How to Break in Soccer Cleats
Yes, yes. They are sparkling new soccer cleats, no doubt. But they just aren't as comfortable as the old ones, are they? What will you do now? The big game is coming up next weekend and you need the shoes to be working for you. What to do, you wonder.
Is that all that's bothering you? That's happening because the shoes have not been broken into. So once that's done, you'll have a really comfortable pair to work with. But, how to break in soccer cleats fast is what you are asking and that is what we are telling in the following article. So if you just read through, you'll have your answers soon.
Best Way to Break in Soccer Cleats
Why are cleats so uncomfortable? The deal is that the leather has not expanded enough to take the shape of your feet. But by employing certain ways of breaking into your cleats, this can be managed well enough. This is important not only because it leads to more comfort, but also because new cleats can lead to shoe bites, blisters and put you up for further injury like shin splints and sprains. Other than that, a pair of cleats that have been broken into, will improve one's performance like nothing else. That is why, it is necessary to break in those cleats. Let's get to the varied ways in which this can be done.
Step 1 - Getting them Ready
Remember to break into the pair before the game you intend to play them with. This will allow for you to have adjusted well to them beforehand, and you'll have no problem in playing well. When you start breaking into the pair, make sure that you wear the same kind of socks and other equipment that you intend to wear during the game. This is what will allow the cleats to take the actual shape of your feet.
Step 2 - Bringing them into Use
The most logical way to go about it is to use them till they have been broken into naturally. So, the best way to go about it is to start off by using them for jogging around a couple of times, using them in the warm up sessions as well as a few practice sessions. This will open the leather well and help you to play them comfortably in the final game.
Step 3 - Wet and Dry
The other way of going about this is another method that is highly recommended by experts. Wear your soccer cleats along with the rest of the equipment and then soak your feet in a bucket of warm water for 20 minutes. Alternately, you could also stand under a warm shower for the same effect. The warm water will stretch the leather out. After the stipulated time is over, let the leather air dry over your feet. This will help the leather to take the shape of your feet (along with the other equipment on your feet).
Step 4 - Drying with Newspapers
After walking around in the wet shoes for about 30 minutes to an hour (depends on how much you can bear to sit in wet cleats), you can stuff the shoes with rolled newspapers. This will soak in the excess water quicker.
Step 5 - Polishing the Cleats
After the shoes have dried effectively, you need to refurbish them to being well waxed and polished. How? Choose a good quality leather polish and then spread a thin layer over the shoes. Make sure that you do not use too much. There should be no excess spill or there will be a stain on the cleats. Then, store in a cool dry place and away from sunlight so that the oil gets soaked in effectively. Do not keep them out in the sunlight or the leather will crack.
These are the steps that one should follow when learning how to break in synthetic soccer cleats. When the cleats have been broken into by employing these steps, wear them for a fraction of the game and check to see if they are good to go. And that's how one breaks into their soccer cleats effectively well.
