Are you worried about your volleyball shoes because the previous one is not helping you anymore during gameplay? Or are you seeking shoes with a comfortable sole, along with ankle collars and midsoles that enhance your game experience or abilities and contribute to overall foot fitness?
Volleyball shoes play an important role as they enable you to move around the court at high speed regardless of whether you are jumping, it helps you to keep your feet in the same position. In this review, I have provided the 6 best volleyball shoes that I use and find them best over the others, no matter if you are a hitter, setter, libero, or defensive specialist.
- Ultra-soft and lightweight sole with good breathability
- Best for all positions due to outside sole
- Optimal Shock Absorbance
- Improved heel-to-toe transition
- Lightweight cushioning with average breathability
- Unique outside sole pattern, which is best for grip
- Best for outdoor playing due to the good down-toe box
- It’s not very lightweight but has good breathability
- Average inner sole cushioning and a lot of colour options
- Best for the beginners
- Improved stability and comfort
List Of Top-Rated Volleyball Shoes:
ASICS Sky Elite FF MT 2
Features And Specifications:
- Comfortable and lightweight padding
- Improved Cushioning and breathability
- Adequate grip and ankle Support
ASICS Sky Elite FlyteFoam Mid Top 2 boasts a design specially crafted for optimal comfort and performance. It features thick padding in the ankle and collar areas, as well as a traditional tongue separated from the breathable mesh. The midsole is specially designed for soft landing with Flyte Foam, which contributes to shock absorption.
My Verdict:
One of the top-rated and overall best shoes for volleyball that every player should use is ASICS ELITE FF MT-2; regardless of whether you are a setter, libero hitter, or a defensive specialist, it will give you a unique gaming experience. Before coaching as a player and now at coaching, I’m using it and loving it because of its outside sole grip and engaging pattern to firm the feet in the same position on the court.
Due to its pretty cool design and thread-like pattern sole, its traction is actually really good on both dusty and clean floors. Lightweight sole and soft cushioning from the inside provide an outstanding experience on both heel and forefoot. From this shoe, no matter whether you are playing on the court or other floors, you will get extra spring that additional bounce from the sole and plenty of shock absorption. The shock absorption is even softer than Mizuno Momentum and Nike Hyperace.
When it comes to lateral support, it will help you to be stable due to its blady pattern on both the midsole and forefoot. This blade-type pattern is good for lateral support. Its flexible edges of the sole allow you to move your foot comfortably. There’s a nice curve on both sides so that your heel can roll softly and spring into any direction.
I opted for it top; it is because of some factors and one of its top factors is its toe box and eyebrow mesh, which is more softy and comfy than all other shoes by providing next-level flexibility and breathability. While it may not be as thick as the Nike Hyperace and Mizuno Momentum, it still gives more support around the ankle and upper.
It is coming towards its heel-to-toe transition, which is really great for jumpers as it gives a super smooth experience while jumping on both clean and dirty courts. With a great balance of comfort, protection, and support, these ASICS Sky Elite FF MT 2 shoes are considered the overall best shoes for volleyball for both men and women.
Mizuno Wave Momentum
Features And Specifications:
- Lightweight and progressive design
- Great ankle support, stability, shock absorption, and traction
- Long durability, along with improved sole and cushioning
Mizuno Wave Momentum is a great product by Mizuno for volleyball lovers, especially for jumpers, due to its elegant design, soft cushioning, lightweight sole, optimal shock absorption, lateral support, and ease of washing.
My Verdict:
Coming forward, the shoe that takes 2nd place in my point of view is Mizuno Wave Momentum. This is because of its ultra-modern and futuristic geometric design shape from the outside with strong quality mesh from the outside, and this pair of shoes looks like the advanced version of the Nike Hyperace 2 article that I am going to review below. You will experience some stiffness at the bottom. Whatever they have done with shoes, you will get an additional bounce and pop during the jump, along with excellent shock absorption and traction.
When it comes to lateral support, these shoes are enough for that. You will get extra lateral support, but keep in mind this shoe does not come with wide soles. While playing volleyball and jumping, it’s very important for your foot to feel relaxed and supported, and these shoes provide me with both features. I felt strongly supported without feeling restricted, which is a crucial point of this volleyball footgear.
As heading towards padding, which is thick, and I feel super comfy during gameplay. The mesh is soft and has good breathability. I found it entirely easy to rub on my Achille, and it is also very comfortable for wide feet. Overall, they came in number due to their well-rounded features, offering responsiveness, grip, comfort, and an impressive design.
Nike Zoom Hyperace 2
Features And Specifications:
- Comfortable Padding And Cushioning
- Durable, Stable, and Great Ankle Support
- Specially designed for wide feet
- Breathable Mesh Material
The shoe specially designed for volleyball by Nike is the Nike Zoom Hyperace 2. This Nike shoe comes with comfortable, thick padding, good traction, and great lateral support, along with smooth, soft mesh that is breathable enough.
