Football boots used to come in one style and colour. Nowadays, you can get a variety of boot styles in almost any colour. The days of every player wearing black boots are over, but that doesn’t mean you should go out and buy the newest, most colourful pair of Nike or Adidas boots on the market.

One of the biggest problems young players make is they rush out to buy a pair of boots without considering the consequences of wearing them. Picking the wrong boots could lead to injury or poor play. Here are some things to consider before buying a new pair of boots.

Pick the right boot for the surface

The surface you play on is one of the big deciding factors in choosing boots. If you wear the wrong style of boots on the wrong surface, you will be useless on the pitch.

Be sure you research the type of surfaces your boots can be worn on before buying them.

What type of player are you?

Your position or style of play dictates the boots you should wear. Speedy players will want lightweight boots. If you play in defence or midfield, you may want boots with more foot protection.

Before splurging £150 on a pair of Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature Nike boots, think about your position. If you are a defensive midfielder, you may want to reconsider your purchase.

Don’t be afraid

A lot of footballers don’t like switching their boot brands. Many players stick with the same brand or style for years and maybe even their entire careers.

You shouldn’t be afraid to switch your brand because you could find something you really like. A new brand of boots could even improve your game.

Research

There are more styles than ever when it comes to boots. Puma King, Adidas Copa Mundial, Nike Tiempo, and many more are on the market. In fact, the three that were just listed are three more traditional styles that have been on the market for decades.

Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, Under Armour, and other companies have a number of new designs that hit the market each year. If they aren’t brand new designs they are updated ones.

You should research the boots you want to buy before purchasing them. Get all the details on the boots you can to decide if they are your best option for you.