Pickleball isn’t exactly what one thinks of when they think of a sport that can cause injury or damage, but if you aren’t wearing the proper shoes, then you are putting yourself at risk for things like sore legs, sore feet, sore muscles, and even potentially more serious issues like torn or bruised muscles.
Thankfully, there are plenty of good shoes out there that make playing pickleball a lot safer and more enjoyable. In this article, we are going to look at the best pickleball shoes on the market right now. If you want us to tell you upfront what the best pair of shoes is, we would say it is the ASICS Gel-Challenger 12.
A Spotlight On Some of The Best Pickleball Shoes in 2022:
Pickleball Shoe Reviews
ASICS Men’s Gel-Challenger 12
- SOLYTE midsole foam: A lighter weight midsole compound than ASICS standard EVA and SpEVA midsoles. Also...
- Solyte Midsole Material: A lighter weight midsole compound than ASICS standard EVA and SpEVA midsoles....
- SOLYTE midsole foam:
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System: Attenuates shock during impact and toe-off...
- AHAR Plus Outsole: Strategically positioned in critical areas of the outsole, this exceptionally durable...
Asics’ new Gel Challenger 12 tennis shoe shows that good performance doesn’t necessarily come at a premium price. Compared to the company’s top-of-the-line models, this sneaker thrilled our playtesters, particularly given its low price of around $100. Thanks to the robust outsoles, the hard courts had a considerable amount of grip. Step-in ease was another benefit of these shoes.
It comes in several color combinations. The white/blue and the blue with a bit of black are my favorites. On the playing court, wearing a unique shoe may do wonders for a player’s self-esteem and confidence.
The sneaker’s aesthetics, design, and outward appearance are noticeable upon removal from the packaging. You can’t help but stare at these sneakers since Asics chose and utilized colors that are just perfect. At least, in my perspective.
This shoe tops the list when it comes to comfort. But as time passes, the top portion of the shoe begins to expand, making it uncomfortably unsteady. Look out for this if you have small feet.
Unfortunately, the fit became looser over time, to the dismay of several of our playtesters. Overall, the Asics Gel Challenger 12 is an excellent choice for gamers searching for performance in a shoe that is not just lightweight but also comfortable and affordable.
Adidas Gamecourt Tennis Shoe
- Regular fit
- Lace closure
- TPU reinforced mesh upper
- Snug, sock like feel
The next shoe that we want to take a look at as part of our best pickleball shoe list is the Adidas Gamecourt Tennis Shoe. Adidas is an extremely famous and well-known brand that we feel needs no introduction.
In terms of brand recognition and quality, they are right up there with heavy hitters like Nike. So, you probably aren’t surprised to see at least one of their shoes appear on our review list.
One of the best things about this shoe, if not the best thing, is how soft and comfortable these shoes are to wear. Made from imported material, the Adidas Gamecourt Tennis Shoe is everything that you want in a pickleball shoe. This includes durability, weight, and breathability.
The shoe is fairly tough, and this will likely be your go-to pickleball shoe for quite a while. Secondly, the shoe is lightweight. Having a lightweight shoe is always good since it helps to prevent fatigue.
Finally, the shoe is very breathable. As you can see from the product pictures, it has a lot of mesh on the exterior. As you have seen from other reviews, the mesh allows air to flow in and out of the shoe, which keeps your feet temperate.
New Balance 624 V2 Casual Comfort Training Shoe
- 10 mm drop: due to variances created during the development and manufacturing processes, all references...
- Allows greater flexibility in the forefoot area
- EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate) footbed/heel pocket
- IMEVA (injection-molded EVA foam) midsole for firm yet flexible cushioning
- Internal shank
Moving on with our look at the best pickleball shoes, we are going to be doing a review of a shoe from a pretty well-known brand (especially of late) in the form of New Balance.
The New Balance 624 V2 Casual Comfort Training Shoe. This is a well-made shoe overall that also happens to be from a pretty reputable and respectable brand, so what’s not to love?
One thing that we can say for sure about this shoe is that you are definitely getting quite a high-quality shoe. The New Balance 624 V2 Casual Comfort Training Shoe is made using real, 100% leather. As you probably already know, leather is a tough material and it makes this shoe very tough as well.
This may sound like a bad thing but trust us when we say that this is still a very comfortable shoe.
Likewise, the leather construction is also good because it means that you are getting a durable shoe. You are moving around a lot with these shoes, so it is nice to know that you don’t have to worry about things like shoes ripping or tearing at the seams.
Of course, what really matters when picking out a pickleball shoe is how good the shoe does when it comes to absorbing impact and contact.
Thankfully, the New Balance 624 V2 Casual Comfort Training Shoe does quite well in this regard. It has well-made rubber soles. These soles are very absorptive and do a good job of keeping your feet cushioned against impact.
ASICS Upcourt 3 Volleyball Shoes
- EVA Midsole -
- EVA Sockliner -
- Removable Sockliner - A sockliner which can be removed to accommodate a medical orthotic.
For the next review on our best pickleball shoes list, we are going to be doing a review of the ASICS Upcourt 3 Volleyball Shoes.
This is yet another pair of volleyball shoes that we think is deserving of being reviewed on our list. Those of you who have read other reviews on our list may remember the name ASICS.
That is because we have already reviewed a show from them way back at the start of our article. If you read that review (and we encourage you to do so if you skipped it), then you will probably recall that we thought quite highly of that shoe. Thankfully, this shoe from ASICS brings the same great quality to the table that the last one did.
First off, ASICS has a reputation for making all of their shoes out of high-quality materials and that is definitely the case with the ASICS Upcourt 3 Volleyball Shoes.
