If you’ve ever played any kind of sport, you know that the right type of gear helps to bring out the best in you. For pickleball enthusiasts, finding the appropriate trainers goes a long way to provide you with an edge over your competition.
These not only allow you to be highly mobile and agile on the court but also boost your comfort level so that you’re not slowed down by blisters. Falls and consequent injuries are also kept at bay when you are running around with the rift fit of pickleball shoes.
So, if you’re looking to join this fast-growing sport, you might want to ensure that you get the best start possible! Let us help you out with the following best pickleball shoes for both men and women that we’ve compiled below:
Best Pickleball Shoes for Men
1. Nike Men’s Zoom Vapor 9.5
The latest iteration of Nike’s Vapor line, this incredible pair of shoes comes with a lightweight profile that enhances your footwork while allowing you to be super mobile on the court. A mesh design throughout the shoes keeps your feet breathable so that you remain comfortable all through the game.
It also reduces the overall weight of the shoes. Nike used its one-of-a-kind “Adaptive Fit” technology on the Vapor 9.5, which ensures that the lacing element moves back and forth like a pulley system. This is accommodating to all kinds of foot shapes, resulting in a snug and desirable fit.
The only fault on this shoe seems to be the arch support. It is generally underwhelming, especially for people with wide feet. The shoe feels narrow and maybe discomforting after playing with them for a while.
Other than that, these are a practical option that will come in handy whenever you suit up for a game of pickleball.
Pros
- Breathable construction
- Lightweight for agility
- Adaptive Fit lacing technology
- Great for different foot shapes
Cons
- Poor arch support
2. ASICS Gel-Court FF Pickleball Shoes
ASICS is a great brand for both men’s and women’s pickleball shoes! This particular model has worn many hearts with its overall appeal. The shoes combine amazing gel comfort with the new FlyteFoam technology in the midsole to add some bounce and improve responsiveness.
A seamless design throughout the shoes serves to reduce irritation when you wear them and you won’t struggle with the friction caused by traditional seams and stitches, which tend to create patchy surfaces inside the shoe. This usually causes discomfort on your feet.
A breathable mesh lining on the shoes results in a breathable design that prevents sweaty and irritating feet while its low-cut silhouette enhances mobility during the game. The footbed is also lushly padded to absorb shock from all the constant running.
However, you should be prepared to spend extravagantly on the ASICS Gel-Courts; these shoes don’t come cheap. They are some of the most expensive pickleball shoes on the market but if you have a flexible budget, you’ll see the value they offer.
Another thing that you may not like on these shoes is the “Mono-Sock” design. Unlike most shoe designs, there is no separate tongue; which means you just slide in your foot without opening the tongue. This might take a little to get used to but once you break into the shoe, you’ll enjoy the fit!
Pros
- Comfortable fit
- Padded insole
- FlyetFoam technology
- Breathable
Cons
- Takes some time to get used to
- Expensive
3. K-swiss Men’s Pickleball Shoe
The Bigshot Light by K-swiss is a comfortable shoe that will bring out your best on the pickleball court. It uses excellent ventilation across its length to maximize breathability and ensure that you won’t have to worry about wet and irritable feet.
The toe box is also spacious and accommodating so that your toes don’t feel choked when you’re running around. A “Dri-Lex” lining has been incorporated into the shoe design to make sure any wetness is wicked out and prevent bad odor.
Despite the low-cut design, the shoe remains stable and promises to keep you standing throughout the game. This also frees your ankles to enhance mobility while the ankle foam collar helps to deliver a snug fit.
On the outer sole of the shoe, you get a herringbone tread pattern that improves traction to effectively grip the court’s surface. This prevents slipping and protects you from possible career-ending injuries.
On the downside, the sole doesn’t feel like the most durable you can find, especially for aggressive players who are always on the move.
Pros
- Great traction
- Lightweight
- Excellent ventilation
- Dri-Lex lining
Cons
- Not the most durable sole design
4. ASICS Men’s Gel Dedicate 5 Shoe
This is another high-quality shoe from a reliable brand! It is the male version of the Gel Dedicate 5 for women and features a rubber sole enhanced grip to reduce shock while providing unrivaled foot support. This synthetic shoe guarantees your stability no matter how up-tempo the game gets.
The Dedicate 5s use a Trusstic system technology and gel cushioning to ensure maximum comfort. A mesh lining with synthetic upper materials results in a breathable design to keep your feet dry and comfortable. The footbed is lined with molded foam and the padded collar means you don’t have to worry about blisters.
The farefoot GEL cushioning system on the shoe minimizes shock during impact, allowing for a smooth transition to mid-stance. Meanwhile, the Trusstic system limits the weight of the sole unit yet still maintains structural reliability. This results in a lightweight shoe that keeps you agile and mobile on the court.
Overall, the Dedicate 5s will make a great choice for newbie pickleball enthusiasts that are still getting their feet wet. Their relative affordability ensures that you’re receiving great value for your money.
