Best Indoor Soccer Shoes

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best indoor soccer shoes are, then we recommend the Adidas Performance Samba Classic as the best pair of shoes

Indoor soccer is a fast-paced alternative to outdoor soccer. With a vastly different playing surface and style, you need the best indoor soccer shoes so you can master futsal or indoor football quickly and safely.

Futsal / indoor football shoes are designed for hard, smooth surfaces, so they should offer great traction, support and fit. But the best ones for you will depend on your playing position and skill level.

I’ve reviewed some of the best indoor soccer shoes and put together a handy guide to help you make an informed decision. Since I’ve tried on hundreds of pairs of shoes, I feel well-placed to offer some advice here, especially since I used to use regular sneakers that ended up ruining my feet.

My top picks for indoor soccer shoes are: 

• Adidas Performance Men’s Samba Classic Indoor Soccer Shoe
• KELME Star 360 Michelin Soccer Shoes
• Puma Invicto SALA Soccer Shoe
• Nike Men’s Mercurial Victory
• Adidas Men’s Messi

Why Do I Need Indoor Soccer Shoes?

The playing surfaces for indoor and outdoor soccer are different, so it makes sense that you need different shoes for each.

While outdoor soccer is usually played on grass or soft ground, indoor soccer, or futsal, involves harder surfaces such as wood or a synthetic turf compound. This means the ball often moves faster than in outdoor soccer, meaning you need to move faster as well.

Indoor soccer shoes are designed to be lightweight for this reason. This is made easier by the fact that you don’t need stud – or cleats — or spikes — on the outsole of your shoe.

What to Consider When Buying Indoor Soccer Shoes

When choosing which indoor soccer shoes to buy, it’s most important to consider weight, fit and comfort. I recommend trying the shoes on in person at least once, even if you end up buying them online. This will give you a good idea of how they’ll feel when you’re on the field.

Material

Most indoor shoes for soccer are constructed from either leather, synthetic or mesh material. Manufacturers do this because these materials provide the optimum blend of durability, flexibility and breathability for manufacturing indoor shoes designed for soccer.

If we’re talking leather, then it’s going to be either, goat or calfskin leather, as it provides both a lovely feel and fit when you play. Traditional football boots were made from full grain leather, but this full grain manufacturing style is dying out. It’s still being done by some of the manufacturers, particularly on their top of the range models. But what you’re beginning to see more of is a leather skin on a synthetic bone. Nike was the first to do this. The Tiempo 7 introduced the new flywire mesh. But, for the Tiempo 8, they combined a leather upper with the synthetic materials in the midfoot. This synthetic leather and flywire/knitware combination is becoming all the rage for indoor football shoes

Also, it’s worth knowing that some of the world’s best soccer players still wear leather soccer shoes. You don’t believe me well here are a few of them: Paulo Dybala, Joao Felix, David De Gea, Lorenzo Insigne, Donny van de Beek, Juan Cuadrado, Jordi Alba, David Luiz all wear the Adidas Copa 20+ and Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, Gerard Pique, Alisson Becker, Thiago Silva, Raphael Varane, Jordan Henderson are all fans of the new Nike Tiempo Legend 8.

Pure leather still exists for the purists, but it is by far the most expensive material out there. But as you do get what you pay for and the leather shoes are tough as nails and extremely durable. However, in today’s cost-conscious society, there are other options for those of you who don’t want to spend a small fortune on a pair of indoor soccer shoes.

Which leads us nicely on to soft synthetic leather. Soft synthetic leather is cheaper to manufacture, and it extremely durable and water-resistant. However, there is a downside to it; it is a lot less flexible than your traditional leather soccer shoes. But, what you do get is a highly breathable and incredibly light mesh indoor soccer shoe

So in summation, the mesh is cheaper than leather and will provide a more costs conscious option. You get most of the benefits as you do with pure leather other than the flexibility.

Weight

Since indoor soccer is a fast-paced sport, you should opt for a lightweight shoe that isn’t going to slow you down. Most indoor soccer shoes have a gum sole, so they’re already lighter than traditional outdoor soccer cleats.

Fit

So fit is partly dependent on you as a person, one person may like it really snug and another may like a bit of space in their boot. But, the general rule of thumb is that while you want the shoe to fit, you don’t want it to be too tight. What your looking for is a shoe that touches the side of your foot. And, most importantly, at least for me is that I have enough room to wiggle my toes. There’s nothing like accidentally toe-punting a ball with a pair of shoes one size too small. Your toe and foot will not forgive you for getting a pair of shoes that are too small. I can tell you that from experience.