These shoes are extremely well-made thanks in large part to being made out of a mixture of great fabric and synthetic material.
This helps to keep the shoe both lightweight and comfortable. A nice thing about the ASICS Upcourt 3 Volleyball Shoes is that you can wear them for hours without feeling any fatigue or soreness, the shoes are lightweight and comfortable.
Something else that we definitely need to mention about the ASICS Upcourt 3 Volleyball Shoes is that they have the same milder EVA soles as the other ASICS shoes that we reviewed. As we said in that previous review, this is great because those soles help to absorb shock and impact really well.
Another thing that impressed us about the ASICS Upcourt 3 Volleyball Shoes, is that despite having all these great features, it is a pretty affordable pair of shoes. When you consider the brand it is from and the quality of the shoe that you are getting, the low cost of the shoes becomes even more impressive.
Our biggest issue with the ASICS Upcourt 3 Volleyball Shoes is the fact that it isn’t quite as durable as the other ASICS shoes that we reviewed. To some extent, this is understandable since the shoe is on the more affordable side.
However, it still is something that is worth mentioning. The shoes are still a very good option for casual players and people who aren’t playing sports every single day.
K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Shoe
- AOSTA 7.0 RUBBER COMPOUND: High-density outsole provides unsurpassed durability from heel-to-toe
- DURAWRAP: Provides an extra line of defense against excessive toe-dragging
- 180 PSC PLANTAR: A 180 degree thermal plastic Plantar Support Chassis that enhances mid-foot stability
- ORTHOLITE SOCK LINER: The unique open-cell structure of OrthoLite foam creates a moisture management...
- DRAGGUARD: Located in the high wear areas of the toe and heel offering increased abrasion-resistance
For the final review on our best pickleball shoes review list, we are actually going to be doing a review of a pair of dedicated pickleball shoes. So far on our review list, we have focused on reviewing shoes designed with other sports in mind that also happen to be good for playing pickleball.
However, in this review, we are going to take a look at the first dedicated pair of pickleball shoes on the review list. The K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Shoe is an exceptionally well-made shoe that is perfect for pickleball (and other similar sports as well).
As with all shoes, and especially athletic shoes, the first thing that we want to look at is the overall quality of the shoe. In this regard, the K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Shoe is fairly standard.
It is made from that familiar combination of synthetic material and fabric that so many other shoes on our best pickleball shoe list are made from. In other words, you know that this shoe is going to be comfortable and reliable.
As you will no doubt know by now, we place a pretty big emphasis on shoes that have comfortable, shock-absorbing soles. This is for good reason, as those types of soles help to prevent injury. Thankfully, the soles on the K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Shoe are well-designed and well-made.
For starters, it has a heel grip lining that makes the shoe adhere tightly to your heel and the bottom of your foot. This helps to cut down slippage, which is a major cause of injury and soreness whenever you are playing any sort of sport, especially ones that require a lot of jumping and sprinting like pickleball.
It also has an insert designed to provide more support for your plantar fasciitis muscle, which is located in the middle of your foot.
If all that wasn’t enough, to top it off, the K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Shoe also includes a liner that is meant to help with sweat and moisture control.
Pickleball isn’t the most intense sport around, but when it is hot out, your feet can get pretty sweaty, which then leads to bacterial growth. This insert helps to prevent that because it has anti-microbial properties as well.
Our biggest issue with the K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Shoe is that it is a bit on the tight side. This is especially true near the front of the shoe. Don’t get us wrong, there is nothing wrong with a tighter, more form-fitting shoe.
However, some may find that the K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Shoe is just a bit too tight for their liking. At the same time, opinions will vary so it is best to check out the shoe for yourself before making a decision.
Pickleball Shoe Buying Guide
In this follow-up part of our best pickleball shoes article, we are going to be doing something completely different than reviews.
In this buying guide, we are going to be looking at what important factors you need to consider when buying a pair of shoes to play pickleball in. These are the same factors that we considered when building our list of shoes to review.
Durability
Nobody wants to have to constantly be buying new pairs of shoes. However, sports like pickleball can really wear out your shoes quite quickly. So, to help counter this, you want to look for shoes that are going to be fairly durable.
Obviously, this is a bit easier said than done since shoes don’t exactly advertise whether they are going to wear out quickly or not. Your best bet is going to be to look at things like the brand of the shoe and the type of materials that it is made out of.
Brand, in particular, can be important. While not every shoe that Adidas or ASCIS makes is going to be of the same quality, you can generally trust shoes from these brands to be high-quality and reliable.
Impact Absorption
If you read any of the reviews on our best pickleball shoes list, then you no doubt know that we placed high importance on impact absorption when it comes to evaluating pickleball shoes. Why? Well, whenever you play a sport or do any sort of serious movement (running, jumping, etc.), your body generates impact or shock.
This is transferred from the ground to your feet, and then up your ankles and beyond. This is why things like ACL tears are so common when playing any sports that involve jumping. While you can never quite eliminate the threat of injury entirely, you can do a lot to mitigate it and reduce it by wearing a set of shoes with good shock absorption.
If you are curious how you can figure that out, take a look at the soles of the shoes. This will usually give you a good indication of how well the shoe will do when it comes to absorbing shock. Ideally, you want a thick, well-padded sole.
Weight
Pickleball is a sport that really encourages mobility. So, to help with that, you want a shoe that also encourages mobility. One underrated aspect of a shoe that contributes heavily to both mobility and comfort is weight.
A shoe that is very light is going to be a lot easier for you to move around with when it is on. Likewise, the lack of weight on your feet is actually going to make you play a lot better. Why? Well, less weight on your feet means that you get tired slower.
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