Finding the right softball cleat for your daughter is very important to her enjoying the activity and excelling in it. If a child’s softball cleat is uncomfortable or not provided needed traction it can become an issue. There are many different children’s softball cleats on the market. I took a look at the traits I consider most important for purchasing a softball cleat:
1. Durability- Listen, you only want to buy one pair of softball cleats for a season and ideally (assuming your child doesnt grow too fast or has a second sibling) get a second season out of the cleats
2. Comfort- Probably most important. If your child is not comfortable in her softball cleat I will doubt she will enjoy playing softball
3. Performance- Everyone wants to see their child excel and a quality cleat can get your child on the way to excelling at softball
Under Armour Glyde Softball Cleat– This cleat is one of the more comfortable on the market. It uses a die crusted EVA as its insole (EVA is the same material used in most orthotics). The Armour Bound provides comfort and shock absorption. Additionally the rubber molded cleats should provide excellent traction.
Nike Girls Hyperdiamond Keystone GS– This is probably the superior performace cleat on the market, so if your daughter is a serious player this maybe the cleat I would suggest her getting. If you are worried about your child not being comfortable in a cleat I would probably shy away from this one.
Mizuno Youth Franchise Softball Cleat– Mizuno is now branded in the softball world in the Finches. It tends to be the best of these brand of cleats. One feature somewhat unique to this cleat is the padded tongue that can give a great deal of comfort, if you are worried about your childs comfort. In my mind it probably provides the best of both worlds between comfort and performance.