# SoccerTested

> Soccer gear reviews and buying guides: cleats, balls, shin guards, goalkeeper gloves, goals and training gear, with ball sizes and surfaces explained, plus reader codes.

SoccerTested publishes soccer gear reviews, buying guides and reader discount codes. Every review states who the product suits, the current price from the brand's own store, and any active reader code.

## Key pages
- [Reviews](https://soccertested.com/reviews): every product we recommend
- [Buying guides](https://soccertested.com/guides): how to choose
- [Glossary](https://soccertested.com/glossary): soccer gear terms defined
- [How we test](https://soccertested.com/testing-methodology)

## Topics
- [Cleats & footwear](https://soccertested.com/category/cleats): Soccer cleats for firm ground, artificial grass, soft ground, turf and indoor courts.
- [Balls](https://soccertested.com/category/balls): Match balls, training balls, youth sizes and futsal balls.
- [Goalkeeper](https://soccertested.com/category/goalkeeper): Goalkeeper gloves, padded jerseys and pants.
- [Training & protection](https://soccertested.com/category/training-protection): Shin guards, goals, rebounders, cones, ladders and bags.

## Buying guides
- [Goalkeeper Glove Care: How to Wash and Dry Latex Palms](https://soccertested.com/guides/goalkeeper-glove-care): Rinse new gloves before their first session, then hand-wash them with warm water after play to remove dirt. Let them dry at room temperature away from heaters and direct sunlight, and store them cool, dark and dry. Check the glove maker's instructions because materials and care directions can differ.
- [Goalkeeper Glove Cuts Explained: Flat, Roll, Negative, Hybrid](https://soccertested.com/guides/goalkeeper-glove-cuts): Glove cut changes fit and contact area. Flat palm cuts are roomy and comfortable. Roll finger cuts wrap latex around the fingers for more contact with the ball. Negative cuts have inner seams for the tightest fit and best feel. Hybrids mix two cuts. Softer latex grips better but wears faster, so many keepers keep a training pair and a match pair. Size by the maker's chart and try them on.
- [How to Break In Soccer Cleats Before a Match](https://soccertested.com/guides/how-to-break-in-soccer-cleats): Try cleats with the socks you wear for play and check the fit before thinking about a break-in period. Some synthetic boots need little to no break-in, while adidas says its leather models can soften and mold with wear. Use a training session to learn how the specific pair feels before a match, and reassess the fit if pressure remains.
- [Leather vs Synthetic Soccer Cleats: Which Upper Fits You?](https://soccertested.com/guides/leather-vs-synthetic-soccer-cleats): Leather and synthetic describe upper materials, but neither guarantees a better fit: construction and model shape matter too. adidas says its leather cleats can soften and mold with wear, while Nike says its synthetic football boots need little to no break-in. Compare the model's fit and care instructions, then choose a pair that feels secure with your soccer socks.
- [Soccer Ball Pressure: How Much Air Does a Ball Need?](https://soccertested.com/guides/soccer-ball-pressure-guide): Use the pressure printed on the exact ball or in its maker's instructions, checked with a pressure gauge. IFAB Law 2 sets the standard match-ball range at sea level at 0.6 to 1.1 atmospheres, or 8.5 to 15.6 psi; that legal range is not a model-specific target for every practice ball. Follow the competition rules and the ball's own pressure guidance.
- [Soccer Cleat Types: FG vs AG vs SG vs TF vs IC Explained](https://soccertested.com/guides/soccer-cleat-types): Firm ground (FG) cleats are for dry natural grass and are the most common. Artificial grass (AG) cleats have shorter, often hollow studs for modern 3G and 4G pitches. Soft ground (SG) cleats use longer, usually metal-tipped studs for wet, muddy grass, and many youth leagues ban them. Turf shoes (TF) have small rubber nubs for short turf and hard ground, and indoor shoes (IC) have flat gum soles for courts. Buy for the surface you play on most.
