It is very difficult to compile a complete guide to buying football boots. Which boots are purchased depends
upon such things as budget, sole plate, construction and style. Above all else are the preferences of the
individual player.

How Many Pairs?

Where possible, we recommend that players should have a pair of firm ground football boots and a pair of soft
ground football boots of the same model. By spreading wear the boots will last longer and have longer to
recover between uses.

Many professionals will have different match boots to training boots - nearly all will have custom made insoles
to increase comfort and to help avoid foot injury.

The Correct Size to Buy

We all know that different manufacturers seem to have a different interpretation to the international size chart.
Pantofola d'Oro football boots are famous for their generous fit. Our best advice is to order your shoe size and
not the same size as the famous brand you may wear. Pantofola d'Oro sizes are very similar to World Cup or
Cuppa Mondial.

The Fit of the Shoe

A football boot should feel snug to the foot – but not too tight. The laces should be used to shape the boot to
the foot by being tightened along their entire length. Players should take time to pull the loops of the lace tight
throughout the length of the upper which may be six to eight 'eyes' long. The support given to the foot by
having the lace properly tightened throughout its length will help avoid injury and blisters caused by poorly
fitting football boots. Being made entirely of fine quality leathers means that your pair of Pantofola d'Oro
will 'educate' to the shape of your foot given time and wearing. This will ensure maximum long-term comfort. If
laces have to be pulled too tight in order to stop the shoe from being loose, then the football boot is probably
too big.

The Sole Plate

In common with many manufacturers, Pantofola d'Oro make various sole plates that are suitable for different
ground conditions. The four we stock are Interchangeable, PU Moulded, Hard Ground / Astro Turf and Indoor
soles. In an ideal world, a player should have two pairs of boots for matches (interchangeable studs and PU
moulded studs) and two pairs of trainers for indoor and astro turf surfaces. This will help prolong the life of
the footwear and reduce the possibility of injury sustained by wearing incorrect boots or trainers.

At Best-For.com we're not recommending that buyers purchase four pairs immediately. Most players will
already have many, if not all, of the four sole plates on boots and trainers already being used. Pantofola d'Oro
football boots and trainers are made to last and your collection can be bought over time. We recommend that
customers assess their current footwear and purchase the sole plate required during the following periods:-

Interchangeable Studs - Winter months
PU Moulded Studs - Summer, Autumn and Spring months
Hard Ground / Astro Turf - Summer and Winter months. Use as street wear.
Indoor - All year round – can be used as street wear.

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Interchangable Studs

The most common soleplate worn by players in the UK is the six studded
interchangeable sole. Usually associated with soft ground football boots,
the studs can be changed according to ground conditions.

The six studs are riveted through the sole and give maximum grip on soft
ground. The sole is stitched to the upper.

These soles are unsuitable for use on firm ground as impact on firmer
surfaces can rupture the sole and lead to discomfort, blistering and impact
injury to the feet and knees.

At Best-For.com we stock seven models of Pantofola d'Oro with this sole:
Dream, Desiderio Lazzarini, Eleganza, Penarol, Torre and Star.






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PU Moulded Studs

PU Moulded soles have twelve studs with an additional seven smaller
studs to provide support to the ball of the foot. This sole plate is an
excellent choice for use on firm ground surfaces and is the best as a
general purpose football boot.

The sole is made out of Poly Urethane (PU) and is stitched to the upper.
Unlike Interchangeable studs (above) the studs are not riveted through
the sole which means the weight of the impact is evenly spread over the
width of the soles helping to reduce injuries to feet and knees. These boots
are supremely comfortable at all times. On softer ground, the build-up of mud
on the sole under the ball of the foot can reduce grip however, many players
prefer the comfort these soles offer and can be seen removing the build-up
of mud during the game.

At Best-For.com we stock four models of Pantofola d'Oro with this sole:
Dream, Desiderio, Lazzarini and Eleganza.






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Combination Sole

The Combination Sole simply mixes six interchangeable studs onto a
twelve studded PU moulded sole. The interchangeable studs are riveted
through the sole. This sole plate is an excellent choice for use on firm to
soft ground surfaces. It is slightly more versatile than either PU Moulded
or Interchangeable studs by offering the wearer the ability to change the
six studs according to ground conditions. In practical terms, the build-up
of mud under the ball of the foot that can reduce grip on soft ground
surfaces means the sole is very similar in day-to-day use to the PU
moulded sole.

At Best-For.com we stock thee modesl of Pantofola d'Oro combination
sole. The Cometa, Dream and Superstar.









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Hard Ground / Astro Turf Sole

The Hard Ground / Astro Turf sole is ideally suited to hard summer grass
pitches and Astro Turf surfaces. The soles are dimpled to provide extra grip where
studs can not work effectively. Boots / trainers with this sole are a must-have for
winter training and offer a fine alternative during summer months on hard grass
pitches.

At Best-For.com we stock two models of Pantofola d'Oro with Astro turf soles.
The Ascoli and Torre has a black sole and Mitica Elite has the amber sole shown
left.







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Indoor Sole

Designed for use on indoor surfaces, the indoor sole ensures maximum comfort
on grip. Boots or trainers with this sole tend to have more padding on the inside
of the shoe to protect the wearer from impact injury. Indoor soles have become
popular 'street-wear' over recent years.

At Best-For.com we stock four Pantofola d'Oro with this sole: Star, Superstar,
Dream and Lazzarini..