Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

As far as football boots go, the predator is up there with the best of them. First launched in the Nineties, the classic boot has been a favourite ever since, and the latest incarnation – the predator freak – is a worthy winner of our top spot.

An update of last year’s mutator 20, these boots have “demonskin 2.0” spikes across the upper to give you a great level of grip on the ball – and a brilliantly menacing appearance on the pitch. We tested the FG versions, although there are soles available for every pitch. We particularly liked the mid-cut design, which gave a great level of support around the ankle, and found these to be incredibly lightweight.

What really set them apart though was the ease of getting them on and off, thanks to the design of the collar – which totally cut down the amount of time we spent faffing at the side of the pitch. Famously worn by Man U’s Paul Pogba, this is one fine footie boot.

Best: For affordability

Rating: 9/10

If you’re looking for the same classic predator style but don’t want to spend £70, consider the predator P3. We found these boots ticked many of the same boxes as the newer ones, but at a slightly more affordable price for growing feet, and we were as impressed with the turf versions as we were the firm ground versions we tried.

The fit came up brilliantly and these mid-cut boots offered great support for our narrow-footed tester, particularly as the laces allow you to adjust the fit. The main difference we noticed was the upper, which has a more subtle layer of textured small studs rather than the full-on rubber spikes of the freaks. Yes, they received less of a fanfare on the pitch, but they’re a brilliant boot all the same.

Best: For wider feet

Rating: 8/10

If your football fanatic prefers a low-profile boot without the moulded sock-style collar of the Adidas predators, these are a great option. Laced like a normal pair of trainers, they’ve got a soft calf leather upper with embossed ridges or textured panels, depending on the colour and style you choose. Our tester preferred the white/volt versions, mostly because of the bold Nike swoosh branding.

We found even when we pulled the laces in quite tightly, these were a better fit on a wider foot. That said, they have a good amount of arch support and a padded ankle that allowed our tester to play in them for long periods without any complaints. These start from a size 1, so they’re great for younger players.

Best: For occasional players

Rating: 7/10

Coming in at under a tenner, these budget-friendly boots are an ideal first pair. Designed for occasional play on a dry pitch, they’re aimed towards younger children just starting out at a once-a-week football club. As such, sizes start from 7.5 junior and go up to an adult 5 – still for a bargain £9.99.

Design-wise they’re a fuss-free black and red combo with a white sole with moulded studs, plus there’s also a version for artificial pitches. Our tester found them comfortable and easy enough to get on and off, and they cleaned up and lasted well. Considering how quickly kids’ feet grow, we found these did the job perfectly for a great price – albeit without any of the bells and whistles. Kipsta also do a rip-tab Agility 500 boot as well as a high-top version, both of which make a wallet-friendly step up from the Agility 100 if your child plays a bit more regularly.

Best: For lightweight boots

Rating: 9/10

Nike has redesigned the plate and upper of its classic tiempos to create the legend 9 pro, which is the priciest pair of boots in our round-up. Amazingly lightweight, these have a leather upper cut to a low-profile shape, and they’re designed with attackers in mind.

Our tester liked the low-key black colourway with a signature tiempo logo on the back, and apart from the textured foam pods on the upper and the all-important Nike tick, the design is as cool and classic as it gets. This version starts from a UK4 and goes up to a UK14, so older kids, teens and grown-ups can all find a size to fit. There’s also a cheaper junior version in smaller sizes.

Best: For speed

Rating: 7/10

Our tester loved channelling Antoine Griezmann in these Puma ultras. Engineered for speed, they have a slim profile and feel nice and light, with a non-marking rubber outsole and a synthetic upper that’s reflected in the low price.

The boots start from a junior 10 and go up to a size two, so they’re another good choice for small feet. We tried the sunblaze colour – a pinky red with blue details – which stood out well on an astro turf pitch. The option to customise them with a name (for £2) and a flag or emoji (for another £5) sealed the deal for our tester.

Best: For younger players

Rating: 7/10

Our six-year-old tester got on brilliantly with these boots thanks to the quick and easy Velcro fastening. There’s a bit of give so you can get a good fit on a fairly narrow foot, or let it out a little if your child’s feet are wider. Either way, the Velcro seems to last well without losing its grip over time.

Design-wise they’re sleek and simple with a synthetic upper, padded ankle and cushioned insole. Our tester wore the black version with red details, although there are brighter options available if you want to be able to spot your little player on the pitch. All in all this is a good budget version of Nike’s famous mercurial boot available for younger players from a junior size 10 up to a 13.

Best: Laceless boots

Rating: 8/10

Yes, it’s the predators again. But these freak .3s deserve a special mention as they’re such a good option if you’re looking for laceless football boots without having to worry about Velcro fastenings losing their grip over time.

Bear in mind that without the laces there’s no adjustment to be made, so our most narrow-footed tester found the fit a little loose. On the plus side, they allow your young player to pull them on and off totally independently, without the risk of tripping over their laces in the middle of a match.

In particular, we liked the colour options available with these – as well as the classic red there’s a black and pink version and a blue and yellow option. The rubber outsole must be treated with some sort of magic coating because we found it never scuffed or marked even after lots – and lots – of use.