless soccer cleats, jump right to our reviews of the best laceless soccer cleats:
How Do Laceless Soccer Cleats Work?
Laceless cleats caused some confusion when they were first introduced to the market. After all, the traditional use of laces, even though it’s not without its faults, has proven to be effective when it comes to keeping the cleats on your feet throughout the game.
The designers behind the first pair of laceless cleats used a sock-like design, allowing you to simply slip into the cleats with little fuss. The ‘sock’ part of the cleats is actually very flexible, and that allows you to stretch it so you can fit your foot in.
The rest of the boot though is solid, and you’d never be able to put it on if it weren’t for the sock part. That ‘sock’ extends above the ankle, into the shin. Once you put it on and let go of the sock part, it will tighten around your leg and you won’t even feel it.
How to Put on Laceless Soccer Cleats?
Putting on laceless soccer cleats is very simple—just stretch the entry sock and slide your foot in. Let the sock part go once you’ve put your foot in and it’ll tighten around your leg.
The lower part of the cleat – the actual boot – is already tight and solid, so you won’t be able to tighten it or loosen it up additionally. It works on a ready-to-play system – there’s no tying involved as the cleat is made to be solid.
How to Stretch Out Laceless Soccer Cleats?
The fact that laceless cleats are solid and can’t be tightened or loosened up can cause trouble. Most people don’t have the exact foot size they wear – they just fit into it. Well, when it comes to sports – this isn’t an option.
Wearing a size 12, for example, but actually having feet larger for a fifth of an inch means that you have to stretch your cleats out. Buying size 13 isn’t an option because then you’ll have a third of an inch of empty space.
If you have a large foot, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve been a size 13 since freshman year, so I know very well what it’s like to have to stretch your footwear before you start using it!
Speaking from personal experience – don’t ever put your cleats in hot water. This is a common piece of advice you’ll see online, and even though cleats are made to be worn in the rain, they’re not swimming gear. You’ll just destroy them by submerging them.
What you should do is buy shoe stretchers! You can buy this handy device in every shoe store – just set it to the maximum size that will fit in the cleats and leave it inside. Leave it until the next soccer practice and see how it feels – if they haven’t stretched enough, put the stretchers in again until they do!
Are Soccer Laceless Cleats Really Superior to Traditional Cleats?
Nobody can give you the definitive answer for this as it’s your personal preference. What I can do is tell you from personal experience that it depends on the exact pair of cleats.
Don’t think that the worst pair of laceless cleats is better than the best pair of laced cleats. (It isn’t.)
In fact, there are many players who refuse to wear laceless soccer boots and prefer the traditional way (Toni Kroos, for example, has been wearing the same cleats for a decade)!
There are several advantages for laceless cleats that come to mind. However, the first benefit is when you find a laceless cleat that’s just the ultimate perfect fit. The general idea behind these cleats was to design soccer footwear that fits so well, you never have to tighten it or loosen it up.
The designers were very successful in their endeavor, and in the sense of comfort and fit – laceless cleats are a definitive home run! (Or, in the soccer world, you may say they’re a hat trick!)
Another advantage I found particularly likable is that I immediately noticed the absence of the slight pain and discomfort at the top of your foot where you tie the laces. To me, this happened almost every time, as I constantly kept tying my cleats too tight, fearing that I’d lose ball control if the cleats didn’t stick to my feet tightly.
Lastly, since there are no laces on the top of your foot, you’re actually more agile because your cleats can bend more. This is especially important when it comes to sprints The same rule applies to shooting, passing, and controlling the ball—since there are no laces, your touch with the ball is less strained.
Reviews of the Best Laceless Soccer Cleats
With a stretchable sock that not only makes them easy to put on, these laceless boots also provide some protection for the ankle.
adidas Predator Freak
Adidas is actually the first brand to popularize laceless cleats and they’re also the biggest manufacturer of laceless soccer boots, so it’s no wonder that they have the most experience with these cleats.
The Predator Freak cleats are a great pick. With a stretchable sock that not only makes them easy to put on, these laceless boots also provide some protection for the ankle. The soles are made from synthetic materials, making them durable, while the compressive fit tightens around the foot.
They also utilize Demonskin technology, using tiny rubber spikes on the outside of the cleat to improve grip.
If there was one questionable characteristic to point out, it would be the odd shape. The shape of this boot may be too tight on the sides for some players.
