If you’re a volleyball player, possibilities are that you’ve been told in some cases that you need to buy the “right or best volleyball shoes.”
Shoes for sports like volleyball are meant to protect your feet and make it easier for you to jump or move around on the ground. For this reason, you must wear shoes made specifically for this sport. There are several factors you’ll want to take into account when choosing volleyball shoes, including cushioning (how much support they provide), arch height, and materials used. If you’re unsure which shoe is best for your needs, consult a professional player or coach before making a decision.
But what does it explain? What makes for a good pair of volleyball shoes? And how do they differ from other types of athletic footwear? In this article, we’ll answer all these questions and more. We’ll also give our picks for the best volleyball shoe models on the market right now.
Comparison Table – 12 Best Volleyball Shoes For Men & Women
Foam-padded collar and tongue
Enhanced cushioning and shock absorption
Molded-EVA midsole
AP+ midsole with a built-up rebound
Non-marking XG Rubber
Color: Black/Neon
The runner-up product specialized to adhere comfort for rearfoot and forefoot
Midsole inspiredTrusstic system
NC Rubber outsole
Weight limit fluctuates between 10 – 12 oz
Foam-padded collar and tongue
Enhanced cushioning and shock absorption
Molded-EVA midsole
AP+ midsole with a built-up rebound
Non-marking XG Rubber
Color: Black/Neon
The runner-up product specialized to adhere comfort for rearfoot and forefoot
Midsole inspiredTrusstic system
NC Rubber outsole
Weight limit fluctuates between 10 – 12 oz
List of Top 12 Best Volleyball Shoes to Pick in 2021
Below we have shortlisted some qualified volleyball shoes based on their features supporting men and women requirements. You can pick out of them the one that suits you the most, knowing its relevant briefing and buying guide at the bottom.
Best Volleyball Shoes for Women:
Women's Gel-Rocket 9
While running rashly while hitting a ball coming to you, the ASICS Gel-Rocket 9, using its Trusstic System technology, balances the traction from the bottom sole and comes extra helpful for reducing pain and pressure over the sole lining.
It is absolutely a pocket-friendly, quick pick shoe pair for playing volleyball extra energetically and confidently. The material used promises the lasting surety of foot health maintenance. It includes EVA midsole, meshed outer layer, Forefoot GEL Cushioning System, and much more attractive components for providing 100% covering for feet’s temperate regions. For adding a pinch of style, you can pick from its 9 fascinating colors, the one which suits your form.
Women's Crazyflight Bounce 3
The thing which makes it a running-inspired silhouette is its shaft resistance capability which comes from TPU fibers. The composition involves no artificial hard plastic forms, and the final product is overall synthetic.
Thanks to its intrinsic properties, it doesn’t feel tempering or heated from the inside. It keeps a balance between ventilation and stability of the structure. So if an athlete or player has to play for hours in court, sweating will be negligible to make you focused on goals.
Women's Wave Lightning Z3
If your major struggle while playing volleyball is the fear of sudden fall, which can lead to foot problems later, Mizuno Wave Lightning Z3 provides the parallel Wave plate that confirms lateral steadiness and pushes midsoles up, keeping the weight on the forefoot.
Such a mechanism of securing feet provides a good edge for volleyball players to stay higher in performance while jumping across the net. Also, the shoe gives a classic look and accessible room for ankle braces to support health matters by going to different milestones. So you can choose them for both practices and games – in any tough/efforting situation, you need athletic footwear.
Adidas Originals Women's Ligra 6
Most people reviewed it five-star due to its 9.5 size fittings and compatibility score. It serves as a synthetic barrier between rock surface and soft feet soles by providing cushioning from the end of the sole to the tip of the toe. Its arch keeps you flowing but does not impose sudden push, which you can comparatively see in newly bought shoes. That’s why it’s traction maintenance ability guarantees a good grip on the ground, which in return is a catalyst for excelling goals against opponents.
Another excellent feature of this shoe is the Lightweight EVA midsole – it helps you keep playing on toes. It marks no temperature saturation and similar exhaustion. Thus investing in them is a reliable option!
Difference between volleyball shoes & running shoes
If you have ever heard that wearing running shoes for playing volleyball is OK, rethink again.
It doesn’t seem as effective as it looks. Many components explain this view more clearly, why you need specific shoes for specific types of games.
For instance, your body position, movements, and facing the environment are different while playing volleyball. It would help if you jumped, swiftly changed the direction without rotating, moving forward, and hitting shots by gripping the ground. This is where your body requirements for having authentic tools or costume, or maybe shoes, are genuine.