Sizing is critical, not only for injury prevention but also to aid your enjoyment of the game. You want the best pair of shoes that doesn’t restrict your ability to play, whip in crosses or put one in the top bin. Yet at the same time, you want to ensure that you’re not running around in a pair of oversized boat shoes. In football (soccer if you wish), your feet are your most significant advantage and asset more so than in any other sport (it’s there in the name of the game). So you need to make sure that you’re buying the best pair of indoor soccer shoes to accentuate your advantages.

If you buy a pair that is too tight, then you’ll find yourself suffering from cramps, and your feet become painful. This may sound a bit far fetched, but you will find that this impacts your ability on and off the ball. If you go the other way and are sliding around in a pair of oversized clogs, then you are going to be highly susceptible to an injury. Most likely, you’ll turn your ankle or even cause real damage to your metatarsal. You need to make sure that the shoe is comfortable but also tight enough to help prevent any injuries that could come your way. So even if you buy the best pair of shoes don’t buy them one or two sizes to large. Make sure that the shoes have the best fit possible

Here at MoccasinGuru, we’re well aware of the impact that foot type has on a person. So much so that we’ve put together a very in-depth guide for you available here. So if you do suffer from flat feet, high arches then make sure that you’re considering this.

A couple of helpful tips now. Your feet swell during a game and over a day. So, to recreate that, you may be better served to make your purchase at the end of the day. Now while this sometimes isn’t practical, as you shop when you shop. What you can do is always take your socks with you when you are making a purchase. Football socks tend to be thicker than your average pair so make sure that you’re trying your shoes on with them as well.

We talked about the room your toe needs earlier. So, when you are trying on shoes, make sure you leave some wiggle space. The saying goes, allow for about a 1/4 inch of space at the end of the foot. So enough room to wiggle the toes but not enough room for your feet to slide.

Comfort

A comfortable shoe will make playing indoor soccer more pleasant. It can also provide much-needed support for your feet and knees.

Every time your foot hits the surface of an indoor playing field, you risk lasting damage to your joints. This is why it’s crucial to choose a pair of shoes that provide both comfort and support for your body.

Design

The best futsal shoes are designed with flexibility and comfort in mind. If you want extra flexibility to make advanced movements on the field, look for a shoe with flex grooves on the outsole.

Don’t even think about sticking to your regular running pair. They don’t allow for those sharp turns that are needed in indoor soccer.

You’ll also want to consider the rise of the shoe’s collar, which can be low, mid, or high:

• High-top: Rise above the ankle and provide excellent support for the whole fit. If you twist your ankle a lot while playing, high-top shoes might be a good option.
• Mid-top: Provide good lateral support to the ankle while not being as restrictive as high-top shoes.
• Low-top: Sit below the ankle, giving the player an excellent range of motion. The lack of ankle support can lead to injury in less skilled players, however.

The best indoor soccer shoes are those that offer your foot a bit of everything. That could be, range of motion, or it could be a superior level of support and comfort. But once again it depends on you as a player. For most, the mid-top or the low-top designs are the go-to choices. With the low-top being the least restrictive and offering the most range and maneuverability.

Indoor soccer shoes for Futsal don’t have studs, spikes or cleats (depending on your geography you will understand at least one of those). However, there are some indoor soccer shoes out there that give you the option of adding studs/spikes/cleats to them. This design exists to take into consideration surface conditions. Still, I would stay away from studs on Futsal or any soccer shoes for indoor use.

Construction

An indoor football shoe should be constructed out of materials that allow for maximum support, comfort, and stability. They should be flexible and breathable. Your feet are your tools when playing indoor soccer. They need to have the freedom of movement, the sensitivity to allow for great “feel”, and of course be durable. The construction of the shoe should be as lightweight as possible, both in the sole and the upper.

The materials used should be durable and breathable. The construction of the outsole should be low profile and the midsole should offer great comfort and support. Many people have foot issues and the construction of the shoe can negate some of these. If you find that you have wide or narrow feet, look for a shoe that is constructed to deal with this.

Also, the soles provide help with heel, knee or ball of the feet issues. The construction on the heel of the shoe can help you deal with any heel or ankle issues. If you selected an angled heel cup construction with a textured lining, you can help prevent that shoes do not slip off your feet as your run and dribble the ball.

The midsole construction of the shoe should also be low profile, this is to give your feet as much contact with the pitch as possible to keep you stable. Other important aspects of the construction of your indoor soccer shoe are the laces and tongues of the sports shoes. This is important in soccer shoes as they can have an effect on the way you kick and dribble the ball.

