How To Break in Soccer Cleats

New soccer cleats are like a breath of fresh air. From the moment the box is opened to stepping on the field for the first time, the feeling can be quite magical!

But on many occasions, reality sets in and a player realizes that the cleats still need to be broken in. Although a player may want to rush to start playing soccer, it’s sometimes best to hold off until they are broken in.

Most leather soccer cleats require breaking in before the first usage. Doing so will make a player’s brand-new pair of soccer cleats conform to your foot and feel more comfortable.

Breaking in new soccer cleats is essential if you want your feet to remain blister-free and comfy even after hours of wear.

It is pretty simple to break into soccer shoes. In this article, we’ll address how to break in soccer cleats so a player can perform at their best.

How To Break in Soccer Cleats

A few easy steps are involved to break in new soccer cleats.

You’ll need the following:

1. A large bucket
2. Warm/hot water
3. A towel or rag
4. Vaseline (or Petroleum Jelly)

Here’s the proper way to warm up your brand-new soccer shoes:

1) Fill a Bucket with Warm/hot Water

First, get a bucket and fill it with warm-to-hot water. If you don’t have a bucket, use any other container deep enough to cover your cleats. If you don’t have any other storage options, you can use a bathtub.

If you want to remove the adhesive from your soccer cleats, the water must be warmer but not so hot that it will burn your hands and feet.

2) Soak the Soccer Cleats After Lacing Them

Put on the socks you usually play in, then slip on the shoes and lace them up.

Put on your cleats just as you would for a game or practice, and go through the motions as usual.

Proceed to put your feet in the water. When the cleats are underwater, take 20 minutes to massage the sidewalls to help any trapped air escape.

Following these steps, the shoes should better accommodate your feet. After you see no more air bubbles rising to the surface, then it’s time to remove your feet from the water and continue on to the next step.

Ensure you have a larger towel prepared and ready to go before proceeding to this step.

In the next step, you’ll discover why this is necessary.

3) Apply Some Vaseline on the Soccer Cleats

Put the towel down and remove the soccer shoes while damp. Put the cleats down on the towel, and use a different one to dry your feet.

Get some Vaseline (most experts recommend for breaking in soccer cleats) and smear it all over your foot and the outside of your shoes. It’s essential to massage the material and then remove any residue left behind with a damp cloth.

This process aims to make the soccer cleats’ leather more pliable and comfortable to wear.

It prevents the leather from cracking and provides a noticeable boost in movement.

4) Stretch the Cleats

Your new soccer cleats will still need to be wet for this step, but after the previous one, they will also be oily and unpleasant-looking.

However, you still have to wear them—expert advice: Take them outside if you don’t want a mess inside.

When you get to a place you won’t feel bad about damaging, slip on your soccer cleats. Put on some socks; if the damp pair you have from Step 2 isn’t comfortable, try a dry pair.

Put on your cleats as you normally would and set out for a walk. You must begin moving even if they are wet and it feels uncomfortable.

Start strolling around the yard in your new soccer cleats, and after a few minutes, speed up to a jog. After warming up with some light running for a few minutes, try doing some footwork or agility work.

After 30 minutes, proceed to step 5.

5) Air Dry Your Soccer Cleats

Air dry your new soccer cleats so they will be ready to play the next time you have training or a game.

To dry the inside faster, crumple up some newspaper and stick it inside your cleats.

You may think that letting your shoes dry in the sun or near a heat source would help speed up the process, but you should avoid doing this at all costs. Heat and intense sunshine both have the potential to dry out the leather and produce cracks.

6) It’s Practice Time!

The last part of preparing new soccer cleats is the most exciting for most players. Use your brand-new soccer cleats daily for a few weeks to break them in.

To break in brand-new cleats correctly, you should use them for at least 20-30 minutes each day over the course of a week.

In addition to the soccer field, wearing them at home can help break them in even more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Soccer Cleats

Should My Soccer Cleats Be Tight?

It’s important to choose soccer cleats that fit your feet properly. Depending on the brand, players may have to get a size lower or higher than their normal footwear. Soccer cleats that are too tight can cause long-term damage.  Sesamoiditis, an inflammation or rupture of the two tiny bones beneath the first metatarsal, and neuromas, painful enlarged benign growths of nerves between the toes, are just two examples of the many possible issues that can arise in this area.

If cleats are too loose, there can be a lot of slippage within the cleat causing players to fall to the ground more often and/or experience an ankle injury.

Can You Stretch Synthetic Soccer Cleats?

Synthetic soccer cleats do not stretch as easily or as quickly as leather cleats.

Also, the level of flexibility will depend on the type of synthetic material used. Low-cost soccer cleats typically have less flexibility.

Following the directions above and breaking in synthetic cleats is the most effective method for expanding their size.

Using the cleats regularly will stretch the material to a comfortable fit, while sweat and body heat from your foot will soften the cleats and make them more adaptable to your foot.

Do Pro Soccer Players Break in Soccer Cleats?

Professional soccer players typically wear brand-new cleats for each game they participate in.

Some of the best soccer players wear brand-new cleats when they practice, but will switch to a brand new pair during games. It must be nice!

Professional soccer players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar, among others, don’t have to break in their cleats since they are custom-made to fit their feet.

The sponsored company makes the changes based on how the player’s feet are shaped so they don’t have to break in their soccer cleats.

Does Breaking the Soccer Cleats Make Them Last Longer?

Breaking the soccer cleats won’t necessarily increase the lifespan of the cleat, but it may make them more comfortable for players to play in.

The soccer cleats’ durability is determined by how often and how carefully they are worn.

What Should You Search for in Soccer Cleats?

Always prioritize comfort above the price when picking a new pair of cleats.

We understand that not everyone can afford the most expensive cleats, and that’s okay. You may need to spend a bit extra on a pair of functional and comfy cleats.