New rugby boots- recommendations?

Wheelsonthebus

Hi guys,

As per another thread, am having trouble with my calves/legs and reckon a lot of it could be down to the crappy pair of boots I have.

Can anyone recommend a decent, comfortable pair for a forward?

Always have trouble when it comes to buying boots- they never seem to have anything in my size- so it's a case of taking whatever they have which I did with the current pair I have. I'm size 12 which isn't exactly giant sized and you'd think they'd have big sizes for rugby players....

gaius c

If you have calf problems, you're probably prone to shin splints so you should get proper insoles for your boots and take more time warming up & stretching. For training this season, the lads would play a game of tip but I went and warmed up properly because otherwise I'd be in bits.

Downtime

These Asics boots are meant to be superb for calves etc

ki

What Position in the forwards?

I'm a flanker and prefer to use soccer boots. I've a pair of Nike T90.
They are very light and comfortable.
The tight 5 players in our club have b!tched about the Cantebury boots, impossible to break in and then gone in 4-5 months.

Kooga get thumbs up all the from most.

Also +1 on the insoles to stop the calf problems

Pixelcraft

I use mizuno timaru boots and think they're great, got through nearly 2 seasons so far

Eoin

I've always found Mizuno and Kooga boots to be very comfortable and don't need any breaking in. I just get a pair on eBay for about £35 every season or two. It might be worth your while looking at orthotics as well.

gaius c wrote:

For training this season, the lads would play a game of tip but I went and warmed up properly because otherwise I'd be in bits.

Yep, my physio said it's a pretty bad idea to warm up with a game of tip.

big neilly

fan of the adidas flanker boots myself can get slim fit or wide fit, im wearing the flanker III wide fit at the minute



might change to the flanker IV for next season




buying online should find your size would go with the wide fit as i had the ordinary ones first and found them too tight

Wheelsonthebus

Thanks for the recommendations guys.

I'd just be a bit wary of buying online as I know sizes can depend on the actual brand you buy. Dont want to end up in the same boat as a result of using boots that are not the right size.

Also with the insoles- I always thought you just got insoles when your shoes dont fit.

Can you get particular types for sports and particular problems???

Thanks!!

Eoin

Orthotics support your arches and heel, which might help your gait. My physio swears by them, but others don't. Apparently a huge amount of the population are flat footed.

You can get custom ones done for a few hundred - these are done by using a gait analysis machine that measures your footprint. Or you can get generic ones for ~80 which are still quite good.

gaius c

eoin wrote: »

Orthotics support your arches and heel, which might help your gait. My physio swears by them, but others don't. Apparently a huge amount of the population are flat footed.

You can get custom ones done for a few hundred - these are done by using a gait analysis machine that measures your footprint. Or you can get generic ones for ~80 which are still quite good.

Got mine for about €40 in Naas.

Depp

big neilly wrote: »

fan of the adidas flanker boots myself can get slim fit or wide fit, im wearing the flanker III wide fit at the minute



might change to the flanker IV for next season




buying online should find your size would go with the wide fit as i had the ordinary ones first and found them too tight

Flanker 3...best boots ever

Morf

eoin wrote: »

Orthotics support your arches and heel, which might help your gait. My physio swears by them, but others don't. Apparently a huge amount of the population are flat footed.

You can get custom ones done for a few hundred - these are done by using a gait analysis machine that measures your footprint. Or you can get generic ones for ~80 which are still quite good.

I'm getting a new pair of custom ones. I would be struggling to walk without mine. They will cost €200. Completely worth it though.

I have problems with shin splints, my problem is a lack of mobility in my ankle although it could be a number of things.

You should get yourself to a physio and see what problem is causing it, boots might help a very small amount but corrective measures and some form of exercises will probably be needed.

boredatwork82

As far as problems, get yourself to a good sports physio, do a bit of research. Try and get a guy who works with rugby teams.

As for boots, I have a very wide foot so that limits me.
But here is my opinion/experience.

Kooga - excellent but the better models are harder to find in Ireland, so you will need to be bought online. They are a bit soft though, so they will probably not last more than 1 season if you are training and playing alot. The ones i got were lovely and comfortable, but couldn't find the model again.

Canterbury - big, cumbersome, heavy, awkward and uncomfortable. Stay miles away from them.

Addidas - My present boot, struggling to break in an addidas wide fit flanker IV, had addidas flanker wide fit before, they were good.

Mizuno - My physio said they are probably the best for big guys. They are light, but I have had good pairs and bad pairs, that fell apart after a 2 months, brought them back and got money back.

Nike Air (red) Zoom - Best rugby boot ever, unfortunately not made anymore.

Puma - never had a pair, one or two of the lads swear by them, and to be fair Puma make the most comfortable soccer boot (puma King), So I don't see why they should differ in the quality of their rugby boot.

The problem in Ireland is that no one shop in my experience will have a huge stock and variety of rugby boots, so I tend to buy mine online. They also work out 10-20 quid cheaper as well.

Your best bet is to try on a lot of boots, when you find the best fit, you will know it straight away. I wear 2 pairs of socks when I am playing so I always wear 2 pairs of football socks when I am trying on boots. Makes a huge difference, as one normal sock is far thinner than 2 football socks.