Having a pair of metal baseball cleats is crucial if you actually want to play baseball well.
Without that pair of cleats, it’s going to be a very comical routine for the people watching you.
For you personally, it’s going to a humiliating and often painful experience when you wear the wrong shoes for baseball, as you’ll be slipping all over the place.
What’s more, your ineptitude can cost your team the game. You may even end up injured in the process.
You need baseball metal cleats because they’re the best pair of shoes for both fielders and base runners.
Having the traction they provide is necessary so you can sprint quickly and change directions in an instant.
You need these abilities when you’re tracking fly balls and running the bases.
When you’re choosing baseball cleats, metal digs deeper than rubber cleats especially on dirt and grass.
Of course, the usefulness of the cleats depends on the brand and model you’re getting.
If you want to be the best baseball player you can be, you will need to get the best metal baseball cleats you can afford.
Here are your best options so you can be fairly sure you’re not wasting your time and money.
Nike Metal Baseball Cleats
Nike deserves to be mentioned first on any list of athletic shoes, since it’s the acknowledged no. 1 athletic shoe brand in the world.
The offer plenty of shoes for all types of athletic activity, and for baseball players one of the foremost options is the highly acclaimed NIKE Men’s Alpha Huarache Elite Baseball Cleat.
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It’s a great mix of fashion and function, because it looks great.
If it doesn’t, that’s your fault because you can choose from among 28 color schemes. Nike wants to make sure you get the color combo that truly appeals to your aesthetic sense.
This will also appeal to the baseball player in you. The solid rubber outsole comes with nine cleats, and their positions have been carefully chosen by the Nike engineers.
These cleats are also molded so they can be used for all types of playing terrain. It has flex grooves that boosts the flexibility of this pair of shoes.
This is also a mid-top version, so you get some support for your ankle. At the same time, the support isn’t too much so you’re not hindered in your movements.
Even the collar and the tongue are made from extremely breathable materials.
Mizuno Metal Baseball Cleats
The Mizuno brand is a testament on how the game of baseball has infused the Japanese culture.
They offer a dedicated commitment to making excellent baseball equipment, and the 2020 Mizuno Men’s Dominant Ic Baseball Shoe shows you just firm they are in their commitment.
This has a 3-layer overall design that doesn’t feature any sewing at all.
- All new Innovative Comfort platform providing superior cushion and stability
- New Anatomical Last/Shoe Shape providing superior fitting, minimizing power loss, and maximizing strong acceleration
- New IC Outsole provides enhanced flexibility and traction due to strategically placed flex grooves and spike configuration
- U4icX, the next generation of Mizuno's soft, responsive and resilient mid-sole material is inserted into the heel of the full length mid-sole to deliver an even more luxurious cushioning experience
- Bootie construction inside the shoe provides a soft and secure fit, complimenting the supportive 3-layer upper for overall incredible fit and feel
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It’s very durable, yet it also offers the light weight you need for fast running and the required support to protect your feet.
The Dominant Ic features the U4icX midsoles that are known for their super-resiliency.
That’s why the midsoles offer a soft cushioning for your feet and comfy feeling actually lasts for a long while.
You’ll also find a new configuration for the cleats, as they’re designed to optimize your sped as well as your turns when your run. The fit is especially snug and with the light weight you can accelerate more quickly.
Here you get six color schemes to choose from, and that’s enough to let you find a pair that appeals to your aesthetic sensibilities.
Another great pair of shoes from this manufacturer is the Mizuno 9 Spike Swagger 2 cleats.
New Balance Metal Baseball Cleats
The New Balance baseball brand may no longer the same brand impact as Nike and Adidas, but it never really went away.
In fact, it has become a favorite brand in certain knowledgeable circles for their surprisingly innovative designs.
The New Balance 4040 V5 Metal Baseball Shoe is a prime example as it has earned almost universal praise for its looks and performance.
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It offers a wide range of colorful options, and here you have 17 color schemes to work with.
But its performance that really takes the cake. You may enjoy a color customization service that lets you pick the color of each shoe component.
Many baseball and softball players who aren’t swayed by brand name prestige consider this pair as the best for baseball and fastpitch softball.
It’s available in both low cut and mid cut versions.
The key to their admiration for this pair of cleats is due to how it makes you feel when you’re wearing it.
It’s actually 30% lighter than the other New Balance foam shoes.
Its features include 8 laser-etched metal spikes, an insert to protect your toes, and a tongue that won’t collect debris.
Under Armour Metal Baseball Cleats
The look of Under Armour shoes in general isn’t really highly lauded, and you can see that for yourself with the 6 available color schemes for the Under Armour Men’s Yard Low St Baseball Cleats.
They’re not bad looking, but they’re not startlingly exciting to look at.
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What will excite you with these Under Armour shoes is their performance, which in baseball is actually more important anyway.
The molded 4-D foam molds to your feet to maximize the shock absorption and rebound when you run. At the same time, it boosts the lateral stability and it prevents your feet from slipping inside the shoes.
With its snug and comfy fit, excellent traction, and flexibility, it sure looks great even with the meager color options. It’s more than meets the eye.
Lightest Baseball Cleats
It stands to reason that the lightest baseball cleats will be the best option for speedsters. In fact, everyone tends to like them because they’re just so comfortable.
It’s not like you’re wearing weighty boots on your feet.
Among the many lightweight baseball cleats in the market today, the Adidas Adizero Afterburner V Men’s Baseball Shoes is perhaps the lightest of them all.