Comparatively, when you run, your focus drives you to the end goal, and you only struggle hard to run smoothly. That is only possible if you have an excellent grip on the ground. Probably, the shoe is the only medium that makes your feet contact the ground. It can therefore be of different types, based on the needs where they want.
Let’s check below two significant differences between volleyball and running shoes. So it is easy for you to understand clearly the difference and buy a good volleyball shoe for you.
Difference of Soles:
The primary and foremost difference between volleyball and running shoes is soles. The running shoe’s sole is much more complicated than a volleyball shoe. It is because, for running, you need an undetachable grip on the ground that can stick you with it. You are running and not jumping, therefore, the sole comes firm and robust because it is made of denser material, e.g., carbon rubber.
When we check the soles of the shoes (specifically designed and composed for volleyball), they seem very light in weight, and the enormous contribution to being lighter is the lightweight sole. These soles are made of gels, PU, TPU, EVA foam, and similar material, in less quantity. They are lighter to help players ensure good jumps and stunts while playing volleyball.
Difference of Cushioning:
The second major thing that differentiates running shoes from volleyball shoes is cushioning provided by the shoe’s inner lining. The gel cushioning and wave technology make volleyball shoes lighter and way more comforting for the sole. Such material is a specification among volleyball shoes that might not be seen in ordinary athlete shoes, made of basic-purpose, padding material.
Essential factors to consider:
Before you right away skip to get professional volleyball shoes from the stock, first make sure that the following factors are checked. They are essential to consider for creating an utterly reliable choice. So what are these factors?
Weight
It is described earlier how weight is a direct hindrance for volleyball players. Checking the weight of volleyball shoes is an excellent idea for those who are serious about the game. This way, they’ll know what weight will help them play their best and be as competitive as possible. It’s essential to weigh your shoes due to the different weights that exist.
If you’re playing on a hot court, then you’ll want to avoid the heaviest shoes as they’ll wear you out more quickly. In addition, if you’re generally a rich player and need to jump high, then you’ll want to consider the extra weight as it’ll help them rebound better off of the ground.
Traction
The traction on a volleyball shoe is significant for controlling how well the shoe performs. The performance will depend on how well it grips to the floor. Without sufficient traction, your player may slip and trip over. The player may also have trouble controlling the ball due to a lack of grip. The relevance of a good grip is paramount for a high-quality performance.
Traction maintenance is essential because:
- The player will have the ability to control where they are stepping.
- Without sufficient traction, the ball may slip out of their hands when serving or passing/ setting, which causes a drop in performance.
- The player can keep their balance while moving around the court with ease which makes it more accessible.
Cushioning/Comfort
If you’re playing volleyball, your body needs to be in the best shape to play at an optimum level. It’s also essential for your equipment, including your shoes, to be in good condition so that you can ensure you get the most out of your game. One of the things you need to look at is cushioning and comfortability. This can affect how long you can play during a match or training session.
Ensure that there is enough padding, especially if you are picking up a shoe that needs more than one break-in period. In addition, look for a lightweight shoe. The lighter the shoes are, the faster your feet will move around on the court.
Indoor/outdoor performance
Check the Indoor/outdoor performance of volleyball shoes before buying them. Look at the upper to see how much it flexes around the ball of your foot when you press on different parts of it. You want a shoe that curves enough to provide a snug fit, but not so much that you feel like the shoe’s going to slip off your feet. You want to be able to do quick movements in the court without worrying about your shoes. Also, look for a shoe with dense cushioning because you’ll put them under heavy pressure when landing from jumps.
Check the Indoor/outdoor performance of volleyball shoes before buying them. Look at the upper to see how much it flexes. Finally, make sure there’s a rubberized sole. This should be common in the newest models.
Best brand
Once you are all set with the things mentioned above, now pick a brand that attracts you most due to its specifications for shoes. It prefers to go with brands that provide good customer support. It ensures that if you face future customer complaints regarding shoes or the product is cracked very soon, then warranty, the trustworthy brand will cater to the situation, providing the ultimate solution.
Also, prefer to go with brands that provide you with good quality, durable, and cost-effective shoes, rather than expensive ones. Ensure all essential features are present in shoes and they are available at a reasonable price. If maintained, you have picked the very right option.
How to measure foot size?
To measure your feet, use a paper or fabric measuring tape. If you think that measuring shoe size is very tricky, you need to grab some quick ways to solve this problem without any hassle.
