Fast soccer cleats are the light, thin speed models from Nike, adidas, Puma and Mizuno, and nearly all of them run narrow. If you have a wide foot, go for a more forgiving speed model or a cleat built on a wider last.
Softer upper and deeper lacing than the Elite, so the cleat opens up a bit more for wider feet.
Lots of room in the forefoot with a high toe box and an upper that stretches. The fit is medium to wide.
Fast soccer cleats are the light, thin speed models such as the Nike Mercurial, the adidas F50 and the Puma Ultra. They are built for a snug fit and a direct feel on the ball, which is exactly why they run narrow. If you have a wide foot, there are a few more forgiving speed models and some alternatives with more room.
Grip is a separate question, because the word means two different things. Below we explain what we can tell you and what we can’t, without pretending to have measurements we don’t.
The best-known speed lines are the Nike Mercurial Vapor and Superfly, the adidas F50 Hyperfast, the Puma Ultra and, from Mizuno, the Morelia Neo and the Alpha. New Balance has the Furon. All of them are light, with a thin upper that is often mesh or knit.
Lightweight soccer cleats cover a wide range of weights. For the adidas F50 EVO, our sources list about 130 grams, the lowest figure we found. That number comes from manufacturer and retailer information. We didn’t weigh anything ourselves.
Traction underfoot depends mostly on wearing the right soleplate for your surface: FG, AG, MG or TF. A fast cleat with the wrong soleplate holds worse than an ordinary cleat with the right one. In a lab study on natural grass, FG showed a higher traction demand than AG and TF, so more grip isn’t automatically better.
Grip on the ball comes from the upper. According to the manufacturers, the F50 has a grip coating, the Puma Ultra has GripControl and the Predator has grip elements. We haven’t found any independent measurement that ranks models on grip, so we can’t name one model as the grippiest. For choosing a soleplate, see FG vs AG cleats.
Speed models are built on a deliberately narrow last with low volume and a pointed toe box. In its comparison tests, a well-known review site calls the Nike Superfly the narrowest cleat, and Nike itself describes the Mercurial as a snug fit and suggests half a size up for a looser feel. The Puma Ultra has a heel that can pinch below the Achilles tendon, and the F50 has a tapered midfoot that is its most limiting spot.
The laceless versions of any speed model are the worst choice for a wide foot or a high instep. If your foot is narrow, though, these models feel great. See soccer cleats for narrow feet.
If you want speed but have a wider foot, these are the more forgiving options in our sources. The adidas F50 Hyperfast EVO has a softer upper and deeper lacing, and the F50 Messi has the most midfoot room of all the F50 models. The Mizuno Alpha III is roomier in the forefoot than you would expect from a speed model, although it still fits snug. The New Balance Furon is the widest speed cleat in its class, but it isn’t for truly wide feet.
If you don’t want to give up the quickness of a light cleat but still want comfort, look at a wider last. The Puma Future 9 has plenty of forefoot width and some stretch, and the Nike Phantom 6 has a wider toe box and heel than any Mercurial. Strictly speaking they aren’t speed models, but they are agile. For the full ranking, see our best soccer cleats for wide feet.
Always try on a speed model in your game socks, then go up on your toes to check that your heel stays down. Don’t size up to make up for the narrow last. That buys you length, not width.
If you are torn between these models, let the cleat advisor build a shortlist from your foot measurements. If you feel pain in your forefoot or toes, see a podiatrist, and read soccer cleats that are too tight.
Speed models come from Nike (Mercurial), adidas (F50), Puma (Ultra), Mizuno (Morelia Neo and Alpha) and New Balance (Furon). Traction underfoot depends mostly on having the right soleplate for your surface. Grip on the ball comes from the upper.
We haven't found any independent measurement. Pick the soleplate that matches your field, and look for a grip coating or grip elements on the upper. In one lab study on natural grass, FG showed a higher traction demand than AG and TF.
Speed models with a thin upper and minimal material, such as the Mercurial, F50 and Ultra. They run narrow. According to our sources, the adidas F50 EVO is the lightest we came across, at about 130 grams.
In our sources, the Puma King 20 Ultimate, Mizuno Morelia II, Nike Phantom 6 and Skechers SKX_2 Elite come up as the widest premium models. Strictly speaking, none of them are speed models. Check each model's fit rating for the details.
Wide models include the Nike Phantom 6, the Puma King 20 and the adidas Copa. Speed models mostly run narrow. The F50 EVO and New Balance Furon are more forgiving, but not for truly wide feet.