Ideally, the laces should be placed out of the way and the tongue of the shoe should place the tongue under the laces. This style of construction prevents either the laces of the tongue of the shoe from interfering in the manner in which you kick the ball.

Outsole, Midsole, Insole

Outdoor football shoes have studs (or spikes or cleats depending on your location). These studs are there to give you more traction. In contrast, indoor soccer shoes do not need this type of reinforcement. What you’re looking for is a good flat rubber sole, with some bumps on them that are non-marking. They are designed this way to give you the grip and traction that you need when playing on indoor surfaces.

The rubber sole should be designed to give you stability when making sharp turns and movements in the game. Whatever soccer shoe you pick has to allow you to be nimble on your feet.

Even though a stiff rubber sole gives you excellent stability, it doesn’t give you the flexibility and movement that you need. To be able to control and pass the ball at the level you want, your shoe should have cushioning. This cushioning should be in the insole or the footbed of your shoe.

The final piece of the puzzle when it comes to shoes for indoor soccer is the heel. What you’re looking for is extra reinforcement in the heel area. This extra padding and support in the heel help relieve any extra pressure. Padding throughout the shoe helps alleviate pain in particular tender regions, such as the balls of your feet, your heel and the arches. The midsole is the crucial area here and what your looking for is a low-top design. This ensures that you have great ball control. But it will also have the right level of padding to ensure stability and help prevent foot pain. You’re also looking for materials on the inner footbed that take away moisture and help keep your foot and your shoe nice and dry.

Type of sole

We talked a little about the outsole earlier. But your choice of outsole, be it a flat sole or gum rubber or something else, will be based on several factors. So the types of questions you should be asking yourself are things such, am I going to be using these shoes as both indoor soccer shoes and outdoor soccer shoes? Do I need studs? How much traction do I need?  

All these questions and your answers to them will help you decide on the type of sole that you need

Your options are:

• Flat. Rubber outsoles for indoor soccer shoes are traditionally flat. Your shoes will typically have flat soles that can be used during futsal or on indoor courts or on a hard indoor surface. These shoes usually have a flat rubber outsole, also they are relatively lightweight alongside this.
• Gum Rubber. A gum rubber outsole would be my pick for indoor soccer shoes with a flat bottom. Gum rubber tends to be a bit stickier and a bit softer than your traditional rubber. This additional stickiness and softness aids your traction and allows sharp movement on the pitch. However, this does come at a price. The gum rubber, while it does allow for sharper movements, does tend to be less durable than your more traditional rubber.
• Solid rubber. The majority of indoor soccer shoe soles are made of solid rubber. And there’s a good reason for it. It’s a solid all-rounder. You get excellent traction, and they are more durable. 
• Studs/Spikes/Cleats. As I’ve said before some indoor soccer shoes come with studs/spikes/cleats. The idea behind this is that the rubber studs improve your traction but for me this is an unneeded item on an indoor soccer shoe.  

Playing Position

Different shoes are designed for different playing positions:

• Goalkeeper: Look for a shoe with excellent traction and lateral support to help prevent injuries.
• Attacker: Opt for a lightweight shoe with a decent strike zone to make those goals.
• Defender: Go for a durable shoe that provides high protection and lateral support.

The Best Indoor Soccer Shoes

I scoured the reviews and did extensive research to find five of the best indoor soccer shoes for your next game.

1. Adidas Performance Men’s Samba Classic Indoor Soccer Shoe

With a full-grain leather upper, gum-rubber outsole and suede leather accents, the Adidas Performance Men’s Samba Classic Indoor shoe is both stylish and practical.

These shoes rubber outsole is made from gum rubber and provides excellent traction and is non-slip, so it won’t mark polished hardwood surfaces, making it ideal for indoor soccer games. The rubber and leather combination gives great flexibility so you can make quick, multi-directional movements without straining yourself.

Also, the Adidas has both a EVA midsole and insole. The EVA insole is super comfortable and offers great arch support. I love how the EVA insole cushions your feet while still providing support and balance. The Adidas Performance Samba combines the rubber sole with a synthetic leather upper which is for durability.

Although I don’t buy into gender stereotypes, Adidas did design this shoe specifically for men. As a result, I highly recommend trying these on for sizing before you buy them, as they may run a bit big. 

When sized correctly, these shoes fit comfortably and make your feet feel secure on hard surfaces. You don’t even need to break them in!

