The 8 Best Shoes for Boxing in 2024
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As someone who boxed and kickboxed for years, I can confidently say you’re going to spend a lot of time on your feet in this sport—especially pivoting and doing constant rapid footwork. It’s very easy to roll an ankle or lose your grip on the ground if you don’t have the right footwear.
While standard gym shoes or running shoes can be used in cardio kickboxing classes or infrequent boxing in a ring, you may want to consider investing in proper, high-quality boxing shoes if you’re serious about the sport and injury prevention. The best shoes for boxing should be lightweight, have excellent traction control, provide arch support and keep your feet stable.
Whether you’re entering the boxing ring for the first time or you’re an experienced boxer or kickboxer, there are numerous boxing training shoes on the market that can help elevate your game. This article covers the best boxing shoes of 2024 and what makes them our top picks, plus we tapped boxing coach Jeff Watters of Detroit-based Watters Performance, LLC and M1 Fight Club, LLC to provide tips for how to find boxing shoes that are right for you.
Our Picks for the Best Boxing Shoes of 2024:
- Best Boxing Shoes for Training: Adidas Box Hog 4
- Best Nike Boxing Shoes: Nike HyperKO 2 Boxing Shoes
- Best Boxing Shoes for Wide Feet: Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes
- Best Boxing Shoes for Beginners: Everlast Elite High Top Boxing Shoes
- Best Affordable Boxing Shoes: Title Speed Flex Encore Boxing Shoes
- Best Boxing Shoes for Flat Feet: Everlast PIVT Low Top Boxing Shoes
- Best Boxing Shoes for Ankle Support: Venum Elite Boxing Shoes
- Best Lightweight Boxing Shoes: Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes
Best Boxing Shoes for Training: Adidas Box Hog 4
SI Showcase + Adidas
Key Features:
- Materials: Textile upper, rubber outsole and lace closure
- Price: $130
- Best for: Training sessions
Whether you’re training in the boxing ring or practicing your punches and footwork with a boxing coach, the best shoes for boxing training are the Adidas Box Hog 4. These unisex boxing boots come with a breathable mesh upper to keep your feet cool, an EVA midsole wedge to help boost stability in your midfoot area and multidirectional outsole grips for quick footwork in all directions. A durable rubber sole also helps these shoes last through many training sessions.
Coming in a wide size range—4.5 men and 5.5 women through 14 men and 15 women—just about anyone can fit into these lace-up boxing shoes. As part of Adidas' efforts to be more environmentally friendly, the upper of the Box Hog 4 boxing shoes contains a minimum of 50 percent recycled content. With five color options, including traditional black and white schemes, these versatile and grippy shoes can help support a variety of training techniques.
Pros:
- Wide size range
- Multidirectional outsole grips
- Made out of recycled material
- Suitable for training and combat sports
Cons:
- Runs slightly narrow (you may need to size up)
Best Nike Boxing Shoes: Nike HyperKO 2 Boxing Shoes
SI Showcase + Nike
Key Features:
- Materials: Polyurethane drop-in and mesh upper
- Price: $189
- Best for: Cross-training
Nike has been a power player in the sports and exercise space for decades, making them a trusted choice for just about any gear. If Nike brand boxing footwear appeals to you, look no further than Nike HyperKO 2 Boxing Shoes. These heavy-duty, high-top boxing boots are designed for more aggressive training styles and combat sports. While they may not be the most affordable boxing shoes on the market, they’re made with Nikeskin, which you can think of as an exoskeleton designed to support through the ankle and midfoot,pp'[; forming to your feet.
The HyperKO 2 are designed with Nike’s signature Flyknit engineering, which further boosts fit and support, plus a polyurethane (plastic) drop-in provides additional protection and cushioning. The sole is split, meaning you’ll have an easier time pivoting and moving quickly.
Pros:
- Exoskeleton-like support molds to your unique foot shape
- Breathable mesh upper
- Split sole for fast movements
- Four vibrant color combos
Cons:
- Limited size range
Best Boxing Shoes for Wide Feet: Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes
SI Showcase + Ringside
Key Features:
- Materials: Leather vinyl, nylon mesh upper and rubber sole
- Price: $79.99
- Best for: Wider feet
A roomy shoe with a sizable toe box is essential for wider feet; it can help eliminate a too-snug fit, cramped toes and overall restricted movements. The Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes have an adjustable lace-up closure that allows you to loosen these shoes as much as needed, making them an ideal boxing shoe for those with wide feet.
