Do FG cleats really work on artificial turf?

Today we want to join a debate that everyone has tried to put an end to, without really reaching a conclusion that's fully agreed on: are FG boots suitable for playing on artificial turf?

03 July 2022 - Written by Laura Arriero

First of all, for the newer people, let's clarify what an FG boot is: a boot for firm ground, prepared for firm natural grass. For soft ground (mud, rain etc...), we have the SG football boots, (soft ground) and for artificial grass the brands for many years have developed the technologies of the sole, and have adapted it to the artificial grass fields arriving to the AG sole (artificial grass).

blog-cesped-artificial-campo.webp

So let's look at the key aspects to explain why it is not recommended to use FG outsoles on artificial turf and what alternatives we have. 

Adaptability

Focusing on the adaptability of the soles to the pitch, then the best we can recommend is that, if you play on artificial grass, you should use artificial grass football boots, which will be the most suitable in this case. However, for cases where you play on both natural and artificial grass, we have boots that combine FG/AG soles. These boots combine both soles and are therefore suitable for use on both pitches. We have several of them, but one of the current ones that work best in this situation are the Puma Future football boots.

post-botas-tacos-fg-ag-future.webp

The mix of semi-conical studs gives a perfect grip on both surfaces, and the traction on both terrains is very good. But if that wasn't enough, Puma has also launched the FG/AG sole for its other boot model, the Puma Ultra football boots

post-tacos-fg-ag-puma-ultra.webp

One of the most aggressive tractions on the market also adapted to artificial turf, with micro-grains in the toe that will help maximum acceleration. A good choice from the German brand. 

Traction

In addition to the adaptability, another detail is the traction of the sole on the pitch, an FG sole has much more traction and digs much more into the pitch than an AG boot. What happens then is that on a natural grass pitch the force of our foot digging in will have a continuity in the ground, which we will not have on an artificial grass pitch, as there is no ground underneath. Therefore, this force will remain in our joints and can cause slight injuries or unnecessary discomfort if we do not have the right footwear for the pitch.

blog-fg-en-cesped-artificial-mbappe.webp

Therefore, as it is a stiffer pitch, it is advisable to have less traction, a less aggressive tread and in this way we will have the same grip without the risk of injury. At this point the AG versions from Nike are a great alternative, as they offer great traction without losing the spirit of the sole, as we see for example in the AG models of the Nike Mercurial football boots. 

post-botas-tacos-fg-ag-nike.webp


Conclusion

So, is it possible to play on artificial grass with an FG sole, the short answer is no, the long answer is that it depends. Artificial grass pitches have evolved a lot, and we have last generation pitches where both the tread and the grip is practically identical to that of a natural pitch and therefore, we will hardly notice any difference and we will play well with an FG sole. However, on normal 1st and 2nd generation artificial pitches we DO NOT RECOMMEND playing with FG studs, the boots will last much less and you will also be exposed to injuries. In these cases, opt for an AG football boot that will surely work wonders for you. 

And this is the end of the debate, you know, if you want to play in the best way, choose correctly your boot for the pitch where you usually play. This way you won't notice any differences between models and also the boots will last much longer. And in case you still have any doubts, we leave you with the definitive guide of the types of soles for all the current football pitches. 

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