How to choose soccer turf shoes
What makes a turf shoe, how it differs from cleats and indoor shoes, and how to get the size right.
What a turf shoe is
A turf shoe is a soccer shoe with a flat rubber outsole covered in many small, low studs. It's made for artificial turf, the surface most small-sided and rec games are played on. Cleats have fewer, longer studs, made to dig into natural grass.
Turf, cleats or indoor
| Shoe | Sole | Made for |
|---|---|---|
| Turf | Many small rubber studs | Artificial turf |
| Cleats | Fewer, longer studs | Natural grass |
| Indoor | Flat rubber, no studs | Gym floors and courts |
Some fields set their own rules about footwear, so check before you play somewhere new.
What to look at
- Upper. Leather shapes to your foot as you wear it and needs some care. Synthetic uppers need less upkeep. Pick the feel you like on the ball.
- Outsole. Look at how the studs are laid out and how much the sole flexes where your foot bends.
- Fit. It should hold your midfoot without pinching and leave a little room past your longest toe.
- Socks. Try shoes on with the socks you play in, since a thicker sock changes the fit.
How to find your size
Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe and measure from the wall to the mark, in centimeters. Measure both feet and use the longer one. Then find that length in the table below. Between two sizes? Take the longer one, so there's room for your sock.
| US men's | EU | UK | Foot (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 38.5 | 5.5 | 24 |
| 6.5 | 39 | 6 | 24.5 |
| 7 | 40 | 6 | 25 |
| 7.5 | 40.5 | 6.5 | 25.5 |
| 8 | 41 | 7 | 26 |
| 8.5 | 42 | 7.5 | 26.5 |
| 9 | 42.5 | 8 | 27 |
| 9.5 | 43 | 8.5 | 27.5 |
| 10 | 44 | 9 | 28 |
| 10.5 | 44.5 | 9.5 | 28.5 |
| 11 | 45 | 10 | 29 |
| 11.5 | 45.5 | 10.5 | 29.5 |
| 12 | 46 | 11 | 30 |
This is the size run of the MEGZ Turf Kicks. Other brands can fit differently.
Our take: the MEGZ Turf Kicks
A full-grain leather upper with a suede toe cap and heel counter, raised ribs on the inner side, and a semi-translucent rubber outsole with round studs. Specifications reflect the current design and may be refined before release.
$98, on pre-order. Ships in January 2027. See the Turf Kicks.