Best Volleyball Shoes

When trying to find the Best Volleyball shoes for yourself lots of things come in to play.

Aesthetics as well as performance play a big part in your purchasing decision.

In volleyball is a sport which requires your shoes to not only be comfortable but also offer good support, good traction, nice comfort and on top of all those things look good.

We have put together a list of our top 10 picks for 2019 to hopefully help you find you next pair of volleyball shoes to fall in love with.

Now admittedly when it comes to Volleyball shoes there is really only 2 brands that make specific volleyball shoes, however, with the ever increasing popularity of the sport companies such as Nike and Adidas are starting to throw their hats in the ring.

This list is going to rank the shoes from 10 to 1. Although we appreciate that shoes specifically can be a very personal thing as everybody has different requirements so with that being said please note this list can be interchangeable.

Another thing to consider is that some of the shoes on the list are gender specific.

10. ASICS Gel-Netburner Ballistic MT Volleyball

At the number 10 spot is the ASICS Gel-Netburner Ballistic MT Volleyball. These ASICS shoes were produced to cater to 2 sports, netball and volleyball (Hence the name Netburner) As these shoes have been developed specifically to cater to these sports they perform really well.

The shoes are supportive, comfortable and relatively light making for a great performance shoe of choice.

Starting at the sole it is constructed of a strong NC rubber rather than a solid rubber which so many others sport. The shoe has a varied traction pattern. The lateral side of the shoe has an arrow head traction pattern where the mid and medial sides sport a sectioned snowflake traction pattern. Both traction patterns have been carefully thought out to ensure it grips you in all movements.

Moving upwards to the cushion set up it has both rear and forefoot cushioning in the form of Asics GEL Cushioning system.

This particular cushion set up is designed to absorb high impact movements such as jumping and landing.

Asics incorporate their ‘fluidride’ in the midsole which allows for great energy through movements to propel you upwards of forwards as required.

This model is the first Asics of its kind to use the newly redesigned upper materials.

The upper materials is a combination of polyurethane, air mesh and synthetic leather reinforcement. This combination offers good durability as well as a snug fit that offers good ventilation.

9.Adidas Crazyflight x 3

Now I must admit I am absolutely huge fan of most adidas performance shoes. They are normally quite wide fitting and the cushion setup is often low to the ground yet plush so you feel stable and reactive on court which I really like.

The Adidas Crazyflight x 3 is no exception.

Now to be honest as a huge fan of Adidas I really wanted to put this shoe higher up the list but as I am trying to stick to volleyball specific shoes I felt it wouldn’t be fair. This shoe has been marketed to a whole host of sports including but not limited to: Handball, Squash, Badminton and Volleyball. So on that basis alone it comes in at 9th

Starting at the sole it features an asymmetrical solid rubber sole with anti-slip heel lining at the back for more traction on them indoor courts. The trade pattern is somewhat random but it has nice deep grooves for durability and grips fantastically even on dusty courts.

At the rear of the shoe is also has a Molded S-Shape heel counter to really lock your heel into place and provide that added stability when playing.

Moving up to the cushion set up as with nearly all adidas shoes it sports the boost cushion set up with that responsive boost midsole really providing nice bounce and cushion when playing. 

It also offers a removable boost innersole, I would suggest keeping in there for extra protection.

Moving on to the upper materials it has mesh upper with reinforced polyurethane integrated panels for additional support and durability as well as nice ventilation to prevent your feet overheating when playing. 

It features an adjustable lacing system which allows you to tighten the shoes to your desire.

Overall the shoe is classic adidas performance. With a fairly low cushion set up it leaves you feeling stable and in control of all movements whilst still offering good bounce and responsiveness.

8.Mizuno Wave Lightning Z2

The first but certainly not last appearance on the list for Mizuno.

Mizuno are very much a staple brand in the volleyball space and for good reason. The Mizuno Wave Lightning Z2 are a very durable shoe that still offers good ventilation and more importantly comfort.

The sole is a XG gum rubber construction that is specifically designed to prevent slipping on court. Now if you have seen the shoe you may be thinking that the rubber sole seems to be predominantly in the forefoot and not in the heel or rear of the shoe. Now as volleyball players as sure you can see the logic behind this as for the most part you are always on your toes. The traction does pick up dust a little bit so prepared to wipe every now and then to prevent the occasional slip. The sole is quite flexible and forgiving leaving a nice court feel with great responsiveness. The outer sole is non-marking rubber so no need to worry about leaving skid marks everywhere.

In the Mizuno Wave Lightning Z2 there is actually 3 different cushions, the first cushion is known as pownce. This stands for power and bounce which is the midsole. Mixed into the midsole is also another type of cushioning called SR Touch. The last cushion which is very much a staple of all mizuno shoes is the wave plate which runs from the midfoot all the way to the heel. It is easily identifiable as it forms a wave like pattern.

Now each cushion serves a slightly different purpose.

The Pownce is to provide bounce and responsiveness to give you the little edge when jumping or reacting to chase down a ball. SR Touch is very much to offer present to offer impact protection, the SR touch cushion is quite noticeable in the rear but be warned it is very minimal in the forefoot so if that is something you don’t like I would maybe look elsewhere.

