Having proper footwear is crucial in racquet sports as it ensures stable foothold and support to prevent ankle injuries. In this article, we will be examining the top pickleball shoes for men and women in 2023.
Introduction to Shoe Selection
Back in 1965, three fathers came up with a brilliant idea to entertain their children – a game that would later be known as pickleball. Combining aspects of tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, this sport has been a source of excitement and exercise for people of all ages.
To play pickleball, you only need a net, a pickleball ball, paddles, and an opponent. However, investing in dedicated pickleball gear can enhance your gameplay and take it to the next level.
While players often overlook it, a crucial piece of equipment is a pair of quality pickleball shoes.
Although there are no shoes explicitly designated for pickleball, you can find shoes designed for other purposes that possess the same qualities necessary for playing pickleball.
To help you find the right pair, we’ve compiled a list of top pickleball shoe recommendations, along with a buying guide that covers all the factors you should consider when comparing options.
Best Women’s Pickleball Shoes
Best Overall: ASICS Women’s Gel-Resolution 8 Tennis Shoe
Our top pick for women’s pickleball shoes is the ASICS Gel-Resolution 8 Tennis shoe. Although it’s technically a volleyball shoe, its exceptional qualities make it a fantastic choice for indoor pickleball.
The most crucial feature for any indoor pickleball shoe is its traction, and the gummy rubber sole of this shoe provides the necessary grip for hardwood indoor courts. Additionally, the shoe’s forefoot GEL cushioning reduces the impact on your feet, allowing for more extended periods of comfort.
Furthermore, the “Trusstic” stabilizing technology adds to the shoe’s overall structural integrity while providing stability and traction during lateral or forward-backward movements.
While this shoe offers excellent value for budget-minded players, it may not be as durable as some of the higher-end options available.
Nonetheless, it’s still well-constructed and offers great value, making it an ideal choice for beginner pickleball players or anyone looking for a quality pickleball shoe at a reasonable price.
Best Premium Shoe: K-Swiss Women’s Hypercourt Express
The K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is one of the top-of-the-line pickleball sneakers available in the market. This premium shoe is designed to meet all your expectations, with exceptional quality, durability, and style. Compared to other options available in the market, the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is more expensive, but it is well worth the investment.
The durability of the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is one of the key factors that make it stand out. These shoes are well-constructed and made to last. The drag guard rubber outsole is perfect for outdoor pickleball courts and can withstand the wear and tear of concrete courts. The outsole also provides excellent traction, which is essential in a good pickleball shoe.
The K-Swiss Hypercourt Express comes in ten different color and design options, so you will have no trouble finding a pair that matches your personal style. Regardless of the color scheme you choose, every iteration of these shoes looks awesome. In fact, we think it’s one of the most attractive pickleball shoes out there.
One of the downsides to the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is that it might feel a little bit bulky to some. However, this is mostly due to the shoe’s wide design, which can actually be a plus for those with wider feet. The shoes’ weight is pretty average when compared to other pickleball shoes.
The comfort and support of the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express are unparalleled. The cushioning insole provides a comfortable walking experience, making you feel like you’re walking on air. The shoe’s design also includes a midfoot shank that provides added support and stability, which is essential in a pickleball shoe.
In conclusion, the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is an excellent choice for serious pickleball players who value quality, durability, and style. Though it is more expensive than some other options, the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is well-constructed and made to last. With excellent traction, ten different color options, and unparalleled comfort and support, these shoes are a great investment for any serious pickleball player.
Runner-Up: ASICS Women’s Gel-Renma Pickleball Shoes
The ASICS Women’s Gel-Renma Pickleball Shoe is a high-performance shoe designed for intermediate-level players who require flexibility, comfort, and durability. One of the standout features of this shoe is its light compound that enables quick and easy movements on the court. Asics has incorporated all their latest lightweight technology to make this shoe fast and flexible, ensuring that you can move with ease during your games.
This shoe is built with synthetic-and-mesh material, making it both breathable and durable. It also comes with a rubber sole that offers excellent traction on the court. The Solyte Midsole Material is a lighter weight midsole compound compared to ASICS standard EVA and SpEVA midsoles. It provides enhanced cushioning and durability while reducing the overall weight of the shoe.
Another great feature of the ASICS Women’s Gel-Renma Pickleball Shoe is the Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System. This technology attenuates shock during impact and toe-off phases, allowing for movement in multiple planes as the foot transitions through the gait cycle. Additionally, the Trusstic System technology reduces the weight of the sole unit while maintaining the shoe’s structural integrity.
