How Recommendations Work

A product that fails any gate is excluded, no matter how well it would otherwise score.

• Surface: soft ground (SG) products only match SG answers; firm ground (FG) matches FG or FG/AG; artificial ground (AG) matches AG or FG/AG. If you select the FG+AG combination, only products explicitly rated FG/AG qualify.
• Metal-stud restriction: if metal studs are not allowed — or you are not sure — metal-stud products are excluded.
• Budget: products above your budget are excluded, unless you allow the 15% stretch, which raises the limit to budget × 1.15.
• Current product status: products no longer listed as current or active are excluded.
• Rugby-specific-only preference: football-derived products are excluded when you choose rugby-specific only.

Products that clear every gate receive an overall match score out of 100. Fit and width are the strongest preference factor, playing demand comes next, and budget fit follows. Product type, evidence confidence, and fit feel have equal influence; sizing has less influence.

• Fit and width — the highest-priority preference factor.
• Playing demand — power, hybrid, or speed.
• Budget fit — how comfortably the price sits within your budget.
• Product-type preference — rugby-specific versus football-derived, when you state a preference.
• Evidence confidence — considered separately for the completeness and reliability of published source data, not physical testing.
• Fit feel — locked-in, balanced, or roomy.
• Sizing profile — men's/unisex or women-specific.

Brand preference is only a small tie-break influence — it can reorder near-equal options, but it is never a gate or a major factor. Each result shows plain-language reasons for its match.

Affiliate payout never affects ranking. A product's commission status is not part of any gate, factor, or score. Current beta retailer links are ordinary source links and do not earn us commissions; future commissions would not change inclusion rules or match scores.

Unpublished width or fit feel stays labeled Unknown. The model assigns a neutral default for that preference rather than zero or an invented fit claim. This default is not confirmation that the boot fits your feet. Evidence confidence is considered separately; missing facts are not presented as verified facts.

Some products are marketed for football or soccer. They are only included when their verified surface and fit facts match your answers, and they are always labeled "Football-derived option" on the results card. They are not presented as rugby-certified.

Product facts are sourced from manufacturers or established retailers and are date-stamped with a last-verified date, shown on every result card. Prices, surfaces, and fit details may change — always confirm with the source before buying.

This is a buying-decision tool. It is not medical, foot-health, or injury-prevention advice. If you have a foot condition or injury concern, consult a qualified professional.