A soccer referee’s role is crucial for a fair game of soccer. It’s all about focus and concentration and feeling uncomfortable in the feet or not being able to run sufficiently are the last things a soccer referee would want. We are here for all our soccer referee friends out there to help them choose the best soccer referee shoes for their upcoming games.
Soccer players may get the major spotlight. But we understand how important soccer referees are for the game. They need an ultimate balance between balance, stability, comfort, and fitting, and finding the perfect shoes for that is not easy.
This article brings you the best selection of soccer referee shoes from the best manufacturers in the market today. Pick any of the best-suiting options from these reviewed soccer shoes and you will be good to go.
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Product
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Price
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Adidas Copa Mundial
Best Soccer Referee Cleats Overall
$$$
Adidas Performance Mundial Team Turf Soccer Cleats
Best Turf Soccer Referee Shoes Overall
$$
Nike Streetgato
Best Indoor Soccer Referee Shoes Overall
$$/$$$
Dream Pairs Soccer Cleats
Best Budget Soccer Referee Cleats
$
PUMA Ultra 2.1 Turf Trainer Soccer Shoes
Turf Shoes with Innovative Design
$$$
Brook Ghost Men's 13 Running Shoes
Best Indoor Soccer Referee Shoes for Long Distances
Suppose you are a referee in soccer games. In that case, we can understand your struggle to pick the best soccer referee shoes for yourself. A ref’s biggest headache is having a pair of shoes for every soccer game.
The Adidas Copa Mundial has a vast background of 40+ years of reliability, trust, and solidity. This veteran set of cleats has the faith of every player who has worn them.
The Copa Mundial is ideal for you if you are not impressed by the add-ons and fancy features of the latest soccer cleats.
Their comfort level is the biggest reason for picking these cleats on our list. K-leather is used all over the body to ensure maximum comfort, lasting 90 minutes or more, depending on the situation. The soft insole allows every player to get adjusted to the Copa Mundial.
The durability and high quality of the Copa Mundial make it one of the best options on the market. Yes, the Copa Mundial is a bit expensive when discussing the budget. Still, there is no doubt about its reliability and performance.
Moulded studs made out of Polyurethane add to the comfort level. The outsole also contributes to comfort and softness.
You just can’t go wrong with these classic cleats.
Pros
The ideal grip on soft grounds.
Highly durable and comfortable.
Lightweight.
Cons
Copa Mundial cleats lack the technology of modern cleats.
This is the turf version of the Adidas Copa Mundial. If you are looking for a cleat that can accompany you on softer surfaces, you should go with this one. The Performance Mundial is ideal for playing indoor soccer on artificial grass and turf.
Instead of the penetrating moulded studs on the Copa Mundial, this shoe has smaller cleats that are ideal for playing indoor soccer and refereeing it. You can swiftly change directions, run at a pace, and stay comfortable simultaneously.
The K-leather covers the comfort aspect of this cleat with grace. The carefully calculated design of the rubber studs is to provide high-grade protection to your knees as you make critical decisions and try to dodge a good pass.
The force distribution is also ideal, along with the comfort level in Performance Mundial. If you are a ref involved primarily in indoor games and turfs, just do yourself a favor and get these cleats.
This shoe has lasted such a long time as it doesn’t need any advocacy to be a high-quality shoe.
A carefully mounted lacing mechanism with a lightweight cleat is all a ref can ask for. A ref’s job is to run around, and he needs a loyal partner who can make him run everywhere on the field.
Besides the traditional cleats with big studs, the Nike Streetgato is the #1 shoe for indoor soccer. Many reasons back this claim firmly. First of all, the Nike Streetgato is one of the most comfortable shoes out there.
The sturdy heel counter will take you places, and the smooth material of the shoe also feels good when refereeing an indoor soccer game. A noticeable aspect of this cleat is that it has a breathable upper, making life easy.
The Nike Streetgato is designed for the streets. It is made to last in the streets. Ideal for playing on hard surfaces such as concrete, it can last for a long time and is undoubtedly the best bang for the buck.
The rubber soles are the real stunners. If you are mostly soccer refereeing on hard and level surfaces, the soccer cleats with studs and turfs won’t help you. This is, in fact, your chance to get your hands on some comfortable, stylish Nike Streetgato, both for refereeing and versatile, daily wear.
A pure layer of green grass is the closest to conventional soccer in outdoor conditions. A reliable set of cleats can make your life as a ref way easier. As the name suggests, the Dream Pairs Cleat is the perfect cleat for refereeing in outdoor soccer games.
The Dream Pairs cleat is lightweight, which helps you to change direction swiftly and to run at more pace. The cleats work ideally on grass with moisture or dampness. The color scheme is attractive, and the flexibility is a powerful add-on.
This pair of cleats has everything, from the aesthetics to the performance. The stand-out feature is that it doesn’t take a toll on your budget.
The reason this shoe made our list is its innovative design. PUMA designed this shoe without opting for the use of calfskin leather. PUMA preferred synthetic and fabric construction for this one, and it clearly paid off.
This shoe has everything, starting from the aesthetics, the texture, the comfort, and the durability. Your feet will keep going until the last second due to the comfortable rubber sole.
You can expect to make agile movements in the last seconds of the game due to the high-quality comfort. The yarns of polyester make up the leather upper of this shoe. The upper feels comfy without compromising on durability and performance.
Grip Control Pro Coating is responsible for reasonable ball control and touches. The nature of the fabric is woven.
We highly recommend this shoe if you are a ref but also participate as a player in soccer games on weekends, maybe. This is an ideal shoe to play as a player and to control the game as a ref.
