Best AFL boots for 2023
AFL boots for the 2023 season have not changed dramatically from previous years in their design and integrated technology. Football boots for both AFL and Soccer continue to be very much influenced by consumer demand.
Most variations between boots are only slight and occur mainly with the pitch (the forefoot angle up to the heel), the upper material itself (synthetic or leather), stud pattern and midsole cushioning. ASICS still being the only footwear company to integrate a midsole into their AFL boot design.
The lack of progression and innovation in footy boots has been very much influenced by community ideas of what the profile and fit of an AFL shoe should be. The common concept of fitting boots tight to the foot and low to the ground in order to produce optimal performance is not exactly correct. There is so much that could be done to make these shoes better for our player’s comfort and performance.
In a child’s developing foot growth plate load needs to be heavily considered as those areas are the most common cause of sport related pain in young athletes. Football boots constructed with stiff soles, low pitch heights and tight uppers often place these growth plates under increased force. As a result we see incidences of Severs Heel Pain (trauma to the main growth plate of the heel bone) rapidly increase during the AFL season.
ASICS arguably still lead the way in boot design for Australian Rules football mechanics and demand. For a child that has heel pain issues or is running excessively, such as midfield player, the ASIC Gel Lethal Ultimate is a great choice. This is because it has a midsole that extends the full length of the shoe to assist in reducing shock based force absorbed with the foot and lower limb.
Almost all other footy boots brands will be designed primarily for Soccer in a space where brand, colour and marketing will dominate the decision making. We must also consider the demands of Aussie rules football is dramatically different to soccer or rugby.
The best way to approach Australian Rules football boots for 2023 is to take into consideration the level of AFL your child is playing and their age!
Here is a quick guide below.
Weekend Aus Kick = Age 5- 7
This is one age group where you can let your child choose their footy boots based on the awesome colours they come in! Design profiles and properties between footy boots styles in this age range don’t vary a lot. These are shoes they’ll pop on for the weekend game. They will not be running huge amounts in this shoe. If you have a child with wide forefoot I would recommend a leather upper that stretches as its worn.
Youth Footballer = Age 8-12
Youth footballers are running! This is when our boot selection begins to matter. For AFL I do tend to favour ASICS purely for their pitch and inbuilt PU cushion. A great ‘standard’ boot for the weekend warrior is the DS LIGHT.
If you are after the ultimate football shoes for your child look at the ASICS MENACE or TESTAMONIAL. Very similar shoe that moves quickly over the turf. The Menace is extremely light with a synthetic upper, while the Testimonial has that ‘old school’ feel of a heavier thick leather upper. Fit the boot to touch the end of the large toe in the Testimonial as this will stretch out in wet weather.
Our Kids Love Brands like Nike and Puma. They make awesome soccer boots. I do see a lot of AFL kids in the NIKE MECURIAL sock top. As a Preference, get this shoe with laces alongside sock so you can keep the foot secure in the shoe. I recommend adding in support/pitch into a Soccer designed shoe when using it for AFL. Kidzoles work perfectly in footy and soccer boots with their slimfit design.
Junior Footballer =13-18years
In this age group footy definitely begins to become more serious. Adolescents will have multiple training sessions a week as well as weekend games. If they a superstar on the field they will have additional commitments for playing state league or higher. As the years progress kids will develop a level of fitness and endurance testament to AFL players. These players are fit and strong as they exit High School.
My suggestion is to mix it up for training! Endurance and fitness based training sessions should be done in running shoes. As with competitive runners training for a marathon, changing footwear during training will help overall game day performance by reducing fatigue and speeding recovery. Most coaches will be aware of this and encourage a change of footwear for different training demands. During ball and kicking skill sessions footballers will need their playing boots to adjust to the feel and movement of the shoe against the ground.
I professionally recommend to separate football boot selection in late teen players based on what position they play. Ideally using a larger cleat height for RUCKMAN grip in the field; in addition a greater forefoot to rearfoot pitch in order to protect the Achilles in those backwards moving marks (TESTAMONIAL). Speed and agility base players that like to run opt for a lighter boot. (MENACE, MECURIAL, ULTRA).
In the end however no individual is the same. As players age and develop there will be variations on which boot suits them the best. We gauge this at a senior level of football through assessing player conditioning and recovery