Heel slip in football boots is usually fixable: a heel lock knot, grip socks and a boot with a firmer heel counter all help. More often than not the cause is a boot that is too long, or a last that is too roomy for your heel. It is a familiar problem for players with a wide forefoot and a narrow heel.
Below we set out the causes and the fixes side by side. For the basics, start with how football boots should fit.
Heel slip in football boots: why does it happen?
There are three usual suspects.
- The boot is too long, especially if you went up a size to gain width.
- Your heel is narrow for the last. A roomy heel counter lets a narrow heel slide about.
- The lacing is too loose or does not suit the boot. A roomy boot needs tighter lacing, which creates pressure without actually locking the heel in.
First check whether the boot is simply too big, see football boots too small or too big. A little heel movement is normal, but a lot of sliding gives you blisters on the heel and Achilles tendon, and less control on the ball.
How do you fix a slipping heel with the laces?
Use the heel lock knot, also known as a runner’s knot or heel lock. Lace up to the top two eyelets, feed each end back through the top eyelet on the same side to form a loop, cross the ends over, thread them through the loop on the opposite side and pull tight. Then tie off as normal.
This locks the heel in place and also works on a boot that is slightly too long. You will find more techniques in our guide to lacing football boots for a high instep, wide forefoot and heel slip. Do not crank the laces as tight as they will go, because that damages the eyelets. Boots with an elastic sock collar follow different rules: see football boots with a sock.
Do grip socks help with heel slip?
Up to a point, yes. Thicker grip socks make up for about half a size. Go for a thin pair in a boot that already fits closely and a mid-weight to thick pair in a boot with a bit of room. Too thick and they squeeze the forefoot once your foot swells in the second half, so be careful if your feet are wide.
Grip socks help in roomy models, such as the Puma King 20 on narrower feet, and in the Predator early in the break-in period. They cannot fix a boot that is the wrong shape.
Do heel pads and tongue pads help?
Heel cushions and tongue pads add a little volume. They can close a small gap, but they will not fix a boot that is too long or too roomy. Do not stuff cotton wool or paper into the toe, because it moves around. Only use a pad if the insole leaves space for it and it does not start to press.
Which football boots hold the heel well?
According to our sources, the Puma King 20 has a strong heel lock despite being wide. The heel on the Mizuno Morelia Neo V Beta is named as one of its strongest points, and the New Balance Furon v9 has a heel that ranks among the best in the test. Narrow heels can slip in the adidas Copa Pure IV and in the Predator with its external heel counter.
The heel on the Nike Phantom 6 Low is roomy, which does not suit a narrow heel. Look at the Puma King and the Mizuno Morelia Neo instead.
Heel slip with a wide forefoot and a narrow heel
This is an awkward combination, because the boot has to be wide at the front and snug at the back. Pick a model with good lockdown and a separate tongue, and use the heel lock knot. Sources say the Mizuno Morelia II suits both wide and narrow heels. Work out first exactly where you are wide, see measuring foot width.
Heel slip in football boots: when should you send them back?
Exchange the boots if they are more than half a size too big, if your heel keeps slipping despite the knot and grip socks, or if you are getting blisters. If your heel or Achilles tendon keeps hurting or the blisters keep coming back, have your feet looked at by a podiatrist or your GP. For a recommendation matched to your own feet, use the football boot adviser.