The idea of the waveplate is to disperse the energy through the heel and then use that energy to propel you forward. Much like how a wave will meet a shallow sandbar and drive forward.

Moving on to materials the upper is mainly made up of fuze with a few small sections of neoprene for stretching and retention as well as some mesh sections to offer that little bit of ventilation. 

It also has a little plastic toe guard section incase you drag your toe when serving.

Overall the shoe is very comfortable but will require a little bit of breaking in. If you are someone who does a lot of jumping you just note that the forefoot doesn’t have a great deal in the way of impact protection so you may get some soreness or discomfort. The shoe locks you down really well with the aid of the Mizuno Dynomotion fit which is effectively the little sections of neoprene on the medial side that wrap around your foot and secure in place.

Definitely a good contender in the top 10.

7.Mizuno Wave Tornado X2

I told you it wouldn’t be the last appearance for Mizuno. 

The mizuno Tornado X2 is a fantastically comfortable shoe that I have to be say looks rather nice to.

The sole is again constructed using the XG Rubber for superior grip and traction. The traction pattern is rather split up in this shoe with each section offering a different pattern and direction. In the Lateral heel there is anti-slip heel lines, moving along to the lateral mid-sole area there is this horse shoe shaped traction designed to lock down your foot on the those lateral movements. Under the ball of the foot is a target shaped pivot point to assist with turning and reacting without getting too much slippage. Moving to the toe area on the medial side there is again anti-slip lines and on the lateral side there is a snowflake or cross pattern. All of these sections are specifically designed to prevent slipping in any given movements and they do so wonderfully. As with all treads these days you will need to break them in before they really start gripping to the court.

Moving on the cushion set up they feature the SR Touch again, which in comparison to the Mizuno Wave Lightning is much more prevalent in this shoe and you can really feel a good level of impact protection even in the forefoot area.

The upper materials are constructed of an air mesh material which allows for excellent ventilation, it also conforms around your foot which really locks you down in the shoe whilst being pliable enough to not suffocate your foot.

There is also synthetic leather stips which act as the outer shell for better durability and support. Underneath the synthetic leather strips is again the Dynamotion fit technology which again stops your foot slipping out the foot bed and rolling.

Again if you are toe dragger no need to worry as they have included the plastic toe guard again.

Moving on to the top of the shoe it has a nice cushioned tongue as well as padded collar which offers superior comfort and rather surprisingly prevents heel slippage.

This shoe is extremely comfortable and good for impact protection so if they are two things you look for in a shoe you will be in safe hands

6.ASICS Gel-Rocket 8

ASICS Gel-Rocket range has been one of the most popular ASICS shoes for years and the range never disappoints. Chances are if you have tried a pair before you have probably never switched away from them.

Starting at the sole it has an NC rubber and gum rubber sole which again consists of a more natural rubber compound over the solid rubber options. In the forefoot is has a herringbone design on the lateral side and a bubbled tread pattern on the medial side with again a target shaped pivot point. 

When you get to the midsole area the pattern actually flips sides and runs back to the heel area. You have a bubble tread pattern on the lateral side and the herringbone pattern on the medial side. Right at the back of the heel is an individual section of herringbone directly under the heel to offer a nice grippy heel to toe transition with slipping.

Moving on to the cushion set up is it quite simple and has a moulded EVA foam midsole throughout which is comfortable, light and offers a fair amount of impact protection.

Also in the forefoot is the GEL Cushioning which helps reduce the shock when landing or taking off in jumping or high impact motions.

Moving on the materials it has a breathable mesh upper with synthetic leather overlay. The breathable mesh stops your feet overheating and also the pliable mesh conforms to your foot for comfort and lockdown.

The synthetic overlay improves durability and stability throughout the shoe.

The tongue and collar are also padded for comfort and again it prevents heel slippage during intense rallies.

5.Nike Zoom Hyperspike

Now let’s be honest if a shoe from nike gets released tailored solely for one sport you can bet it will be a good one. As Volleyball is not at the forefront of Nike’s mind they have used some more budget materials in comparison to their basketball shoes, but in comparison to some of the other shoes on the list the materials can be considered quite premium.

Starting with the sole it is constructed of a strong solid rubber with a deep herringbone groove tread pattern.

Moving onto the cushion set up it sports a lightweight phylon cushion throughout. It is setup in a similar manner to the Precision 3 which if you have read my other article you already know I love.

The cushion set up is fantastic. It is extremely comfortable and being quite a low profile cushion allows you to feel stable and confident in your movements. It also offers a little bit of bounce as well as great impact protection. 

It also has a zoom unit in the forefoot to really propel you into your movements.

Not only does it have a fantastic phylon cushion and a zoom unit in the forefoot it also has reinforced 3D midfoot shank for torsional rigidity. 

Moving on to the upper materials it has a breathable mesh material with a flywire underline that really helps lock that foot into the footbed. Covering the mesh is synthetic leather that helps increase durability. 

It also has TPU pillar in the rear to support that heel and improve lateral and medial containment.

