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Volleyball is a popular sport, but most people don't realize that the sneakers worn by volleyball players are SPECIALLY designed for playing volleyball.
My top pick is this Asics Gel Rocket, great for both men and women. Very stable for that lateral footwork but they have kept it very light and the supportive Asics Trusstic system for the arch of the foot plays very nicely. Plus the price/quality ratio is excellent.
I have picked out the 7 best volleyball shoes for both men and women for you with Asics leading the way, although we have some better shoes in our list with a higher price tag. This is everything you should pay attention to when purchasing.
Almost all of these options have men's and women's variants:
Best overall
The cushioning at the forefront of this shoe is unmatched and it offers great grip for indoor play.
Volleyball shoes with best ankle support
In this shoe you get good ankle support without the high-top fit. The grip on the bottom of the shoe is also a real attribute, as players slide less with this shoe than most.
Volleyball shoes with best arch support
This Mizuno men's shoe offers stability and a lightweight, comfortable fit for long periods of play.
Best professional volleyball shoes
The non-slip liner with hook-and-lock strap gives by far the most stable shoe and provides extra power when jumping and landing.
Best grip
This shoe excels with excellent traction. It holds up well, while the cushioning provides support at impact without being too stiff. This shoe provides more active ankles and is great for moving back and forth.
Best for narrow feet
This is a quality volleyball shoe. It provides great support, especially under the arch, and is stable and sturdy enough to handle a significant amount of weight.
Best Cheap Volleyball Shoes For Beginners
Comfortable fit, good arch support and they break in quickly, making them perfect for beginners.
What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
Volleyball Shoes Buyer's Guide
There are many decisions to make before choosing volleyball shoes. Four of the main choices are:
- Damping: This is absolutely necessary, especially if you are going to play volleyball on a daily basis or if you participate in day-long tournaments. In situations like this, it is imperative that your feet are comfortable and not in pain. If your feet hurt, your performance will not be optimal because of the pain in your feet.
- Stability: because the sport of Volleyball requires you to change direction quickly, stability is an important component when choosing a shoe. If you were to wear a “normal” sports shoe, it might not give you the support you need. This is especially true when it comes to the lateral movements that are so common in volleyball. Obviously, a good volleyball shoe won't completely protect you from a rolled ankle, but it will provide support and will help prevent you from injuring your ankle.
- Breathability: because we all don't like to talk about sweaty feet. However, sweat is good for you because it rids your body of toxins. When you think of volleyball shoes, there is mesh strategically placed on the shoe for maximum airflow. These vents allow air to flow into the areas that need them most. Thanks to advancements in this area, makers have now incorporated moisture-wicking materials into the shoe without affecting the shoe's durability or weight. This ensures optimal performance!
- Light weight: Volleyball shoes should walk the fine line between being lightweight and durable. All good volleyball shoes have these qualities, but certain brands value certain qualities more than others.
Light weight
The upper part of the shoe is often made of a mesh material that allows it to be both lightweight and allow air to enter so that the foot receives air circulation and reduces moisture - keeping the foot cooler.
The upper part of the volleyball shoe is often made of mesh or a breathable material such as mesh. This allows the shoes to be lightweight and allows air to flow, allowing the foot to breathe.
foot support
The belly of a volleyball shoe is designed to support the ball of the foot. This is important because volleyball players spend most of their time on the balls of their feet.
Staying on the balls of your feet allows you to make lateral movements necessary in volleyball. In addition, shoes designed for volleyball provide the stability necessary for lateral movements.
These movements put pressure on the balls of the wearer's feet and therefore the balls of the feet and the midsole are forced to absorb much of the shock.
This requires the shoe's midsole to be extremely strong yet flexible. Most volleyball shoes use foam to absorb the shock; however, taller shoes use gel or air cushions.
Due to the soft sole of the shoe, it is not recommended to wear the shoes outside the volleyball court, as this can lead to premature wear of the shoe.
If possible, remove your shoes before walking on surfaces that are not as level as volleyball courts. Good quality shoes should last about a year for those who are avid players; however, they will last longer for more casual players and will not last as long without proper care.
You can tell when your shoe is worn out when the ankle support starts to weaken and is no longer tight during play.
The difference between volleyball shoes and other sports shoes
When it comes to purchasing shoes specifically designed for volleyball, there are many different options depending on your needs and desires.
Although volleyball shoes are on a lot basketball shoes and especially padel shoes because of the many sideways movements seem, there are differences that may not be so visible to the naked eye:
- Shoes that are designed for volleyball have a sole material that is made of a gum rubber. This provides excellent traction on sports floors, preventing both the shoe and the person from slipping on the floor. It also helps reduce the risk of injury – especially ankle injuries.
