Firm Ground Rugby Boots & Moulded Studs

About

What Are Firm Ground Rugby Boots? Firm ground rugby boots use fixed moulded rubber studs rather than the removable metal screw-in studs on soft ground boots . The studs are part of the outsole - you can't swap them out - and they're designed to provide traction on hard, dry or compacted surfaces where metal studs would sit on top of the ground rather than penetrating it. At club level, firm ground boots are most commonly used in the summer months when natural grass pitches have dried out and hardened, and on artificial 3G and 4G pitches year-round. They're also the boot of choice for touch rugby and tag rugby, where the surfaces tend to be firmer and lighter footwear is preferred. Moulded Boots, Moldies, Moulds - Same Thing If you've searched for "moldies", "moulds" or "mouldies" and ended up here, you're in the right place. These are all colloquial names for firm ground boots with moulded rubber studs - the terminology varies by club, region and generation of player, but they all refer to the same boot. Whether you call them FG boots, hard ground boots, moulds or moldies, this is the collection you want. Firm Ground vs Soft Ground - When to Wear Which The decision is straightforward in most conditions. If you press your stud into the ground and it barely leaves a mark, the surface is too firm for soft ground metal studs - you want FG boots. If the studs sink cleanly into the ground with reasonable resistance, soft ground boots are the right call. For most UK players, soft ground boots cover the majority of the season on natural grass. FG boots come into their own from May through August on dried-out pitches, and on artificial surfaces year-round. Many players keep both in the kit bag rather than trying to make one outsole type cover every condition. Props, locks and hookers should note that firm ground boots aren't suitable for scrummaging - the moulded studs don't provide the same grip and platform stability as metal screw-in studs under scrum load. If you're a fr