Best Pickleball Shoes for Men, According to Pickleball Pros

As pickleball’s popularity rapidly grows, you have more pickleball shoes available to choose from than ever before. But just as you’d take your time researching pickleball paddles to find the right one, it’s essential to choose the best pickleball shoes for your needs. To that end, we talked with professional pickleball players to find out what they look for in a great pair of shoes. Read on for our picks for the best pickleball shoes for men to help you find the right pair.

Our top picks for the best pickleball shoes for men

What to consider when buying pickleball shoes for men

Alexandru Pop-Moldovan, professional pickleball player, coach, and director of racquet sports at PGA National Resort Palm Beach Gardens, FL, explains that pickleball shoes need to meet contrasting demands. “The sport of pickleball demands two somewhat contrarian aspects of normal athletic footwear: lightning-quick responsiveness and long-lasting comfort,” he says. “A competitive player needs to be explosive in his movements, but be comfortable enough to stay on court for hours without sacrificing performance.”

Professional pickleball player and Skechers brand ambassador Tyson McGuffin recommends pickleball players look for shoes that combine several essential qualities. “For me, comfort, stability, durability, and high performance equal quality,” he says.

Consider these features when buying pickleball shoes.

Comfort

Pop-Moldovan says comfort and explosiveness are the two most important features in a pickleball shoe. “Due to the fact there is considerable time standing relatively in the same spot, comfort becomes even more important than it is in the sport of tennis,” he says.

Several factors contribute to comfort, including the room provided in the toe box, any shock-absorbing materials in the shoe, and the shoe’s overall breathability. Consider the shoe’s weight, too. Lightweight shoes can be more comfortable and allow you to respond faster than heavier shoes.

Stability

A good pickleball shoe needs to offer stability and support, especially as you pivot and come to sudden stops. Many shoes accomplish this through the use of a shank inserted in the midfoot to help stabilize the shoe—and it’s one of the reasons why you wouldn’t want to use your go-to walking shoes or running shoes.

Durability

You’ll want to get maximum value from your investment in a pair of pickleball shoes. Look for features that make shoes more durable, such as extra rubber on the soles and rubber toe caps to help protect the shoe when you drag your toe.

Sole Design

A pickleball shoe’s sole plays a key role in your traction and agility on the court. “The outsole needs to match the playing surface to be used for play,” says Pop-Moldovan, “whether that is an indoor or outdoor tennis-type hard court surface or an indoor basketball-type surface.”

Fit

Good fit is also essential, and it directly relates to your comfort and the stability you feel while playing. Consider not only the shoe size, but the shoe width and qualities like a roomy toe box and arch support when finding the right fit.

Style

Finally, consider the overall style of the shoes and how they’ll look when you play. “Style is important to me, as I like to be bold and stand out on the pickleball court,” says McGuffin.

Selecting the right size and fit

McGuffin explains it’s important to have enough room in the toe box area of your pickleball shoes. “Shoes should also fit comfortably enough that your foot feels locked in,” he says. “Whatever size you typically wear, I’d do the same. Importantly, I like them to feel snug enough for me to feel extremely mobile with all the quick lateral movements in pickleball.”

When trying on shoes, Pop-Moldovan recommends taking extra time to ensure you’ve found the right fit. “Just like with all racquet sports shoes, it is somewhat difficult to test out new shoes just inside a retail store,” he explains. “But taking a little extra time to move around the store, even mimicking the movements of a pickleball match, will go a ways in helping make sure a player has the right fit. The consumer should consider both length and width when trying on shoes and make sure it has the level of comfort and weight they need for their game.”

How to maintain and clean pickleball shoes for men

Proper cleaning and maintenance can help prolong your pickleball shoes’ life. Pop-Moldovan notes it’s essential to make sure shoes have the proper environment and time to dry out, rather than leaving them inside an enclosed bag where airflow can’t reach them. “Cleaning is rather easy—a damp cloth is usually enough to do the trick,” he says. “Just make sure to dry them off when you are done.”

McGuffin takes a different approach to cleaning shoes. “As a pro, I am out on the court daily and probably put a lot more wear and tear on my shoes than the average player,” says McGuffin. “The last thing I’m thinking about during play is keeping my shoes clean, but I also want to look fresh on the court. Luckily, Skechers pickleball shoes are machine washable. So, I think the best way to maintain your pickleball shoes is by investing in pairs that you can easily toss in the washing machine.”

How we selected the best pickleball shoes for men

When choosing the best pickleball shoes for men, I focused on the qualities professional pickleball players value the most. I chose shoes designed to be comfortable, but that offer the support needed for the quick lateral movements and pivots that pickleball requires. I also considered durability and price point. I tried to include shoes available in many sizes. I looked for shoes that come in different widths, and also looked for features like breathability and roomy toe boxes to ensure athletes stay comfortable on the court.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What type of shoe is best for pickleball?

“I always tell people the best shoe to wear on the court is a pickleball-specific shoe,” says McGuffin. It’s important that your shoes can accommodate quick movements, are supportive and lightweight, offer plenty of room in the toe box, and above all else, are comfortable.”

Are pickleball shoes and tennis shoes the same?

McGuffin explains there are key differences between tennis shoes and pickleball shoes for women and men. “Tennis shoes are generally heavier in weight and designed for lateral movements, while pickleball shoes cater to both lateral and forward movements,” he says. “Pickleball is more stop and go with quick movements.”

What are budget friendly pickleball shoes?

Pickleball shoes often cost around $100, but you can find quality shoes available for less. For example, the FitVille Wide Pickleball Shoes for Men start at $70.

How long does a typical pair of pickleball shoes for men last?

The lifespan of a shoe will depend on how often you play, how you care for it, and whether you wear it beyond the pickleball court. “For me, being a professional pickleball player, I use and abuse my shoes way more than most,” McGuffin explains. He notes that he typically gets about six months of wear out of a pair of Skechers pickleball shoes.

Are pickleball shoes for men suitable for other sports?

Pop-Moldovan explains that shoes for racquet sports aren’t suitable for some activities, like running. “It would be possible to train or work out in racquet sports shoes, but that would also depend on the type of workout,” he says. “The key issue would be the stability and support of the shoe. Heavy weight lifting requires a very stable and supportive shoe, maybe needing more support than the typical racquet sports shoe. It is better to leave the racquet sports shoes for use in just those sports.” If you plan on cross-training in other sports, consider getting a quality pair of running shoes for men to minimize the wear on your pickleball shoes.