The most ultimate of frisbees require the most ultimate of cleats! After all, you need optimum traction (while still accounting for comfort) if you’re going to outplay the other team. Can you imagine every member of the other team slipping and falling on muddy grass while you stay upright? I can, and it’s a hilarious image. But what are the best cleats for ultimate frisbee? What makes a quality ultimate frisbee cleat? Can the right cleat even make the difference between losing and winning? Keep reading to find out!
Choosing the Right Ultimate Frisbee Cleats
Before we give you the list of our top 5 best cleats, it’s important to ask ourselves what makes a good ultimate frisbee cleat.
Quality materials
The best cleats are made of either synthetic or leather. A leather shoe will be more comfortable to wear, as it stretches to conform to your foot. But it may stretch too much and therefore be liable to tears. Leather is also not waterproof… and it can smell pretty bad over time. Synthetic shoes, however, are water-resistant. They are generally cheaper and can come in a multitude of bright colors. You may sacrifice some comfort to get there, but synthetic shoes are improving with time; some people find the synthetic shoes on our list below to be even more comfortable than their leather counterparts. Plus, they smell better, and that’s always a bonus!
Out Top 5 Picks
Comfort
A comfortable shoe is crucial on the frisbee field. If the shoes are of poor quality, don’t fit correctly, or aren’t the right size, they can cause blisters. Not only are these painful, they will distract you on the field and may cost you the game. While we’ve rounded up some really comfortable options, make sure you know the right size before you commit.
Durability
You don’t want to have to replace your ultimate frisbee cleats after every three games. It’s worth it to spend a little bit more on a quality shoe. (That said, all our picks below are tried and true, and should provide you all the durability you need on the field.)
Aesthetic
While we mentioned earlier that you don’t want to sacrifice comfort for a beautiful shoe, that doesn’t mean your shoes should be ugly. Simply put, a more aesthetically pleasing shoe will help you with confidence and build team morale. Yes, that’s right—a pretty shoe can make or break an ultimate frisbee game! This method works even better if your whole team wears matching cleats.
5 Best Ultimate Frisbee Cleats
With the above criteria in mind, we’ve collected five ultimate frisbee cleats we think you’ll love. With options for high and low budgets, synthetic or leather, classic black or neon green, you’re sure to find something that works for you or your whole team. Without further ado, here are our top 5 picks for the best ultimate frisbee cleats you can buy in 2022.
1. adidas Unisex Copa Mundial Firm Ground Soccer Cleats
Our top pick for ultimate frisbee cleats has to be the adidas Unisex Copa Mundial Firm Ground Soccer Cleats. These are also the priciest shoes on this list, but we really think they’re worth the price. And as one of the most popular soccer shoes of all time, most people seem to agree!
The Copa Mundial delivers optimum speed and traction on the field for any gender. Its leather exterior and synthetic lining are sure to keep your feet nice and comfortable. Plus, it includes a die-cut EVA midsole for even more lightweight comfort. Forget running on the field—with this pair of shoes, you’ll feel like you can fly.
That said, because it’s a leather shoe, it isn’t waterproof. It will stretch to conform to your foot, which we love—but it may also stretch too much, adding stress to the leather and causing tears. And you’ll want to take a little extra care to prevent odors; your roommates will not thank you for that sweaty leather smell. Still, a great frisbee shoe like this is a worthwhile investment.
PROS
• Great support for all genders
• Leather with synthetic sole
• Lightweight comfort with the die-cut EVA midsole
• Synthetic lining is soft and comfortable
• Classic adidas design
• Optimum speed and traction
CONS
• The priciest option on this list
• Sizing may vary (the same as any time you buy a shoe online)
• Heavy use may cause tears
2. adidas Performance Mundial Team Turf Soccer Cleat
Our second pick is another great adidas shoe, the Performance Mundial Team Turf Soccer Cleat. Rather than the synthetic sole of its Copa Mundial sibling, the Performance Mundial has a rubber sole. That means this shoe is less likely to leave black scuff marks if you happen to be playing indoors. This might also make the person who cleans your floors at home love you a little more.
Other than that, this shoe also features a soft synthetic lining. It’s a little taller around the heel than the Copa, which provides some ankle support, and this upper portion is made of split-suede leather. Plus it comes with lightweight EVA cushioning, and its TRAXION outsole means you’ll get an excellent grip on the ground in any direction. That’s a great advantage.
All that said, while it’s very similar in design to the Copa, it’s just not quite as pretty, is it?
PROS
• Classic adidas design
• Leather with a rubber sole
• Soft synthetic lining
• Upper shoe is split-suede leather
• Midsole is pre-molded EVA for lightweight cushioning
• TRAXION outsole gives the best grip in all directions
CONS
• Doesn’t look as sharp as the adidas Copa Mundial
• May not be comfortable for every foot
• Rubber sole might leave marks
3. Nike Men’s Mercurial Victory IV FG Soccer Cleat
Moving away from adidas for a minute, we come to our budget option: the Nike Men’s Mercurial Victory IV FG Soccer Cleat. The reason it’s the cheapest on this list is that it’s synthetic in both its shoe and sole. That means it won’t be quite as comfortable, but it will be water-resistant and may hold up better over time.
