The Verdict Up Front
This UA Magnetico lacrosse cleats review lands on one clear conclusion: Under Armour built an exceptional upper and bolted it to a traction plate designed for a different sport. If you play on pristine grass or turf, you’ll love this shoe. If you play anywhere else — and most of you do — you’re going to feel the compromise.
Who This Is For
Attackmen and midfielders at the high school varsity or college level who prioritize feel and lateral quickness over outright grip. Budget sits between $110–$140 depending on where you buy, which puts it in the middle of UA’s cleat lineup. Overall, this is not a beginner cleat — the fit is snug and technical, and a player who doesn’t know what they want out of a shoe will probably just be frustrated by it. Experienced players who’ve worn soccer cleats for lacrosse before will find a familiar friend here.
UA Magnetico Lacrosse Cleats: What Works
The upper on the Magnetico is legitimately one of the better-fitting lacrosse cleats on the market right now. UA’s textile mesh is thin, breathable, and wraps the foot without creating pressure points. Additionally, break-in time is minimal — a few practice sessions and these feel like they’ve been on your feet for a season. The heel counter is firm without being stiff, which matters during cuts and direction changes at full speed.
Lateral stability is where this shoe earns its keep. The low-profile construction keeps your foot close to the ground, and the sidewall support holds during hard cuts. Specifically, attackmen who rely on change-of-direction more than straight-line speed will notice the difference. The shoe doesn’t fight you when you’re making a move — it goes where you tell it.
Weight is another win. The Magnetico is light, genuinely light, and you feel that over the course of a two-hour practice or a long tournament day. Indeed, fatigue reduction is real and underrated in cleat discussions.
What Doesn’t
The stud configuration is the problem. Under Armour pulled the traction plate directly from their soccer line, made minimal adjustments, and called it a lacrosse cleat. Soccer and lacrosse share a field but not a movement pattern — lacrosse demands more stop-start acceleration, harder plant-and-drive cuts from standing positions, and more stress on the toe box area during ground ball battles. The Magnetico’s stud layout is fine for a winger tracking a through ball. However, it is not ideal for a midfielder fighting for possession at the X.
Wet conditions expose this faster than dry turf will. On damp grass — which is every morning game you’ll ever play — the Magnetico loses traction noticeably. You’re not falling over, but you’re not confident either, and in this sport, hesitation costs you goals. Consequently, defensemen and physical midfielders will probably look elsewhere after one muddy tournament.
Durability is also a question mark at the price point. The upper holds up fine, but the outsole shows wear faster than competitors at similar prices. If you’re playing heavy minutes on abrasive turf, budget for a replacement before the season ends.
Price vs. Value
At $110–$140, the Magnetico is competing against the Nike Vapor Edge Pro, Adidas Adizero, and New Balance’s lacrosse-specific offerings. Those shoes were built for this game from the ground up — or at least some version of it. The Magnetico’s upper genuinely rivals all of them in feel and fit. But the traction plate puts it at a disadvantage for anyone who plays more than half their games on natural grass or plays a physically demanding position.
If you’re a skill-position player on a turf-heavy schedule, the value proposition holds. You’re paying for that upper, and it delivers. If you play D or wing midfield on natural grass, there are better options at this price range that won’t leave you second-guessing your footing when it matters. Any honest UA Magnetico lacrosse cleats review has to acknowledge that trade-off plainly.
Bottom Line
The UA Magnetico lacrosse cleats review verdict: a good cleat held back by one design decision. Under Armour has the technology to build one of the best lacrosse cleats on the market — the upper proves it. But until they invest in a traction plate actually engineered for lacrosse movement patterns, this shoe will always be a recommendation with an asterisk. Buy it if you’re a skilled attacker playing turf. Skip it if you’re anyone else.
Under Armour, build the lacrosse version of this. The upper is already there. Stop making us pay for a soccer outsole.