A Podiatrist’s Take on New Soccer Cleats for Women
Twenty-six years after hanging up my own soccer cleats, and after nearly 2 decades of surgical and clinical practice, I’m proud to see something I’ve long advocated for finally taking hold: shoe companies are beginning to recognize that women deserve cleats designed for their anatomy.
Over the past year, I’ve spoken directly with designers and biomechanics experts at IDA Sports, Nike, and Adidas. As a podiatry consultant for IDA, I’ve also had the opportunity to provide clinical input into design decisions. What I’ve learned through these collaborations, and what I’ve observed in my practice, confirms a simple truth: when cleats are designed for women, they not only fit better, but I feel they may also improve performance and reduce injury risk.
The Anatomical Divide: Why One Cleat Doesn’t Fit All
Foot shape and pressure distribution.1-3 Women often have a narrower heel and wider forefoot and their arches tend to run higher compared to men. Differences in pelvic width and lower-extremity alignment affect how women distribute pressure across the foot during dynamic play.
Cleats, studs, and injury risk.4-6 A wider pelvis can increase stress on the medial knee, shin, and foot, contributing to higher rates of ACL tears, ankle sprains, and shin splints. In my experience, cleat design can amplify or mitigate these risks:
– Stud length: Longer studs can “lock” into turf, increasing torque at the knee.
– Stud pattern: Linear patterns may trap the foot and increase rotational stress.
– Conical studs: Provide grip while releasing safely to reduce plant-and-twist injuries.
– Fit: Ill-fitting cleats—particularly men’s boots on women’s feet—can worsen risk by failing to support natural biomechanics.
What I’m Hearing From Players
Conversations with a wide range of female soccer athletes reveal consistent themes about injury prevention and performance. Many athletes emphasize that women-specific cleats, which better accommodate the female foot shape, improve their sense of comfort and stability on the field. Players also report that consistent strength and conditioning, structured recovery routines, and attention to physiological factors such as the menstrual cycle help them stay healthy and perform at their best. These insights mirror what I feel podiatrists observe in practice: when designing equipment, training, and recovery strategies with female athletes in mind, we better support players in both performance and lower-extremity health.
I recently explored these factors in a pilot study,7 with results currently being submitted for publication. A larger, multi-site study is underway to further investigate these trends and provide evidence-based guidance for athletes, coaches, and medical professionals.
How the Industry Is Responding
Several companies in the soccer cleat industry are heeding the call in research and development in women’s cleats. Below are just a few of my observations on the current market.
IDA Sports. This was the first company to make a soccer cleat specifically for women’s anatomy. Built on a female-specific last with a wider toe box, higher arch, narrower heel, and conical studs, these are designed to reduce plant-and-turn injuries and medial leg strain.
Adidas. The F50 Women’s cleat is built on a female-specific last. Featuring a wider toe box, narrower heel, and customizable insoles—a circular stud configuration supports directional changes and reduces rotational forces.
Puma. In the “Made for Her” initiative, Puma created the Future Ultimate Women’s cleat, adjusting for foot volume and instep height. With a female last, it has a snugger forefoot, lower instep, improved arch support, and circular studs.
Nike. While Nike has not yet introduced a women-specific last, the Phantom Luna was developed by a female-led design team. Key features include an AsymFit collar for ankle stability, asymmetrical lacing for a larger ball-striking zone, and a circular stud pattern.
Caddix Cleats with Smart Studs. New on the market, female-specific last. A wider toe box, narrower heel, and enhanced arch support to better match female foot morphology. Its unique SmartStuds system, unlike any fixed-stud design, allows controlled flex and release under rotation, reducing foot-to-turf coupling and helping limit torsional load through the ankle and knee during cutting maneuvers.
Clinical Takeaways: What I Recommend
When counseling athletes and families, I most often recommend cleats with features tailored to female anatomy:
1. IDA Helia/Rise—Female-specific last, wide toe box, arch support, conical studs for safer pivoting.
2. Adidas F50 Women’s—Female-specific last, customizable insoles, circular stud pattern for knee protection.
3. Puma Ultra 6 Match + (Made for Her)—Female-specific last, snug forefoot, improved arch support, circular studs for rotational control.
4. Nike Phantom Luna—Female-led design, AsymFit collar, asymmetrical lacing, circular studs.
5. Caddix Cleats with SmartStuds—Female-specific last with a wider toe box, narrower heel, and improved arch support. The SmartStuds system reduces torsional load on the ankle and knee during cutting maneuvers.
Across my pilot study7 and clinical experience, female athletes consistently highlight that women’s-specific cleats provide improved fit, comfort, and stability compared with traditional men’s models. While the formal study is ongoing, these observations underscore the importance of footwear designed to support female biomechanics.
Moving Forward
These innovations represent a long-overdue but encouraging shift in the game. Women’s anatomy and biomechanics are not simply smaller versions of men’s, and footwear should reflect that reality.
As podiatrists, we are uniquely positioned to educate athletes and families about the impact of footwear on performance and injury risk. We also have an opportunity to partner with manufacturers to ensure that clinical insight shapes future designs. By bridging the gap between industry and clinical practice, the next generation of players can grow up with equipment built for their bodies—and fewer injuries as a result.
Dr. Richards is a board-certified foot surgeon and board-certified wound care physician at Lexington Medical Center, specializing in sports medicine and injury prevention. As principal investigator of Protect Our Players (POP), Dr. Richards leads research identifying lower extremity injury risk factors in female soccer players.
References
1. Shultz SJ, Nguyen AD, Windley TC, Kulas AS, Botic TL, Beynnon BD. Gender differences in knee joint laxity change across the female menstrual cycle. J Orthop Res. 2004;22(6):1236-1244. doi:10.1016/j.orthres.2004.01.003
2. Rojas IL, Provance AJ, King M, Denegar CR, Hertel J. Gender differences in lower extremity kinematics during landing and cutting tasks: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Sports Act Living. 2022;4:897841. doi:10.3389/fspor.2022.897841
3. Galli M, Coratella G, Rampichini S, et al. Sex-related differences in neuromuscular control and injury risk: mechanisms and implications for prevention. Bioengineering (Basel). 2024;11(12):1261. doi:10.3390/bioengineering11121261
4. Ueno R, et al. Musculoskeletal Issues and Care Specific to the Female Athlete. 2020.
5. Dias MR, Silva J, Correia P, et al. Impact of the quadriceps angle on health and injury risk in female athletes. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024;21(5):1234. doi:10.3390/ijerph21051234
6. The “gender gap in sports injuries” commentary. Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-gender-gap-in-sports-injuries-20240410
7. Richards K, Finlay O. Protect our players: data collection pilot surveys on lower extremity injuries. Poster presented at: XXXII Isokinetic Medical Group Conference; May 3-5, 2025; Madrid, Spain.