My Verdict:
The third position for the best shoes for volleyball is held by Nike HyperAce Zoom 2. This is actually an improved version of the Nike Air Zoom Hyper Attack. Before Hyperace 2, I thought it would be like its previous version, but after I properly tried it, I was wrong. This shoe is specially made for volleyball lovers. Nike Zoom technology is used in this shoe, which is my favorite technology for making shoes, whether it’s for volleyball, basketball, or pickleball.
After wearing this shoe, I was really impressed by the ankle support and side foot padding. Yet, as it transitions to the upper part, it is actually really soft and cosy, along with supports. This creates an excellent sense of support snugness, and flexibility for the natural feet movement without any restriction.
As a volleyball coach and former player, I prefer lightweight and agile shoes, so this feels heavier than your typical volleyball shoes. Nevertheless, this shoe provides a lot of support and is one of the most long-lasting and durable shoes that I’ve ever worn. The sole rubber from the outside feels a little stiffer all around but provides super support without compromising flexibility.
Overall, in addition to being great for wide feet, this shoe boasts remarkable traction despite not being sticky on the sole. The tread is very well designed, resembling teeth. If you’re in search of a versatile and dependable volleyball shoe, the Nike Hyperace is definitely worth considering for buying.
Adidas Women Crazyflight
Features And Specifications:
- Lightweight shoe with Fine Nylon Material
- Improved shock absorption and traction
- Pretty good design with flowing lines
- Extreme Breathable and engineered mesh
Adidas Women Crazyflight is a shoe made for volleyball lovers and is especially for defenders. Its futuristic design attracts everybody with its lightweight sole and thin nylon material. These shoes are also best for beginners in all volleyball player’s positions.
My Verdict:
Coming towards the overall best volleyball shoe, which takes the fourth position, is Adidas Crazyflgiht. These Adidas shoes come with an angled design and flowing lines, which gives them a futuristic look. Foot feels free movement due to material like nylon. Yet after some time, your foot feels discomfort because the wrinkles occasionally push into the foot, which may be annoying. Despite this, the shoe provides a sense of stability during stop-and-go movements and ensures the foot remains firmly in place without any laterally or slippage.
As for the upper, which is made of the same material, a thin nylon provides minimal cushioning, a feature that everyone does not prefer and which is easy to clean or wash. The break-in period was short, which required a few days for snugness and comfy feels. I also tried these shoes in the gym, where I feel a little slippery on dusty floors, and it became different to change direction.
The shock absorption proves outstanding as the impact on joints during jumping is minimal during both landing and sudden stop-and-go movements. However, during the initial change in direction, I felt a slight decrease in speed when shifting from blocking to loading for a hit. The cushioning may be too soft, or the traction pattern is not optimal for turning more than 180 degrees.
There is no problem with hell-to-toe transition, so it’s acceptable. It starts well from the heel nut, then gets a bit stiff in the midsole, which somewhat limits your penultimate steep’s speed. While it’s still possible to jump without tracking and hesitation, don’t feel extra bounce or spring. The overall jumping encounter remains quite neutral, neither adding to nor taking away from my jumping ability.
Coming to the ankle area, which is too loose, but overall, the feel of the shoes is incredibly stable, providing a balanced and ready-to-spring feeling in any direction on defence. After some days of using it, I feel more sung because the material bends away in funny ways. Even so, I never felt like my ankle was compromised. It was more of a comfort thing.
Mizuno Men’s Wave Lighting Z6
Features And Specifications:
- Lightweight and a little stuff padding
- Improved and optimal shock absorption
- Best for hitters & Libero’s
- Good lateral and ankle support
Mizuno Wave Lighting Z6 uses wave technology that provides better stability and cushion to breeze through the entire game effortlessly. A diagonal groove in the midfoot area enables the player to perform sharp turns with speed and facilitate effective change of natural body movements.
My Verdict:
The fifth-ranked option for the best volleyball shoe overall is Mizuno Men’s Wave Lighting Z6, which is a perfect choice for hitters because of its good bounce and outstanding shock absorption. Also, because of its good grip and solid sole, it allows a centre-back player to make quick counter-movements.
As for ankle support, these are the best shoes for ankle joint support, but it’s a little stiff padding. The lightweight padding is rough for feet to feel comfy environments. Its outside sole pattern is outstanding and improved with good shock absorption. If you are a hitter, where you have a lot of jumps, this is a good choice for you. These shoes are also well known for liberos.
The shoe is well suited with light and good grip and is nicely cushioned. The Wave cushion is super dominant both at the front and rear, offering exceptional performance for the player. Its overall quality is crucial to me, ensuring comfort during walks, effective padding, and overall excellent fit. The inner soles are a bit narrower, which means they are not good for wide feet.
Overall, with plenty of support for all volleyball movements, Wave Lighting is one of the best volleyball shoes. However, it suits me more as a hitter. It provides an exceptional spring on jumps and is more stingy on defence. If you prioritize a shoe with more cushioning, a tighter fit, and a heavier feel, from my opinion as a coach, these are the best pair of shoes with your options.
Asics Gel-Rocket 11
Features And Specifications:
- A perfect choice for beginners.
- Better Shock Absorption along with ankle support.
