One thing that every soccer player dreads is watching their precious pair of boots rip apart. It often begins as a small cut and eventually expands as you continue to use the boots.
If you do nothing, it may deteriorate to the point where the soles of the soccer cleats will separate from the upper. Most reviews say a soccer cleat should last anywhere from 5 to 6 months before ripping.
Well, there are so many factors that affect how fast your soccer cleats will last before ripping. However, the quality of the soccer cleats and how often you use them are some of the key factors that will determine how soon they will begin to rip.
Also, wearing the wrong pair of soccer cleats (whether too tight or too loose) will facilitate how fast they will spoil. If you have invested so much money to purchase your dream soccer cleats, you should spend some time learning how to preserve them too.
While every soccer cleat will eventually rip apart no matter how careful you are, we are going to share tips that will prevent that from happening any time soon. The aim of this post is to make sure that your soccer cleats outlast the price you paid for them.
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How to prevent soccer cleats from ripping?
The first step towards preventing your soccer cleats from ripping is to purchase the right pair. When you use soccer cleats that are smaller than your feet, your feet push against the seams causing them to expand and eventually get weaker.
Eventually, the pressure will cause the glue or threads to lose their bond causing the two layers to rip apart. Also, proper boot care can prevent the early development of rips on your boots.
A simple practice like wiping your boots clean with a towel after a game can help to prevent the need for more rigorous cleaning in the long run. Inasmuch as more rigorous cleaning can help to keep your boots clean, they can be more harmful to the boot material than simple cleaning.
When cleaning your soccer cleats, it is also important to make use of cleaning agents that are friendly to the material of the soccer cleats. For example, if you are wearing soccer cleats that are made of leather, always use leather cleaning agents for them.
Ironically, a lot of soccer players ruin their cleats during the cleaning process by either applying too much pressure or using the wrong cleaning agent. Below are some of the important tips that can prevent your soccer cleats from ripping.
Method 1: Get a second pair of soccer cleats
If you have spent a huge amount of money on a high-end pair of boots, the last thing that you would want to see is rips on them.
Since how often you use your soccer cleats can affect how soon rips will begin to appear on them, it makes sense to get a second pair of soccer cleats that are not as expensive as the first.
Then, you can use your cheaper pair for training games and use your high-end pair for official games. This will reduce the amount of torture that you subject the boots to and extend their shelf life.
Pros
- Using a second pair of boots takes away pressure from the first
Cons
- It can strain your budget
Method 2: Using boots on the right surface
Using a pair of soccer cleats on hard surfaces can facilitate their spoilage. Soccer pitches are usually designed to have soft surfaces but that cannot be said about some training grounds.
To minimize the wear on your soccer cleats, it is always advisable to use them on a suitable surface. Where you must train on hard surfaces, using a second pair of soccer boots will not be a bad idea.
For example, when you play on a hard surface, it will be wise to get a pair of boots designed for such a surface (HG cleats or Hard Ground Cleats). If they should rip apart during use, you will at least have a warranty cover to have them returned.
Some people wear their boots from their home and walk to the training ground and this is totally not cool. This may wear down your studs making the boots less comfortable.
Always pack your boots in a bag and wear them only when you get to the training ground.
Read more: Can You Use Soccer Cleats on Turf?
Pros
- Help to improve your performance
Cons
- Limits how you use your boots
Method 3: Keep the boots dry before storing
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Last update on 2023-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Soccer is a versatile sport that can be played on almost any surface and weather. Sometimes, you are either forced to play in the rain or the rain starts during a game.
Whether the boots get wet from playing in the rain or from cleaning, it is always important to make sure that they are dried properly and naturally before storing.
Boots don’t like staying wet. When boots stay wet for too long, molds may start growing on the seams or the glue holding different parts together forces them to break down faster.
When it comes to drying, it is always important to dry the boots naturally. Keeping the boots under the sun or close to an open flame will cause the glue to deteriorate faster. See all the ways to dry soccer cleats here.
Store your boots in a cool and dry area and away from direct sunlight or extreme weather conditions.
Pros
- Improves the lifespan of the soccer cleats
Cons
- Cleaning and drying can lead to more stress
Method 4: Don’t try to hack your boots
When you search through the Internet, you will find lots of hacks that you can perform on your soccer cleats including not so appealing break in techniques.
When you alter your boots including painting or putting holes on the boots—as some professional soccer players usually do—you will end up fast-tracking their deterioration.
Using boots how you bought them and according to the manufacturer’s instructions can help prevent the development of rips.
Pros
- Prevents voiding the warranty of the boots
Cons
- You will miss the feel of customizing your boots
Method 5: Reinforce the seams
Check most soccer cleats and you will discover that the rip usually starts at the layer between the upper and the soles. Reinforcing the seams with glue will help to prevent rip from occurring on the soccer cleats in this area.
All you need to do is put a thin layer of glue along the seams of the soccer cleats. Line it on the area that is prone to rips and even it out with a white piece of paper.
Allow the glue up to 3 hours to dry properly before using the boots.
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Last update on 2023-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Can prolong the development of rips on soccer cleats
Cons
- Glue may get messy on the soccer cleat if not properly applied
Method 6: Break in cleats before actual use
It is always recommended that you break in new cleats before actually using them. Breaking in new boots helps to soften the material and form the cleats around your feet thereby making it less painful to use.
Breaking in new soccer cleats is not only useful to the player but also helpful for the cleats. The break in process allows the material of the soccer cleats to expand gradually rather than rapidly.
Rips in most materials are usually due to rapid and uneven expansion between different materials. In summary, break in allows for gradual and even expansion so that your cleats are not harmed when you take them out for the big game.
Pros
- There are so many break in techniques to choose from
Cons
- Break in is a time-consuming process
Conclusion
When it comes to preventing soccer cleats from ripping, it all boils down to how sensible you are. Also, you need to ask yourself why do you want the boots to last longer?
Is it because you don’t want to spend more or because you love that particular design that you want to keep them for as long as possible? Knowing the reason for preserving your boots will give you a deeper sense of purpose.
Make sure you buy the original pair of soccer cleats. Fake soccer cleats may be cheap but their durability is usually flawed and they are more prone to ripping than original soccer cleats.
Following these simple tips will help to preserve your soccer cleats and prevent the development of ugly rips on your soccer cleats. Most importantly, it will help you to maximize the soccer cleats and use it far beyond the price that you paid for them.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!