The Ortholite Sockliner helps manage moisture, while the removable sockliner accommodates medical orthotics. These shoes also feature New Balance’s innovative Abzorb technology for the insoles, which is a blend of foam cushioning that is compression-set, similar to the C-CAP midsole.
Overall, the ASICS Women’s Gel-Renma Pickleball Shoe is an excellent choice for intermediate-level players who prioritize flexibility, performance, and comfort. With a variety of styles and colors available, you can find the perfect pair that matches your style and preferences. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned player, these shoes are sure to provide you with the support and comfort you need to perform your best on the court.
Worthy Mention: Saucony Women’s Grid Excursion TR12 Sneaker
Our last selection for women’s pickleball shoes is the Saucony Grid Excursion TR12 sneaker, which is an excellent option for outdoor pickleball courts. This shoe stands out for several reasons that we’ll explore further in our buying guide below.
Unlike some other pickleball shoes that feature a herringbone outsole pattern, the Saucony sneakers come with a unique triangular lug pattern. Our team found that this type of outsole provided excellent traction on concrete or asphalt pickleball courts.
One of the most impressive features of the Grid Excursion women’s pickleball shoe is its grid stability system, which is integrated into the sole. Saucony designed this system to offer unparalleled cushioning, stability, and control, making it ideal for quick lateral movements on the court.
In terms of aesthetics, these shoes come in a variety of colors and styles that offer a retro look, which our team found to be quite appealing. However, the most significant selling point of the Grid Excursion shoe is its incredible fit. Saucony has a reputation for producing shoes that fit like a glove, and this model is no exception. No matter the size or shape of your feet, these shoes will likely fit you comfortably and securely.
In summary, the Saucony Grid Excursion TR12 sneaker is an excellent choice for women looking for high-performance pickleball shoes. The shoe’s unique outsole pattern, grid stability system, retro design, and exceptional fit make it a standout option in the market.
Best Men’s Pickleball Shoes
Best Overall: Men’s ASICS Gel-Rocket 8 Shoes
The ASICS Gel-Rocket 8 is undoubtedly one of the best pickleball shoes on the market today. This is because of the exceptional features that make it stand out from the competition.
One of the standout features of the Gel-Rocket shoe is the gum rubber outsole that provides outstanding grip on indoor pickleball courts. This feature ensures that players can make quick, sharp movements without fear of slipping, thereby improving their performance on the court.
Another exceptional feature of the Gel-Rocket 8 is its exceptional comfort and flexibility, which is rare in court shoes. Despite the necessary stiffness of most court shoes, this model still provides excellent flexibility, allowing players to move around the court with the same agility and dexterity as if they were not wearing any shoes at all.
The men’s Gel-Rocket 8 also features Asics’s patented gel cushioning system, which provides excellent shock absorption, keeping the feet comfortable even during the most intense matches.
But that’s not all. The Gel-Rocket sneakers come in a variety of designs and color schemes that cater to different personal styles, including modern and retro looks. This is a great feature for players who want to look and feel their best while playing the game they love.
Despite its exceptional features, the ASICS Gel-Rocket 8 is reasonably priced, making it accessible to a wide range of players. This mid-range priced shoe offers more than mid-range performance, making it an excellent choice for players looking for a high-performance shoe without breaking the bank.
In conclusion, the ASICS Gel-Rocket 8 is an outstanding shoe that combines exceptional performance, comfort, and style. It’s no wonder why it’s a top pick for both men and women’s pickleball shoes.
Best Premium: K-Swiss Men’s Hypercourt Express
Surprisingly, the Hypercourt Express is also comparatively lightweight for a court shoe, despite its larger size. This is a rare trait for court shoes, which often prioritize support over lightness.
All of these factors come together to make the Hypercourt Express one of the best pairs of pickleball shoes on the market. While they come with a premium-level price tag, the comfort, stability, and ventilation they offer more than justifies the investment. Whether you’re a serious pickleball player or just someone looking for a high-quality athletic shoe, the Hypercourt Express is definitely worth considering.
Runner-Up: FitVille Wide Pickleball Shoes
If you’re looking for a comfortable pair of pickleball shoes for wider feet, look no further than the Fitville Wide Pickleball Shoes. Not only are they practical, but they also come in a variety of eye-catching colors that will make you want to wear them even when you’re not playing pickleball!
One of the standout features of the Fitville Wide Pickleball Shoes is their design, which caters specifically to those with wider feet. They provide ample room for your toes to move around, making for a more comfortable experience overall. The mesh and microfiber upper make for a fashionable shoe, while also offering anti-odor technology and breathable material to keep your feet clean and cool.