With a sleek, leather vinyl finish and the choice between a black or white colorway, Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes have a high-end design for a lower price than some competitors. A high-top ankle provides extra stability and support, while a breathable nylon mesh upper and a non-slip rubber sole keeps your feet fully gripped to the ground during fast footwork movements.
Pros:
- High-end design for low price
- High-top ankle boosts stability
- Non-slip rubber sole improves traction
- Ventilated mesh upper
Cons:
- Only two color options
Best Boxing Shoes for Beginners: Everlast Elite High Top Boxing Shoes
SI Showcase + Everlast
Key Features:
- Materials: Open weave mesh, rubber outsole, microfiber and suede
- Price: $99.99
- Best for: Beginners
You don’t have to be a boxing expert or even longtime boxer to own a pair of boxing shoes. Beginners learning the ropes of sparring, guarding and punching can benefit from investing in a good pair, and for beginners we like the Everlast Elite High Top Boxing Shoes.
While Everlast may be best-known for its boxing gloves and home boxing equipment like heavy bags, the brand also makes solid boxing shoes.
These hybrid boxing shoes can be used both in a gym or in the ring, and come with a lightweight, high-top design to keep your feet nimble and stable. As a collaboration between Everlast and Michelin (the tire brand), Everlast Elite High Top Boxing Shoes include a Michelin-branded technical sole for maximum traction and a slip-resistant tread design.
Pros:
- Michelin technical sole increases traction
- Open weave mesh promotes breathability
- Mid-level price point
- Ankle strap adds extra stability
Cons:
- Limited sizes and color options
Best Affordable Boxing Shoes: Title Speed Flex Encore Boxing Shoes
SI Showcase + Title Speed
Key Features:
- Materials: Synthetic leather upper, polyurethane, nylon fill and lace-up closure
- Price: $49.99
- Best for: Boxers on a budget
Let’s face it: quality boxing shoes can be expensive—some brands can cost over $200. However, you don’t have to break the bank to snag a pair of good boxing shoes that can help improve your training and reduce risk of injury. Enter Title Speed Flex Encore Boxing Shoes, a $49.99 pair of budget-friendly boxing footwear that doesn’t skimp on quality.
These affordable Title boxing shoes come in wide size range, so just about anyone can take advantage of the fair price point. They’re made with a synthetic leather upper, a tight weave nylon fill (to boost stability) and a lace-up closure to help you adjust the shoes to any fit. They also have a mid-top height, which is a nice middle ground for boxers who don’t like high-top boxing footwear.
Pros:
- Mid-cut height
- Budget-friendly price
- Eight color options
- Wide size range
Cons:
- Synthetic materials may not be as breathable
Best Boxing Shoes for Flat Feet: Everlast PIVT Low Top Boxing Shoes
SI Showcase + Everlast
Key Features:
- Materials: Rubber, lace-up closure and open-weave mesh upper
- Price: $89.99
- Best for: Arch support
If you’re like me and have flat feet, you know arch support is everything when purchasing footwear to best support your unique foot shape. People with flat feet are prone to overpronation, meaning the arches of the foot roll inward when walking. This can cause pain, stiffness and even injury over time—so the right footwear is critical to support your feet in the ring. Our pick for boxers with flat feet is the Everlast PIVT Low Top Boxing Shoes.
Related Post: The Best Shoes for Arch Support
A supportive arch in the shoe helps angle your feet to move in a pain-free way, which is critical for proper footwork and injury prevention. Made with rubber, a lace-up closure and open weave mesh upper, these breathable and affordable boxing shoes come with plenty of traction to keep your feet and ankles stable, especially during quick side-to-side movements. Even if you don’t have flat feet, these boxing shoes are an excellent choice for daily training, durability and overall stability.