But you’re not sacrificing comfort for that price point. This was the only cleat to mention its inner cushion, which protects the bottom of your foot from the pressure of the studs underneath. That’s a huge bonus; we mentioned earlier that an uncomfortable shoe may be the difference between a won or lost game, and there’s nowhere you might feel this more than from the studs pressing up against your foot. They also mention that their studs were programmatically designed by a computer for optimum traction, torque, and comfort, and we think that’s pretty awesome.
Plus, this shoe comes in many different colors (so you can match it to your ultimate frisbee uniform, if you have one)! This shoe is a great pick for your whole team.
PROS
• Budget-friendly option
• Comes in many different colors
• Synthetic shoe and sole
• Studs designed by a computer for optimum traction, torque, and comfort
• The sockliner includes cushioning to protect your foot against the pressure of the studs
CONS
• May run narrow
• Not as comfortable as a leather shoe
4. Under Armour Men’s Highlight MC Football Shoe
You may already be wearing Under Armour under your ultimate frisbee outfit; why not wear it on your feet, too?
The Under Armour Men’s Highlight MC Football Shoe is the only option on this list that comes with anti-odor technology. Everyone who lives with you will thank you for this choice. It also has a pretty unique design with its blend of synthetic and textiles. And if you liked the color options in our Nike pick, you’ll be happy to know that this Under Armour shoe has even more colors to choose from.
Plus, this shoe comes with ankle support, which can help protect your team against sprains. That’s important, and it makes for a really beautiful shoe. If you’re looking for a good synthetic ultimate frisbee cleat, this is definitely an option to consider.
One caveat: these are men’s shoes—but ladies, don’t despair! Just subtract 1.5 from your women’s shoe size to get your men’s size—so a ladies 8.5 is a man’s 7. Easy!
PROS
• Lightweight ankle support designed for easy ventilation
• Synthetic and textile blend creates an interesting design
• Synthetic sole
• Anti-odor technology! Finally!
• Many different colors available—even more than the Nike Mercurial Victory
CONS
• Men’s only
• Sizing may vary
5. adidas Performance Men’s Ace 16.4 FXG Soccer Shoe
Finally, we round off this list with another excellent entry from adidas: the Performance Men’s Ace 16.4 FXG Soccer Shoe. This is their synthetic addition to the adidas shoe pantheon, so it’s water-resistant, if not a little less comfortable than their leather picks. (We still thought the inner lining was comfortable.)
The best part of this shoe is its versatility; it can move easily on firm or hard ground, as well as artificial grass. Play on the grass, on a turf, or even indoors! (That said, some reviewers seem to think that there isn’t enough cushion in the bottom of this shoe for hard ground, as the cleats push up into your foot. However, that shouldn’t be a factor if you’re only going to be playing outside.)
The worst part of this shoe? Depends on how much you love neon. While I still appreciate that classic adidas 3-stripe, I’m not loving the colors available in this shoe. But hey, beauty is in the eye of the shoe-holder!
If you are loving the neon more than I am, but you’re a lady, keep in mind that these are men’s shoes. That means you’ll need to subtract 1.5 to get the right size in men’s. That said, some reviewers recommended going up half a size to get the right fit in this shoe, so you may want to subtract one size instead of 1.5. Your call.
PROS
• Classic 3-stripe adidas design
• Synthetic
• Lining is comfortable
• Great for moving on firm ground, artificial grass, or hard ground
CONS
• Men’s only
• Cushioning is insufficient for running on hard ground
• Many reviews recommend going up half a size
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but these shoes just aren’t pretty.
What are the best soccer cleats?
While there are some great options on this list, it should be clear why the adidas Copa Mundial makes the top of our list. No, it’s not just because it’s the most aesthetically pleasing option on this list—although it is. It’s because it has all of the criteria we listed earlier on what makes a good ultimate frisbee cleat: quality materials, a comfortable fit, durability, and that classic three-stripe adidas design. In fact, I bet if you buy a pair of Copa Mundials for every member of your team, your competition will notice and be so afraid of your mighty shoe power that they’ll lose!
The Importance of Using Quality Cleats for Ultimate Frisbee
A good cleat is an investment in your ultimate frisbee career. Poor quality materials mean your cleats may break down, leading you to replace them more often. Improper cushioning on the bottom of the foot will be uncomfortable when the studs hit your soles. The wrong size of shoe can cause painful blistering. Smelly shoes will make your roommates resent you. And ugly shoes aren’t a good way to impress the person you invited to watch your match and cheer you on from the sidelines.
Any of these factors can distract you, and mean the difference between winning or losing. But what’s worse, they can even cause pain and discomfort off the field. You don’t want to be feeling Saturday’s game on your heels by Wednesday!
That’s why it’s so important for the well-being of your feet to invest in a quality pair of ultimate frisbee cleats. If you love playing ultimate frisbee as much as we do, we hope you’ll also come to love your choice of ultimate frisbee cleats!
