One of our soccer players wanted to know what the difference is between soft, firm, and hard ground soccer cleats.  The biggest thing is to make sure you have the right soccer cleat for the field and conditions that you are playing soccer on.  Why is it important to have the right soccer cleats for the different types of fields?  The most important reason is traction.  The cleats will prevent you from slipping, giving you the opportunity to turn, stop and accelerate much easier.  Now let us take a look at the differences between soft, firm, and hard ground soccer cleats!

Soft ground (SG) soccer cleats are used for playing on really wet and soft surfaces like mud and rain.  In most cases soft ground soccer cleats come with removable studs or stud tips.  They come in different lengths, so you can adjust your soccer shoes based on the condition of the soft soccer field. 

Firm ground (FG) soccer cleats are the most popular soccer cleats for players.  Generally firm ground soccer clears will work best for every type of soccer fields and weather condition.  Firm ground soccer cleats can be used in all turf, grass, dirt, and even mud soccer fields.  The firm ground soccer cleats are probably the most ultimate choice if you play on different types of soccer fields and can only afford to buy a single pair of cleats.

Hard ground (HG) soccer cleats are for really hard dirt and grass.  They have short studs, usually evenly distributed through the entire outsole.  Soccer cleats with circular, hard rubber studs are the most effective for hard surfaces. They provide you with enough amount of traction but at the same time, they don’t apply too much pressure on your feet causing discomfort when your cleats are unable to dig into hard ground.

In general, the softer the ground the longer the cleats should be.  The best kind of soccer shoe to get is a pair with changeable studs.  Always keep different length cleats in your soccer bag so you can adjust your shoes to match each game’s playing field and conditions.  I hope this helps clear up the differences between SG, FG, and HG soccer cleats and don’t forget to check out our soccer store for discount prices on adidas and nike soccer cleats and other soccer gear.

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