With tape, stretch out one foot in front of you, place the end of the tape against the tip of your toes and stretch to where it meets your other foot. Make sure not to round up – always take an accurate measurement, resulting in a poorly fitting shoe.
Using paper, how can you measure your feet? Let’s check out:
- Find a ruler and a piece of paper.
- Put one leg on top of the other.
- Take the paper and draw a line from the heel where you can’t see your toes when you stand with your feet together.
- Place the ruler against the line you drew and measure in inches how far it is from the heel to the big toe.
- Measure every inch, put them down on paper until you’re at your pinkie toe.
- Add up all inches that you measured, then divide by 12 to get your US or European size.
Note: Measuring feet is an important step that most people neglect to do correctly. The pedestrians have reported that wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes due to lack of attention to size can put players in severe trouble and face health threats. So before buying, closely measure the size of your feet and accordingly choose the shoe that provides enough room for free feet movement and good ventilation.
FAQs About Best Volleyball Shoes
Want to know more about volleyball shoes? OR have random questions popping up which are confusing? Let’s get some common questions solved regarding high-top volleyball shoes. Reading them can help you with the directional purpose of choosing the best volleyball shoes. Ultimately, the chances of being doubted will vanish.
Can I play volleyball in my running shoes?
No, buy some volleyball shoes to get the proper grip and protection. Running shoes are designed for endurance training during longer distances, not for playing sports like volleyball where you’re moving up and down on the heels of your feet. The problem with running shoes is that they provide less foot stability than specially-designed volleyball or basketball sneakers.
All too often, people who try out this sport in ill-fitting footwear find themselves hobbling off the court with twisted ankles or other injuries – all because they weren’t wearing the proper footwear. It’s always best to adhere to reasonable safety procedures when playing ball games (like socks), but it’s also essential to purchase specialized sporting goods – like this tough-soled volleyball.
Can I wear volleyball shoes outside?
As long as it doesn’t rain on them, volleyball shoes are made of rubber and will not become damaged by the rain. If volleyball shoes are meant for sports, they will only be damaged if you play outside in the rain. A puddle can form on a volleyball court, which can cause people to slip and fall. If you plan on playing in the rain with your shoes, make sure to purchase some waterproof shoes as well.
However, you can prefer wearing volleyball shoes for an everyday walk or even jogging in the morning on grassy lands. The rubber comfort from the sole will help you release stress more quickly when you walk on the ground rather than jumping and rashly changing directions (what we do while playing volleyball). So it is outstanding to use them on dry, general walk sides.
What kind of shoes do volleyball players wear?
Volleyball players wear sneakers designed for their sport. The shoes are lightweight, flexible, firm-soled, have textured surfaces to enhance traction, and allow them to move quickly and easily. They also provide excellent lateral support and cushioning to protect you from ankle injuries (not likely in this sport) or knee joint damage. You can also wear the proper volleyball socks with your sneakers to enhance your grip on the ball.
Apart from sneakers, you can think about running shoes if you’re playing volleyball if the time is not of hours. They can attain your requirements to a specified limit. After that, you may face unexpected difficulties. Suppose you attempt to play volleyball in running shoes for hours and hours (like for training). You’ll likely twist your ankles at least once or twice during the shot.
Do volleyball shoes make a difference?
Yes, it is essential to wear the proper footwear for sports. You should always wear shoes that are made for your sport if you want to avoid injury. Wearing the wrong footwear for your sport can lead to injuries, and other problems, so make sure to take the time when purchasing athletic shoes.
Do volleyball shoes make you jump higher?
No, there is no evidence that wearing volleyball shoes will make you jump higher. Volleyball shoes are commonly seen on the court because they provide comfort and stability, especially when you’re moving up and down. You can wear them all day long. You should wear volleyball shoes for this sport – not running shoes. They’re a significant investment that will help you stay healthy and enjoy your sport safely.
Winding Up!
There we discussed a complete plan for buying the best volleyball shoes for your gaming life, where you want to be mature, more professional, and exceptional in performance.
If you don’t have sufficient time to read the entire article, pick Mizuno Women’s Wave Tornado X, famous for high traction maintenance capability. Its unique heel collar and features for directional movements make it the best budget pick.
Similarly, consider ASICS Men’s GEL-Volleycross 4 MT, one of the top-rated volleyball shoes and provides indoor and outdoor game exposure. Its key features are super attentive towards feet health stability and encouraging long-term wear.
For getting a thorough understanding of volleyball shoe specifications, this article has highlighted terms that you must ensure before buying volleyball footwear. Also, lists of both women’s and men’s shoes are described to help you come and quickly pick your category’s best choice.