The interior of the shoe is where the Fitville Wide Pickleball Shoe truly shines. The honeycomb insole and Ortholite material provide extra cushioning and support for your feet, ensuring that you can play comfortably for hours on end. Despite the extra cushioning, the shoes remain surprisingly lightweight, weighing in at just 10.6 ounces. This is a remarkable feat, especially for a court shoe that usually requires additional padding to support lateral movements.
Another standout feature of these shoes is their traction. The lightweight outsole provides excellent grip on concrete outdoor pickleball courts, so you won’t have to worry about slipping and sliding around on the court.
Overall, we highly recommend the Fitville Wide Pickleball Shoes for their outstanding comfort, breathability, and excellent traction. These shoes are a co-champion in our book and are sure to provide you with a great pickleball experience!
Worthy Mention: Nike Men’s Court Lite Tennis Shoes
Nike has been synonymous with top-quality athletic footwear for decades, and their Court Lite tennis shoes are no exception. These shoes are a bit pricey, but their exceptional durability and performance make them a solid investment.
One standout feature of the Court Lite shoes is the mesh tongue, which allows for increased breathability through the top of the shoe. This is a great way to keep your feet cool and comfortable during long pickleball matches.
The Phylon midsole is another impressive feature of the Nike Court Lite shoes. It’s a lightweight sole option that still provides excellent cushioning and arch support.
For an indoor pickleball shoe, the extra material in the toe area is essential. It provides cushioning against blunt impacts to the toe and other forms of abrasion, ensuring your feet are protected throughout your matches.
But the most important feature of any indoor pickleball shoe is the outsole, and Nike doesn’t disappoint in this regard. The innovative GDR outsoles on these shoes offer top-level grip and traction on the court.
While the Nike Court Lite shoes may not be our top overall pick, they certainly deserve more than a passing mention. These shoes provide exceptional comfort, support, and durability, and their sleek design will make you look stylish on the court. In short, they’re a solid choice for anyone in need of a reliable pair of indoor pickleball shoes.
Are tennis shoes good for pickleball?
Indeed, both tennis and court shoes can be great options for playing pickleball due to their design and ability to provide optimal support for the type of stress that is experienced during the game. These shoes are built to withstand the quick movements and lateral changes of direction required in pickleball and provide a solid base for the player to move around the court.
As a result, many pickleball players prefer to use tennis or court shoes over other types of athletic footwear. Additionally, these shoes are often made with durable materials and quality construction, which can help to ensure that they last through the wear and tear of frequent use on the pickleball court.
Is it Okay to Wear Running Shoes for Playing Pickleball?
The question of whether or not to wear running shoes for pickleball is not as simple as it may seem. While running shoes can be worn for playing pickleball, it may not be the best option.
Running shoes are not designed to provide the necessary padding and support for lateral movements. They are primarily intended for forward movements and may lack the support for side-to-side motions, increasing the risk of ankle injuries.
Furthermore, running shoes may not provide the necessary traction for playing on hardwood floors. This may lead to slips and falls, which could prevent players from enjoying a successful game.
Although running shoes are generally lightweight, they do not include the extra material that pickleball shoes have to support lateral movements. This can be a disadvantage for pickleball players who require this extra support.
In contrast, pickleball shoes are specifically designed for the sport, providing the right amount of support, traction, and padding to enhance performance and minimize injuries. As such, it is best to use pickleball shoes when playing pickleball.
In conclusion, while running shoes can be worn for pickleball, it may not be the best option. It is recommended that players use pickleball shoes for the best experience and performance.
Conclusion on the Best Pickleball Shoes
After learning the significance of proper footwear for playing pickleball and the risks of wearing running shoes, you’re now prepared to start searching for a perfect pair of shoes for yourself.
The crucial takeaway from this article is how essential it is to have shoes specifically crafted for the movements involved in playing pickleball. If you want to improve your performance and guarantee your safety and stability on the court, you have no option but to invest in high-quality pickleball shoes.
Although you may assume that running shoes will suffice as they are designed for speed, comfort, and exercise, the truth is that wearing them while playing pickleball is a significant mistake. In reality, using any shoe not intended for the activity you intend to perform can be quite expensive.
Therefore, when shopping for pickleball shoes, there are several things to keep in mind. First, make sure that the shoes you are considering have adequate cushioning and support for lateral movement. Secondly, the shoes should be lightweight and breathable to ensure maximum comfort and reduce sweating.
Thirdly, they should have excellent traction to avoid slipping and provide quick changes in direction. Lastly, consider the price range and choose shoes that fall within your budget.
In conclusion, it’s critical to recognize that investing in the right pickleball shoes is a wise choice that will enhance your performance, provide safety and stability, and ultimately, make your experience playing the game more enjoyable.
