9 Best Boxing Shoes (Move Faster Than Your Opponent)
The absolute quickest way to take the next step up in your boxing training is to get the best boxing shoes. We judge the 9 best boxing shoes that will elevate your footwork, and bring a whole new dimension to your training.
Everlast New Elite High-Top Boxing Shoes
These shoes sell out fast on Amazon for good reason! Comfortable on your feet, with a lightweight design so you can move fast.
If you’re looking for one huge advantage to improving your footwork while getting support on your ankles, then these boots are for you. Last but not least; once you see the price there you’ll see how affordable these boots are.
Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Boxing Shoes
If you think back to your first experience in boxing training, you’ll probably remember that awkward feeling of hitting the pads. You’d seen boxers on TV, it looked easy enough, but for some reason you didn’t feel that flow, or that ease in the way you could punch through combinations. Floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee probably seemed a long way away.
And then, as with all boxers, you discovered the holy grail of footwork. All of a sudden things started to click, combinations flowed, and you didn’t seem to punch yourself out of puff so quickly.
There is no doubt that footwork is fundamental in boxing so to up skill your footwork, it’s key that you get the right boxing boots for your training. As with all sports equipment, such as boxing headgear, there are variations in boxing shoes that will suit different needs for different boxers.
I think footwork is one of the most important things to becoming a great fighter. That’s where everything starts.
Vasyl Lomachenko [1]
Let’s take a quick look at what you need to consider when finding the right boxing shoes for your training needs.
Ability to Grip and Pivot
We’ve put this at the top of our list of things to consider for a reason — it may well be the most important thing you need to think about when you look for the best boxing boot for your needs. Gripping and pivoting are two skills that are on opposite sides of the same coin.
Grip is needed to help transfer power from your lower body to your upper body as you punch through, the best boxing gloves will help pack a stronger punch. So you need to grip, but by increasing your grip, you reduce your shoes’ ability to pivot.
However you also need to pivot, as that helps your be more agile, and out-angle your opponent. So you need to pivot, but by increasing your ability to pivot, you will need to reduce your shoe’s ability to grip.
While most boxing shoes will do their best to balance grip and pivot, the exact combination of gripping and pivoting is really all about personal preference. Perhaps if you want to focus on power, grip is more important to you. If you want to focus on agility, you might want to have more pivoting ability.
I’ve learned new footwork patterns that are very unusual. I’ve learned how to find a lower centre of gravity, and I’ve found more angles to throw shots
Conor McGregor [2]
The Sole of the Shoe
An extension of our above point about gripping and pivoting is the sole of the boxing shoe itself. There are actually a few things to consider about the sole of your perfect boxing shoe.
The first thing is the insole, which is the inside of the shoe, and how your feet feel just standing in your boxing shoes. It should be a snug fit, but still comfortable, and you shouldn’t feel off-balance at all. Make sure your feet are in a neutral position, i.e. if your feet are pronating, find new boxing shoes, or get orthotic innersoles.
Secondly, factor in the thickness of the outer sole. Thinner soles help you feel more connected with the ground, but will often make your feet sore and tired, as they have to work harder. A thicker outer rubber sole will make your feet more comfortable and therefore you can punch harder, but you feel the ground less, and therefore may have less balance.
Thirdly, is the texture of the outer sole. While 99% of boxing boots will have rubber outsoles, check out the pattern of those rubber soles. Flat surfaces help you feel the ground better, but soles that have bumpy and swirly patterns will give you more grip.
Last but not least, have a look at where the outer sole rises to. By this we mean does the sole go up and wrap around the toes and ankles to give you more grip? Or is the sole just on the bottom of the boxing shoe?
I’m an orthodox fighter, relaxed, fast, and powerful. And I’ve got good footwork.
Amir Khan [3]
Ankle Support — Low-Tops, Mid-Tops or High-Tops?
This one isn’t just about style, it’s about the level of support each style can provide not just for your feet, but your ankles, and even your knees [4]. Almost every aspect of your boxing training will involve explosive movements through your lower body, shifting weight, and turning on a dime. All of this, unsurprisingly, is tough on your feet, ankles, and knees.
