
Did you see the guy in the above picture getting his world rocked? That could be you if you are not wearing the proper footwear for the sport of boxing. The boxing world is a very competitive and driven world of passionate and intense boxers. People train for hours on end for years before they step into the ring and they don’t take the quality of their equipment lightly. So why would you not get the best boxing shoes?
Footing and footwork are two very essential elements that are paramount to your success in a boxing ring. If you are wearing shoes that are not specifically designed for boxing you are simply not getting the right performance out of your shoes.
The boxing ring can become a slippery and treacherous obstacle while engaged in hand to hand combat. The grip of a boxer’s shoes can become a determining factor in a grueling boxing match if the boxer loses footing. If you lose footing, then you have given the advantage to your opponent.
There is an effective solution in countering the effects of a slippery boxing ring and that is buying proper footwear. Boxing shoes are designed to give support to the boxer while extra grippy soles enable the boxer to pivot, turn, faint, and make dynamic offensive moves toward his or her adversary. The increased range of mobility and security that these shoes provide make them a “no brainer” to buy for the competitive boxer.
Best Boxing Shoes - Our Top Picks
Lets take a look at the different types of boxing shoes available in the market.
Best All Around Boxing Shoes
TITLE Predator II Boxing Shoes
The Title Predator II’s are lightweight with ankle support while featuring performance and traction. Their breathable and lightweight yet sturdy material make these durable and very comfortable to wear. These are a great buy for serious boxers.
Ringside Diablo Boxing Shoes
The Ringside Diablo boxing shoes are the ultimate in performance. They are versatile and applicable in a range of contact sports. They are stylish and geared towards a more serious and dedicated boxer with competition in mind. These boxing shoes allow you to have the most mobility and traction you can legally have inside the ring.
Best Shoes for Cross Training and Boxing
Reebok Men's Combat Noble Trainer Sneaker
The Reebok Combat Noble Trainer is a lightweight and sleek cross training sneaker that has great applications for boxing and hitting the gym. They offer ankle and calf support while maintaining superior grip and stability. They have an EVA midsole that makes them super comfortable while you hit the gym. The breathable and attractive design make them a great buy.
Otomix Grey/Camo Stingray Boxing Shoe
The Otomix Grey Stingray is our pick for most comfortable boxing shoe. It is a cross training inspired boxing shoe that allows you to seamlessly switch from your favorite exercise to sparring with an opponent. The shoes are both lightweight and supportive. They offer amazing grip and give the boxer power and mobility in every punch or defensive move. The comfortable sole and reinforced heel combined with slip resistant outer sole make these a must have. These are unisex shoes, so women can use them for training as well.
Best Boxing Shoes for Ankle Protection
Reebok Men's Boxing Boot-Buck Cross Trainer
The Reebok Boxing Boot is a great pick for someone looking for stability and protection. The high reaching boot design keeps you from leg injuries by keeping your feet safely in place. They give you peace of mind from rolling your ankle and still provide lightweight and functional mobility to the boxer.
Ringside Undefeated High Top Boxing Shoes
The Ringside Undefeated is a high top design that fits high on the calf. The shoe offers plenty of ankle and arch support making this a safe and comfortable boxing shoe. Ringside has a powerful grip design that helps give the boxer added torque while simultaneously preventing leg and ankle injury.
What Are The Different Styles of Boxing Shoes
There are many different styles you can choose from in the form of boxing shoes. The different styles translate in a variety of ways for each individual boxer. Some boxers prefer higher profile shoes to protect against a turned ankle, while others prefer smaller profile shoes for an added edge in mobility.
Low Profile Boxing Shoes
Low profile boxing shoes are more common in lightweight boxers who are very mobile and light on their feet. The low profile takes a lot of weight out of the shoe giving it a lighter feel. This is merely a preference but to some boxers it is a huge and noticeable difference. Although the low profile boxing shoes make make you lighter on your feet they also have a downside.
While the lighter and smaller shoe make make you a little faster on your feet, you are sacrificing some of your safety and protection that boxing shoes provide. When engaged in a boxing match, each boxer has to move about the ring in an expedited manner that sometimes result in missteps. A simple misstep can be the determining factor in a fight
Another thing to look at in choosing the right style is the support that the shoe provides and the way it fits. The low profiles are generally flatter in design giving less arch support. A plus for the low profile design is that people with wide feet typically enjoy this style simply because it’s easier to get your foot into these style shoes.
