Baseball is a demanding sport and requires players to have the right equipment in order to play. Your helmet is important, your gloves are necessary, comfortable clothing is strongly encouraged. Last but not least, your cleats are extremely crucial. Unless you plan on walking around on the field all day, you’ll need a great pair of cleats that fit you well so you can play your very best. But what exactly makes a great pair of baseball cleats? That’s what we’ll be teaching you today. The most important things to consider are the different parts of a baseball cleat, type of cleat, the right cut length, and finding the right fit. And the key to a great pair of cleats is finding the right balance between all the qualities you want most. So with that said, let’s learn how to choose baseball cleats!

How to Choose Baseball Cleats Infographic

How to Choose Baseball Cleats: In-Depth

Step 1: Discover the Anatomy

1. Cut length - Cleats come in either low-cuts or mid-cuts. Low-cuts allow more mobility while mid-cuts offer more support and protection
2. Eyelets - Holes on the eyestay keeps the laces in place
3. Lacing - Laces are ubiquitous as they allow the most adjustment, although some mid-tops can have ankle straps
4. Upper - Very tough and rugged upper, most often made of leather or synthetic leather
5. Toe cap - Prevents wear on the toe while running and pivoting
6. Ventilation holes - Provides some breathability for when the heat gets high
7. Tongue - Thin but slightly padded for comfort while remaining breathable
8. Padded collar - Helps to provide comfort and secure the foot in place
9. Heel counter - A rigid-often plastic-insert behind the heel that reinforces the heel cup and increases support; helps lock in the foot
10. Heel cushioning - Some cleats may have additional heel cushioning for added shock absorption
11. Insole - What your feet will rest on, provides comfort and orthotic support. Some may be removable so you can add your own
12. Midsole - What lies between the insole and outsole, provides cushioning and is thicker in the heel for running
13. Plate - Often made of a hard, durable TPU plastic, keeps studs in place and is highly resistant to wear from running on dirt
14. Studs - Most cleats will use metal studs to help dig into the ground, although molded plastic studs are also used (more often in youth leagues)

Step 2: Pick the Right Type of Cleat

Now, every pair of baseball cleats will have studs attached to the bottom of the sole. They’re also called spikes or just plain ol’ cleats, and help provide proper traction as you’re running, catching, or whatever else you might be doing out on the field. While cleats with studs are either metal or molded plastic, there are specific baseball shoes without studs that are used for turf or practice.

Metal

Best for: Hard dirt, compact grass, high competition play

Metal studs provide amazing traction on hard dirt or compact grass since the studs are thinner when compared to molded studs, allowing them to penetrate ground with ease. They are only used in high competition leagues such as high school or college baseball, but are not allowed in youth leagues or artificial turf due to the potential for injury or ruining the field. Another downside is that metal cleats are often more expensive.

Molded plastic

Best for: Soft or muddy fields, youth leagues

Molded plastic studs are cheaper and more durable than metal ones, but don’t provide as much traction. They are also more forgiving and comfortable, which appeals to a lot of players just starting off or play for recreation. They are often used in soft or muddy conditions or in youth leagues.

Turf

Best for: Practice, training, artificial turf

Turf shoes are often used for practice or training (and can also be used on artificial turf)as they are more comfortable and won’t wear out the field like cleats would. That’s because turf shoes have small rubber studs on the bottom of the sole, which aren’t as prominent. Of course, the lack of studs also means that turf shoes don’t perform as well as cleats.

*NOTE ON STUD LENGTH*

When learning how to choose baseball cleats, you’ll want to think about stud length as well. The length of the stud is important depending on what type of field you’re playing on as well as weather conditions. Generally, shorter studs work on hard surfaces as they don’t dig into the ground as much. On the other hand, longer studs work well in softer fields although they aren’t as stable. Some cleats also have interchangeable studs where you can swap out studs for different lengths depending on your needs.

Player Position

Another important factor to consider is what position you’ll be playing on the field. That’s because certain positions will require cleats with specific qualities in order to perform well.

Baseball cleats for infielders - If you’ll be playing in the infield, you’ll have your choice between metal and plastic cleats. Metal cleats are best for dense and compact ground, while plastic studs are better for the opposite, as sand and mud can build up on the bottom of plastic sole fairly easily.

Baseball cleats for outfielders - Outfielders often use metal cleats, as grass is soft compared to the dirt infield, and metal provides better traction in this case.

Baseball cleats for pitchers - Pitchers require cleats that have great traction and stability. That means metal studs are optimal as they stick into the ground really well.

Step 3: Choose the Best Cut Length

Baseball cleats come in either low-tops or mid-tops. The length you choose will determine how much mobility or support and protection you’ll have on the field.

Low-tops - Allows the most mobility at the cost of support and protection. Best for pitchers and players who will run a lot.

Mid-tops - Mid-tops provide a good amount of support and protection and are best for players who want more lateral support. However, they don’t provide as much mobility as low-tops

Step 4: Find the Right Fit

Fit and comfort will be your top priorities when learning how to choose baseball cleats. Having comfortable shoes to work with ups your game exponentially. Can you imagine playing with cleats that hurt when you run or rub against your Achilles heel? Most people can’t. So, how exactly should you size baseball cleats?

Signs of a Perfect Fit

• Snug fit (no more than a finger width of space) and a properly fitting heel that doesn’t lift
• No pain, discomfort, or pressure points from the studs
• The perfect amount of ankle support, flexibility, and cushioning

Tips on Fitting Baseball Cleats

• Wear socks you intend to play with and shop in the afternoon for an accurate fit
• Try walking, running, and stretching in cleats to ensure they are comfortable
• Consider whether cleats will stretch. Real leathers stretch, synthetics don’t
• Try on different sizes of cleats to find the most comfortable ones
• Newer cleats should fit snug at first. They might feel tight at first but will break in over time
• Velcro straps are quick and easy to adjust while laces allow for the best custom fit