Best Soccer Cleats For Defenders 2022

Last Updated on August 1, 2022 by Randy

Let’s have a look at some of the best soccer cleats for defenders. If you are a defender in soccer you want to have a pair of cleats that will enhance your game, and enable you to do the best you can at keeping the opposing attackers at bay.

A quick note to let you know that if you decide to purchase any products through any of the links here, I may receive a small commission, but this will be at no extra cost to you. So what are some of the top soccer boots out there for defenders?

Whether you are involved in a friendly Sunday league or you play the sport professionally, as a defender you have one primary objective – to do all you can to stop the opposing team from scoring, and you are absolutely correct to realize that your soccer cleats can play a big part in that.

Product	Feature	Buy
Diadora Forza	Eva foam Foam in Heel	CURRENT PRICE
Adidas Predator 19.3	Lightweight Hybrid Stud Tips	CURRENT PRICE
Vizari Infinity-kids	Padded Collar Excellent Traction	CURRENT PRICE
Cambridge Select-Kids	Secure Fit	CURRENT PRICE
Adidas Goletto 6-kids	Flexible Outsole	CURRENT PRICE
Puma Evopower 18.3	Stretchable Upper	CURRENT PRICE
Nike Mercurial Superfly	Roomy Heel	CURRENT PRICE

Let’s dive into it and see, but I can tell you right off the bat that these are my picks – the Adidas Predator 19.2 cleats, the Nike Tiempo Legend 8 Pro cleats, Adidas X 17.1 cleats, Nike Mercurial Superfly 6 cleats, and the Adidas Copa 19.4 cleats. Let’s discuss these cleats individually so that you can pick the one which is best for you.

Adidas Predator 19.2 Soccer Cleats

The Adidas Predator 19.2 soccer cleats are a very good pair of soccer cleats for defenders to use. Defenders have to be able to control the ball well. In many situations you will have the ball coming at you very quickly. In other situations it will be coming at you from a weird angle.

When you are a defender you have to be able to control this ball with your feet regardless. Most of the time you will also have attackers bearing down on you, as you try to deal with getting the ball under control and distributing it to the midfield. Here is where one of the attributes of these cleats come in.

The Predator 19.2 soccer cleats have what is known as a Control Skin upper. The texture of this upper is such that it kills the kinetic energy of the ball quickly and makes it easier for you as a defender to get the ball under control and to distribute the ball.

Another highlight of these boots, is its outsole and stud configuration. The studs of the predator provide you with great traction on the playing surface and as a result greatly reduces the chance of you slipping if you have to quickly change direction, as you redistribute the ball away from your defense. It is for these reasons that these boots are most favorable for defenders.

Nike Tiempo 8 Pro Soccer Cleats

The Nike Tiempo Legend 8 Pro’s also have attributes about them that make them one of the top cleats for defenders. As stated before, being able to control the ball, while under pressure from attackers, is very important. This is important because you need to get the ball away from danger as fast as possible.

It helps to be in total control of the ball while doing this and as a result, because of the nature of the upper of this boot, a player can bring the ball under control quickly. The upper of this boot has a molded diamond texture which brings the ball under control quickly.

It is also made from a soft premium calfskin leather which also assists with quickly bringing the ball under control as well. The traction and stability of these boots are also a strong feature here. Defenders need to be in control of your body and not be subject to unforced errors such as slips.

With the chevron and modified conical studs that these boots have, your chance of having this happen to you are pretty small. These are just two positive attributes of these cleats but they show why this pair of boots are a good pair for defenders.

The Adidas X 17.1 Soccer Cleats

The Adidas X 17.1 soccer cleats are a great pair of soccer cleats for defenders because of its NSG upper and again, its favorable Sprintframe outsole which allows defenders to move with agility and speed. The NSG stands for non-stop grip which allows a player to better control the ball because the upper of the cleats “grip” the ball quite well.

As discussed before the ability to quickly bring the ball under control is very important for defenders. The lightweight Sprintframe outsole of these cleats allow a player to have great traction on this surface. It also allows the player to be able to display their speed and agility – two things that defenders do need at times while under pressure from attackers.

This pair of boots also boast having great stability as a result of a well constructed mid cut design. All in all, another top pair of cleats for defenders here.

The Nike Mercurial Superfly 6 Soccer Cleats

This is another very good pair of soccer cleats for defenders to use while playing soccer. This pair of soccer cleats also has an added perk in that it can be used on both firm ground and artificial grass surfaces. Now if you are the type of defender that likes to feel the soccer cleat close onto your foot, this is the soccer cleats for you.

It fits closely and it does the job well. It also has a collar made with the Dynamic Fit technology, and this adds to the secure fit between boot foot and ankle. The outsole and stud configuration is of notable mention with this pair of cleats as well, as they allow you to move quickly and change direction quickly during game play.

These soccer cleats are one of the top cleats for use as a defender. Remember that they fit pretty thinly as well, so if your feet are wide, this may not be the pair of cleats for you.

Adidas Copa 19.4 Soccer Cleats

As we all know the Adidas Copa soccer cleats are great for several positions – defense is no exception here. This pair of soccer cleats are lightweight. Lightweight soccer cleats are preferred if you want to be able to move around quickly without the weight of the boots being a hamper to your defense.

These boots will give you some years because of their durability and the leather it is made from. One thing to remember with these cleats is that you may need to order one size up. They do fit snug and may be a bit tight if you order the exact size of your normal shoes. All in all though, these are favorable pairs of soccer cleats for those playing defensive positions and will allow those players to perform well.

Conclusion

So there you have it, these are the soccer boots that I believe are best for defenders. They allow defenders to play freely because of their lightweight. They also have great stud configurations and as a result have great traction in all kinds of weather conditions.

Most of them display great stability and of course, with regard to the upper on these cleats, they are very effective at trapping the ball and enabling the defender to be able to control the ball close to their body, regardless if the ball is traveling at medium or high speeds.

So for all you defenders out there, your best bet is to pick one of the following pairs of soccer cleats – the Adidas Predator 19.2 cleats, the Nike Tiempo Legend 8 Pro cleats, Adidas X 17.1 cleats, Nike Mercurial Superfly 6 cleats, and the Adidas Copa 19.4 cleats.