High Top Boxing Shoes
High top boxing shoes are very iconic in the world of boxing. Often times you would see greats like Muhammed Ali and Joe Lewis wearing high tops. Although they look great, fashion was not the intended purpose. High tops offer added ankle support especially for bigger boxers on the heavyweight side.
With more mass comes more force. So if you’re throwing haymakers one ought to be careful in how his or her weight is dispersed in their stance. When pivoting the tendons in your legs are put under immense and acute stress. If your feet and ankles are not supported this could result in an injury that could cost you the title, or worse, your career.
While the high tops give you added support the drawback to this style is the weight. Boxers are always trying to shed unnecessary weight to become more effective in their sport. So if you are trying to improve the speed of your footwork, one ought to mind the weight differences in the style of shoe they choose.
Cross Training Boxing Shoes
Cross Training boxing shoes are a hybrid style shoe that affords the boxer a bit more versatility in the gym or the ring. These shoes are often times the best for training and sparring because of their range of function and mobility in the gym. The boxer in training can switch from exercise to the ring without changing footwear. This allows for more continuous workouts to keep the heart rate up and maximize training results.
How to select the best boxing shoes
The different styles of boxing shoes all have one goal in common, and that is to make you a better boxer. Some boxers require different things from their shoes so it is important to take your needs into serious consideration before buying.
Some Athletes Prefer Comfort
You want your boxing shoes to be comfortable. After all you are bouncing around on your feet while dodging and delivering punches so your body is being punished along with your feet. If comfort is not minded then the boxer will tire more quickly, giving an advantage to his or her opponent.
Arch Support is Neglected
Arch support is such an important and oftentimes overlooked component in your boxing shoe needs. When delivering punches the legs deliver extreme pressure and stress down on the boxer’s arches. A flat footed shoe will give you foot cramps and tire you out quicker if you have high arches. Everyone’s foot is different so make sure they are a good supportive fit on your foot. This is an important criteria to consider when selecting the best boxing shoes.
Prevent Ankle Injuries
One of the primary functions of boxing shoes is to prevent you from rolling an ankle. Almost all boxing shoes are above the ankle so it should be obvious that this is a vital component. A rolled ankle is one of the most common leg or foot injury that is also one of the most preventable. The best way to prevent an injury of that sort is proper footwear.
Being Mobile Wins Rounds
Being able to be elusive and out of reach in the ring is vital to surviving the many rounds of boxing you plan to endure. You want to choose a shoe that fits your style of boxing. If you are a quick and aggressive striker who incorporates a lot of footwork then you should look into a lighter shoe that will give you the ability to dance around your opponent. If you are more of a “stand and bang it out” type of boxer who isn’t afraid to trade punches and needs support, you want to choose a style shoe that gives you protection and stability.
Purpose of of Boxing Shoes
As with the different styles of boxing shoes there are different uses as well. The purpose for which you are using the shoes for should also be considered for best results and satisfaction. These three different criteria should help to narrow down your search.
Sparring Shoes
Sparring is the closest thing to an actual boxing match so wearing shoes whose primary function is that of support and grip are the best choices for this activity. You will be battling many factors with your footing. A cross training shoe may not give you the grip you need for intense sparring sessions.
Cross Training Shoes
When training you are required to perform many different exercises and tasks so having a versatile and comfortable shoe will help you get the most of your workouts. Wearing more supportive and encumbering style shoes can make the workout experience less beneficial as you are sacrificing comfort and the ability to perform non boxing related tasks.
Competition Shoes
For real boxing matches there is no substitution for proper footwear. This is a dangerous environment and wearing improper shoes can sacrifice your safety. Wearing the wrong shoes is a terrible reason for someone to get hurt. Always protect yourself in the ring and wear the right gear. At this level, it is very important to use only the best boxing shoes one get can get their hands on.
Final Verdict
The products that made this list are some of the best boxing shoes in the combat sports world today. They are all unique and have different functions in mind so it is important to do your research before making a purchase. In this list we compiled the different attributes and pointed out some important factors for you to consider when searching for the right gear. The most important thing to do is choose a product that best suits your needs and to protect yourself at all times.
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