Advice on cleats for catchers

[sbmom19]

My DD is a 16U catcher who plays high school and travel ball - so basically she is playing softball February - October. We are having problems finding quality metal cleats that will last. The last two seasons we have bought 3N2 Rally PT metals (we get the pitching toe because she is a relief pitcher so she throws in the backyard every other day). She loves the comfort (she has a very wide size 10 foot) and breathability of these cleats. However, for the second year in a row, the right foot has split clear across the bottom! I know that a catcher that is squatting puts extra stress on the bottom of the shoe but these cleats have literally only lasted 3.5 months (we are in Idaho so practices early in the season are all in a gym). I have contacted 3N2 but no response.

So I am looking at replacing her cleats with something other than 3N2s - as much as she loves the cleats I can't justify paying $85 for cleats that last a couple of months. Any advice on a new brand/model??? I bought her a pair of Ringors a couple of years ago but had to send them back because they were too narrow...

 

[Juggs]

3n2's havent been very reliable on anything for years.

Try Mizunos, 9 spikes. Can always find older models for lil cheaper than $85. Or Adidas a lot of girls like those.

My kid (catcher) really loves her Tanel Liberty Low Cleat (but they non metal). Says traction is just as good as her metals, and super comfy.

 

[Classof2020]

I know our catchers wear Ringors with the pitching toe - it is so heavy duty it gives them extra protection. I don't know if they have any problem like you are talking about though.

 

[vdubya]

Tanel Rev-D with the pitcher toe is a good catcher cleat. Ringor makes a tank, but the fit is tough to get right, and it is expensive to ship the trial and errors back and forth.

 

[MsDinosaur]

You might consider looking at men's metal cleats; her shoe size is large enough for her to look at a man's 8/8.5? They won't have the pitching toe, but men's shoes are built on a wider last. The standard women's width is B, while the standard for men's is C. Wide women's are usually D, but wide men's is EE. A wide man's shoe is wonderfully roomy for those who want more space.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

In the past 5 years, I think I broke a toe 3 times, catching my students. I moved to toe protect Ringors and my problem was solved. I don't know if they come in metal or not. Yes, to Tanel, also. I had a young pitcher with foot and ankle problems, so I suggested those. She balked at first, because they are heavy, but she loves them, now.

 

[sbmom19]

Thanks for the information. I love the Tanels but they don't make them with metal cleats. And Ringors are just too narrow for her. Really like the 3N2s - the pitching toe offers her the extra protection and they are plenty wide. Just wish that they held up. So frustrating...

 

[Coach JV]

I like the 3N2 but the soles separate.
Ringor is the best made cleat DD has used.
Very durable

 

[softballdad97]

Not sure about the durability of these cleats yet but they are comfortable according to my DD and ultra super light. I found them on the Adidias website in the men's cleats. I believe they are the lightest shoe on the market and my DD just fly's around the bases in these. They have a padded collar with Velcro which helps to tuck the loops from the laces, which is an old trick I learned from my playing days. Getting a cleat caught on a loop can either trip you up or worse yet lead to an injury. They went back up a little in price but still a great value on an ultra light high quality cleat. The padded collar also offers comfort while in the squat and also from being spiked. DD was spiked in a tournament earlier in the season and it tore up her Mizuno's pretty badly.

adidas Adizero 5-Tool 2.5 Cleats

 

[ScottyDont]

Another vote for Ringors. My daughters have both worn the pitching toe model for years with no issues. This year, my 18U moved to the Bandit metal, which I was concerned about for its durability, but they are holding up very well indeed through 2 months of use. They still look like new.

Ringor has since come out with a Bandit with the pitching toe that might be perfect. Lightweight but with better toe protection.