- The rubber sole is also non-marking (meaning it doesn't mark the gym floor), which is why it helps to protect the gym floor.
- While basketball players and those who use cross trainer shoes are designed more for moving forward, volleyball shoes are constructed for stability and structure during lateral movements – a necessity to be a good volleyball player.
Best Volleyball Shoes Reviewed
Asics GEL Rocket
- Perfect cushioning after jumps
- Good grip
- Lightweight mesh upper
- Boog is short of damping
- Fits very small
The cushioning at the forefront of this shoe is unmatched and it offers great grip for indoor play.
This shoe offers enough necessary stability while still being light as a feather. As fantastic as the frontal cushioning is, some users complain about the cushioning provided by the rest of the shoe, especially the arch, and that it doesn't absorb contact with the floor well.
This shoe also comes with ASICS Trusstic System, a supportive shank in the ASICS outsole with products extending from the arch to the forefoot.
These shoes have a rubber sole common to volleyball shoes, they are lightweight with a mesh upper with synthetic overlays and they have the soft footbed for which ASICS is known.
The midsole is made of molded EVA and the shoe has the Court-specific Forefront GEL Cushioning Services.
The shoe fits smaller than an average shoe, so you can order a larger size or a larger half size just to be safe. The shank measures approximately 2 inches from the bow.
This shoe is available in different colors. Although ASICS makes shoes for both men and women and is also a good choice for women, this is the shoe for men.
ASICS Men's GEL-Netburner Ballistic MT
- Good ankle support without the high-top fit
- firm grip
- Fits very small
These ASICS are built with great stability and comfort and arch support to help you accelerate quickly.
In this shoe you get good ankle support without the high-top fit. The grip on the bottom of the shoe is also a real attribute, as players slide less with this shoe than most.
However, the shoe fits a little looser than others as it doesn't stay as snug as you might like.
This shoe is for men, made of synthetic fabric with the rubber sole needed for volleyball shoes. They are lace-up shoes with the ASICS logo embroidered on the tongue of the shoe.
The tongue and collar of the shoe are padded for both support and maximum comfort. These shoes have both front and front GEL cushioning systems.
I would recommend that you buy a size larger than you normally would for a secure fit.
This shoe offers a lot of cushioning and arch support and is a good purchase for the avid volleyball player.
Not too many drawbacks have emerged since the release of this shoe, and it is a great choice for young players, especially blockers.
This shoe comes in combination with silver, including black, navy, white and red. Featuring a rubber sole and outsole, this imported, synthetic shoe comes with rearfoot and forefoot gel cushioning systems to reduce shock during impact.
This shoe offers a perfect balance between bounce and cushioning while reducing the weight of the shoe. It encourages more natural traction on the pitch and is topped off with ASICS High Abrasion Rubber (AHAR) for added durability.
The upper of this shoe is made of polyurethane, air mesh and synthetic leather for an incredible fit and comfortable to boot.
These shoes are available in the following colors: Navy / Silver / Electric Blue, Black / Silver, Flash Orange / Atomic Blue / Midnight.
Mizuno Wave Lightning Z2
- Lightweight comfort fit
- Sturdy heel protection
- Damping wave center arch support
- Wave bow doesn't sit well with everyone
- The durability could be better
This Mizuno men's shoe offers stability and a lightweight, comfortable fit for long periods of play.
The landing is stable and soft, and the shoe is not only a good choice for men, but also for women. It is only recommended that women order one and a half sizes larger.
There really aren't many downsides to this shoe other than the lack of color options.
Made by the company Mizuno, this shoe is made of a textile and synthetic material that helps to make it lighter. It also has a synthetic sole, a necessity for volleyball shoes, so they don't leave marks on the court.
The air mesh helps air flow into the shoe, making it lighter and allowing the foot to breathe.
The Wave is visible in all Mizuno shoes. The reason for the “wave” is that it allows the cushioning midsole to disperse impact forces by spreading them out more evenly across the shoe.
Because of this wave, the wearer's foot does not sink in the middle of the shoe and this helps support in the needed areas around the arch of the foot.
This shoe, the Men's Wave Lightning z2 mid volley shoe, has the parallel wave. It's designed to work with those with neutral foot types who don't need extra support, but it also distributes the forces of impact evenly across the midsole of the shoe.
Dynamotion fit has been developed to make your shoe work with your body, almost like a second skin, the manufacturers of Mizuno say. The Dynamotion fit is designed to work with your foot as it moves and stretches.
The “Flex Eyelets” help keep your heel secure while you wear the shoe and the “Stretch Mesh” helps eliminate the bunching and pulling that can cause discomfort and even blisters.
