Firm ground, turf or indoor: which kids' football shoes match the pitch?

Start with the surface your child plays on. The product name carries it.

• Firm Ground and Multi Ground (FG/MG): adidas describes the Predator Club FG/MG outsole for dry natural grass, artificial grass and dirt pitches. The Nike Jr. Mercurial Vapor 16 Club MG has plastic plates with moulded studs for real grass and artificial grass.
• Turf: a rubber outsole for artificial turf, as on the adidas Predator Club Turf and the Nike Jr. Mercurial Superfly 10 Club Turf.
• Indoor and IC: a rubber outsole. Nike lists its Club IC shoes for street, court and indoor surfaces, and the adidas Deportivo III Indoor is designed for indoor courts.

Laces, strap or laceless: which closure is easier for a child?

Most pairs use classic laces. In the smaller sizes there are easier options. The adidas Predator Club Hook And Loop and the F50 Hyperfast Club Velcro are FG/MG boots in sizes 28 to 32. The Predator Club Fold-Over Tongue Elastic Laces has elastic laces. The F50 Messi League Laceless comes in sizes 28 to 35. Nike describes the Jr. Phantom GX 2 Club indoor shoe as a no-tie shoe.

Which brands and sizes are on this page?

The page carries adidas, Nike, Puma, Under Armour and Skechers. Sizes run from 24 to 38 2/3 across the range. Most adidas Club boots start at 28 or 31 1/2 and go up to 38 2/3. Most Nike Jr. Club pairs run from 32 to 38 1/2. The Puma Attacanto FG/AG Jr starts at size 24.

If your child is starting out and plays on more than one kind of pitch, start with a Club boot in FG/MG. See all kids' football gear, the Predator and F50 ranges, or kids' indoor shoes.