We rate fit editorially. For each model and version we give a score for every fit problem, and those scores come from manufacturer information, fit notes from stores and what players report. We have not measured the cleats ourselves, and we state that plainly. The method was last adjusted on November 7, 2026, and every later change gets a date. Who is behind it is on our about page.
What do the scores from 0 to 3 mean?
Each version of a model gets a score from 0 to 3 for five fit problems: wide foot, high instep, narrow foot, flat foot and kids. A high score for wide foot is not a general quality rating.
- 0: does not suit this problem. Such a cleat does not appear in the cleat finder when you pick this problem as your main complaint.
- 1: suits it with limits, for example a wide forefoot but a low toe box.
- 2: suits it well.
- 3: suits it very well and is among the best choices for that problem in our ratings.
For a very wide foot a score of at least 2 on wide is needed. Laceless versions get a 0 for wide and instep, because there is little to adjust, unless the user allows laceless.
What do forefoot, instep and heel on a scale of 5 mean?
The tables also show three display scores from 1 to 5: forefoot, instep volume and heel. The higher the number, the roomier that part of the cleat.
These describe the shape and are not fit judgments on their own, which is why they sit apart from the scores from 0 to 3.
Which sources count the most?
We use sources in a fixed order of reliability. Our own measurements would count most, but we have none. Next come independent fit tests, then store guides, then the manufacturer.
A maker or store has an interest in selling the cleat, and an independent tester has none. If sources conflict, we go with the strongest one.
What happens when sources disagree?
Sources sometimes disagree, for instance on the adidas Predator, the Puma Future and the New Balance Tekela. Then we name the conflict, give our choice with the reason and mark the score as uncertain.
Each score can carry an uncertainty flag, set when a judgment rests on one source, on reviews or store text, or on our own inference. Uncertain scores count for less in the finder.
What is the tier rule?
Cleats come in tiers: a top model, a second, a third and an entry model. Names differ by brand, such as Elite, Pro, Academy and Club at Nike, or Ultimate, Pro, Match and Play at Puma. We have not rated every tier separately, so we use a rule to derive scores.
Lower tiers often share the last with the top model but have a thicker, stiffer upper that feels tighter. So for a lower tier we subtract half a point on wide and instep when the upper is thicker and there is no separate tongue.
If a lower tier has a separate tongue where the top model has a knit tongue or no laces, it gets half a point extra. The editors can override any derived score. A version that is not yet rated never appears in the top 3 of the finder.
How do we measure foot width in the finder?
When you enter a measurement, we divide your width by your length and sort your foot as narrow, standard, wide or very wide. Those limits are a working hypothesis, so you see a class with an explanation, not only a number. The steps are in how to measure foot width.
What do we not do?
We do not measure cleats ourselves. We publish no millimeters presented as measured, and we show an inner width only when a real measurement exists.
We do not sell positions, so no brand or store can pay for a higher spot. We do not show user reviews and do not invent them. We do not diagnose or give medical advice, so for pain, see a podiatrist. We do not move dates: the date on a rating is the date we really adjusted it.
How do we earn money?
We earn a commission when you buy through a link to Amazon. It costs you nothing extra. See our affiliate disclosure.
What has changed and when?
If we change the finder weights, the tier rule or a score definition, we add the date here and say what changed. If a rating does not match your experience, write to us through the contact page with the subject “Fit is wrong”.