Pros
- Synthetic, flexible rubber
- Farefoot GEL cushioning system
- Solid rubber outsole
- Trusstic system technology
- Breathable design
Cons
- Narrow run size
Best Pickleball Shoes for Women
1. Mizuna Women’s Wave Lightning Z2
This is a high-performance pick for women’s indoor pickleball and comes with a nice-looking design paired with an overall durable build. The lightning Z2s boast the “Parallel Wave, which is Mizuno’s stun retention padding network that functions the same way as ASICS “Gel”.
The parallel wave helps to offer horizontal sturdiness that proves to be useful for pickleball players during a game. It allows for speedy movements while ensuring stability when the game becomes intense.
These shoes feature a rubber sole that will survive the continuous friction against the hard court without wearing off quickly. They also give you an extra bounce and keep you from sliding when you’re playing.
The shoes also offer a snug fit with their Dynamotion feet construction. They are suitable for players with narrow, as well as wide feet. Padding has been included to adjust and swat your feet on effect, resulting in improved stability while reducing shock.
Both Mizuno and ASICS are quality shoemakers and the “GEL versus Waver” banter, which puts greater detail to shock protection and sturdiness are the reason why they are among the leading brands in the industry.
Pros
- Durable rubber sole
- Comfortable fit
- Parallel wave
- Dynamotion fit
- Stable outsole
Cons
- Size runs small
2. K-SWISS WOMEN’S HYPER COURT
For more than 50 years, K-swiss has remained true to its founder by showing their dedication to providing high-performance trainers for different sporting activities. Thanks to a nice blend of style and innovation, the brand offers excellent women’s pickleball shoes and the Hyper Court is just one among its many exciting offers!
The shoe features a durable 7.0 rubber outsole that helps to keep it lightweight and enhances the mobility of the player. It comes with a rigid 180 PC mid-foot support frame that not only stabilizes but also provides ample support to the foot in the heat of the game.
With a double-density glide, the midsole is able to absorb shock adequately and limit the effect of harsh movements on foot during an intense battle on the court. There’s also a K- EVA strobe board that offers extra cushioning to keep you comfortable at all times.
The K-swiss Hyper Court is a shoe for serious pickleball players. Generally, customers are impressed by the kind of support it offers on outdoor courts. The shoe delivers a combination of agility and comfort to ensure that your stamina is not affected while on the court.
You also get long-lasting comfort and enough support to prevent discomfort and premature fatigue. It is the perfect choice for pickleball enthusiasts who want to take their game to their next level.
Pros
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use
- Cute design
- No break-in time
- Excellent for broad feet
- Well-padded ankle collar
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Too wide toe box
3. Asics Gel-Resolution 7 Pickleball Shoes
The ASICS Gel-Resolution 7 offers a remarkable combination of durability, comfort, and stability for players looking for a serious pickleball shoe. Your feet will fit snugly in them and benefit from the optimal foot and ankle support offered. They are just what you need for those high-tempo pickle games!
These shoes have AHAR+ rubber outsole that sports a modified herringbone tread meant to enhance traction with the court surface. ASICS GEL cushioning system helps to add bounce to the shoe and makes for an explosive spring from a standing start.
Meanwhile, the Trusstic system used throughout the midfoot limits too much twisting motion to ensure that your feet are adequately supported even while sliding laterally. The shoes upper employs a FlexionFit Tru wrap that protects the foot while boosting breathability.
The toe box consists of a PGuard toe protector that minimizes the action of wear and tear on the shoe. At the rear end of the shoe is a Persona Heel Fit collar that molds to the back of your foot, resulting in a customized and comfortable fit.
Although they may not be the most breathable shoes in the market, the ASICS Gel-Resolution 7 will be a practical choice when gaming on a hard court surface, thanks to the high amount of support they offer.
Pros
- PGuard support
- Personal Heel Fit collar
- Trusstic system
- Great foot and ankle support
- FlexionFit Tru wrap technology
- Very comfortable
Cons
- Not very breathable
4. ASICS Upcourt 3 Women’s Shoes
Our last choice for best pickleball shoes for women is the Asics Upcourts 3s. These incredible trainers are originally designed for volleyball, although immense practicality makes them suitable for indoors and outdoors sports such as pickleball.
They will even be better for indoor pickleball and come with a lightweight design; in fact, they are the lightest iteration in the ASICS line with a weight of only 9 ounces. This will enhance your agility on the court. Their low-cut build also allows your ankles to be flexible so that your movement around the court is not limited.
They also feature a mesh design that makes for breathability and prevents wetness on those hot and humid days. Generally, the fit will be snug and perfect for people with wide feet but the laces can be adjusted for people with narrower feet.
Ample cushioning on the innersole and tongue helps to boost comfort when playing with these shoes and reduce the “pounding impact” from continuously running up and down the hard-court surface. The only thing is that you may need to reinforce the arch support offered by the Upcourt 3s.
Overall, you get a snug, comfortable, and functional pickleball shoes that will bring out your best on the court!
Conclusion
In whichever sport you play, the type of gear you choose will influence how well you perform during the game. Pickleball shoes need to have all the right features and must tick all the boxes as far as comfort, stability, fit, and breathability is concerned.
The traction of the outsole also has to be right for the surface you’re playing on. With the above pickleball shoe models, you can look forward to an exciting game while improving your chances of winning it. Remember to prioritize them whenever you’re looking for the best pickleball shoes for men and women.