As a general rule, the higher the boxing shoe (high-tops), the more the support, at the expense of agility. The lower the boxing shoe (low-tops), the less support there will be, but more agility. And then of course, a mid-top is a compromise of those two.
You’ll know if you’ve got fragile joints, because they are easy to sprain and break. If you are worried about injury, go for a high-top. If you’re naturally pretty nimble, or have strong joints, go for a low-top to take advantage of your natural agility. If you’re just starting out, or you’re not sure, go for a mid-top for the best of both worlds.
Thickness and Weight
One of the best advancements in boxing shoes is the use of new lightweight materials to reduce the weight of the shoes. Generally speaking though, the thicker the materials on the boxing shoes, the heavier they feel, and vice versa.
You might prefer a thicker and heavier boxing shoe as it gives you a feeling of support throughout your feet, ankles and knees. On the other hand, you might prefer a lighter boxing shoe as it makes you feel more agile and in tune with the ground below you. It’s all up to you and your personal style.
Quality
All of the boxing shoes we have on our list are top quality, so you won’t need to worry too much about this factor. However if you find a boxing shoe elsewhere that is super cheap, there is probably a reason for that.
Boxing is a sport that is hard on equipment, not to mention your feet. Make sure you are confident in a shoe’s durability, while also being able to protect your feet and joints.
Comfort
Finally, this one might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people forget about comfort because they get too hung up on other stuff like the brand or how good the shoes look. Before you go shopping for boxing boots, ask your friends at the gym what they like and don’t like about their training shoes.
From there you should have a short list of boxing shoes you can try, and decide on what is comfortable for your feet. For example, you might have wide feet, so that’ll be something you need to consider.
After all, if all goes well, you’ll be training in your boxing shoes for a long time, so it just makes sense that they feel comfortable.
The Reviews of The Best Boxing Shoes of 2022
Product | Name | Details | |
---|---|---|---|
Everlast New Elite High-Top Boxing Shoes |
|
SEE ON AMAZON | |
Otomix Men’s Warrior Bodybuilding Boxing Weightlifting MMA Shoes |
|
SEE ON AMAZON | |
Cleto Reyes Lace Up High Top Boxing Shoes |
|
SEE ON AMAZON | |
Otomix Pro TKO Super Hi Boxer |
|
SEE ON AMAZON | |
No products found. | Nike HyperKo Boxing Shoes |
|
See on Amazon |
No products found. | Title Predator II Boxing Shoes |
|
See on Amazon |
Adidas HVC2 Speed Shoe |
|
See on Amazon | |
No products found. | Rival Boxing Lo-Top Guerrero Boots |
|
See on Amazon |
Reebok Men’s Boxing Boot-Buck Sneaker |
|
see on Amazon |
Here are the best boxing shoes, starting with our favorite:
1. Everlast New Elite High-Top Boxing Shoes — Best Boxing Shoes Overall
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: High-Top
- Upper material: Open weave mesh
- Sole material: Rubber ‘Michelin Technical Sole’
The Good
- Hybrid use for both gym and ring
- Excellent support
- Lightweight
- Easy to put on
- Prevents slipping while optimizing lateral movement
- Ankle strap for stability
The Not so Good
- Sizes can be smaller than listed
The Everlast New Elites are high up on our list for the same reason it is only our runner-up for best boxing shoe — and that’s the thick rubber sole. The New Elite’s sturdiness provides terrific stability and support, but some find that comes at the expense of heaviness and lack of agility.
That factor of personal preference aside, the Everlast New Elites feature the unique Michelin Technical sole, which is said to provide superior traction, support and flexibility of movement. That’s right, that’s Michelin as in the tyres — it’s fair to say they probably know a fair bit about grip and durability.
Being a hybrid design, they also cover all of your training bases, whether it be sparring, general training, or competition. These factors provide very good value in terms of versatility, which is important if you want a boxing shoe that can do it all.