- [Soccer Cleats for Kids: Sizing, Studs and Fit](https://soccertested.com/guides/soccer-cleats-for-kids): Buy kids' cleats that fit now, with about a thumb's width of room at the toe, not two sizes up. Molded studs (FG or MG) suit most youth fields, and many youth leagues ban metal studs. Hook-and-loop straps help young children who cannot tie laces. Check fit every season, because feet grow fast.
- [Training vs Match Soccer Balls: What Changes?](https://soccertested.com/guides/training-vs-match-soccer-balls): Match and training are use labels, not a universal construction standard: materials, panels and finishes vary by model. Check your league's approved-ball rule for competition; international matches run by FIFA or its confederations require a FIFA Quality Programme mark. For practice, compare the exact size, cover, surface and care instructions instead of assuming every match ball suits every session.
- [Backyard Soccer Goal Guide: Sizes, Frames and Safety](https://soccertested.com/guides/backyard-soccer-goal-guide): A full-size goal is 8 feet high and 24 feet wide (2.44 by 7.32 meters). Youth leagues use smaller goals set by age, and backyard goals range from pop-up nets to steel frames. Whatever you buy, anchor it: the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that unanchored movable goals can tip over. Never let children climb or hang on a goal.
- [Futsal Ball vs Soccer Ball: Size, Weight and Bounce](https://soccertested.com/guides/futsal-ball-vs-soccer-ball): A futsal ball is smaller than an adult soccer ball (62 to 64 cm around versus 68 to 70 cm) and is built with a low-bounce bladder, so it stays on the floor for close control. It weighs 400 to 440 g, slightly less than a size 5 ball. Use a futsal ball on hard courts; a regular ball bounces too much indoors. Many coaches also use futsal balls to train touch and passing.
- [Futsal Shoes vs Turf Shoes: Choose for the Court](https://soccertested.com/guides/futsal-shoes-vs-turf-shoes): Futsal and indoor-court shoes use a flat rubber outsole, while turf (TF) shoes use many small rubber lugs. Choose for the surface: flat court soles suit hard gyms and futsal courts, while TF soles suit short, firm synthetic turf. If you play both, compare the limits of one pair with the fit and storage needs of two.
- [Goalkeeper Apparel Guide: Jerseys, Shorts and Pants](https://soccertested.com/guides/goalkeeper-apparel-buying-guide): Start with your team's uniform rules and the goalkeeper's match role. Choose a jersey color that satisfies the competition's distinction rule, then compare sleeve length, fit and any padded shorts or pants by climate, surface and comfort. Check each garment's own size chart and treat goalkeeper clothing and glove sizing as separate decisions.
- [Home Soccer Training Equipment: What to Buy First](https://soccertested.com/guides/home-soccer-training-equipment): Start with a correctly sized ball, a few markers and enough clear space to move; add a rebounder or portable goal only when the drill needs it. Match the equipment's footprint, return style and storage needs to the available area and the player. Check each maker's dimensions, setup instructions and intended surface before buying.
- [Soccer Shin Guard Sizing Guide: Fit, Types and Rules](https://soccertested.com/guides/shin-guard-sizing-guide): Shin guards are required by the Laws of the Game and must be covered by socks. Size them by height using the maker's chart: the guard should cover from just below the knee to just above the ankle bend. Slip-in guards are light and suit older players; guards with ankle protection suit younger players and defenders. Sleeves or straps keep them in place.
- [Soccer Ball Size by Age: Size 3, 4 and 5 Explained](https://soccertested.com/guides/soccer-ball-size-by-age): Size 5 balls (about 27 to 28 inches around, 410 to 450 g) are used from the early teens up and in all adult play. Size 4 (about 25 to 26 inches) is the usual choice for roughly ages 8 to 12, and size 3 (about 23 to 24 inches) for younger children. Age bands vary by league and have changed over time, so check your league's rules. For matches, look for a FIFA Quality Pro, FIFA Quality or IMS mark.

Contact: info@soccertested.com