Choosing the Right Rugby Boots
Choosing the
best boots is something that a lot of rugby players are not as good at as they
may think. Boots that have been designed for rugby play are more complicated
than most people realise. Choosing the best ones comes down to several factors,
such as stud type and sizing.
Size
A simple
pitfall that many people fall into is wearing the wrong socks when trying the
boots on for size. A lot of players go out to try on boots in their regular
socks, despite the fact that they will be wearing thick rugby socks when they
actually play. Wearing the wrong socks may mean the boots are suddenly too
tight when you come to use them, while wearing the same socks you will wear on
the field may lead you to a different size option or a different boot that will
be a better fit when it counts.
Studs
Studs are probably the single most undervalued factor when choosing
rugby boots. You should choose a stud type according to factors such as your play
style, the type of ground you normally play on, and the position that you play.
Your choice of stud can really make a noticeable difference for better or
worse. If you normally play on softer ground, you may need longer studs for
better grip. On harder ground, shorter studs will suffice and longer ones may
even hold you back. If your position or personal playing style focusses on
moving at speed and making quick direction changes, rubber studs will
facilitate this better than metal ones. If you require a firm grip on the
ground, however, metal studs will be the superior option.
Blades
It is also
worth noting that recent years have seen blades or moulded studs becoming
increasingly popular over traditional screw-in studs. These can provide good
speed and mobility, although they lack grip on softer ground. The main
advantage, however, is simply the convenience of not having to regularly check
whether studs may have worked loose, which is necessary with boots that use screw-in
studs.
Type of Boot
Some rugby
players buy football boots instead of specialised rugby footwear. While
football boots are legal for rugby use as long as the studs conform to
regulations, this is normally not as good as buying a specialised rugby boot as
football boots are made with different priorities. In particular, they
prioritise feel at the expense of protection. However, football boots are
understandably designed to be optimal for kicking accurately and effectively,
so if you utilise kicking a lot in your game, you may be one of the relatively
few rugby players for whom football boots are actually the right choice. For
all but the most regular kickers, however, a better option may be one of the
many rugby boots that are designed to maintain protection while still allowing
a good feel of the ball.
Properly
weighing up all of these factors can make it much easier to choose a boot that
will enhance your game.