There is quite a collection of volleyball shoes on the market, with more coming out each year. New technology seems to be making shoes better and better: more lightweight, more cushioning, better traction, and better breathability. If you ask around, most volleyball players will say there are two major players who make the best volleyball shoes. It mostly boils down to Asics vs Mizuno. Both have been honing their shoe-making skills for quite some time now, and their performance and quality goes undisputed. Adidas and Nike also make a few pairs of volleyball shoes that can stand up to the rigors of the court too, so don’t take them off your list just yet. Also, check out our guide on how to pick volleyball shoes, it’ll give you a better idea of what to look for. With that said, let’s go over our top picks for best volleyball shoes.
Tips for Picking Volleyball Shoes
Best Volleyball Shoes of 2017-2018
Best Volleyball Shoes — Asics
Asics have been involved in volleyball longer than Mizuno, and used to be the only shoes anyone would get. Typically, Asics volleyball shoes run a bit wider than Mizuno, which is good news for those who favor stability or have larger feet. They also tend to use more mesh to remain airy and comfortable to wear. But don’t be fooled by their lightweight construction, they’ll often last you several seasons. Asics also utilizes gel cushioning in the forefoot for maximum impact absorption and protection.
The best volleyball shoes made by Asics are their current models: the Gel Rocket 8 , Gel Netburner Ballistic, Gel Tactic 2, and Volley Elite FF.
Best Volleyball Shoes — Mizuno
Mizuno volleyball shoes are often made of leather for longer-lasting performance and they have amazing traction on the court. This is largely due to their unique tread, which focuses a lot on great grip at the ball of the foot and around the soles. (You can see this in many current and older models). Mizuno volleyball shoes also distributes shock more evenly throughout the sole for comfort and performance. However, the question of which shoes are better between these two competitors runs moot as it’s mostly up to individual fit and preference.
The best volleyball shoes made by Mizuno are currently the Wave Tornado X2, Wave Bolt 7, Wave Lightning Z4, and the Wave Supersonic.
Best Volleyball Shoes — Adidas/Nike
But even though the majority of volleyball players either pick up a pair of Asics or Mizunos, there are a few other choices for those who want to be a little different. Nike and Adidas also make a few volleyball shoes, which can easily compete with what’s out there currently. The reason why you don’t hear about them as much though is because they aren’t heavily marketed or involved in volleyball compared to Asics or Mizuno. Nevertheless, what they have to offer should not go unnoticed. And who knows, they might even be major competitors to Asics and Mizuno in the coming future.
For our top picks from Adidas and Nike, we chose the Adidas Crazyflight X 2.0, Nike Zoom Hyperace 2, the original Nike Air Zoom Hyperace, and the Adidas Crazyflight Bounce.
Best Volleyball Shoe Brands
| Asics | Mizuno | Adidas | Nike |
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