How to Pick the Right Pair of Rugby Boots

We like to think here at First XV we have one of the widest ranges of rugby boots in the UK that you can physically see and try on, 36 different boots at today's count. Sure, there is a plethora more online, but there's nothing quite like trying a few different boots on and working out what works for your feet and your position.



Rugby is such a dynamic sport, incorporating explosive running, twisting and turning. Poor fitting rugby boots and hard grounds could leave your feet in tatters. Blisters can be a surprisingly debillating injury...not that your mates will let you away with skipping a game with sore feet! Get your boots fitted and get them right first time.

Here are a few pointers to help you choose the right boots.....

Choose a boot that is appropriate for your position on the pitch. We often see second rows coming in with lightweight backs' boots in shreds. They simply are not made for front five action and will only result the boots failing. 

For length, we recommend between a thumbnail and half a thumbnail room at the toe. The picture on right represents the maximum amount of room that you should have at the toe. For width, make sure you choose a boot that does not feel too tight or offer excessive movement. They should just feel right when you put them on, no excessive squeezing, no excessive side to side movement.

Be aware getting blisters can be part and parcel of breaking in boots, try a second sock, or an insole may just help the hot spots and reduce the amount the foot moves within the boot. Hard ground is also a culprit for causing blisters, often combining with new boots at the beginning of the Northern Hemisphere season to give a skin-destroying double whammy.

 

Make sure you tighten your studs before the first use, many manufactures don't use standard studs anymore (30 pence each!), in particular Adidas. A set of Malice or Kakari studs will set you back £10, a costly mistake for not taking two minutes to tighten the studs.

To make the most of your boots and increase their survival chances, remember to make sure and give your boots a good clean from time to time, just a bit of water to clear the excess dirt, letting them dry out naturally between uses is the key and then slapping on some beeswax will give real leather a proper feed.  

We'll do our best to help and guide you into the correct boot, but ultimately it is your responsibility to make sure they fit correctly. Give you boots a try out around the house if you can, as soon as they hit the turf the can not be returned unless they are faulty.

We do appreciate that boots can sometimes be found cheaper online, so if you have seen a price while we might not always be able to price match we will do our best to offer the best deal we can.

We look forward to seeing you in our boot room soon.  Check out our August 2016 Shop Tour for a glimpse of some of the boots available.