To perform exceptionally in different games/sports, you must have their respective gear, including cleats, accessories, etc.
Every game has some similarities and dissimilarities as well. Sometimes, you can use cleats from one sport in another sport.
But can you do it in lacrosse? Can you use football cleats for lacrosse?
In simpler words, YES, you can use football cleats for lacrosse.
Football cleats are more similar than dissimilar to lacrosse cleats in terms of ankle support, traction, design, and some other things.
With that said, you also must remember that if you can afford them, you should always go for lacrosse cleats, as they are designed specifically for a particular sport.
What are the similarities and differences between football and lacrosse cleats? How long can football cleats do lacrosse cleats’ job? Let’s dive into the details.
Can I Use Football Cleats For Lacrosse? Or Other Cleats?
As stated above, you CAN wear football cleats for lacrosse. You won’t feel much difference between both at first.
Sports that involve constant running require extreme care. Every playground is built and tailored differently for different sports, and having the right pair of cleats perfect for both the field and sport is essential.
Lack of knowledge about this can lead to minor or sometimes significant foot and leg injuries. Plus, you don’t want to be left behind in the game, do you?
Although you can wear football cleats for lacrosse, first, you need to know the pros and cons of doing so. Hence, I will list some fundamental factors you should remember while buying cleats for yourself and whether football or lacrosse cleats fulfill those criteria.
Weight:
Obviously, the lighter the cleats, the better the performance. Weight is an essential factor when choosing the right cleats for yourself.
To make quick movements in the ground, the cleats need to be lightweight in both football and lacrosse, but to an extent.
Because the material which provides safety, such as ankle support, will add some extra weight to both cleats, but for the better of the players.
Both lacrosse and football cleats come in low, medium, and high-cut designs, with low-cut being the lightest.
Moreover, the hard material of football cleats also adds a bit of weight, but without making much of a difference between both.
In Weight: Football cleats: 1. & Lacrosse cleats: 1.
Ankle Support:
In the past, when lacrosse was less prevalent, there were so few cleat options to choose from. But, as it gained popularity, the options increased.
Like football, lacrosse cleats come in different types, with low, medium, and high-cut as the primary ones.
Ankle support in lacrosse cleats also increased over time, and today is almost the same as in football cleats, following a high demand of lacrosse players to increase ankle support.
Football cleats were already way ahead of lacrosse in ankle support, but today, they offer almost the same experience with minor/negligible differences.
In Ankle Support: Football cleats: 2. & Lacrosse cleats: 2.
Air Flow:
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing cleats. The amount of air that goes in and out of your cleats makes a big difference.
Lack of adequate airflow will make your feet sweaty while playing. The material of the cleats decides the inflow and outflow of air in the cleats.
Football cleats are comprised of materials such as hard plastic and leather. This makes the airflow difficult and reduces comfort relatively.
Meanwhile, lacrosse cleats are made up of softer fabric, thus, making the airflow easier and increasing cleat comfortability on the field.
However, remember that the rough and hard nature of football cleats allows football players to kick aggressively. In simpler words, football clears are unmatched in their game.
Anyways, in Airflow: Football cleats: 2. & Lacrosse cleats: 3.
Spike Design:
Both lacrosse and football cleats have spike patterns on the bottom of their soles, which are almost the same in both cleats.
These are also essential factors in cleats as they provide a good grip on the ground and support sudden movements. They can either be pointy or blunt.
Furthermore, the playgrounds of both games are grass and turf fields. That’s why the spike designs of both cleats are almost the same, with minor differences.
In Spike Design: Football cleats: 3. & Lacrosse cleats: 4.
Durability:
And last but not least, durability. Durability is essential in all types of cleats worldwide. Both football and lacrosse pay good attention to this factor.
But football cleats take the lead here. As stated earlier, lacrosse cleats are products of softer materials compared to football cleats. That was a pro; here’s the con.
However, softer materials make lacrosse cleats more comfortable but also less durable for apparent reasons.
The softer plastic cannot withstand harsh beatings and pressure like football cleats, which have more rigid and more durable material.
And in Durability: Football cleats: 4. & Lacrosse cleats: 4.
As you can see, in the end, both lacrosse and football cleats were equal in the criteria mentioned above. This will give you a better understanding of why you can use football cleats for lacrosse.
Let’s summarize it to make it even easier to understand.
| Football Cleats: More durability. Lightweight. Made up of more rigid solid materials for safety and aggression. Low-cut, medium-cut, and high-cut designs. | Lacrosse Cleats: More comfortability. Lightweight. Made up of softer material to be more comfortable and quick movements. Low-cut, medium-cut, and high-cut designs. |
Read | Can My Kid Wear Baseball Cleats For Soccer?
Pros Of Using Football Cleats For Lacrosse:
Affordable:
If you have a budget and want an all-rounder pair, you should go for football cleats. For the reasons mentioned above, it is better to use football cleats in lacrosse than to use lacrosse cleats in football.
However, if you can afford both of them, buying cleats for their respective sports is recommended.
No Breaking-In Problem:
If you know your cleats, you’ll be aware of breaking them in. You’ll also know how frustrating and, sometimes, painful it can be.
When you already have a broken-in pair of football cleats, you’ll skip the pain and simply get on with your game.
Cons Of Using Football Cleats For Lacrosse:
Other Players Might Not Be Wearing Football Cleats:
I said initially that it’s always better to buy specialized cleats for their respective sports.
Football cleats are made for football, and lacrosse cleats are for lacrosse. It’s as simple as that.
So, the players wearing lacrosse cleats will undoubtedly have the edge over your football cleats.
You can overcome this hurdle with your tactics, but if you want to leave no stone unturned, you need to consider this.
Overextension:
You bought football cleats for your football ventures, and now you are using them for lacrosse, too. Though they have a more rigid material, there’s a limit to everything, right?
Moreover, if your football cleats are overextended, their health will deteriorate, affecting your football game performance.
That’s why you can use football cleats for lacrosse for a while, but you’ll need to buy a pair of lacrosse cleats sooner or later. So start saving now.
Read | Are Black Soccer Cleats Hotter?
FAQs:
What Kind Of Cleats Can You Use For Lacrosse?
You can use football cleats for lacrosse, as you read above. Besides them, baseball cleats would also be a good choice.
Can You Wear Soccer Cleats For Lacrosse?
Yes, you can wear soccer cleats for lacrosse. But they won’t be as effective as football or baseball cleats, and of course, lacrosse cleats, like they won’t have the same spike design and less ankle support.
Are Lacrosse Cleats Different From Other Cleats:
There are some differences between lacrosse and other cleats. The spike design of lacrosse cleats is slightly different than others, with an extra spike at the front and the back.
What Cleats Are Most Similar To Lacrosse Cleats?
Cleats that are most similar to lacrosse cleats are football cleats. Their spike design, durability, ankle support, weight, and other features are almost identical.
Is It Beneficial To Play Lacrosse In Football Cleats?
Yes and no. They are beneficial in lacrosse, but to an extent. Football cleats are NOT considered to be that much beneficial in lacrosse, and experts’ advice is to stick with lacrosse cleats for lacrosse.
Final Thoughts:
Now that you have made it this far, you’d have understood the whole point of this article. Let me summarize the whole thing for you.
Can you use football cleats for lacrosse? Yes, you can. Football cleats offer almost the same experience as lacrosse cleats, but sooner or later, you’ll have to switch to lacrosse cleats to maximize your performance.
I hope my little effort helps you. Let me know your thoughts and insights in the comments. Thank you.
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