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I am a pickleball shoe fanatic and have bought so many shoes, so I can share the best pickleball shoes for men. That said, these shoes may also be great for women too.
Now I know it may feel like a small thing, but a pickleball shoe is the second most important accessory to your pickleball paddle. As I have spent countless hours reviewing my ~60 pickleball paddles, I knew that it was time for me to buy and review as many shoes as I could get my hands on.
This quest took me on a wild ride to test shoes such as Babolats to K Swiss to Adidas to many more. I also tried using basketball shoes for pickleball, which was surprisingly decent.
Let’s start with the best pickleball shoes for men and move downwards. Currently, the best pair is a tie between Asics and Sketchers.
In addition, I plan to constantly update this article when new shoes are released, so keep in touch!
1. Asics Pickleball Shoes
It’s funny to me that Asics pickleball shoes are the best pickleball shoes for men, but once you get a pair, you will soon find out why. Personally, I went with the Asics Gel-Renma, and I liked these shoes so much that I wrote an entire review just about these shoes.
Here’s a shortened summary.
Firstly, the comfort factor is a 10 out of 10. The shoes felt great the first time I wore them, and I got no blisters without breaking them in.
Secondly, I found some of my shoes have too much grip, reducing your speed to the kitchen or around the court. The Asics pickleball shoes have the perfect grip to not inhibit your speed. In addition, the shoe’s lightweight also equips you to run quickly.
Thirdly, I have loved the durability of these shoes and can see myself getting another 6 months with constant place.
Finally, and potentially most importantly, I love the cost. I have pickleball shoes around the $200 mark, and do not come close to the playability of these shoes that cost a fraction of the price.
I got mine under $90, but the price changes often, so if you’re interested, check them out on Amazon.
The next pair of shoes are incredible, and actually a tie for the first position at the moment.
2. Sketcher Pickleball Shoes
The Sketcher pickleball shoes were the last pair of shoes I bought, and I honestly did not think that any pickleball shoes could compete with Asics pickleball shoes.
I was wrong.
I purchased the Skechers Men’s Viper Court Smash Pickleball sneaker, and the shoes are fantastic.
Firstly, the shoes are very comfortable. When I first put the shoes on, I thought that the shoes felt slightly baggy, but when I tightened the shoes, I realized it was just how the shoes came out of the box.
On the court, the Sketcher pickleball shoes provided amazing grip while not restricting my speed. I play singles pickleball, so I need shoes that allow lateral movements.
These Sketcher shoes provided that and more. In addition, I did not get any blisters in the first time playing with the shoes.
Who will win the tie for the best pickleball shoes for men? I would argue that the shoes that will be the most durable, so stay tuned.
In terms of price, I put these Sketchers shoes second in position for this article as the shoes are slightly more expensive than the Asics Gel-Renma, but you may want to check prices for both.
Let’s cover the runner up shoes that do not disappoint.
3. Babolat Jet Mach 3 Pickleball Shoes
The runner up pickleball shoes got one of the highest number of votes on the “best pickleball shoes” pickleball subreddit.
So, I was excited to have my Babolat pickleball shoes compete against my Asics shoes. Firstly, I really liked the weight and feel of these shoes. Immediately, when I slipped into the shoes, I knew I was in for a treat.
I wrote an entire Babolat pickleball shoes review, but here’s a summary. The shoes were comfortable, and I was excited with the Michelin level grade grip that the shoes boast. I loved that the shoes were only 13.0 ounces, making these some of the lightest shoes I own.
On the court, I felt the grip immediately as I was able to make lateral movements and move up to the kitchen line. That said, I believe the one slight downside was that I felt that I moved slower to the line, potentially because of the grip.
Finally, the Babolat pickleball shoes are generally priced around $100, so the shoes may be slightly higher priced than the Asics pickleball shoes.
4. Fila Pickleball Shoes
I have not own a pair of FILA shoes since my childhood, so I was elated to put the Fila pickleball shoes, specifically Fila Men’s Volley Zone Sneaker.
Firstly, I loved that these shoes are specifically branded for pickleball shoes. Too often shoes are “court” shoes or “tennis” shoes where it feels that the brands just add pickleball to get more sales.
Let me tell you. These shoes did not disappoint.
Firstly, I played both doubles and singles with these shoes. The shoes have amazing grip, and they are also quite comfortable similar to the Asics pickleball shoes.
In my last singles match with these shoes, I was moving on the court so much and these shoes handled it so.
The reason these shoes are ranked #3 is that I felt that the shoes felt slightly baggy, but for the price, I find these shoes absolutely worth it.
How much are these shoes? These shoes can be under $50, which I find as a huge value, but you may want to check the updated price below.
The next best pickleball shoes for men combine value, design and playability.
5. Reebok Pickleball Shoes
I was pleasantly surprised by the Reebok men’s pickleball shoes. Their affordable price on Amazon caught my attention, and I was impressed by their sleek design, opting for the plain white with colored lettering. As such, I wrote an entire article about my experience.
These shoes stood out not only for their comfort but also their versatility, suitable for both work dinners and pickleball games. On a recent work trip, I actually wore these to dinner than played pickleball with these shoes shortly afterwards.
Performance-wise, the shoes offered decent grip, which allowed smooth lateral movements but fell short of the exceptional traction provided by brands like K-Swiss.
Speed was another area of compromise; the shoes’ 15.5-ounce weight felt heavier than others I’ve used, impacting quick bursts of motion. However, their durability shone, as they held up well through frequent play and casual wear without signs of wear and tear.
Comfort was a standout feature, thanks to Reebok’s memory tech foam. Despite the weight, the shoes remained blister-free, which is always a plus.
Let’s check out the price though as you may be able to get these shoes under $50.
Let’s talk about the K Swiss pickleball shoes next.
6. K Swiss Pickleball Shoes
After a disappointing run with Adidas pickleball shoes, I decided to try the K-Swiss Express Light 3 Padel pickleball shoes.
Here’s my K Swiss pickleball shoes review, but let me provide a summary. My first impression is that I loved the design and color, which matched my blog’s theme.
However, the snug fit had me second-guessing my size choice, perhaps I needed a 12 instead of 11.5. Comfort-wise, the shoes were moderate, though I experienced some ankle discomfort during play. On the bright side, the weight of 13.6 ounces felt just right, lighter than many other shoes I’ve tried.
I evaluated the shoes for grip, speed, and durability. The grip was excellent. These shoes handled outdoor cement courts with ease, making lateral movements smooth and stable. Great for singles play.
Despite their ideal weight, I felt slower compared to my Asics shoes. The grippy sole might be contributing to slower quick bursts. These shoes feel built to last. After several 1-2 hour sessions, there were no signs of wear, and the materials seemed high-quality. Longer sessions might push them harder, though.
Priced at around $100, these shoes are mid-range shoes. They feature a lightweight build, durable DuraWrap Flex support, a padded collar for stability, and a herringbone outsole for excellent traction indoors and outdoors.
Check the most up to date pricing to see if you can snag a pair for under $100.
Conclusion
Pickleball shoes can be expensive, but not all of the best pickleball shoes are.
You are looking for the best pickleball shoes that can provide essential attributes such as grip, comfort, durability, and speed.
Hopefully one of these pickleball shoes for men will work for you and take your pickleball game to the next level.
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