The labels
| Label | Intended surface | In our catalog |
|---|---|---|
| SG | Soft, wet or deep natural grass | Rugby-specific adidas and Gilbert boots, all recorded with metal studs |
| FG | Firm, dry natural grass | One rugby-specific Gilbert boot plus football-derived Nike and New Balance models |
| AG | Artificial grass / turf | One football-derived Nike model |
| FG/AG | Manufacturer-rated for both firm grass and artificial grass | Football-derived Nike and PUMA models |
How the finder gates by surface
- SG answers only match SG products.
- FG answers match FG or FG/AG products.
- AG answers match AG or FG/AG products.
- FG+AG (you play on both) matches only products explicitly rated FG/AG.
- SG+FG or SG+AG returns a two-pair recommendation.
These are hard gates: a product that fails one is excluded no matter how well it scores on fit or price. We would rather show fewer results than suggest a boot for a surface it isn't rated for.
Why soft ground plus anything else means two pairs
In our catalog, SG products are rugby-specific boots with metal studs, while AG and FG/AG products are non-metal, football-derived designs. No verified product is rated for both soft ground and artificial grass, or for soft and firm ground. So when you answer SG+FG or SG+AG, the finder shows a separate group for each surface — and says clearly if one side has no eligible match under your other answers.
How to tell which surface you play on
- Ask your club or coach what most fixtures and trainings are played on.
- Think about the wettest part of your season, not only the first week.
- Check whether any home or away venue is artificial grass.
- Confirm whether metal studs are allowed at each venue.
Common mistakes
- Buying an SG metal-stud boot for a venue that doesn't allow metal studs.
- Assuming any molded boot is fine on turf; look for an AG or FG/AG rating.
- Choosing on looks or brand first, then discovering the surface rating doesn't fit.
Next steps
Playing mostly on turf? See rugby cleats for artificial turf. On firm, dry grass? See firm-ground rugby cleats. Unsure about studs? Read rugby metal-stud rules.