Pros:
- Higher arch to elevate flat feet
- Machine washable
- Comfortable, low-top design
- Supports side-to-side movements
Cons:
- Available in full sizes only
Best Boxing Shoes for Ankle Support: Venum Elite Boxing Shoes
SI Showcase + Venum
Key Features:
- Materials: Polyurethane and mesh honeycomb
- Price: $160
- Best for: Combat speed and ankle stability
Whether you’re prone to rolling your ankle or simply want good ankle support in your boxing footwear, the Venum Elite Boxing Shoes can keep your ankles steady and stable during pivots and fast movements. The honeycomb mesh in the ankle is sturdy yet breathable, keeping your ankle in proper alignment even during lateral movements. With an anatomical insole that molds to your unique foot shape—and is glued down—you can feel confident these boxing shoes will be both formfitting and slip-free.
Users should find this shoe to be breathable and comfortable, thanks to the mesh upper and precision insole. It also has a mid-cut design for dynamic lateral support and a grippy rubber outsole for improved traction.
Pros:
- Grippy rubber outsole
- Multiple color options
- Wide size range, including half sizes
- Glued insole helps prevent slipping
Cons:
- May require some breaking in
Best Lightweight Boxing Shoes: Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes
SI Showcase + Hayabusa
Key Features:
- Materials: Rubber, microfiber leather and mesh
- Price: $119
- Best for: Fast footwork
When your goal is to move fast, the last thing you want is a heavy pair of boxing shoes that weigh you down. That’s why high-quality, lightweight boxing shoes like the Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes come in handy for those lightning-quick movements required in kickboxing and boxing.
To boost your agility, these boxing shoes have flexible soles with angled grooves to help increase your grip on the ground (though they may fare better on canvas in a boxing ring than on a gym floor). They also have a secure, mid-cut build to keep your ankle stable, a cushioned insole that conforms to your unique foot shape and mesh ventilation for breathability.
Pros:
- Machine washable
- Angled grooves provide good grip
- Mid-cut build for extra ankle support
- Built with durable materials like leather and rubber
Cons:
- Runs slightly big
How To Choose the Best Boxing Shoes for You
All boxing shoes serve the same purpose—to boost your performance and reduce your risk of injury—but each boxing shoe varies greatly. This buying guide can help you determine what to look for in order to choose the best boxing shoes for your needs.
Fit
As a rule of thumb, boxing shoes should be snug but not uncomfortable. Boxing shoes should be “lighter, tighter and have more ground contact” compared to traditional running shoes, says Watters.
“I work with many runners that buy their running shoes one size up to accommodate for swelling when they train,” Watters, who works with professional athletes, says. “Boxing shoes are not this way, buy your actual size. They will stretch slightly, but should not be too big.”
Boxing shoes that are too big, for example, will defeat the purpose of buying them for ankle support, since ankle support should be snug and stable. Still, some boxing shoes do run small or big, so be sure to read verified customer reviews to get a feel for how they fit other people. One way to know if boxing shoes fit correctly is to try wearing them without socks, Watters says. If they fit comfortably without being too loose or too tight, the fit is likely just right.
Traction
You’ll likely be doing a lot of quick foot movements in boxing. Therefore, having the wrong pair of shoes means you may be more likely to slip and fall, or even twist an ankle. To help avoid injury, it’s important to seek out a boxing shoe with good traction. Look for features like grippy, flat rubber soles (which don’t slide as much on floors) and multidirectional grips to help support side-to-side movements and pivots. You may find one or both features on quality products.
Aside from injury prevention, traction is a major player in how you well you can throw your punches. You’ll want plenty of stability and grip to throw maximum punches.
“More of the shoe is in contact with the ground and this provides a great deal of control over your foot movement and traction,” Watters says. “Since 90 percent of your boxing power comes from the legs up, foot placement and the ability to generate torque from your hips because of it is a key factor.”
Breathability
Boxing will make you sweat—a lot. As an intense and fast-paced cardio workout, breathability is a must in everything you wear from boxing, from your exercise clothing to your footwear. The last thing you want is to have sweaty feet, which aside from simply being an annoyance, can increase your risk of developing blisters and bacterial infections. Look for ventilated and/or mesh uppers, which help promote airflow to your feet and keep your feet cool and dry.
Ankle Support
Ankle support in boxing shoes to wearing a “loose-fitting ankle brace,” Watters says. This is essential for keeping your ankles stable during the many pivots you’ll encounter. “Boxing shoes, specifically the hightop versions, give much added support to your ankles,” he says.
While some boxers may be more comfortable in mid- or low-top shoes, high-top boxing shoes will give you the most bang for your buck if ankle support is a priority for you.