Dura shield toe guards are also included in this shoe. The small bones of your toes, the metatarsals, help form the framework for the arches in your feet—those in the middle and those under the balls of each foot.
These provide similar protection that steel-tipped boots offer, but without the added weight. This shoe also seems to fit smaller than average, so you are advised to go up a size or half a size when ordering, and this shoe is only available in White/Black colors.
This Mizuno women's shoe does not run too wide like other brands, and provides a nice suspension when jumping and landing. However, there are some concerns regarding the durability of this shoe.
The heel lacks padding and craftsmanship is questioned about how fast the shoes are. These shoes still tend to run small, and the heel grip isn't necessarily comparable.
Some users complain about their heel slipping or getting blisters on the ankle.
Now this shoe is a good one for young players as you can get it in any color you want. From pink to blue to neon combos, there are several combinations to choose from.
This low-cut style shoe features the parallel Wave plate for lateral stability and optimal comfort, including space for any ankle braces.
This shoe is ideal for practice and play. The shoe has a rubber sole, non-marking outsole, dynamotion fit and mizuno intercool.
Adidas Performance Energy Volley Boost
- Revolutionary Boost cushioning technology
- Designed for volleyball players
- Very pricey
The non-slip liner ensures a snug fit, while the hook-and-lock strap secures it. This is by far the most stable shoe and offers extra power when jumping and landing, without taking away the stability.
However, this shoe is not the best buy for the money as it is on the more expensive side.
These shoes come with Boost Technology, a revolutionary cushioning technology that is relatively new to the market. The Boost technology is made from thousands of formulated molded pellets.
In fact, it takes so many pellets to make a Boost midsole that the world's largest chemical producer in the world, BASF, needs to produce these energy capsules.
Boost is the most responsive cushioning ever.
Made by the well-known company Adidas, this shoe is designed for Volleyball players.
These shoes are made of textile and synthetic material as well as a synthetic sole and the rubber outsole is advertised to give you an excellent grip on the volleyball court.
Mizuno Wave Tornado
- Infinity Wave offers premium cushioning
- Dynamotion reduces instability
- Best grip for volleyball
- The Wave runs a bit small and is slightly narrower
Another high quality shoe made by Mizuno, this shoe is made with synthetic mesh on the upper part of the shoe and a rubber sole on the bottom which prevents it from marking the floor.
It features the Infinity Wave in the heel of the shoe, which provides both premium cushioning and absorbs the shock that occurs during the landing that is so common during a volleyball match.
This shoe also comes with Dynamotion, which increases both flexibility and agility, while at the same time minimizing instability and reducing stress that the foot naturally puts on normally other footwear.
This shoe excels with excellent traction. It holds up well, while the cushioning provides support at impact without being too stiff. This shoe provides more active ankles and is great for moving back and forth.
The Wave runs a little small and is slightly narrower, so I would recommend ordering a half size larger with this shoe.
At the end of the day, this is a great shoe for indoor volleyball players as it offers excellent comfort, grip and support.
ASICS Gel Volley Elite Women
- GEL technology absorbs impact
- Synthetic material and mesh are lightweight
- Too small for most feet
A high quality volleyball shoe made by ASICS, this shoe is made of textile and synthetic material and has a rubber sole.
The synthetic material and breathable open mesh help keep the shoe lightweight and allow the wearer's foot to breathe.
This shoe also features GEL technology that helps absorb the wearer's impact on the ground. It is available in the following colors: Knock-Out Pink / White / Electric Blue.
This is a quality volleyball shoe. It provides great support, especially under the arch, and is stable and sturdy enough to handle a significant amount of weight.
However, it is also a bit small, and I would recommend ordering a half size larger.
Adidas speed court
- Break in fast
- Good stability for the price
- Wide toe makes it too wide for people without wide feet
The good thing about this shoe is the comfortable fit, good arch support and durability. It also tends to break in quickly, which is nice for the change between all the shoes that you have to break in nicely first.
And that also makes them perfect for beginners who already have enough on their mind with all the technique they need to learn.
The shoe is made of textile and synthetic material with a rubber sole. The shaft measures about 2,25 inches from the arch and the shoe weighs just 8,4 ounces. The new design of this shoe is seamless for a lighter weight and improved fit.
This shoe distributes weight evenly over the foot, while maintaining a light weight for better performance.
However, the bad thing about this shoe is that it flares out quickly and gets wider. Still, this is a great volleyball shoe and overall a very good shoe for the price.
Conclusion
Volleyball shoes need sufficient cushioning and grip, without being too heavy for the fast movements and jumps you have to make.
That makes each of these choices a good option to improve your game.
More indoor sports? Also read: the best squash shoes reviewed