Moving upwards it has a cushioned collar to help keep your foot in the shoe and prevent heel slippage when reacting quickly.

Overall the shoe is a great performer and comes in at a fair price. If you are a fan of nike and like the look of the shoe it will certainly see you well

4.Nike Zoom Hyperace 2

Next up on the list is another great performer from nike.

The Nike Zoom Hyperace 2 is an extremely comfortable shoes that offers fantastic performance for a competitive price.

Starting at the sole of the shoe you have a strong non-marking rubber with anti-slip heel lines in the rear of the shoe. Although they aren’t very large or prominent so beware of heel slippage on a dusty court. Moving to the midsole and forefoot area you have a large serrated line pattern spanning the entire shoe which offers great grip in the forward moving angles although beware of lateral movements as you may experience some slippage.

Moving on to the cushion setup. In the midsole and heel area is the famed Nike Zoom unit which offers comfort, impact protection as well as a little bit of bounce to propel you forward.

In the midsole area you will find a pressured air unit that is designed to disperse the energy when landing or striking the floor and convert into positive energy to give you that nice springy first step.

Upper is a textile no-sew overlay that allows fantastic breathability as well as comfort as the textile material conforms around your foot and locks you into that footbed. 

Towards the rear of the shoe you have a TPU heel cage that offers fantastic support specifically in lateral and medial containment.

The tongue is a thin cushioned material with a pull tab on both the tongue and heel to make getting the shoe on much easier

3.Mizuno Wave Hurricane 3

Mizuno are a staple brand in volleyball when it comes to shoes and honestly they deserve their spot in the limelight.

The Mizuno Wave Hurricane 3 has a solid and gum strong rubber sole with a variety of track patterns and a pivot point located under the ball of the foot. The rubber used on the sole is very durable and the traction patterns are very deep so this shoe will grip fantastically even in dusty conditions.

Moving onto the cushion setup the Mizuno Wave Hurricane 3 has an AP+ Midsole which is very plush and extremely lightweight. It feels very gente underneath the foot and offers great impact protection. As the name suggest this shoe also sports the Wave technology which as described before converts the energy gained from impact and into positive energy for a fantastic heel to toe transition.

Moving on to the materials as with most Mizuno’s it has a mesh underlay with a synthetic leather overlay for durability. The shoes offer great breathability and the mesh really conforms to your foot to improve that lockdown.

The tongue and collar are both very padded and comfortable so you shouldn’t feel your feet getting tired or achy even in long intense games.

2.ASICS Gel-Tactic 2

The ASICS Gel-Tactic 2 is the next range up from the extremely popular Gel-rocket range.

The main difference between the 2 shoes is the cushioning and width of the footbed.

The sole on the Gel-Tactic 2 is the NC Rubber compound which is made of more natural rubber as opposed to the solid rubber options. This offers better traction that is more durable and less friable.

The cushion setup is a double Gel cushion in both the rear and forefoot which makes this shoe extremely comfortable and bouncy. The shoe will allow you to perform your highest jumps with the softest landings.

Midfoot stability and torsion control is fantastic in this shoe thanks for the lightweight molded Trussic unit.

The upper materials is an open seamless mesh that offers great ventilation and reduces the chances of irritation by removing them annoying seams or stitches.

The shoe is lightweight and the cushion is extremely plush so if you want a shoe that is comfortable in all aspects on the court this is a safe bet.

1.Mizuno Wave Lightning Z5

Once again Mizuno shake up the game and release one of the most technologically advanced shoes on the market. The shoe was designed for players who want the lightest shoes with the greatest performance and with the help of the new technology implemented it far exceeds expectations.

Starting at the sole the Mizuno Wave Lightning Z5 has the X10 carbon rubber sole that is one of the most durable on the market as well as being non-marking.

Much like the previous models there is 3 cushions in the shoe. You have Pownce, SR Touch and the Waveplate. One thing that has been implemented in this shoe sensorpoint which is a suspension that connects to the waveplate for better stability.

As described before Pownce which stands for power and bounce is there to provide responsiveness. SR Touch is very much the impact protection cushion.

The shoe also features what is known as D-Flex Groove or Diagonal flexible groove. This is diagonal groove in the mid foot area that allows the player to turn at maximum speed and power by efficiently transferring natural body movement and shift in direction.

Moving on to the upper materials is constructed of Airmesh with Intercooler internally. The Airmesh upper is nice soft flexible material that locks you foot in place whereas Intercooler is a breathable mesh material that forces air out of the shoe to prevent overheating.

Also incorporated with the shoe is a new feature called 360° DynaMotionFit which allows the mesh to contour to every part of your foot to really give you a non-restrictive comfortable experience.

Also on the upper is the Dura shield which is the rubber toe guard so you toe draggers out there don’t need to worry about popping out the end of the shoe.

The tongue and collar are both very plush and padded to offer a nice comfortable playing experience and also help secure that heel in the footbed.

If you require more ankle support they have also released a mid-top version.

Overall this shoe for us is by far the most comfortable, well designed and overall best shoe on the market today.

If you are looking for a shoe that will cater to every situation you need it to the Mizuno Wave Lightning 5 is the shoe for you.