Laceless soccer cleats are usually not a good choice for wide feet. You cannot adjust the fit, and most laceless models run narrow to medium with a low instep. If you have a wide foot or a high instep, pick a cleat with laces and a separate tongue instead.
Below you will read why, which laceless cleats do the least harm and what you can do if you want laceless anyway. Measure your foot first with the foot width guide, or use the cleat finder to see laced alternatives.
Are laceless soccer cleats suitable for wide feet?
Mostly not. On a regular cleat you can lace the instep looser or the midfoot tighter, on a laceless cleat everything is fixed. If the cleat has too little room for your forefoot or instep, there is nothing you can do about it.
On top of that, most laceless models have a low instep height and run narrow to medium. For wide feet, a high instep and flat feet, laceless is discouraged in the sources. Our data on the adidas Copa Pure IV Laceless rates the instep room at the bottom of the scale, and the same holds for the Predator Laceless. For a more detailed look at pressure on the top of the foot, see soccer cleats for a high instep.
Why is laceless bad for a high instep?
A high instep is a volume problem. You need room on top of the foot, and with laces you can create it with a window lacing or a separate tongue. With laceless you only have the stretch of the material.
A laceless cleat with knit or a tightly knit collar adapts a little, but springs back. If you have this problem, our guide to how to lace soccer cleats shows what you can do with a laced cleat.
How do laceless soccer cleats fit?
It differs per model, but a few patterns come back in the sources:
- The adidas Copa Pure IV Laceless runs long, half a size down, and is not meant for a wide foot or a high instep.
- The adidas Predator Laceless sits close to the regular version, with a weaker heel lock. It is not for wide feet or a high instep.
- The F50 Laceless is even narrower than the regular F50.
- The Puma Ultra laceless variants have the same fit as the regular one, but with less lockdown.
See how adidas cleats fit for the brand’s sizing logic.
What are the alternatives to laceless soccer cleats?
Choose a cleat with laces and a separate tongue. That gives the most adjustability. There are also models between laces and laceless.
- Fold-over tongue: the adidas Predator FT gives more toe box room and a looser midfoot than the regular Predator Elite.
- Laces with a separate tongue: the laced Copa Pure IV, the King Platinum and the Mizuno Morelia are examples.
- A lower tier with laces: on the Copa Pure IV, the League with laces is a better choice than the Elite Laceless if you have wide feet.
On the page about adidas wide soccer cleats you can see which models those are.
When can laceless soccer cleats work?
Laceless can work if your foot is standard width, has a low to medium instep and you notice during fitting that there is no pressure anywhere. Try them on in a store, or order with a return option. Keep in mind that the size has to be exactly right, because you cannot adjust anything.
If a laceless cleat is tight somewhere the first time, do not wait for it to stretch. Synthetic and knit barely stretch. Read leather or synthetic for wide feet for the alternative.
How do you try on laceless soccer cleats?
Try them on at the end of the day, in the socks you play in. Watch for pressure on top of your foot, on the sides of the forefoot and on the heel. Also check that your toes lie free. If there is pressure in the store already, it will not get better.
What if you already own laceless cleats and they pinch?
Try thinner socks, and look at where the pressure sits. If it is on the instep or forefoot and it continues after several sessions, the cleat is not suitable. Do not play through pain. See a podiatrist or your doctor if complaints last longer than a few weeks. More in what to do when soccer cleats pinch.