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6 Best Pickleball Shoes to Buy Online This Year
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the United States — having invaded people’s post-work and weekend schedules at a mahjong-like speed. There are now over 80,000 courts that exist all over the country, with more than 24 million Americans having played the sport at some point last year.
You might find yourself somewhere on the spectrum between “begrudging enjoyer” and “devoted picklehead,” but what’s universal is just how important the right pickleball shoes are for the activity in question.
Truly, shoes for playing pickleball can make or break a game, standing between you and that two-point margin (no, we’re not just talking about style points here). Like tennis shoes or even golf shoes, this specialty footwear needs to check a number of boxes — ensuring sufficient lateral reinforcement via a sturdy upper; impressive outsole traction for side-to-side movements sans slipping; lightweight durability; speed secured by a not-too-high midsole, resulting in a lower center of gravity; and arch support to forestall back pain from creeping in as you’re trying to cool down.
Avoid knee injuries in your future by shopping our roundup of “banger” pickleball shoes that “drive” real results.
Courtesy gahsoon/Getty Images
Another consideration? Whether you’re playing indoors or outdoors, as court surface determines the kind of outsole your pickleball shoe needs to have. Hitting balls back and forth on a hard asphalt court necessitates a firmer sole, while indoor play on wood laminate is a match made in heaven for gum rubber: elastic, non-marking, and exceptionally grippy.
Ultimately, the perfect pair of pickleball shoes will back you every dink and “opa!” of the way, as you move from baseline to kitchen with grace and dexterity while successfully averting ankle rolls. Here, we’ve rounded up six leading shoes for pickleball to shop this year, no matter what type of player you are: aggressive trash talker, silent killer, or something in between.
With options for wide feet and no shortage of colorways available online, you now have absolutely no excuse to skip out on practice. See you in the service area.
best overall
On The Roger Clubhouse Pro Shoe
Co-created by tennis legend Roger Federer, this top-selling On shoe has been designed with all sorts of court play in mind — the briny pickleball included. Running on Swiss engineering, The Roger Clubhouse Pro straddles the line between technicality and style, showcasing On’s “simultaneous credibility in performance and high fashion,” per an official brand brief.
The athletic stepper is equipped with herringbone tread on the outsole (widely recognized as the most advantageous pattern for court sports). Realizing that comfort and plushness might be the exact pieces of the puzzle your game has been missing all along, it supplies both by way of a superfoam midsole and CloudTec cushioning: the latter featuring hollow “cloud” pods that compress and expand with every step or underhand serve.
The most crucial aspect just might be the inclusion of medial overlays on the upper, ensuring you don’t experience tearing as you slide side to side in anticipation of the ball. A Speedboard plate, in the meantime, “stores energy at push-off and releases it as forward propulsion,” according to On, while locking the foot in place to prevent distracting shifts at the wrong moment.
Offered across men’s and women’s sizes, this leading pickleball shoe clocks in at 300 grams and will soon become something you don’t leave home without — alongside those paddles, overgrips, and eye protection.
What reviewers say: “I love that the toe box gives me plenty of room without having to purchase a men’s shoe. I’m very happy with the way these shoes perform on the court.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $170
best for speed work
Nike Zoom GP Challenge 1.5 “Naomi Osaka” Shoe
Also bearing the name of one of tennis history’s most decorated players, Nike’s Zoom GP Challenge 1.5 “Naomi Osaka” model makes every bit of its over-$150 price tag worth it with that Air Zoom unit at the forefoot (for extra explosiveness) and at the heel (for essential stabilization); midfoot plastic plate for making your quick cuts even quicker; just-right snugness to guarantee your foot won’t be able to slip out; and high-abrasion rubber in the most high-wear areas.
Pickleball is a game of diagonals, and the Zoom GP Challenge 1.5, crafted for hard courts, will make sure you can execute the footwork (including all the sudden stops, bursts, and backpedaling) with rocker-like fluidity and ideal balance. We’re partial to the pictured Mineral Clay hue, but you can just as easily go with a Light Lemon Twist to complement your balls or a Pearl Pink to go with that tennis skirt.