The Brook Ghost Men’s 13 are ideal for refs as they have to cover long distances during games. The critical point is that these shoes have incredibly lightweight cushioning. It provides extra comfort.
These shoes are ideal for acting as a ref on hard and firm surfaces. Especially on hard surfaces without grass, these shoes are a perfect fit. The additional arch support is also loved by the users who have used these shoes.
One thing to note when buying these shoes is that they are ideal for hard and firm surfaces, but they are not suitable for wet surfaces.
They tend to slip on wet surfaces. If you are a ref who wants comfort but plays on damp grass or wet turfs, this pair of shoes is not the one for you.
Pros
Ideal for long-distance running.
Extreme comfort level.
Trusted brand.
Cons
Not true to size; buying one size larger is recommended.
The Samba Classic, one of the oldest shoes in the history of soccer, is still one of the best sellers on the market. There is more than one reason why you should select these shoes. Yes, they are not advanced as modern shoes but they are tried and tested by users.
The Adidas Samba Classic is one of the market’s most durable and comfortable shoes. The classic black shoe with the signature white stripes represents Adidas to the brightest.
This pair of classic Adidas shoes are great to vibe with casual outfits such as nickers and trousers.
These shoes fit true to size. They are in full fitting and don’t cause irritation. The padding is ideal, and the arch support is removable. You can remove it if they feel like irritating you.
Trusted by many, these shoes are one of our favorite choices. The durable leather structure with suede upper makes a perfectly durable combination.
The main reason this shoe is reliable is that even after decades of release, it has not lost its credibility. This is just because it has used the most durable and reliable materials, for instance, the EVA midsole foam for premium comfort.
Many soccer refs and players will still prefer these shoes over modern cleats just due to the reputation that this cleat has gained in the market.
If you are tight on budget but still want to act as a ref in soccer games, Diadora got you covered. The Capitano soccer shoes come with significant features that would make you love the feel and touch of these shoes.
Being a budget shoe doesn’t mean that this shoe is average or bad. It is obviously not as good as the high-end shoes but considering the price, it is decent.
The high-quality agility of these shoes with polyurethane leather combined with the EVA platform where you can snug your feet make it an ideal shoe in its price.
This shoe provides optimum comfort while running, and you can quickly wear it and ref a soccer game for 90-odd minutes.
Diadora Capitano is resistant to scraping. This property makes it ideal for playing indoor soccer on artificial grass and turf.
Pros
Good traction due to added padding on the cleats.
Good agility and comfort.
Abrasion resistant.
The sole is made of rubber.
Cons
Bulky
Extra padding may feel annoying to some.
Choosing the Best Soccer Referee Shoes – Our Buying Guide
Now that you have read about the best options for all types of soccer referee shoes, you will be agitating to get one for yourself. However, there are a few critical aspects that you should consider before buying the ideal shoes.
Ignoring the key factors and getting a cleat that you visually approve may end up as a mishap. You may get something perfect but not according to your requirements. Here is a list of crucial aspects that need to be considered before buying a cleat.
Type of Soccer Games
To select the ideal shoes, you must identify your requirements for playing. If you are a ref who goes to the park at the corner of the street every weekend, you should go for the cleats with big studs that can penetrate the soil to give you a good grip.
Outdoor soccer requires cleats with big studs designed to penetrate and give you a good grip while changing directions swiftly on grass.
Cleats with decent studs can withstand the pressure when playing on wet and damp grass.
Indoor soccer requires cleats with smaller studs carefully designed to give you the ideal grip on artificial grass and turfs. These soccer shoes are suitable for playing on artificial turfs and firm surfaces.
The indoor turfs are usually not wet, so you don’t have to worry about slipping.
There are soccer shoes that serve their purpose in their own way. Therefore, buying indoor shoes will be of no use if you are a referee in outdoor games.
If you go to different games, you can get decent cleats or comfortable running shoes with a good grip.
Fit and Comfort
Before buying soccer referee shoes, you must consider the shoe’s comfort level and fitting. Some shoes don’t fit ideally, so you must buy a size or a half higher or lower.
Sometimes refs want more comfort and fitting, and they are right in doing so because they don’t have anything to do with the ball. So, looking for laceless cleats or strong and pointed studs won’t make any sense for them.
However, suppose you are a weekend ref hitting the grounds as a player for the remaining 5 days of the week. In that case, you should opt for a cleat with better performance and maybe compromise a little bit on comfort.
Type of Feet
Some shoes are ideal for narrow feet, while others are ideal for wide feet. You must identify the right type for you carefully so that you don’t have any issues when trying to adjust your feet inside the shoes.
The midsole section is the most important to consider. If your feet are flat, you may need soccer cleats with comfortable, padded soles, that help you endure the game. This choice also depends on the ground type. For instance, if you need more arch support and stability on a turf ground, soccer cleats with accentuated mid-arch will suit you better.
Best Soccer Referee Shoes – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What shoes do official soccer referees wear?
Soccer referees can wear any type of closed-toe footwear, including turfs, cleats, and running shoes. According to the FIFA rules, they should be black in color, with laces of the same color.
How many miles do soccer refs run?
A soccer ref will run for 6 to 8 miles during an average game of soccer. They have to track the ball and scrutinize the movements of the players. For that, they need comfortable soccer shoes with sufficient stability.
Final Words
Acting as a ref in soccer is a demanding activity. One irresponsible decision can raise many questions about your ability. However, a ref must not be stressed about his feet at any time during the game.
We went through the arduous task of filtering through thousands of reviews to select the best soccer referee shoes.
We have handpicked the classic, modern, and suitable types of shoes and explained how each of them is ideal for any ref. Hurry up, check them out, and happy whistling ref!
