'I tried the viral footy boots trend (off the field) for a week and I have notes.'

ICYMI, fashion has officially lost the plot again because football boots are now an intentional thing people are wearing on actual purpose. Not on the pitch, but on the pavement.

Yes, you read that right. Football boots. With studs. On concrete.

When I first spotted this bizarre trend popping up in my algorithm, I did a double-take. Surely this was some kind of sporting joke? But no, the cool kids on TikTok and Instagram have declared that wearing soccer cleats as everyday streetwear is the next big thing, dubbing it #BootsOnlySummer.

Watch my weekly wrap of wearing the boots to work for a week. Post continues below.

Half the grip, double the confusion.

The trend builds on the broader soccer-inspired fashion movement that's been growing over recent years, evolving from wearing vintage football shirts and soccer-inspired sneakers to literally wearing full football boots with studs intact on the street.

Fashion designers and brands have embraced football aesthetics, with collaborations and reinterpretations of classic boots by designers like Martine Rose and luxury brands like Balenciaga pushing football boots into the realm of urban sculpture.

But what happened with #bootsonlysummer was different. It was Gen Z driving change from the bottom up, not brands dictating down.

Now celebrities (like me) and Rosalía have jumped on the trend. She was seen in New York rocking a pair of New Balance "442 PRO FG V2" football boots on her way to her 2025 Met Gala fitting. Relatable.

A fellow concrete cleater Rosalía. Image Instagram @gorptex. Photography: picsbyalexjr

To be fair, the new slim sneaker trend practically looks like footy boots anyway.

Fortunately, my 13-year-old son had a spare pair, so I didn't need to invest in new ones. Try before you buy, if you will. And since we're in the midst of an Australian winter, my jaunt has become known as #BootsOnlyWinter.

So, in a moment of what I can only describe as temporary sporting insanity, I decided to try the football boots trend and wear them to work. Because nothing says 'take me seriously in this meeting' like showing up in studs designed for grass.

@lbrandon_11

#bootsonlysummer @Kar

♬ original sound - Spragga ⛷️

First things first, I needed to clean the mud off them, otherwise I could look ridiculous…

In the Mamamia office, I am known to be a walking science experiment, but still, the questions came thick and fast: "Please tell me this isn't your actual shoe choice."

From field, to work. So versatile. Image: Supplied.

When I asked our resident fashion guru and host of Mamamia's Nothing To Wear podcast Leigh Campbell what she thought of my look, she said she didn't actually mind it. But my choice of pink delicate socks was a definite no. "If you're wearing a sports shoe, you must wear it with a sports sock," she advised. Noted and taken on board!

By lunchtime, I had explained the concept of street-style football boots approximately 17 times. Nobody believed it was a real trend. Why do they never believe me…

Boots n Binge blankey for meetings, always. Image: Supplied

The real-world test.

The real world was also not appreciative of my athletic haute couture. I got stared at on the bus like I was about to start dribbling a soccer ball down the aisle, and a woman asked me if I was on my way to touch footy. I said "No actually, it's farshion."

They are also (unsurprisingly) loud on hard surfaces. So it felt like I was a little clip-clopping horse on my way to meetings.

Not recommended on concrete and busses. Image: Supplied.

When they actually worked.

Interestingly, when I wore them to my son's football game, they really came into their own. I was able to kick the ball to the kids particularly well, funnily enough. Who would have thought that wearing appropriate footwear for the activity would improve performance?

Match day ready. Image: Supplied.

They also felt quite good when walking on carpet — those studs provided excellent grip on the office floor.

It was fun to think of different outfits to showcase them in. I'll give them that. They worked well with fashion tracksuit pants. But I feel like I really peaked in my knit dress and actual red soccer socks. That, was a moment.

Peak farshion moment in the city… Image: Supplied.

After a full week of testing, I've compiled this helpful list of pros and cons:

Pros:

• Excellent grip on grass surfaces (revolutionary!)

• Great conversation starter (whether you want one or not)

• Perfect for impromptu football matches

• Surprisingly comfortable on carpet

• You'll never lose your footing on wet grass again

Cons:

• Despite their popularity, the trend is impractical and potentially hazardous because football boots are designed for grass surfaces, not hard pavements

• The studs can be slippery and unstable on concrete and tiles

• Wearing them on streets can damage the boots quickly (if your kids actually need to wear them…)

• They're quite narrow, so not comfortable for extended street walking

• You'll get stared at like you're lost on your way to training

• The clicking sound on hard surfaces announces your arrival from three blocks away

The verdict.

Are football boots comfortable for everyday wear? On the right surface, kind of.

Are they practical for city living? Absolutely not.

Look, I wouldn't rule them out when heading to the park with my kids when I'm kicking a footy around. They're perfect for that.

But will I wear them to work again? Highly unlikely. Maybe if I'm going to a slippery festival on grass, I'd consider whipping them out again.

The trend might be having a moment on social media, but in reality, football boots belong on football fields. Sometimes even fashion needs to remember that function matters too.

Feature Image: Supplied.