Although, I recommend a quick walk around the block before taking them to a game, just to be on the safe side. This shouldn’t be a problem as these shoes look great on and off the court.

The Adidas performance samba is a style icon and not only are they the best shoes for indoor soccer but are also a great pair of shoes for casual nights out. You’ll see these shoes at pubs, clubs, on the football pitches and even at work. They are all round classics and have been for years. Not only are they stylish but they’re also functional and that’s why the Adidas Performance Samba Classic Indoor are the best indoor soccer shoes on the market

Sizes on offer are 6.5 to 14 in the following colors:

Pros

• Adidas Samba Classic has a classically stylish design.
• No break-in time — ready to go straight out of the box.
• Excellent non-slip traction.
• Comfortable, supportive insole.
• Comfortable EVA midsole

Cons

• Some customers found the arch support too firm for their liking.

2. Kelme Star 360 Michelin Soccer Shoes

The KELME Star 360 Michelin Soccer Shoes feature an innovative design for ultimate comfort and control.

The forefoot is made from lightly padded leather, which offers comfort and great ball control. Suede covers the instep and toe, making it ideal for gripping the ball as you dribble. The back of the shoe and the tongue are made from mesh, which makes the shoe breathable, keeping you comfortable and dry throughout the game.

In my opinion, this is one of the best futsal shoes for traction. One of the best things about these shoes is that the outsole of this shoe employs Michelin technology that makes it soft and flexible enough for fast movements. It has an excellent grip on nearly any surface, but it’s definitely at its best on an indoor soccer court. 

Although the shoe may feel a bit stiff out of the box, once you wear it in, I think it’ll fit comfortably. It’s great for people with feet that are wider tha normal — even if it feels a bit tight around the toes, the leather will stretch over time to allow for a more comfortable fit.

Currently, these shoes are available in sizes 6.5, 7 and 7.5, although this is just an availability issue. Your color options are either turquoise or red/black.

Pros

• Multi-material design offers comfort, flexibility and breathability.
• Excellent grip.
• Breathable.
• Suitable for wide feet.

Cons

• Takes time to wear in.
• Some customers found the sizing runs large.

3. Puma Invicto SALA Soccer Shoe

The Puma Invicto SALA Soccer Shoe provides great comfort and support on and off the court. It’s made from natural suede leather with mesh inserts for breathability. These are some of the best shoes for keeping your feet cool and dry during a game of indoor soccer.

The outsole is lightweight and non-marking, meaning you don’t have to worry about them marking polished wood floors as you play. It provides great flexibility for a wide range of movement and excellent traction to keep you on your feet. This gives you great control over the ball, which is sure to give you an edge!

With a reinforced rubber toe, your feet will be well-supported and protected throughout the game with these shoes.

I particularly love how comfortable the cushioned sock liner is, providing good shock absorption and support for your knees. Also, the laces offer a snug, comfortable fit, which will keep you stable on the court.

Only one color option is available: black/white/cloisonne (a blue). The size range is currently from 5 to 12.

Pros

• Reasonably priced pair of indoor soccer shoes.
• Breathable materials.
• Comfortable, secure fit.
• Lightweight and non-marking sole.

Cons

• Some users found the shoe to be too narrow, so I recommend sizing up, particularly if you have wider feet.

4. Nike Men’s Mercurial Victory

With a non-slip studded outsole made from rubber, the Nike Mercurial Victory provides world-class traction and grip, even on the shiniest of surfaces. These are some of the best shoes for keeping up with a soccer ball on smooth surfaces and is flexible enough to offer a decent range of motion.

One thing that makes this shoe stand out is that it doesn’t have a tongue. This leads to greater stability and a more secure lockdown. The fit is snug but comfortable, giving you ultimate control over the ball — whether you’re having a kick-around with your friends or going in for that winning goal.

The midsole is contoured, mimicking the shape of a human foot. This adds extra support to the shoe and takes some of the pressure off your arches and feet. Also, the midsole is covered with a textile layer to make it supremely comfortable.

There are three color combinations on offer, and the current sizing is 9 to 11.5, but I believe the lower size range will drop as availability increases.

Pros

• Tongueless design provides secure lockdown.
• Excellent traction on smooth surfaces.
• Contoured midsole for arch support.

Cons

• Some players reported the sizing runs small on these shoes.

5. Adidas Men’s Messi

The Adidas Men’s Messi provides a snug fit and these are some of the best shoes around for control and movement on the court. 

