Sock football boots for wide feet are trickier than boots with an ordinary tongue. The collar closes tightly around your ankle and you can adjust the fit less. If you have a wide foot, choose a model with plenty of stretch in the collar, a roomy opening and preferably laces.
Below you can read what a sock boot is, why it disappoints on wide feet and what to look at when choosing. The problems are similar to those of laceless football boots for wide feet, so read that page too. If you want to fit your own insole, the overview of football boots that take orthotics helps.
What are football boots with a sock?
On a sock boot the upper runs up to around your ankle in a sock-like collar, so the boot sits around your foot like a sock. It gives a closed-in feel and good lockdown around the ankle. It feels snug and usually goes with knit or stretch material.
Many top models have such a collar or a knitted tongue, such as the Nike Mercurial Superfly with its Dynamic Fit collar, the Skechers SKX_2 and the Puma King. Not every model has a full sock collar, so look at how the opening and the tongue are made on each boot. A knitted upper wraps around the foot instead of pressing on it, as on the Nike Phantom 6.
Are sock football boots for wide feet worth it?
That depends on the model. A collar with plenty of stretch and a roomy opening can work well, but a stiff sock construction in synthetic material pinches. Retailers themselves warn that fully rigid synthetic boots squeeze wide feet. How to avoid blisters is covered in how to prevent blisters from football boots.
The biggest drawback is adjustability. A knitted collar or tongue is harder to adjust than a separate tongue with laces. With a high instep a sock collar is often awkward, because you cannot make room. See football boots for a high instep.
What should you look for in a sock boot for wide feet?
- Stretch in the collar: a knit collar gives but springs back. Choose one that does not pinch as you pull it on.
- Opening: a wide foot has to go in easily. One source says a low-cut sock gives a wider opening than a high one, but that is a single source.
- Laces: a boot with a sock collar and laces gives a wide forefoot more room than one without.
- Last: the collar does not fix a narrow last. Choose a model with a wide forefoot first.
Is a sock boot hard to put on with a wide foot?
It can be. A wide foot or a high instep can struggle with the opening of a collar. Put the boot on with thin socks, push your heel in first and pull the collar over your instep. Do not force it: a collar can tear, and a boot that is hard to get on will not fit well when you play either.
Which sock boots or knitted models suit wide feet?
A few models with a knitted upper are named in sources for wide feet. The Nike Phantom 6 has a knitted tongue with stretch and is wide in the toe box, forefoot, midfoot and heel. The Puma Future has a one-piece engineered knit with plenty of forefoot room. The Skechers SKX_2 has knit that gets softer with wear. Look at the fit notes on each of these models.
The Nike Mercurial and the adidas F50 Hyperfast are narrow and not suitable if you have a wide foot. See Nike wide football boots.
What if the boot is still tight?
Knit wraps around the foot and gets softer with wear, but it does not stretch permanently. Do not expect a tight boot to get much wider. Try thinner socks and look at where the pressure sits. If the boot is still tight after a few sessions, it is not the right one. More is on what to do when football boots pinch. If the pain lasts longer than a few weeks, see a GP or a podiatrist. If you want a pick matched to your own foot, use the football boot adviser.