For the best 3G football boots you usually choose an AG soleplate. On short-pile astro TF often suits better, and if you want one pair that also works on grass, MG is the compromise.
Selected with the same logic as the boot advisor, from the boots we rated.
Leather forefoot, U-shaped throat and deep lacing: a roomy and adjustable fit.
Official wide fit version
Mizuno describes this version as wide fit, with soft synthetic leather and a light build.
Kangaroo leather, a separate tongue, deep lacing and a wider last. Suits both wide and narrow feet.
Official wide fit version
Good width in the midfoot and forefoot, with a low and pointed toe box. A 2E version exists.
Wide throughout the boot with a high toe box. The last is roomy in the forefoot and also suits a flat midfoot.
For the best 3G football boots you will in most cases choose an AG soleplate. AG stands for artificial ground and has shorter, often rounded studs that spread the pressure. If you play on short-pile astro with sand or on hard surfaces, TF often suits better.
Below you can read how AG, FG, MG and TF differ, what the research on studs says and what to check when you buy. If you have a wide foot, carry on to wide fit astro turf football boots. The list at the top of this page shows the five best scoring models in an AG soleplate.
AG is made for modern artificial pitches with a long pile, wet or dry. It is the default if you mostly train and play on artificial pitches, which is true of a lot of grassroots players.
TF stands for turf: many small rubber studs on a flatter, cushioned soleplate. It is made for short-pile pitches with sand, old astro, small training areas and hard surfaces. On long-pile artificial pitches you slide more easily when accelerating and braking.
MG stands for multi-ground and is made for natural grass and artificial pitches, with short, often hollow studs. You use one pair for the match on grass and training on a 3G. It stays a compromise, with less grip in deep mud than an FG.
You can, but it is not what the soleplate is made for. If you regularly play on both surfaces, MG is the intended solution. If you switch every week between grass and a 3G, two pairs (FG and AG) are the cleanest choice.
The reverse holds too: according to retailer and review sources, FG on an artificial pitch gives too much grip when you turn, faster wear and, with some brands, a risk of losing the warranty. Check the rules of the ground as well, because a label such as FG/AG does not override a ban on bladed studs. On Puma, FG/AG is a hybrid that mostly leans towards FG.
There is little hard evidence. A lab study with 14 players on natural grass showed that FG studs gave a higher horizontal ground reaction force and more traction demand than AG and TF. The authors infer that the risk of non-contact injuries may be higher, but that was not measured.
We found no study that compares injuries per stud type. Injury research compares artificial pitches with grass, and the findings on ankle injuries contradict each other. So do not draw a conclusion about your own injury risk from this lab study, but treat it as a reason to match the soleplate to the surface.
Many clubs and ground operators ban metal studs on artificial pitches, so ask your club or league. SG studs are long and often metal, made for soft, muddy natural grass. They do not belong on an artificial pitch. For the whole range of codes, see our guide to which soleplate to choose, and read about football boots with metal studs.
The soleplate type decides which version you can buy, not which model you choose. An AG version does not exist in every colourway, and junior versions of the lower tiers are often only MG, TF or indoor. So filter by surface first and look at fit second.
The soleplate says little about how wide the boot is. For that, measure your foot, as set out in our guide to how to measure your foot width. Boots wear faster on artificial pitches than on grass, so factor that into your budget. Let the football boot adviser work out which model suits you, with an artificial pitch as the surface.
For an ordinary playing week: natural grass needs FG, modern long-pile 3G needs AG, short-pile astro needs TF and a mix of both needs MG. Indoor floors have a soleplate of their own. If in doubt, choose the soleplate for the pitch where you spend the most hours.
If you also play five-a-side indoors, see indoor football boots for wide feet, and for the broader picture on boots for wide feet read the best football boots for wide feet.
For modern long-pile 3G the answer is usually boots with an AG soleplate. For short-pile sand-dressed astro, TF often suits better. Which model you pick then depends on your foot width.
Choose the soleplate first: AG for long pile, TF for short pile and hard surfaces, MG if you also play on grass. Then filter on fit. An AG version does not exist for every model.
On astro that is AG or TF, and MG as a compromise for grass and artificial pitches. FG boots give more grip when you turn on an artificial pitch and wear faster.
You can, but the soleplate is not made for it. If you play on both surfaces regularly, MG is the intended solution. If you switch every week, two pairs (FG and AG) are the cleanest answer.
TF stands for turf, a soleplate with many small rubber studs, meant for short-pile sand-dressed pitches, old artificial pitches and hard surfaces. On long-pile 3G you slide more easily when accelerating.
AG stands for artificial ground. The studs are shorter and often round, so the pressure spreads on modern long-pile artificial pitches.
MG stands for multi-ground. The boot has short, often hollow studs for natural grass and artificial pitches. It is a compromise with less grip in deep mud.