Buying guide for best kids’ baseball cleats
When a child starts playing baseball, they may not play in cleats immediately. For T-ball and entry-level baseball leagues, regular athletic shoes should work fine. As the youth player becomes more serious about the game, though, having a reliable pair of baseball cleats will help them have more success.
From the top down, cleats look like any other kind of athletic shoes. However, where they differ from other shoes is the sole. Baseball cleats have studs that allow them to dig into the dirt and grass on the field, giving the player enough traction to make sudden, quick movements.
Kids will almost certainly outgrow their cleats before the shoes wear out, and it can be a bit frustrating for parents to have to get new cleats every year, but kids’ baseball cleats aren’t as expensive as some other types of youth athletic shoes.
Key considerations
Start your search for the perfect baseball cleats for your child by figuring out what material you want in the studs. Each type performs best in certain circumstances, so think about where your child will be playing and get the studs that best match those conditions.
Plastic or rubber
For youth players, round or rectangular plastic or firm rubber studs are by far the most common material you’ll find. Many manufacturers mold the plastic or rubber studs into the sole of the shoe, so the entire shoe consists of one piece. This makes these baseball cleats very durable.
You can also find cleats with removable plastic or rubber studs that screw into the sole. These allow the player to use studs of different lengths, depending on the firmness of the ground in the field.
Metal
Metal studs have a thin, rectangular design that digs easily into the ground. Metal studs are a smart choice for kids who play on extremely hard playing surfaces most of the time. However, these cleats cost more than cleats with other types of studs. Also, many youth leagues ban metal studs because they can potentially injure other players, such as when the player wearing the metal studs slides into a base near a defensive player.
Turf
Turf shoes are another option for kids’ baseball cleats. These don’t have long studs on the bottom that dig into the ground like the other types of cleats. Instead, they have short nubs that provide a slight grip. Turf shoes are good for indoor practice on artificial turf and practice sessions when the players aren’t allowed to wear standard cleats.
Field managers and maintenance crews sometimes prefer that players don’t wear baseball cleats with long studs during practice because they tear up the playing surface.
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Features
Height
You can choose kids’ baseball cleats from a few different heights.
Low: A low-cut baseball cleat has a comfortable fit because the top of the shoe sits just under the ankle. It doesn’t have any support for the ankle, a low-cut baseball cleat probably isn’t the best choice for players who tend to get twisted ankles. For those who need extra mobility, such as infielders, low-cut shoes are useful.
Mid-cut: A mid-cut baseball cleat fits at the center of the ankle, providing good flexibility and support. Some players don’t like the restrictive feel of this type of shoe, but it does help guard against ankle injuries.
High: You rarely see high-cut baseball cleats, especially for youth players, but if your child needs maximum ankle support, you might want to shop around.
Color
You can find baseball cleats for kids in several different colors, including red, white, gray, navy, and black, but the majority of players wear dark colors to hide dirt and grime. Some youth players try to match the color of their shoes to their uniform colors, and it’s common to find blue, red, or white accents on black baseball cleats. Other accent colors are rare, but you might find some if you’re persistent.
DID YOU KNOW?
Smaller kids who struggle to tie their shoes tightly enough might want to wear kids’ baseball cleats that secure with hook-and-loop straps instead.
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Accessories
Youth baseball bat: Mizuno B20 Hot Metal Baseball Bat
A baseball bat needs to be the right size and weight for a youth player. Mizuno is a top manufacturer of youth bats, and the B20 is a nice pick for younger players who are just starting the game.
Youth baseball helmet: Easton Junior Z5 Batting Helmet
You want a youth baseball helmet that fits properly and keeps your child safe. Kids want a helmet that looks great. This Easton Z5 model comes in a few colors of sleek molded plastic and gives both parents and kids what they want.
Kids’ baseball cleat prices
Inexpensive: Youth baseball cleats start at about $15 to $30 per pair. Don’t expect these to last more than one season, but your child may outgrow them after a season anyway.
Mid-range: The majority of youth baseball cleats fall in the $30 to $50 per pair range. These are solid shoes that will fit the needs of most youth players.
Expensive: For $50 to $100, you can find durable cleats with a reinforced toe box and excellent support for the foot and lower ankle.
If your child feels pressure from the studs through the sole of the cleats, it’s time for a new pair of shoes.
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Tips
- Choose metal studs for infielders. Players who spend most of their time playing on the infield dirt want metal studs because they dig into the firm infield surface well. Rectangular plastic or rubber studs that are similar to metal studs in shape are a nice alternative for playing in leagues that don’t allow metal studs.
- Choose plastic or rubber studs for outfielders. Because outfielders spend most of their time in the grass, plastic or firm rubber studs are usually the best options for traction, especially if the ground is a little soft. For outfields with artificial turf, turf shoes may be the better option. Know that outfielders might need a second pair of baseball cleats for running the bases on the dirt.
- Try baseball cleats for football too. If you want to get a bit more wear from your youth baseball cleats, your child might be able to wear the cleats for football too. The stud pattern for baseball is a little different than that for football, but the differences won’t hugely affect a youth player’s ability to play either sport.
FAQ
Q. What length studs should my child have in their baseball cleats?
A. Longer studs dig into infields with quite a bit of loose dirt and into soft outfields, while shorter studs are better for firm infields and outfields with short grass. For a field that’s primarily artificial turf, including on the basepaths, you may not want any studs, so opt for turf shoes.
Q. How do I know if baseball cleats are too tight?
A. Baseball cleats will be stiff when your child first puts them on because this stiffness helps provide the support the foot needs. As your child wears the shoes, the cleats will stretch out a little bit. If the shoes are made of leather, they’ll stretch a bit more with regular wear. Synthetic cleats won’t stretch much, if at all.
Q. Do I need to spend a lot on kids’ cleats?
A. Not necessarily. For a child who plays 10 to 20 games a summer, a low- to mid-priced cleat is perfectly fine. For 40 games or more, though, you want quality cleats that are going to hold up all summer, so you don’t end up needing to get a second pair. Remember, kids will almost certainly outgrow each season’s baseball cleats, so you might not want to spend too much for one year of use.
Q. Do pitchers need a special kind of baseball cleats?
A. No, they can wear the same cleats as any other player. However, pitchers sometimes drag the toe of their back leg when they throw the ball, which causes extra wear in that area. Get a pair of shoes with a reinforced toe box to prevent this problem for pitchers.