2. Otomix Men’s Warrior Bodybuilding Boxing Weightlifting MMA Shoes
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: High-Top
- Upper material: Suede
- Sole material: Rubber
The Good
- Wider toe box than competitors
- Lightweight
- Durable
The Not so Good
- Flat soles may not suit all feet
- Not for narrow feet
Boxers with wide feet sometimes struggle to find a boxing shoe that can be both comfortable and supportive, so it’s for this reason we hunted out the Otomix Warrior shoes. The Otomix Warriors not only offer a wider toe box than other boxing boots, but they also come in half sizes, which can be hard to come by.
They offer a thin rubber sole with excellent traction, which for boxing means good ground contact and grip. It also means they are ideal for weightlifting and wrestling, so they offer pretty good versatility around the gym.
Bottom line, if you have wide feet and need to spread your toes with comfort and support, we recommend taking a look at the Otomix Men’s Warrior Bodybuilding Boxing Weightlifting MMA Shoes. If you have narrow feet and want a versatile boxing shoe, you should probably go for something like the Otomix Pro TKO Super Hi Boxer instead.
3. Cleto Reyes Lace Up High Top Boxing Shoes
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: High-Top
- Upper material: Suede and Leather
- Sole material: Rubber outsole
The Good
- Excellent overall support
- Very comfortable
- Lightweight
- Durable
The Not so Good
- Expensive
The Cleto Reyes Lace Up High Top Boxing Shoes may look at bit old school, or even old fashioned, but don’t let that fool you. The Cleto Reyes Lace Ups are supremely comfortable and supportive; in fact we don’t think you’ll find a pair of shoes that give a more secure and snug fit around your feet and calves.
The main reason it manages to be both supportive and comfortable is thanks to its supple leather construction; that old school look is actually a functional design choice to help you grind through those tough sessions in the gym and the ring.
Despite all of this comfort and support, the Cleto Reyes Lace Ups surprised us with their extremely lightweight boxing shoe materials.
They might look heavy and old fashioned, but we can assure you they are just as light as most of the other boxing shoes we have on our list.
And being completely leather, you know they will last for a very, very long time. All in all the Cleto Reyes Lace Ups bring the fundamental strengths of old school boxing shoes, and bring them into the 21st century, making them our best pick for those who want maximum support in their boxing shoes.
4. Otomix Pro TKO Super Hi Boxer
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: High-Top
- Upper material: Canvas, suede, and leather
- Sole material: Rubber
The Good
- Versatile
- Breathable
- Excellent ankle support
- Lightweight
- Durable
The Not so Good
- High-Top padding may feel to thick for some
When looking for the best boxing shoe to train in, you want to prioritize comfort, durability, and versatility. That’s a pretty hard combo to perfect, but we think we’ve found it in the Otomix Pro TKO Super Hi Boxer.
With excellent padding, breathability, extremely lightweight boxing shoe materials, and a wide toe box, the Pro TKO Super Hi Boxers have you covered when it comes to comfort. With canvas, leather, and suede, you can’t beat them for durability. And with a thin, flat, and grippy sole in combination with great padding, you can use them in the ring, gym, or even the weights room.
They’re not super expensive either, so with that sort of versatility and durability, they offer pretty good value for money.
If you’re looking for a boxing shoe that can do it all, look no further than the Otomix Pro TKO Super Hi Boxer — we can assure you they will handle whatever you throw at them, and keep you comfortable the whole time.
5. Nike HyperKo Boxing Shoes
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: High-Top
- Upper material: Synthetic and mesh
- Sole material: Rubber outsole
The Good
- Durable
- Breathable
- Excellent ankle support
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Excellent for combat speed and mobility
The Not so Good
- Relatively expensive
- Can be hard to find
These are the Rolls Royces of boxing boots on our list, and their price and reputation back that up. Used by the likes of Manny Pacquiao, they are supremely durable, comfortable, light, and balanced.
