The boots have become hugely popular in recent years after being
worn by a number of top players, such as David Beckham,
below.
However, concerns about a heightened risk of injury have led
specialists to warn players to think twice before buying
them.
Some youth sides in the city are also following the example of
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and banning players from
wearing them.
Specialists fear that players can suffer more severe injuries
wearing blades because they grip the turf more firmly than
traditional studs.
Their elongated shape may mean that when a player's body twists,
under the force of a tackle or a fall, their leg does not turn
properly with them.
There are also concerns that their sharper shape can inflict worse
injuries on opposition players than rounded studs.
Carol Black, an Edinburgh podiatrist who works with the Scottish
Youth Football Association's development squads, said she was
concerned about young players wearing blades.
"It's a case of getting past the fact that David Beckham wears
them," said the specialist, who is based at the Blackhall Chiropody
and Podiatry Clinic.
"In my job, whether it's coincidence or not, the majority of young
footballers whose feet I treat wear blades. Is that all that's
available? And the number of knees I've seen that have to be
stitched because of tackles involving metal-tipped blades."
The players at both Hibs and Hearts do not tend to wear blades in
either matches or training, although neither club is thought to
have banned them.
Stewart Laird, who coaches young players at Fernieside FC, believes
his blades may have exacerbated a serious injury he suffers.
As a result, he now advises his young charges against buying
them.
He said: "I made a tackle, placed my foot down, and my knee gave
way.
"I have never felt pain like it.
"I was nine months out after damaging the cruciate in my
knee.
"I've not been able to kick with my right foot since, but
thankfully I'm both-footed.
"I tell my players at Fernieside not to wear blades. I'm not an
expert, you just need to go into sporting books, and you are
advised not to wear them."
Leith Athletic are among the other youth sides to have banned
them.
Keir Blaikie, 17, was told his blades may have made his injury
worse when he suffered an horrific double leg break playing for
Hutchison in May.
Yet despite this, the Eyemouth High School pupil remains
unconvinced. He said: "I'm not sure I'll wear my old boots again
and I'm not sure, unless I found conclusive proof (of the effect of
blades], that I'd think twice about buying another pair.
"As long as they're light and they feel ok, I don't mind."
Johnny Pearson, head of the sports science department at Stevenson
College, said: "I know they were banned in the NFL in America
because if you turn quickly wearing blades you are more vulnerable
to injury than if you were wearing studs.
"It is worse on astroturf than grass because that has some give,
but it's also more dangerous for other players.
"If you go into a bad tackle with the blades they would cause more
damage than studs, although having said that studs can cause injury
as well."