We rate football boot fit editorially: for each model and version we give a score for every fit problem. The scores come from manufacturer information, fit notes from retailers and the experiences of players. We have not measured the boots ourselves, and we say so openly.
The method was last adjusted on 7 November 2026, and every later change will carry a date. Who stands behind the ratings is on the page about us.
What do the scores from 0 to 3 mean?
Each version of a model gets a score from 0 to 3 for five fit problems: wide foot, high instep, narrow foot, flat foot and kids. The score says how well the boot suits that problem. A high score for wide foot is therefore not a general quality verdict.
- 0: does not suit this problem. Such a boot never appears in the boot finder if you pick this as your main complaint.
- 1: suits it only in part or with reservations, for example a wide forefoot but a low toe box.
- 2: suits it well.
- 3: suits it very well, and is among the best choices for this problem in our ratings.
For a very wide foot a boot needs at least a 2 for wide. Laceless versions get a 0 for wide and instep, because there is little to adjust, unless the user allows laceless.
What are the scores from 1 to 5 for forefoot, instep and heel?
We also show three display scores from 1 to 5: forefoot, instep volume and heel. The higher the number, the roomier that part of the boot. This draws the shape and is not a fit verdict by itself: a boot can have a roomy forefoot and low instep volume, and then it suits a wide foot without a high instep. Our width chart shows how it adds up.
Which sources do we rely on?
We use sources in a fixed order of reliability. Own measurements would weigh most, but we have none. Next come players’ experiences and independent comparisons, then fit notes from retailers, and last what the manufacturer says about the boot.
A manufacturer or retailer has an interest in selling the boot, which is why they rank lower. Where sources contradict each other, we choose the more reliable one.
How do we handle conflicting sources?
Sources sometimes disagree, for example on the adidas Predator, the Puma Future and the New Balance Tekela. We do not choose silently. We say so on the page, give our choice with the reason and mark the score as uncertain.
Each score can carry an uncertainty flag, for instance when a verdict rests on a single source or on our own deduction. Uncertain scores count for less in the boot finder.
What is the tier rule?
Boots come in tiers: a top model, a second, a third and an entry model. The names differ by brand, such as Elite, Pro, Academy and Club at Nike, or Ultimate, Pro, Match and Play at Puma. We have not rated every tier separately, so we use a rule to derive scores.
The rule assumes that lower tiers often share the last of the top model, but with a thicker, stiffer upper that feels tighter and gives less. So for a lower tier we take half a point off wide and instep when the upper is thicker and there is no separate tongue.
If the lower tier has a separate tongue where the top model has a knit tongue or no laces, it gets half a point extra, because adjustability counts for more than the last. The editors can override any derived score, and a version that is not yet rated never reaches the top three of the finder.
How does the finder measure your foot width?
If you measure your foot in the finder, we divide the width by the length and sort your foot as narrow, standard, wide or extra wide. These thresholds are a working hypothesis, and we will adjust them once there are measurements of real feet. Our guide to measuring your foot width shows how to measure.
What do we not do?
- We do not measure boots ourselves. We publish no millimetres presented as measured, and an inside width only appears once there is a real measurement.
- We do not sell positions. No brand or shop can pay for a higher place in a ranking or in the finder.
- We do not show user reviews or invent any.
- We give no diagnoses and no medical advice.
- We do not move dates: the date on a rating is the date we really changed it.
How we earn from clicks to Amazon is explained on the affiliate page. If a rating does not match your experience, write to us through the contact page with the subject Fit is wrong.