The main feature is traction. Cutting and juking is crucial in Ultimate and the cutter is only as good as his cleat. In my opinion, the rounded studs found on most soccer cleats offer the best traction for the multidirectional cutting of Ultimate. Although the flatter, blade-like studs excel in side-to-side cutting. Remember, metal spikes are not allowed in Ultimate.

The next is durability. I once found cheap cleats that had tons of traction but the shoe was not structurally capable of handling all the cuts of Ultimate. After just one season the sole plate disconnected from the shoe and I had to throw them out. Ultimate Frisbee is made up of all the running of soccer with the intense cutting of football. You need a cleat that can handle 70 minutes of cutting at a time for more than just one season. What I have discovered is if you splurge on a pricier cleat it will end up saving you money in the long run by significantly outlasting a cheaper model.

The same goes with comfort. With all the running we do in practice and games we deserve to be as comfortable as possible. Although those $15 clearance cleats at Dick’s Sporting Goods look appealing I assure you they are blisters waiting to happen. Unfortunately, the way cleats work is the more you spend on them the comfier they get. I recommend cleats around the $50-60 mark since they seem to minimize blisters and ankle pain while offering decent durability.

Overall, you want a cleat with traction, durability, and comfort for a reasonable price. The shoes listed in the chart above are the best cleats for Ultimate Frisbee that gave us exceeded expectations in quality. They were picked for you by Ultimate players so you can become the best player you can be.