This unrivalled combination is largely thanks to Nike’s patented Flywire technology, which give the HyperKo superior strength, without adding much weight or bulk. Most people that try them on will comment on how it almost feels like they are not wearing anything at all. All of that technology of course has a price, and it’s expensive.
Now we don’t recommend these for beginners, as these are expensive and offer features you probably don’t need. But if you’re competing, it makes sense you invest in the best that money can buy. The Nike HyperKo is a very popular shoe with both amateurs and professionals, simply because they are the complete package.
6. Title Predator II Boxing Shoes
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: Mid-Top
- Upper material: Synthetic leather, breathable mesh
- Sole material: Rubber
The Good
- Affordable
- Versatile in the gym or for other martial arts
- Lightweight
The Not so Good
- Not known to be overly durable
The Title Predator II Boxing Shoes offer an incredible mix of agility and support for their price. The upper is 3D molded, which creates a better fit for your foot so you don’t have to tie the laces up too tight. The material, while synthetic, is extremely breathable, and that also helps to reduce their overall weight.
Title boxing shoes generally do offer a lot of great technology for their price, but they are let down by their quality. Some people have found that the glue can come loose, which might reduce their lifespan quite a bit.
But if you’re not worried about durability (they will probably be your first pair of shoes after all), and you want a light and supportive pair of boxing boots, the Title Predator II Boxing Shoes are definitely worth your consideration. Just keep a tube of shoe goo on hand.
7. Adidas HVC2 Speed Shoe — Best Boxing Shoes on a Budget
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: Mid-Top
- Upper material: Synthetic, suede, and mesh
- Sole material: Rubber outsole
The Good
- Affordable
- Versatile in the gym or for other martial arts
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Durable
The Not so Good
- Some may find the outsole too thin
The Adidas HVC2 Speed Shoes are actually intended to be a wrestling shoe first and foremost. But because of their versatility and affordability, we felt compelled to make them our pick for the best budget/beginner boxing shoe.
Adidas is one of the top brands to look at if you want a good mix of quality and affordability, and the HVC2 offers all of that with great features that won’t break the bank. Despite being wrestling shoes, they actually work very well as boxing shoes as they have pivot circles built into the rubber outer sole, giving a good mix of that magical combination of grip and pivot.
While overall the materials are pretty good quality, there are some corners that have to cut to get to such a low cost. For example, the material is largely synthetic leather instead of genuine leather. But really, if you’re just starting out, that doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, as you are just looking for something versatile to get started.
If you are a beginner, or on a budget (or both), and want some versatile, affordable boxing shoes, go for the Adidas HVC2 Speed Shoes.
8. Rival Boxing Lo-Top Guerrero Boots
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: Low-Top
- Upper material: Genuine leather, plus microfiber mesh
- Sole material: Rubber outsole
The Good
- Breathable mesh inner for airflow and dryness
- Midsole cushioning for comfort
- Lightweight
- Excellent for combat speed and mobility
The Not so Good
- Reports of color fading
- Not for narrow feet
If you are looking to spar circles around your training partners all day, the Rival Boxing Lo-Top Guerrero Boots are your best bet for sparring.
Their low cut provides all the agility and mobility you’ll need to work on your footwork, while their extremely lightweight boxing boot materials will help make sure you don’t tire out any time soon. Despite being so light, they are actually really quite comfortable, as they feature cushioning in the midsole for excellent arch support.
If focusing on your footwork is a priority in your boxing training, we fully recommend the Rival Lo-Top Guerrero Boots to spar in. Just make sure you have sturdy, flexible joints. If you are prone to ankle injuries, you might want to go for a mid or high-top boxing boot.
9. Reebok Men’s Boxing Boot-Buck Sneaker
Specifications
Low-Top, Mid-Top, or High-Top: High-Top
- Upper material: Synthetic nubuck leather and breathable mesh
- Sole material: Rubber outsole
The Good
- Midsole cushioning for comfort
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Good grip
- Ankle strap for stability
The Not so Good
- Sizes can be smaller than listed
- Takes time to put on
- Not for narrow fee
If they’re good enough for Floyd Mayweather, they’re probably good enough for you; the Reebok Boot-Bucks are designed to have the comfort of sneakers, with the arch support and grip of boxing shoes.