What reviewers say: “These shoes are extremely stable and comfortable on hard courts. Great lateral support during quick movements, and they feel secure without being too heavy. Cushioning is solid for long matches and practice sessions. Definitely one of the best I’ve used.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $180
best for wide feet
Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0 Shoe
Skechers is currently the name on everyone’s lips, after Knicks player OG Anunoby became the brand’s first athlete ambassador to compete in the NBA Finals. In a pickleball context, the shoe giant is also deserving of your attention and loyalty — bringing to you an award-winning women’s style developed precisely for this activity (and not just court play as a whole).
Skechers’ patented mesh technology doles out breathability and flexibility here, while a foot-contouring Arch Fit EVA insole and Ultra Go Foam midsole come together to grant support and responsiveness: bringing you closer to that rare golden pickle.
Know that the Goodyear logo on the sole is there for good reason — signifying that the kick’s rubber is made for tire-like grip and longevity in the face of impact and wear and tear. Let’s just say this is a pickleball shoe elite players won’t be replacing annually, instead savoring its arch- plus wide foot–friendly, podiatrist-certified, and shock-absorbing status with each new season.
What reviewers say: “A true wide-fitting pickleball shoe with plenty of stability and comfort! This is my second pair and a go-to.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $115
best for men
Wilson Pickle Pro Men’s Pickleball Shoe
Labeled “hot right now” on Wilson’s website, this pickleball shoe for men is acutely aware of what it’s up against — lateral movements that occur as you’re intercepting volleys at the kitchen line and blocking power shots. Spoiler alert: It prevails, every time. Light and bouncy, the Pickle Pro accommodates wider foot shapes with its capacious toe box and keeps all-around comfiness the name of your game — evidenced in that soft collar and tongue, not to mention underfoot cushioning upgraded with OrthoLite foam.
The shoe marvelously resists abrasion, even if you’re a heavy-footed player, and won’t leave unwanted scuff marks in its wake. The above white-and-green look is a classic, but other stylish alternatives include a black with red trim as well as a white-on-white color scheme for letting your footwear be as clean as your serve.
What reviewers say: “This is a great shoe all around! I love the classic look (have gotten tons of compliments), and it felt like it was broken in from the moment I put it on. It’s very breathable and has good traction. One extra perk is that the shoe also has a wide toe box. I use it for tennis and pickleball on a daily basis.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $110
best value
Asics Gel-Dedicate 9 Pickleball Shoe
Asics is frequently shouted out as a top brand for pickleball players to invest in, and its Gel-Dedicate 9 is proof of concept. More streamlined than many pickleball-specific competitors, the shoe is powered by Asics’ signature Trusstic tech: blessing wearers with torsional stability, courtesy of a specialized support unit under the arch that eliminates twisting and subsequently reduces the risk of injury.
The Gel-Dedicate 9’s upper boasts more leather than mesh, contributing to greater solidity but never at the cost of proper thermoregulation (because sweaty feet should be the least of your concerns in the heat of a cutthroat game). The outsole, meanwhile, spans the entire length of the shoe, and this expanded contact area directly correlates with higher traction as you’re busy perfecting your third-shot dink.
What reviewers say: “This is my second pair of Asics for pickleball because I liked the first one so much. Although this is a different model, it fits just as well and has good side-to-side support.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $90
best for plantar fasciitis
K-Swiss Express Light Pickleball Wide Shoe
The founded-in-1966 company K-Swiss is responsible for rolling out the world’s first all-leather tennis shoe. Now, it’s tapping into the hype of pickleball with an Express Light shoe that finally gives wide feet the royal treatment they deserve.
Great for players of all levels, the bestseller comes with something called a plantar support chassis — built into the midsole to curb overpronation and strain on the plantar fascia alike. K-Swiss’ proprietary DragGuard innovation, witnessed in action on the outsole, uses high-abrasion rubber to stop the shoe from wearing out after months of regular, aggressive play. And an OrthoLite sockliner, true to its name, pampers fatigued feet with its sock-like sensation, just as a high-texture upper pampers eyes with enough visual interest to elevate your prettiest activewear.
Not part of the wide-footed club? Grab the K-Swiss Express Light in a normal width, for the same price.
What reviewers say: “They felt good immediately, no breaking in needed. Great to play in — I am recommending them to my pickleball partners!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $115
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Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations. Datskovska regularly reports on the best footwear to shop for different types of sports, from timeless (golf) to trendy (pickleball).
