There comes a time when you’ve looked at enough cleats, just based on sheer hours of time spent, that your opinion on the subject has to matter. These are the best baseball cleats for the 2014 season, from 6 people who spend too much damn time looking at baseball cleats.
I let each guy pick one exclusive cleat/colorway and another regular retail cleat and colorway. Then I asked them to explain why that was the choice. Here are the responses:
Me:
Mike Trout’s Nike Hybrids from 2013
This shot from Angels photographer Gary Vasquez (@garyvasquez) should probably be our new logo. Are you kidding me with that thing? Yeah that’s still an easy call for me.
About the shoe from our Top 10 Players post: “Nike and Trout blended the MVP Pro, the Diamond Elite Fly (diamond-shaped mesh), the Swingman MVP (heel), and a Huarache-style toe into one of the lightest (at less than 12 ounces) and most lethal cleats in the game today.”
Here’s a shot of the greys, and as hard as it is to believe the home whites are on another level:
Nick Swisher’s New Balance 4040v2
I cheated. I don’t care. These Swishy’s are too fire. Look at that shoe and tell me its not supposed to go fast. Otherwise I have to stick with my team’s colors, the green 4040v2s.
Doug Beath:
CC Sabathia’s Jordan 11 “Concord”
“I like the Concords best because they are the best expression of individual taste and fashion in baseball. Integrating the Jordan retro brand is the next big thing in the MLB.”
Get the Jordan 11 “Concord” here (beware of counterfeits) then get them cleated at CustomCleats.com.
New Balance 4040v2 White/Digi-Camo
“They are the best combination of comfort and swagger in the market today. If it was up to me New Balance would be the most worn shoe in baseball.”
Get the 4040v2 White/Digi-Camo here.
Jake Perkins:
via SneakerNews.com
Jordan 11 “Space Jam”
“Isn’t it obvious? These cleats were worn by Derek Jeter, ’nuff said. The Space Jam Jordan 11’s were the most talked about basketball shoes of my youth, and seeing them in cleat form is mesmerizing. This is the only pair of cleats I could envision myself wearing for the rest of my playing career. YEAH JEETS.”
Space Jam Jordans / CustomCleats.com
Nike Zoom Vapor Elite in White/Black
“Plain and simple, these cleats just look like they could make me faster. I envision myself upping my stolen base total to 4 this season wearing these. Perfect mix of flash and function, which is why I think Nike rules the baseball world when it comes to the cleat game.”
Daniel Klein:
A 4040v2 version of R.A. Dickey’s New Balance Customs
There aren’t any similar colorways made of the 4040v2 that WPW has seen yet, but it looks like Jose Bautista’s new cleat is a better match. We’ll work on getting better shots of those and getting his profile updated.
New Balance 4040v2 Mid in Black/White
“They are the most comfortable cleat I’ve ever owned. Feel like mid-top running shoes with cleats!”
TJ Sutton:
via @DavidPrice14
David Price’s Jordan 13s
“It’s a great shoe, and as a pair of spikes they would turn heads.”
Nike Air Huarache Pro Low in Navy/White
“They are comfortable, supportive and low enough to wear with your pants up or down.”
Get them here.
Will Startup:
CC Sabathia’s Jordan 11 “Concord”
“Not only are they the shoe that revolutionized the footwear industry but they are extremely rare and a classic silhouette.”
Jordan 12 in Black/White
“I wear the 12s because Jordan brand has finally given the general public a signature cleat for the first time since the early 2000s… This cleat looks smooth with any uniform combo.”
Get the Jordan 12 cleats here.
