A professional footballer’s kit probably looks a lot like yours at first glance:
Boots. Shin pads. Socks. Shirts. The usual basics.
But, if you zoom in, you’ll notice they’ll make a few small tweaks and essential upgrades to what they’re wearing that give them an extra edge on the pitch.
And while some changes are purely for superstitious reasons (like Luis Suárez’s wrist tape), other kit upgrades genuinely help to boost performance.
So, here are some of the most common kit hacks you’ll see at the top level:
Hack #1: Cut Socks
The problem with the standard-issue team socks is that they aren’t really designed for performance. They’re designed to match team colours for the sake of uniformity.
To get around this, most pros don’t actually wear their team socks the way they’re given to them.
Instead, they cut the bottoms off their socks so they can wear their own grip socks underneath. This way, they get the traction and stability they want inside their boots, without breaking kit rules.
Hack #2: Sock Tape
Once the bottoms of socks are cut, you’ve suddenly got three layers going on:
1) Grip socks, 2) Cut team socks, and 3) Shin pads.
So, without something holding everything together, it all starts to slide around mid-game.
This is why pro players will often wrap their ankles and calves with tape to keep everything in place. This is often coupled with a pre-wrap or a cohesive bandage for an even lighter feel.
But, the real hack is actually finding a decent pair of sock sleeves with integrated elastic zones. These will do exactly the same job as the tape without feeling uncomfortable or restrictive.
Hack #3: Boot Customisation
Very few pros wear boots straight out of the box.
Some go half a size down for a super snug fit, then rely on grip socks to stop their feet sliding around.
Others go wild getting their boots customised: they can be stretched or stitched differently, the heel can be trimmed, the tongue shortened, bespoke soleplate installed, and the list goes on.
Apparently, Declan Rice has 25+ modifications made to his boots.
But the simplest modification all pros will make is changing the studs depending on the pitch:
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Soft ground → long metal studs for muddy and wet pitches
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Firm ground → shorter studs or mixed soleplates for balance
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Some even file or sand studs to change traction feel
It’s all about comfort and control.
Hack #4: Tiny Shin Pads
The rules say you need shin pads. They don’t say how big.
This is why loads of pros wear shin pads so small they’d barely pass on a Sunday League pitch (actually, that’s probably a good thing).
The idea is that small shin pads are comfier and less bulky, which helps with their agility and range of motion.
Still, some players don’t like taking the risk of wearing smaller shin pads. Instead, they’ll often get custom carbon-fibre ones moulded to their legs, which are shown to possess protective qualities superior to those of commercial polypropylene shin pads.
However, there is a new wave of shin pads using new technology that retain the flexibility of polypropylene mini shinpads with the immense strength of carbon fibre.
Hack #5: Calf Cuts
Some pros cut holes or slits in the back of the socks.
The idea is to relieve pressure on the calf (which expand throughout the match) and help improve blood flow.
Others prefer to keep their socks intact, but wear a decent sock sleeve that matches the team colours to give them exactly the same benefit.
For example, the Apex AERO 1.0 is the world’s first sock sleeve for football, with integrated mesh zones to allow calf expansion without cutting holes in your socks.
Hack #6: Compression Gear
When it’s cold, players throw on compression wear under their shirts or on their legs.
This isn’t just for warmth, but for muscle support too.
For example, the Apex HYBRID 1.0 Leggings has a gentle compression that makes it perfect for a cold wintery night in Stoke, as well as for post-match recovery.
In hot weather, you’ll sometimes see pros wear ultra-light base layers designed to wick sweat and stop shirts sticking.
Hack #7: Goalkeeper Hacks
Goalkeepers have a bunch of kit hacks, especially for their gloves. For example:
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Boiling gloves before a game to soften latex
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Pre-washing gloves for max grip, and
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Taping wrists underneath for extra stability
Every detail is about making sure the grip is perfect when it matters most.
Hack #8: Grip Socks
Finally, the number one kit hack for professional footballers is wearing a quality pair of grip socks.
Wearing grip socks helps to lock their feet in place, which both eliminates wasted energy and makes every movement on the pitch (kicking/passing/dribbling/etc.) far more stable.
There are a ton of benefits to grip socks.
If you’re not sure which grip sock to buy (or whether it’s even right for you), then you might be interested in checking out our grip sock quiz here.
Pros know that the tiniest details can be the difference between sharp and sluggish.
That’s why they tweak, cut, tape, and customise everything.
Because when you’re chasing 1% gains, comfort is performance.
