The beautiful game’s not so fun when you’re hobbling around in an uncomfortable pair of football boots. And it’s even more painful when you’ve paid a wad of hard-earned cash for them. Unfortunately, we’ve all lived this existence at some point in our careers.
Big brands often tempt us in with their enticing marketing campaigns, on the promise of ‘innovative boot tech’ and ‘improved performance’.
While that’s all well and good, those features are rendered completely useless if we’re coming away with blisters on our feet and constantly having to reach for painkillers.
In our humble opinion, when investing in new football boots, comfort should always be considered your top priority. Here’s why.
How tight should football boots be?
Most boots will need to be broken in before you can really play in them, but that doesn’t mean they should be causing you discomfort as soon as you put them on.
In fact, if wearing a pair of boots is proving a little painful, then it’s fair to assume you’ve either picked the wrong size or the wrong pair altogether.
Football boots should fit you snugly, without being too tight and offering your feet a little room to breathe.
Of course, this is where your choice of upper material becomes so important, because some materials (leather) will stretch over time, while others (synthetics) won’t.
Additionally, your boots should have enough room for you to wiggle your toes, and you always need to make sure they’re suitable for the surface you’re playing on.
READ |Our guide on how to find the right size of football boots for you.
Which are the most comfortable football boots in 2023?
Now that we’ve got that admin stuff out of the way, we’re going to dive right into the best comfiest and softest boots you can buy in 2023!
Of course, comfort is completely subjective, and how well a particular boot fits will depend entirely on your own preferences and foot shape.
In general though, these boots will feel like you’re slipping your feet into a pair of fluffy slippers every week. And the best part? We can help you find the lowest price on every single one of them.
8. Nike Phantom GX (Elite)
A new entry for our latest ranking on comfy boots, the Nike Phantom GX release in 2023 turned our heads for sure.
First of all, it’s a fantastic looking design. But the interesting thing is, it’s backed up with quality materials and structure.
Using Nike’s Flyknit uppers, the sock-like fit on the ‘Elite’ model is thicker and more supple than it was on the Phantom GT.
The wear in time is minimal, and you can pull them out of the box and set about the opposition for 90 minutes.
If it’s good enough for Harry Kane and Kevin De Bruyne to wear week in week out, then it’s probably going to do the business for you too.
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7. Nike Premier 3
When it comes to excellent value for money, things don’t get much better than the Nike Premier 3. This is one of the most iconic football boots of all-time and it’s been updated for 2023.
Wrapped in a luxurious leather, it gently caresses your foot as you strike the ball, while also providing one of the most durable uppers on the market.
Okay, so there’s no arguing that the Premier requires a fair bit of wear-in time, but showing a bit of patience is oh-so-worth-it in the long run.
The leather is soft, supple and comes adorned with that retro-style Swoosh, and we’ll never get bored of seeing old-school, fold-down tongues. The fact that they’re so cheap really is baffling.
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6. Puma Future (Ultimate)
It’s fair to say Puma have never shied away from making changes. The Netfit designs of 2019 and 2020 were revolutionary and the original Future set the boot design bar even higher.
Fortunately, all of these changes seem to have paid off, and the latest Puma Future is one of the most comfortable football boots on the planet.
It’s all about the patented FUZIONFIT360 system on the ‘Ultimate’ edition, which includes PWRTAPE that locks your foot securely into place without feeling restrictive.
The Future is surprisingly supple for a synthetic boot, meaning your toes will be snug when tucked into the mesh-lined toe box.
The latest release is also a good choice for those needing a bit more lateral give, which is exactly why we included it on our ranking of the best football boots for wide feet. Lovely.
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5. adidas Copa Pure (+ & .1)
The modern adidas Copa releases have been a hit in recent years, and the updated Copa Pure is no exception for us.
Heralded as the ‘touch’ boot of the current adidas offering, the model’s bubbly Fusionskin and calf leather uppers are the perfect shock absorbers between ball and foot. And probably the odd stud too, ouch.
Thrown in is a raft of tech, such as moulded synthetic lining, Primeknit collar and responsive outsoles. They’re only going to equal one thing: ultimate comfort.
The Copa Pure is certainly the widest of the adidas boot range, so you won’t need to worry too much about aching feet. Or your first touch either, for that matter.
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4. Puma King Top di
Yes, things were a bit heavier back then. But my goodness, they didn’t mind padding out a boot pre-2000. The Puma King Top di is an incredible example of that tactic.
They’ve hosted the mercurial feet of Pele, Eusebio, Cruyff and Maradona. It turns out that regardless of this boot’s weight, you can still play a bit in them.
As you’d expect, the durability is unquestionable. A natural kangaroo leather touch comes free of charge and the boot has even been modernised with a lightweight TPU outsole.
Wearing these is the definitive mark of a true veteran pro, but you can do so knowing that the post-game hobble won’t be included.
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3. Mizuno Morelia Neo 3 Beta (Made In Japan)
Ah, the Mizuno Morelia. They’ve always been up there for comfort. While pretty much all of their boots will keep you as snug as a bug, the Morelia Neo 3 (MIJ) undoubtedly sets the bar.
It’s hard to describe in words, but these boots essentially feel as though you’re wearing a pair of miniature clouds on your feet.
Made from the finest kangaroo leather we’re ever likely to see, the Morelia Neo 3 certainly doesn’t come cheap, but it provides the kind of luxurious sensation you just can’t get anywhere else.
Since these boots are individually handcrafted, we can’t stress the overall quality enough. And their unbelievable durability makes them an investment worth making.
If you’ve got a bit of spare cash and place comfort above everything else, then these are the boots you’ve been looking for.
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2. Nike Tiempo Legend 9 (Elite)
This silo has a reputation which has grown meteorically, just like a certain man who owns a pair: Virgil Van Dijk.
Nike’s Tiempo Legend is the premium leather offering from their range, designed for those who put comfort and first touch above all.
Don’t be fooled though, this boot is not as heavy as it looks. And it’s the lightest Tiempo that Nike have ever created. The refined upper is k-leather with soft foam pods included throughout.
It’s a perfect all-rounder and is worn by players in every position. I'm sure you’ll agree, their low-profile design makes them a feast for the eyes too.
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1. adidas Copa Mundial
In our eyes, the adidas Copa Mundial can do no wrong. And it often appears on our list of the most durable football boots. It even makes a regular appearance in our best football boots of the year rankings.
Above its robustness and reliability however, is a level of comfort few other boots have been able to replicate in the 40+ years since its release.
Constructed from premium kangaroo leather, the Copa Mundial has received subtle tweaks over the years, all designed to enhance comfort, stability and ultimately to keep up with the newer boots on the market.
A synthetic lining has been added to improve support, alongside a sturdy 12-stud outsole, reinforced heel and alterations to shaping.
In short, this is our #1 when it comes to comfortable football boots, requiring no ‘wear-in’ time whatsoever.
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