Women’s Rugby boots and the brands stepping up
We take a look at why unisex boots aren’t really unisex, why it matters, and which brands are designing boots that are actually made for women.
When I went to buy my first pair of boots I thought the hardest part would be choosing the right pair. Turns out, the real challenge was finding any at all.
A lot of men’s rugby boots start at a UK size 6, so right from the start I was stuck shopping in the children’s section. Was this cheaper? Absolutely. But boots made for 12-year-old boys aren’t designed to support the weight, foot shape, or biomechanics of fully grown women.
I’ve since learned that even if my feet were bigger, the men’s section wouldn’t have been much better. It turns out that calling men’s boots ‘unisex’ doesn’t magically make them suitable for women! Our feet aren’t just smaller they’re structurally different.
What the stats say
Research from the University of Exeter, in partnership with IDA Sports, and backed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), revealed that:
78% of female rugby players listed comfort as a top priority when selecting footwear
89% experience pain or discomfort in the boots they are wearing.
Of the 89% experiencing discomfort, 45% of pain and discomfort was identified under the first metatarsal (big toe), a primary location for a stud on standard, non-female specific boots. This is understandable when you consider the differences in men’s and women’s feet.
So what makes women’s feet different to men’s?
There are a number of ways in which women’s feet differ to men’s, including:
Shallower big toe
Narrower heels
Wider forefeet
Smaller instep circumference
Higher arches
Shorter length of the outside ball of the foot
Different weight distribution due to the angle of our hips
Increased likelihood of over pronation (when the foot rolls inward when walking or running)
These differences mean that for years women and girls have been playing in footwear that wasn’t designed for us. Thankfully in the last few seasons a number of brands, have decided to take action and do something to fix this.
So, with women's boots finally hitting the shelves, here’s our guide to what’s out there - from rugby studs for soft ground to female specific football boots for artificial pitches.
Adidas RS15 Avaglide
Adidas’ first rugby boot designed specifically to meet the requirements of female players. Offering flexibility and support exactly where it's needed, the synthetic upper features 3D-printed forefoot elements and asymmetrical lacing for no-fuss kicking. Inside, a moulded sockliner adds support in the arch area, whilst a soft ground outsole keeps you quick on wet grass.
What we love: We love the simple black and white colour-ways.
Potential cons: At £140 these RS15 W boots aren’t cheap, however the RS15 Rise W is available for a much more affordable £85.
Price: £140
Sizing: From UK 4 - 11
Where to buy: RS15 WorRS15 Rise W
Worn by: Ilona Maher 🇺🇸, Holly Aitchison 🏴
IDA Sports
Featuring female specific fits with a wider toe box, narrower heel cup and enhanced arch support IDA promise superior traction and unmatched comfort. Their boots have been co-developed with elite athletes and designed for power and precision.
What we love: IDA are the OG trailblazers when it comes to women’s rugby and football boots. They were the first brand to create a soft ground rugby boot for women as well as the first to bring female specific football boots to the market in 2020, pushing major brands to follow suit.
Potential cons: We struggled to find where to buy their rugby specific boots, however there are plenty of women’s fit football boots that could be a great option for backs or anyone playing on firmer surfaces.
Price: £74-201
Sizing: From UK 3 - 9
Where to buy: https://www.idasports.com/en-gb/collections/footwear
Canterbury
Canterbury haven’t yet released a boot designed specifically for women’s feet, but we think the brand are still worth a shoutout. Through their partnership with PWR, every player in the league receives free Canterbury rugby boots, ensuring they have access to the same elite equipment as their male counterparts.
What we love: Their website makes it easy to filter between boots for forwards and backs, and if they’re good enough for World Player of the Year, Ellie Kildunne, we figure they can’t be bad boots!
Potential cons: All of Canterbury’s boots are referred to as “unisex” which means they've probably been designed for men’s feet.
Price: £75-160
Sizing: From UK 3 - 15
Where to buy: https://www.canterbury.com/boots/adult-boots.list
Worn by: Ellie Kildunne 🏴, Courtney Keight 🏴
PUMA
Puma’s football boots have made the list as although they aren’t rugby specific they do offer a range of styles designed for women, with measurements such as volume and instep height engineered for the female foot. Namely the Ultra boot which was bought out in 2021 as their first female specific model, and the Future and King models which are a female version of their existing men’s boots.
What we love: Technically football boots, however could be a great option for those playing or training on hard ground or artificial pitches.
Potential cons: Most models only go up to a size 8.
Price: £75-260
Sizing: From UK 3 - 8
Where to buy: https://uk.puma.com/uk/en/women/sports/football/football-boots
Worn by: Hallie Taufoou 🇺🇸
In conclusion
Whilst we certainly won’t say we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to boots designed for women’s feet, the market is definitely starting to change and we hope that these options are just the beginning.
If you’re wondering which boots are worn by the pros, check out our rugby boot guide to see who’s wearing what.
Have your say
Is there a boot you think should be added to the list? Let us know which pair you would recommend below ⬇️
References
Wunderlich, R.E. and Cavanagh, P.R. (2001) ‘Gender differences in adult foot shape: Implications for shoe design’, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33(4), pp. 605–611. doi:10.1097/00005768-200104000-00015.
She Wear (2025) Female vs male feet - are they different?, she wear. Available at: https://www.shewear.com.au/pages/the-difference-between-men-and-womens-feet (Accessed: 25 June 2025).