- Improved lateral support and padding
The ASICS Gel Rocket Series has garnered substantial popularity due to its budget-friendly price. This court shoe is a preferred choice in diverse sports like squash, volleyball, badminton, handball, pickleball, and more. Despite some modifications in the Gel Rocket 11 compared to the Gel 10, both shoes have similarities.
My Verdict:
The shoes that I used the most were ASICS Gel Rocket-10, but now I am upgraded to ASICS Gel Rocket-11. These shoes can be your daily footwear. Before gameplay, this would not provide too much traction, but after usage, it amassed from its outsole pattern, and you didn’t think too much before changing direction. The Gel type of technology used in these shoes is improving with their new articles.
Coming towards the cushioning, which is another impressive thing in this budget. Your foot feels comfortable in this padding, and it provides enough ankle support along with lateral support. This shoe version is lighter and softer than the previous one. The mesh of the shoe is good and soft but needs improvements because, after 5-6 hours of use, your foot will feel sweaty. Along with this, there is a need for some improvement in arch support. The shoe is good and flexible, but after the time of use, it bends funnily, but it is not annoying.
The inner sole pattern is soft and lightweight as compared to the old model, but there is still a need for improvement because your arch feels uncomfortable after some usage. Once when you use it, this will not irritate you more. In my opinion and inner sole design, these are not good for wide feet.
Coming to the shock absorption, which is good and enough for this price tag. I didn’t feel any pain in the ankle joints. This is because of its gel technology. Overall, it’s a good shoe with this and a budget option for beginners that satisfies its price tag.
Buying Guide (Things To Know Before Buying Best Volleyball Shoes)
Many people buy shoes looking at their looks, but buying a shoe according to your taste is not just finding a stylish pair that catches your eye. There are some key factors before buying volleyball footwear like comfort, padding, sole, and many others, which are given below:
Grip & Traction:
The thing that matters the most while choosing volleyball shoes is grip because the better the grip, the better will be the traction. The traction also depends upon the court; nice the court is maintained, the nicest will be traction.
Most shoes come with a rubber grip because they help you a lot with sudden stops and moves. According to my usage of different shoes, the best grippy outsole shoes are provided by Asics Skyelite FF MT-2, which is not only good on clean floors but also pretty handsome on some dusty floors. (Keep in mind the traction is better on clean floors.)
Shock Absorption:
Coming to the factor that matters the most after the grip and traction is shock absorption because every player has to jump and land on the court, especially outside hitters, middle blockers, and opposite players. The shock absorption in a shoe after the jump makes less impact on ankle joints and knees. You should be very conscious of the shocking absorbance. The best footwear for this is Asics Skyelite FF MT-2.
Ankle Support:
Next, the third thing to be safeguarded the most is the ankles, and volleyball is a game of mostly jumps. During jumps, your ankles need to be supported well. The ankle support is very preferred for spikers and blockers before choosing good footwear.
Lightweight:
The fourth most important factor before buying the best volleyball footgear is it’s lightweight. The more the shoe is, the more comfortable your foot will be because the heavyweight sole makes the foot and legs tired, especially ankle joints and toe joints.
In my opinion, lightweight shoes help to do jumps more easily than heavyweight shoes, and although it’s not recommendable to wear heavyweight volleyball shoes because they also look bulky.
Lateral Support & Stability:
Lateral support and stability, on the other hand, are very crucial things when choosing shoes for volleyball because the players have to jump and change their direction quickly. So, in this case, you should not go with good height but also consider its design and outside sole pattern before buying a good shoe. Stability provides a good balance to the shoe and enables you to stand firmly on the court after jumps.
Padding & Cushioning:
The sixth most important thing to consider in mind before buying good footwear is padding and cushioning because it helps a lot to feel comfortable. Without comfort, you start to feel annoyed, and obviously, your game will not be good. So cushioning and padding play an important role and prevent your feet from any injury.
Breathability:
If you are a person who feels very sweaty, then go with shoes that offer good breathability mesh. In this case, the Nike Zoom Hyperace 2 is recommended. Because sweetness makes a problem during gameplay, and your foot starts to feel uncomfortable.
FAQs:
Conclusion
In other words, choosing the right volleyball shoes is essential for optimal performance during gameplay. The top-rated options for 2024, including the ASICS Sky Elite FF MT 2, Mizuno Wave Momentum, Nike Zoom Hyperace 2, Adidas Women Crazyflight, Mizuno Men’s Wave Lightning Z6, and Asics Gel-Rocket 11, offer a combination of comfort, shock absorption, ankle support, and stability. Each shoe has its unique features, designed for different positions and preferences of players. Ultimately, the ASICS Sky Elite FF MT 2 stands out as the overall best choice, providing outstanding comfort, grip, and stability for players of all positions. Factors like grip, lightweight design, lateral support, padding, and breathability should be carefully considered before buying a shoe.
Hey, I’m Anderson Felix, the mind behind VolleCrafters! I’m all about blending creativity with craftsmanship, sharing my passion for DIY projects, handmade goods, and all things artisan.