Leather or synthetic football boots: for wide feet, leather is usually the better choice, because leather stretches and synthetic hardly does. A tight leather boot often gets roomier after break-in, while a tight synthetic boot usually does not. If you have a wide foot and do not want to depend on breaking in, choose a model with a wide last or a separate tongue.
Below you will find what each material does, which boots are still made in leather and when synthetic is the right call anyway. For more on size itself, read how football boots should fit.
Are leather football boots better for wide feet?
Often they are. Leather moulds to your foot and gives at the pressure points. With a wide forefoot that makes a big difference, especially if the boot is tight at the start.
Leather is no guarantee, though. A last that is too narrow stays too narrow, even in kangaroo leather. So pick a model that suits your width first, and use the material as extra room. You can work out how wide your foot is with our guide to measuring foot width. We also list the options on our page on leather football boots for wide feet.
What is the difference between kangaroo leather, calf leather and synthetic?
- Kangaroo leather: stretches and moulds most to the foot. It gets heavier in wet weather, which is worth remembering on a soggy winter pitch. Examples are the adidas Copa Mundial, the adidas Copa Icon 2 and the Mizuno Morelia II.
- Calf leather: thicker and slightly stiffer than kangaroo, but it does stretch. Examples are the adidas Copa Pure IV and the Puma King Platinum.
- Synthetic leather: soft, moulds a little and hardly stretches. Examples are Nike TechLeather on the Tiempo Maestro and TOTALTOUCH+ on the Puma King 20.
- Knit: wraps around the foot and springs back. It gets softer with wear and is comfortable from day one.
- Thin speed synthetics: almost no stretch, made for a tight fit, as on the Mercurial and F50.
Does synthetic leather stretch?
Hardly. A common rule of thumb in the sources is that a tight leather boot gets looser and a tight synthetic one usually does not. Knit gives if you put force on it, but then returns to shape.
So do not expect a boot that is too tight in synthetic to become roomier by itself. Half a size up can help with a synthetic boot that is only just too tight, but a wider last or leather is better. See also our guide to stretching football boots.
Which football boots are still made of kangaroo leather?
The choice is shrinking. Puma stopped using kangaroo leather before the end of 2023 according to industry sources, and the King Platinum uses calf leather. Nike is phasing out kangaroo leather, and the Tiempo and Premier lines are affected most. Whether the Nike Premier 3 is still available in your size and colour is not certain.
adidas still uses leather, but has moved to calf leather on the Copa Pure, with kangaroo leather in the Copa Icon 2 and the Copa Mundial. At Mizuno it is in the Morelia II. Always check the material in the specification when you buy, because it changes per version. Never dry leather boots on a radiator: see washing and drying football boots.
How long does leather take to break in?
It differs per boot and per foot. Kangaroo leather usually has a break-in period, and on models such as the Copa Mundial the boot feels tight until the leather has taken shape. Wear them at home first and then to training, not straight into a match. Our guide to breaking in football boots covers a calm way to do it, which matters if you play every weekend and cannot afford sore feet.
What are the downsides of leather?
Leather needs break-in time, gets heavier when wet and needs more care. On artificial grass leather can wear out faster. If you want a boot that is ready from the first training session, knit or a soft synthetic boot is handier. If you simply want a boot that feels good, our guide to comfortable football boots is a good start.
You do not have to put everything through the same test. Look at what suits you: with a wide foot and a wish for room, leather is a good choice. If you want no break-in, choose a model with knit and a wide last, such as the Nike Phantom 6 or the Puma Future 9.
Leather or synthetic for a high instep?
With a high instep, volume matters more than the material alone. Leather helps because it moulds, but a separate tongue and deep lacing are at least as important. Knit stretches over the instep, but you can adjust it less finely. Read more on football boots for a high instep.
Leather or synthetic for kids with wide feet?
A child’s foot grows fast, so a boot is often too small after one season. A leather junior model such as the Kipsta Viralto II Leather does stretch. See our page on wide fit kids football boots.
Leather or synthetic football boots: how do you choose?
- Decide whether your foot is wide and where: forefoot, midfoot or heel.
- Choose a model with a wide last and preferably a separate tongue.
- Choose leather if you are willing to break the boot in and want extra room.
- Choose synthetic or knit if you want comfort straight away and the size is right from the start.
If you have pain that does not go away or blisters that keep coming back, have your feet looked at by a podiatrist or your GP. For a recommendation tailored to you, use the football boot adviser.