Pros
- Well-deserved reputation from an established laceless soccer cleat leader
- Compressive fit
- Sock provides ankle support and makes it easy to put them on
- Durable, synthetic sole
- Looks – personally, this is the best-looking pair of cleats on the entire list
- Demonskin technology for improved grip
Cons
- Lack of lace support – a common problem with laceless cleats, certain in-game movements need the support of laces, which none of the cleats can offer
- Unique shape may not work for all players
Confused about the .3 in the shoe’s name? We’ve got you. Check out our informative guide on soccer cleat tiers.
A rubber sole, which is more bendable than synthetic sole, makes these laceless cleats bendable and more agile - and their lightweight design is a bonus for quick players.
adidas X Ghosted
These cleats use a rubber sole, which is more bendable than synthetic sole and makes the cleats bendable and more agile. They’re also made to be lightweight, which is an advantage for quick players.
The stretchable tongue allows you to put them on easily, while the bendable top provides you with even more agility.
On the downside—generally speaking, rubber soles are less durable than synthetic soles.
There’s also no protection for the foot or the ankle since the materials are really thin and there’s no sock.
Pros
- Rubber sole – better for players in positions where speed and agility are key, like wingers and attacking midfielders
- Lightweight
- Stretchable tongue
- Bendable top
Cons
- Rubber sole – although they’re more bendable, they’re less durable
- No sock means no support for the ankle
- Thin material means you’ll feel the stomps and the kicks more than you would with a tougher model
adidas Copa Sense.3 Laceless Firm Ground Soccer Shoe
If durability and sustainability top your list of qualities in a quality laceless soccer cleat, the Adidas Copa Sense should be the top of your list.
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If durability and sustainability top your list of qualities in a quality laceless soccer cleat, the Adidas Copa Sense should be the top of your list.
adidas Copa Sense
Copa Sense cleats utilize durable, synthetic soles that are built to last and help you dig into the ground. The thick material offers some protection, but also durability for the cleats, while the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) outsole provides stability in lateral movements.
A great thing about these cleats is that at least 50% of materials used to make them are recycled—a great choice for environmentally minded soccer players.
However, I honestly wouldn’t recommend them to a pacey player, as you’ll be quicker in other cleats.
Pros
- Synthetic, durable sole – from experience, these cleats are a better fit for center backs, goalkeepers, and defensive midfielders.
- Stretchable tongue
- Thick material
- TPU outsole
- Ecologically mindful
Cons
- No sock – there’s no support system when it comes to the ankle.
- Tough soles – although lasting, they’re not a good fit for pace and agility
Adidas X Speedflow.3 Laceless Soccer Cleats
If fast movements and explosiveness are your thing on the pitch, you'll want to check out the lightweight Adidas X Speedflow Laceless Cleats.
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If fast movements and explosiveness are your thing on the pitch, you'll want to check out the lightweight Adidas X Speedflow Laceless Cleats.
adidas Speedflow
The Adidas Speedflow is another great laceless cleat option from the brand that originally brought you the laceless cleats.
The lightweight synthetic material used ensures pace and agility, while the Carbitex SpeedFrame system used by Adidas promotes fast movements and explosiveness when sprinting.
Also, the Speedflow cleats take advantage of Adidas’ Engineered Agility Frame. This is a technological advancement used to ensure that this cleat sticks to your foot really tight. This way, the fit isn’t uncomfortable, but it’s as close as possible to your foot, which improves ball control.
It’s worth pointing out that while shoe material is agile, the soles aren’t that agile. There’s a sort of a middle ground between agility and robust movements with these cleats.
Pros
- Lightweight material
- Carbitex SpeedFrame supports explosive, quick movements
- Stretchable tongue
- Synthetic sole
- Improved ball control through Engineered Agility Frame
Cons
- No support for the ankle – since this model doesn’t use a sock, but rather a tongue, there’s no ankle support.
- Durable, but unagile soles – synthetic soles aren’t as bendable as rubber soles, so they’ll be smothering your agility a little bit.
- Bendable, but thin top material – even though top material is thin enough to compensate for unagile soles, you’ll also be feeling every single hit you take as you have no cushion of protection
Adidas Predator Edge Laceless FG Cleats
The balance between ball control and agility on these laceless soccer cleats makes for a good choice for defensive midfielders or center-backs.
