What are the best boxing shoes?

One of the most important pieces of boxing gear is shoes. However, they are often overlooked, especially by beginners. Of course, they are not as crucial as boxing gloves, but wearing the best boxing shoes will allow you to move with more control and be able to do quality footwork.

The best boxing shoes will feel comfortable and light. You will see that they are like gloves for your feet. Shoes unfit for boxing will feel heavy and have lumps and curves that do not mold to your feet, such as running shoes, for example. But that is why running shoes are for running, and boxing shoes are for boxing.

Why should you try to find the best boxing shoes for you?

Many boxers, but especially beginners, hesitate to buy boxing shoes. One of the reasons is that they do not want to spend more money, another is that they think that regular training shoes will work. However, it may be that they don’t know all of the benefits of wearing good boxing shoes.

As we said above, the best shoes will allow you to improve your mobility, speed, power, and comfort as well. You will see the difference in your movements when trying different stances and positions when wearing shoes made for boxing rather than running, training, or basketball shoes. You will have more speed and more power too.

Some boxers will wait until they have taken the sport more seriously to buy boxing shoes, which is understandable. You do not want to spend a lot of money on something that you are not sure you will be doing in the long term. Nonetheless, you will not be able to enjoy how good it feels to practice boxing how it is supposed to be practiced.

What will you get from the best boxing shoes?

Some of the features that make a good boxing shoe are:

More grip

One of the best features of boxing shoes is the ability to grip the ground. It will allow your feet to stay put and not slide when transferring power. However, even if it prevents slipping, they will allow you to pivot so you can throw your best punches and do your footwork.

Shoes that are not meant for boxing will not grip the floor and will not allow you to pivot properly. They are also either too slippery for the canvas floor used in boxing or have way too much grip. Instead, boxing shoes have the right amount of grip that you need to do what you have to do in the ring.

Soles

Sole thickness, hardness, and texture are also important elements in a boxing shoe. Soles are the bottom part of the shoes, and the way they are built has an impact on the ability to move, balance, pivot, and throw punches.

The inside of the shoe has to be comfortable and, at the same time, allow you to stay balanced and stand straight. You should not feel your feet moving towards the insides or the outsides of the shoe.

As for the sole’s thickness, it depends on your personal preferences. Some people prefer a thinner sole so that they can feel the ground more. Others will prefer a thicker sole for more stability.

Weight and thickness

The best boxing shoe should also have a desired weight and thickness that allows perfect mobility. A thick sole with lots of fabric material will restrict the ankle’s movements and will also feel heavy. However, whether you prefer a thinner or thicker soul is entirely up to you. Nonetheless, your shoe should allow you to feel light, agile, and also with enough support for power transfer.

Ankle support

Boxing shoes should also protect your ankles. Ankle injuries are very common in this sport since you are jumping around, changing position and angles, and putting force on the ankles from all directions.

Your knees can also take a toll from boxing, depending on your fighting style. However, you can protect yourself by choosing between three different shoe-heights, such as low, mid, and high. The first one will go as high as the ankles, the mid-height ones go a few inches taller than the lows, and the high boxing shoes reach almost to your calves.

Stability

Boxers also need stability when they are stationary. Despite boxers needing to move frequently, they also spend a lot of time in fixed positions where they perform many foot adjustments. Therefore, the right boxing shoe will allow them to plant their feet on the ground and throw powerful punches. Then, they can also take a step in another direction or pivot and sit back down.

Comfort

Comfort is a very personal decision. To know what works best for you, you should try different shoes from different brands and other materials. You don’t want the shoe to give you blisters or feel that your feet are restricted.

Sole support

This will depend on your personal preference too. People with high arches may prefer a more contoured or cushioned sole, and people with flat feet perhaps a flatter shoe so that they feel that they are standing right on the ground.

Another detail that will impact your boxing shoes is the floor at your gym. If it is a hard boxing gym floor or the ring has stiff padding, you may prefer flatter shoes so that you can feel the ground more. However, if the floor is soft, you will probably want more cushioned shoes.

Quality

Finally, the quality of the shoe itself is another aspect to take into consideration. You will not want to have to regularly replace your shoes; you will be hoping that they last a while. If you stick to the top brands, you will probably have no problems.