You should keep your favorite gym shoes handy if you plan on doing cardio warm-ups prior to a boxing session (which is very common), and then switch into your boxing shoes before entering the ring.
“Boxing shoes are strictly for ankle support, ring traction and breathability,” Watters explains. This means boxing shoes won’t have much if any cushioning. “For these reasons, they shouldn’t be used on hard surfaces and are awful for jumping rope. You will rarely see an actual boxer jumping rope in their boxing shoes.”
Price
Boxing shoes can cost anywhere from $40 to $200 or more, depending on the brand. While a higher price tag doesn’t necessarily mean a better shoe, you may find more durable materials and higher-quality builds in premium footwear.
Be sure to consider your budget before choosing boxing shoes, as well as how often you box. Casual boxers may be able to wear the same shoes for years, while frequent boxers will likely need to replace their boxing shoes every one to three years, depending on wear-and-tear. We also recommend checking both brand websites and Amazon in order to find the best price.
How We Chose the Best Boxing Shoes
We considered a number of factors when choosing the best boxing shoes. Here’s what went into our decision-making process.
- Traction: We sought out shoes with features like grippy rubber soles or multidirectional grips, which help enhance your traction and reduce your risk of sliding.
- Breathability: A good boxing shoe should have optimal ventilation, which is why we prioritized footwear with mesh uppers and/or ventilated designs that keep your feet cool.
- Ankle support: Nobody wants a twisted ankle, so you should be sure your boxing shoes have great ankle support (think high-tops).
- Price: We included boxing shoes that meet a variety of budgets and needs. Our best boxing shoes guide has everything from budget-friendly footwear to premium options.
- Customer reviews: Verified customer reviews help shed light on common themes and experiences. We took customer feedback into consideration when making our decisions.
- Brand reputation: It was important for us to include boxing shoes made by reputable, trusted brands that are tried-and-true in the boxing space. This helps ensure the quality, durability and performance.
Do Boxing Shoes Really Make a Difference?
Boxing shoes can make a major difference in the boxing ring, Watters explains. Since boxing rings tend to be bouncy, boxing shoes help give you the right traction and control to navigate the ring. However, he cautions boxing shoes aren’t necessarily a must for cardio boxing or kickboxing classes (such as at a gym), since you could probably wear regular running shoes. It won’t hurt to wear boxing shoes to a kickboxing class, but keep in mind if your class includes cardio intervals (like jumping jacks), you may want footwear with more cushioning.
Related Post: The Best Kickboxing Certification Programs
Some boxers and wrestlers will also use boxing shoes and/or wrestling shoes interchangeably, especially if they’re training in a ring. Wrestling shoes have a slightly different build and include sturdier materials and textured tread patterns, so if you want more multidirectional movement and breathability, you’re better off using designated boxing shoes.
Best Boxing Shoes FAQs
Is it O.K. to run in boxing shoes?
Since boxing shoes are flat to the ground and have minimal or no cushioning, they won’t give you the right support for running. Runners should instead use actual running shoes.
Can you weight train in boxing shoes?
Boxing shoes are designed for pivoting and traction, so they won’t offer the right support for weightlifting. Instead, consider a pair of weightlifting shoes for heavier lifts, or use regular gym shoes for more casual weight training.
Should boxing shoes be tight or loose?
Boxing shoes should be snug but comfortable. This helps ensure ankle support and stability.
Are boxing shoes uncomfortable?
Boxing shoes are lightweight and shouldn’t feel uncomfortable. Still, if you’ve never worn boxing shoes before, they may take some getting used to, especially if you typically train in gym shoes.
Can you wear boxing shoes everywhere?
Unlike typical gym or athletic shoes, boxing shoes are made to support you through boxing movements only—meaning they won’t provide the right cushioning or support for everyday activities. Instead, you’ll want to wear more casual athletic shoes for running errands.
Final Thoughts: Are Boxing Shoes Right for You?
Boxing shoes are a great choice for both new and experienced boxers training in a boxing ring. You can probably get away with wearing running shoes for kickboxing or boxing classes at a gym, but it still won’t hurt to invest in a good pair of boxing shoes if you’re serious about your game.
From better traction to enhanced ankle stability, boxing shoes can improve performance and reduce your risk of injury—which is why it’s important to seek out a pair from a trusted brand.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
