Starting My Cleat Hunt Journey
Decided to find out which Jude Bellingham cleats actually live up to the hype since everyone keeps asking about ’em. Grabbed my wallet and went straight to three big sports stores downtown. Asked every salesperson about Jude’s signature kicks – half didn’t even know which player I was talking about. Typical.
Finally found four pairs that kept popping up in my research:
- Nike Mercurial Superfly Elite
- Adidas X Crazyfast+
- Puma Future Ultimate
- New Balance Furon v7
The Brutal Testing Phase
Wore each pair for full 90-minute pickup games at the local turf field. My feet hated me by day three. Started with the Nike Mercurials – felt like rockets strapped to my feet when sprinting, but oh man, that collar rubbed my ankle raw after 20 minutes. Had to stop and slap bandages on like an idiot mid-game.
Tried the Adidas Crazyfasts next. So light I almost forgot I had shoes on, but zero ankle support when making quick cuts. Nearly twisted my ankle twice during corner kicks. The Pumas were total opposites – felt like walking on pillows but weighed a ton. Couldn’t explode forward like I wanted to.
Saved the New Balances for last. Surprise of the bunch! Actually decent for wider feet but the laces kept coming undone every 10 minutes. Spent more time retying than playing.
The Painful Reality Check
After two weeks of blisters and angry teammates waiting while I adjusted gear:
- Nike’s great if you care only about speed
- Adidas wins on weight but terrifies me on wet grass
- Puma’s comfy couch shoes
- New Balance needs better damn laces
None were perfect. Kept thinking about Bellingham switching brands all the time – now I get why.
Why Bother With This Mess?
Honestly? Saw some YouTuber claiming “one cleat fits all scenarios.” Total garbage. Wanted to prove that cleats depend entirely on your foot shape and play style. My wide feet with high arches suffered in every “elite” pair except the Pumas.
My advice after this torture test? Don’t buy because Jude wears them. Go try them in-store and jog around properly before spending $300. And always bring blister pads!