You’ve probably seen these around the gym, as they are extremely popular, and for good reason. They cover all of your basic boxing needs, they’re super comfortable, and you can usually pick up a pair for under $100.
Offering a great mix of agility, durability, and support, the Boot-Buck Sneakers also have a foam midsole, which is a comfort feature that not all boxing shoes offer.
With all of these features, and knowing Floyd Mayweather trust them with his perfect record, we really have no hesitation in recommending the Reebok Boxing Boot-Buck Sneakers.
The Verdict: What Are the Best Boxing Shoes?
Every single pair of shoes we’ve listed are top notch quality, and will serve you well depending on your specific needs.
However, if we really had to pick just one pair of boxing shoes, we would pick the Everlast New Elites. They offer, support, mobility, versatility, and excellent comfort, all at a price that makes them extremely accessible to boxers of all levels.
The Everlast New Elites offers almost everything you need in one affordable package.
If you have a question or two about these boxing shoes, we recommend you click on the links to see what other customers say about their shoes.
More boxing articles here – such as boxing glove reviews (for men and women) and punching bag reviews.
FAQs
Surely you can just use some old basketball or tennis shoes for boxing right?
If it’s your first training session, maybe. But if you want to give boxing a really good go, you’ll want to invest in proper boxing shoes. It may seem trivial, but it really is like using a wiffle bat to play pro baseball — you’re using the wrong equipment for the sport. If you want to get good at boxing, you need boxing shoes.
Tennis shoes and cross trainers don’t offer enough support, while also giving too much grip, and that’s a recipe for rolled ankles, or worse. The only exception would be a wrestling shoe, as they do offer a lot of the traits that dedicated boxing shoes do. Just be aware that the outer rubber soles of wrestling shoes often wrap up around the shoes, which will make it harder for you to glide in your footwork.
Well, you could, but we wouldn’t recommend it. Boxing shoes are designed specifically for sudden side to side, and back and forth movements, while supporting your feet and ankles to handle that stress. Running is all about purely forward, repetitive and predictable motion.
So for the same reason we wouldn’t recommend boxing in running shoes, we wouldn’t recommend running in boxing shoes. If you do run in your boxing shoes, you will wear them out quicker, and increase your risk of injury. You’ve probably got a pair of old running shoes lying around, so just use them instead; they’ll be much better than your brand new boxing shoes.
Well yes, boxing shoes should fit a little bit tight on your feet. But a better word to use would be ‘snug’. You want your boxing shoes to support your feet and ankles very well, which means a tight fit. But they should not, in any case, be tight to the point where your feet are uncomfortable.
Because footwork is so important in boxing, if your shoes are uncomfortable, your feet will fatigue faster, and cut your training sessions short. And if you’ve ever had a blister on your ankle while training, you’ll know what we’re talking about here.
Look for boxing shoes that offer you just enough support to help you feel both agile and supported, and that way you should find the right amount of comfort for your needs.
References
- Vasyl Lomachenko Quotes, Retrieved from https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/vasyl-lomachenko-quotes
- Conor McGregor Discusses Joao Carvalho Death, Nate Diaz Rematch at UFC 202, More Retrieved from https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2655589-conor-mcgregor-discusses-joao-carvalho-death-nate-diaz-rematch-at-ufc-202-more
- Amir Khan Quotes Retrieved from https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/amir-khan-quotes
- The effect of high-top and low-top shoes on ankle inversion kinematics and muscle activation in landing on a tilted surface Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3943374/
Hi, I’m Brandon, editor here at MMA-Today. Mixed Martial Arts has been my life long obsession as long as I can remember. I was introduced to Muay Thai at a young age, but ultimately fell in love with BJJ and grappling in my teenage years, and have never looked back. My goal with MMA today is to inspire people to train and enjoy mixed martial arts more every day.