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The balance between ball control and agility on these laceless soccer cleats makes for a good choice for defensive midfielders or center-backs.
adidas Predator Edge
Strategically placed rubber points on the outside of the cleat provide you with improved ball control as they cushion the first touch with the ball, adding a little bit of wanted strain and improving your control over the ball.
Facet technology ensures a tight fit, but the real advantages are more prominent in regards to movement. Because there’s a little bit of added weight in the toe portion of the cleat, you get a little bit of a kickstart when sprinting.
It’s worth noting that the synthetic sole doesn’t provide much agility. However, the balance between ball control and agility is good for a defensive midfielder or a ball-playing center-back.
Pros
- Improved ball control
- Facet technology
- Ankle protection – unlike many models, this model of cleats has some ankle protection from the back, even though it doesn’t use a stretchable sock, but rather a stretchable tongue.
Cons
- Low agility
- Non-removable studs – studs can break with time and if you lose one, you won’t be able to replace it and you’ll, unfortunately, have to throw away the cleats.
adidas Unisex-Child X Ghosted.3 Soccer Shoe
With the Adidas Child X Ghosted laceless soccer cleat, rubber, agile soles provide speed and agility and cover materials provide a nice cushion which is helpful with ball control.
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adidas Unisex Child X Ghosted
With the Adidas Child X Ghosted laceless soccer cleat, rubber, agile soles provide speed and agility and cover materials provide a nice cushion which is helpful with ball control.
Within the Adidas Child X Ghosted laceless soccer cleat, rubber, agile soles provide speed and agility. Additionally, cover materials provide a cushion which is helpful with ball control. The material on the inside is thin and breathable.
Given the lightweight materials, there’s very little protection to the foot, and also very little protection for the ankle because there’s no sock. The lightweight materials pose another question, this one regarding durability.
Pros
- Rubber soles
- Cover materials – Adidas used thin materials as cover for the boot, but there’s an additional layer of rubber, which cushions the initial touch with the ball, improving ball control
- Stretchable tongue – this tongue ensures an easy slip-on
Cons
- Little protection
- Light materials
If you’re interested in learning about more soccer cleats for kids, check out the Best Soccer Cleats for Kids and the Best Indoor Soccer Shoes for Kids.
Puma Future Z 1.2 FG Cleats
At first glance, it may look like these are actually laced cleats - but no! Puma uses compression bands on the top of the foot to make sure that the cleats stay as close to the foot as possible. Don’t confuse these bands for laces as you can’t tighten them or loosen them up.
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Puma Future
At first glance, it may look like these are actually laced cleats - but no! Puma uses compression bands on the top of the foot to make sure that the cleats stay as close to the foot as possible. Don’t confuse these bands for laces as you can’t tighten them or loosen them up.
Puma uses compression bands on the top of the foot to make sure that the cleats stay as close to the foot as possible. Don’t confuse these bands for laces as you can’t tighten them or loosen them up.
Similar to some other models on this list, Puma uses Gripcontrol, a skin concept used to enhance ball control and make the ball stick to the foot a little bit – very similar to rubber used on top of the skin in other models.
The compression bands are a bit odd, though. Even though they’re not exactly laces, they still put some strain on ball control and I’m not entirely sure that the designers at Puma achieved what they were hoping to.
Pros
- Compression bands help ensure a tight fit
- Tough soles – definitely a great choice for defenders, the cleats will allow you to dig yourself into the ground.
- Some ankle protection – the stretchable tongue grows into the stretchable sock, ensuring both an easy slip-on and some protection to the ankle.
Cons
- Design – with the utmost respect and to put it lightly – these cleats aren’t pretty.
- Non-removable studs – in case you break one, you have to buy new cleats.
- Bands – although clever, they still achieve the same effect as laces – strain over ball control.
Final Thoughts on the Best Laceless Soccer Cleats
In my opinion, Adidas Predator Freak, the first entry on the list, makes for the best laceless soccer cleats.
The only real drawback is the questionable shape, which is why I wholeheartedly recommend trying them on at home before wearing them on the pitch, but if you don’t have a problem with the shape—they’re essentially perfect.
These cleats have a simple slip-on system, and they provide ankle protection—something most models on this list fail to do. Additionally, the synthetic sole is heavy and tough, and the rubber on the skin helps you with ball control.
I also appreciate how they’re agile and quick.
Taking a look at all the boxes that were supposed to be checked with the invention of the laceless cleats, this pair certainly checked them all. Lastly, if that’s important to you, they incorporate a killer design that’s absolutely beautiful.
