I decided it was time to test K Swiss pickleball shoes after I had a miserable experience with Adidas pickleball shoes, but an amazing experience with Asics pickleball shoes.
So, I got a pair of K Swiss Express Light 3 padel pickleball shoes, and I knew I needed to review my experience for you.
Let’s start with first impressions.
First Impressions
When I unboxed my K Swiss pickleball shoes, I really liked the color as the color reminds me of the colors of this blog, BePickleBaller. There are a variety of colors, but these were some of my favorite.
That said, I was not sure about the feel of the shoes because it reminded me more of my Adidas pickleball shoes more than my Asics pickleball shoes.
When I first slipped on the K Swiss pickleball shoes, I noticed that the shoes were quite snug. I started to question whether I should have gotten a size 12 instead of a size 11.5. I would say that these shoes are moderately comfort, but I did feel a bit discomfort near my ankles when playing.
I like a lighter pickleball shoe, so I decided to weigh these K Swiss pickleball shoes and found that each shoe weighed 13.6 ounces, which I believe is a great weight.
Other than that, I felt that the shoes did provide solid grip from the beginning, and that they were overall comfortable.
That said, I wanted to get on the courts to see how well these shoes really performed, so let’s chat about that next.
How The Shoes Performed On the Court
When I review pickleball shoes, I like to review the shoes for grip, speed, and durability.
Grip
Firstly, the grip on the K Swiss shoes was outstanding. I play pickleball outdoors, so I need a shoe that can grip the cement similar to that of an indoor court.
I could easily feel that these shoes gripped the court well. The shoe’s design allowed me to move effortlessly from left to right, in addition to allowing me to play singles effectively.
Speed
Speed is incredibly important for singles and doubles players. I tend to play more singles pickleball than doubles pickleball, so it’s important once I make my first return to get up to the middle of the kitchen line to create a wall.
With the K Swiss pickleball shoes, I felt that I was more sluggish than I had experience with my Asics shoes. Even though the shoes are about the same weight, I believe the issue may be the construction of the grip. The grippier the shoe may mean that it’s more difficult to get that speed.
I am not sure exactly what I was experiencing, but I wished that these shoes provided more speed.
Durability
My experience with the K Swiss shoes are that these shoes will be very durable. The materials feel high quality, and I have already played multiple sessions with these shoes and have not felt any strain.
That said, most of my pickleball sessions are around 1-2 hours, so if you are playing longer sessions, you will pressure these shoes more than my experience.
Cost Considerations
These shoes tend to be around $100, which is not my most expensive nor my least expensive shoes. That said, you may want to check the price on Amazon as these shoes do go on sale every once in a while.
In addition, you may also consider reading my article on the Asics pickleball shoes and comparing the price for that option as those tend to be around $75.
Specifications
An important aspect about pickleball shoes is what the shoes are made of. Here are the specifications for the K Swiss pickleball shoes, specifically the K Swiss Express Light 3 shoes for men.
- Express Light 3 HB Padel: Lightweight performance shoe for next-level comfort.
- DuraWrap Flex: Molded RPU cage for flexible support and drag protection.
- Well-padded ankle collar: Enhances comfort and stability.
- Die-cut foam sock liner: Adds responsive cushioning underfoot.
- HB outsole: Deeply grooved herringbone pattern for optimal traction on indoor and outdoor courts.
- Synthetic leather upper.
- Textile collar lining.
- Molded rubber outsole.
- CMEVA midsole.
- Textile sock liner cover.
- Lace closure.
Conclusion
I have loved the K Swiss brand since I was a kid opening the first box of my K Swiss shoes. While I liked the K Swiss pickleball shoes, I would argue that these shoes were not my favorite from the speed to the blisters I received after wearing the shoes.
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