The outer material wraps itself around your foot, molding to its unique shape. This gives you maximum support and stability, which leads to an even greater range of motion. The shoe helps players reach their full potential, unlocking the power to make sharp turns quickly and safely.

The rubber outsole is non-marking and offers great traction, making it ideal for smooth hardwood surfaces. The midsole is low profile, which means your foot stays close to the ground. This gives you more control over your movements and the ball. 

Light padding on the insole gives you decent comfort and support throughout the game. These shoes are comfortable, straight out of the box. You won’t have to wear them in for long to experience how well they perform on the court!

Be sure to check the sizing availability since this is a popular pair of shoes!

Pros

• Great lockdown with a snug fit.
• Short wear-in time for this indoor soccer shoe.
• Stylish.
• Non-marking rubber outsole.

Cons

• Pricier than other options.

6.Nike Magistax Proximo II IC Mens Indoor

Thanks to its design the Nike Magistax actually aids your ball control. Especially useful for when you’re throwing the old Cruyff turn in the corner to shake a full back off. This pair of indoor soccer shoes are great for close control

The flyknit upper is provides an extremely comfortable experience and this borne out in user testimonies. The design further helps those who may have a slightly heavy touch by ensuring there are some 3D bumps in the non leather upper.

The rubber outsole on these soccer cleats is non-marking and offers great traction, due to the circular traction pattern in its design. This outsole has been specifically engineered to aid those who like quick turns and quick plays such as 1-2’s and the old give and go. The midsole is made up of Lunarlon foam, which provide a much more responsive and springy reaction. In addition it provides a great deal of support and comfort.

Unlike some of it’s compatriots in the Nike range the Magistax doesn’t come with Nike’s patented ACC (All Conditions Control) Technology. The ACC technology is designed to help you maintain control in both the wet and the dry.

There have also been some reports of this shoe running a half size or so small, so make sure that you’re taking that into consideration if you are going with them

Overall it’s one of the best pairs of indoor soccer shoes on the market, but you are paying for the privilege, so if you do have some money spare then go for it. Those who have purchased it have deemed it a good price for such a quality shoe though.

Pros

• Flyknit upper which adds to the comfort factor
• Helps your ball control due to the 3D texture in the upper area
• Midsole foam provides additional responseviness
• Non-marking rubber outsole.

Cons

• Run about a half size too small

7. Adidas Men’s Predator Tango 18+ Indoor Soccer Shoe

So if you’re of a certain age, the Adidas Predator will always hold a special place in your heart. I still remember when the original predators were released. What a pair of football boots (or soccer cleats or soccer shoes) they were. Lovely full grain leather with some synthetic rubber ridges which added that swerve and bend to the ball. However that was 1994 and we’ve moved on since then, The full grain leather is a thing of the past and Adidas also make a version of the predator for indoor surfaces.

The upper layer is a combination of synthetic leather and the Adidas signature PrimeKnit material. this actually makes this indoor soccer shoe identical to its outdoor brother at least in the design for this particular part of the shoe. This particular version is also laceless and this design is there to aid your striking. As the ControlSkin layer is a responsive film that improves the friction between the ball and the foot

The rubber outsole design is unique. The middle of the sole has a Y-shaped bar that enhances traction on indoor surfaces and yet the rubber sole itself has multiple grooves, and being an adidas predator these grooves have a extremely stylish design to them. These grooves combined with the Y-bar are intended to promote stability during acceleration.

The design, the grooved rubber sole, the synthetic leather and knit combination makes the Adidas Predator one of the best shoes on the market.

Pros

• They’re Adidas Predator’s
• Exceptional comfort
• Accurate ball control
• Non-marking rubber sole.

Cons

• You pay for the privilege for owning this indoor soccer shoe
• These shoes can be narrow due to laceless design

The Kicker 

A lot of work goes into designing the perfect indoor soccer shoe. Players need to consider fit, comfort and support when choosing a new pair. Your playing position will likely influence your decision, as well. There’s an awful lot of information to unpack when selecting the best indoor soccer shoe so I hope that I was able to help you out today.

If you’re an attacker, I recommend a lightweight shoe such as the Puma Invicto SALA Soccer Shoe. Players with wide feet might prefer the KELME Star 360 Michelin Soccer Shoes, which run bigger and are made from premium materials.

For me, though, the best indoor soccer shoes are the Adidas Samba Indoor Soccer Shoes. They offer great support and traction, and they’re stylish to boot. They’re suitable for a range of positions, and the non-slip, non-mark outsole makes them ideal for indoor soccer courts.