- Sprintskin upper is a revolutionary laminated package for incredible support and reduced weight
- Sprintframe plate with external heel features Sprintstuds and a rotational traction zone delivering unrivaled traction
- Ironskin toe cap provides superior abrasion resistance in key toe-drag area
- Litestrike EVA midsole is lighter than a conventional midsole
- Sock-like construction hugs the foot
Last update on 2023-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It’s also extremely comfortable. It features a padded collar and meshed tongue, comfy textile lining, and a full-length EVA midsole for long-term cushioning without packing on the pounds. It offers a snug fit and the lacing closure is traditional.
The overall design of this pair of cleats actually tries to balance the need for light weight with reliable stability.
That’s why they used TPU material for certain areas that require more protection and support.
Still, Adidas basically tried to shave off as much weight as they can from this issue while still offering adequate support.
This has the Ortholite sockliner, an EVA midsole hat’s designed to be lighter than other midsoles, and the “Sprintframe” outsole plate. The liner and rotational traction is terrific due to the Protrax 5×3 metal cleat design.
Why Metal Cleats?
You may be wondering why there’s such an emphasis on metal baseball cleats. Why not just go with molded or plastic cleats instead? After all, these plastic cleats offer certain advantages.
-
They’re more affordable, and for many players that’s an obvious advantage that can’t be ignored.
Baseball requires a lot of money in terms of equipment, so if you can find a way to save you have to at least consider it.
-
Plastic cleats also last longer.
-
They’re also quite effective in soft, muddy playing fields in which the metal cleats may dig too far down.
-
Some states may not allow metal cleats for softball. Also, some youth baseball leagues don’t allow the use of metal cleats.
Yet metal cleats are often the more popular choice for serious players just as baseball turf shoes are most popular for coaches. Despite the greater priced tag, they offer benefits that most baseball players appreciate.
Also, spikes are basically required and standard for high school and college players. I used metal spikes in junior high.
-
The metal cleats can dig very well into grass and hard dirt infields. This ability gives you the traction you need compared to what you get from plastic cleats.
-
The metal cleats are much better for hitters too. Spikes let you dig a more effective toehold in the batter’s box, so you’re able to take a swing without slipping.
-
Metal cleats also allow you to change direction more effectively. This helps when you’re rounding the bases or when you’re trying to go for a fly ball in the outfield.
Factors to Consider
So here are the factors you need to keep in mind when you’re getting your own pair of baseball metal cleats.
-
Brand name. It’s true that these brand name cleats are generally more expensive than their no-name counterparts.
But this isn’t about fashion snobbery. It’s about commitment to quality and excellence, and the best-known athletic shoe brands have all carved enviable reputations in the industry because they’ve tried to seriously make the best metal cleats possible.
-
Construction. If you have the budget for it, you may want to go with genuine leather for your baseball cleats.
The leather makes for a more supple, breathable, and durable pair of shoes than synthetic. Yet synthetic isn’t just more affordable.
It’s able to offer excellent support for the front and middle of the feet, as well as the ankles.
-
Ankle support. While there are some high top baseball cleats, for the most part you should just choose between the low top and the mid top options.
The low top offers more freedom of movement and greater speed, but the mid top offers better ankle support.
-
Comfort. Like any other pair of shoes, baseball cleats should be comfortable to wear.
Baseball games can last for hours, and it may make you hate the game if you force yourself to wear uncomfortable shoes for extended time periods.
When you’re comfortable, you’re also able to run faster and change directions more effectively.
So you should check the snugness of the fit, as well as the breathability of the shoes. If you’re in between sizes, you should pick the size that’s a bit too tight.
During the breaking-in process, the leather will expand as it molds to the shape of your feet.
-
Light weight. There’s really no need for heavy boots in baseball. Instead, you need extremely lightweight cleats that can let you take off can accelerate without holding you down.
While the baseball cleats should still offer a measure of support for the feet, every unnecessary bit of weight from the shoe should be eliminated.
-
Colors. It’s not true that colors aren’t important for baseball cleats. While it’s certainly more crucial to assess the performance quality of the cleats, aesthetic considerations cannot be overlooked.
Meanwhile, an ugly pair of cleats can lead to embarrassment and discouragement. So it’s best if the cleats offer a very wide range of color combinations to choose from.
This allows players to avoid having the very same color combination as other players on the field, plus there’s a better chance that there will be a color scheme that will appeal to a player’s sense of aesthetics and coolness.
-
Durability. Metal cleats are expensive, so you should at least make some effort to identify the most durable shoes you can buy for baseball.
At least you won’t have to buy new baseball metal cleats too frequently.
Some of the best baseball cleats for adults are so durable that they can last for more than 2 seasons even after lots of hard use.
3 More Factors
Final Thoughts on The Best Metal Baseball Cleats
Yes, it’s true that metal baseball cleats are more expensive than their rubber counterparts.
But in the long run, having the best metal baseball cleats is the more sensible investment because they offer you the chance to excel.
In sports, that’s always the higher priority.
So while you should still stick to a reasonable budget, you can’t always just pick the cheapest equipment around.
Pick any of the cleats we’ve listed and you can at least be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
I’m looking for all real leather baseball cleats prefer Adidas but willing to look at others brands
I know what you mean. Even the cleats that say “leather upper” still have pieces of synthetic material all over them. I’d stick to all the top rated ones.