FTBL: Nike Anti-Clog Explained

So you are probably reading this thinking... What exactly is Nike Anti-Clog? 

Don't worry, we've got the answer to your question. Nike Anti-Clog technology is a type of boot soleplate that was created by Nike to stop their boots clogging up with mud during a match – quite literally.

For those who play on a regular basis, you will know how much of an annoyance it is when you are playing on a muddy pitch and you are having to remove the mud from the bottom of your boots to ensure you don’t keep slipping next time you sprint or make a sudden change in direction and essentially this is what Nike put a stop to.

It’s genuine innovation and it works.

Let’s put a twist on it, if you had a supercar, you wouldn’t feel confident it would keep you safe in wet conditions if it had cheap tyres on, that’s the same principle here. Nike Anti-Clog football boots use a clever technology on the soleplate to prevent mud from sticking to the soles of your boots, and here’s how.

The soleplate of Nike Anti-Clog football boots uses an adaptive polymer layer that is activated when exposed to water.

The layer becomes wet and stops mud gripping to the boots. You can splash some water on your soles before you step onto the pitch or naturally, if you’re playing on a wet pitch, the technology will be activated immediately.

You can feel the difference with your fingers – when dry the sole feels a bit rubbery, but when it’s wet it feels slippery to touch.

This technology is Nike exclusive, and while Nike have developed it since it first launched in 2016, it is still slightly stiffer than a normal Nike soft ground soleplate meaning both SG soleplate options are still needed.

If you’re regularly playing on heavy pitches, for example a Sunday league pitch during the winter then Anti-Clog is probably the best option as the boots will be in there designed element however if your pitches are pristine and upto a professional level then you’d probably favour your standard SG football boots as there is no real need for the anti-clog technology.