Even though all cleats offer traction, stability, support and durability, there are specialized types of cleats for different sports. So it's not a good idea to wear the same cleats for soccer, baseball and football. You really need a pair of cleats specific to each sport that you play.

Soccer Cleats

Soccer cleats have a rubber or polyurethane outsole. That’s what makes them so durable. They don’t have any midsole at all, which is one difference from baseball cleats. That’s because soccer cleats are designed to keep your feet and your center of gravity as low to the ground as possible. Some have aluminum cleat caps for better traction and durability. The upper may be synthetic or leather. Some soccer cleats are made of a very supple leather and feature enhanced stitching across the toe area to prevent stretching and provide better ball control. Soccer cleats don’t have a toe cleat like baseball cleats.

Baseball and Softball Cleats

Baseball and softball are considered low to medium impact sports where approximately four to six times your body weight is transferred to your feet. The impact can be even greater on artificial surfaces. There isn't much repeated motion, but a lot of lateral (side-to-side) movement. Some players prefer a higher or mid-cut cleat because they offer better ankle support. If the field is extremely hard, a steel cleat may be necessary.

Football Cleats

Football is a high impact sport where approximately seven to ten times your body weight is transferred to your feet. The outsoles of football cleats are more aggressive than other types of cleated shoes. Football cleats always feature a toe center cleat on the outsole to offer better traction for quick starts.