Best Boxing Shoes (2024): Budget, Wide Feet, & More

Boxing may seem like a game of punches to the uninitiated, but a major part of the game happens closer to the canvas. Footwork is the ability to control the distance, spacing, and angle between you and the opponent, which often decides the fight’s outcome.

Agile footwork and power generation also require optimal contact with the canvas at any point. In fewer words, you need good boxing shoes.

But before investing in a pricey pair of shoes you can’t use anywhere else, it’s good to know how to choose the best pair for your needs and budget.   

This is why I’ve compiled this comprehensive list of the best boxing shoes, which should cover most if not all, tastes and needs.

• Best Boxing Shoes: Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes
• Best Budget Boxing Shoes: Title Boxing Speed-Flex Encore Mid Boxing Shoe
• Best Boxing Shoes For Beginners: Adidas Combat Speed 5
• Best Boxing Shoes For Wide Feet: Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes
• Best Low-Top Boxing Shoes: Everlast PIVT Low Top Boxing Shoes
• Best Nike Boxing Shoes: Nike HyperKO 2
• Best Adidas Boxing Shoes: Adidas Box Hog 4
• Best Non-Boxing Shoes For Boxing: ASICS Men’s Matflex 6 Wrestling Shoes
• Best Boxing & Kickboxing Shoes: Adidas Adi-Kick 2
• Best Women’s Boxing Shoes: Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes

Best Boxing Shoes

Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes

The Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes are my top pick for the best boxing shoes.

Hayabusa may not be a boxing-specific or legacy brand, and some purists may not agree with them being the best, but when I consider the price, availability, quality, and versatility, these shoes easily get the top spot. 

The Hayabusa Pro boxing shoes mix tried-and-true classic characteristics with more modern details, making them exceptional.

They are a mid-top that provides excellent ankle stability while retaining plenty of movement.

The microfibre leather and mesh technology make these exceptionally lightweight, as any boxing shoe should be.

The angle-grooved soles cover the edges of the shoe, which is more common in wrestling shoes but also provides a better anchoring grip in the ring.

The sole is highly flexible and thin, allowing you to glide and rotate freely. The cushioned insole contours to your foot with plush padding.

At the same time, the mesh ventilation keeps you cool and comfortable during hard workouts. The unique toe creases also aid in pivoting and power transfer to the punches.

The Hayabusa Pro boxing shoes are my favorite pair because of all these qualities and features, the stylish visuals, competitive price, and wide availability.

Best Budget Boxing Shoes

Title Boxing Speed-Flex Encore Mid Boxing Shoe

Boxing shoes aren’t cheap, and there aren’t many budget-friendly options available. But the Title Boxing Speed-Flex offers the looks of professional boxing shoes at nearly a third of the price.

These have a classic mid-top design and come in a synthetic leather upper and tight weave nylon fill. The colorways and embroidery make for a stylish look, and the Speed-Flex looks the part.

The downside of paying much less than you would for other brands is obvious. The faux leather and overall build of the shoe are inferior. The sole is not bad, but there aren’t any directional grooves.

Some users also complain about the soles coming off and the stitching unraveling after relatively short use. But this is to be expected from a budget offering.

Even with these issues, Title Boxing is a reputable brand, and you can buy dedicated boxing shoes for $50, which is not a bad deal if you ask me.

Best Boxing Shoes For Beginners

Adidas Combat Speed 5

My top pick for the best beginner boxing shoes is the Adidas Combat Speed 5. These are ideal for your first pair due to their adaptability.

The design is highly versatile, and the shoes are intended to be used for boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling.

When you first start out, you may want to invest in shoes that can be used for various workouts.

The upper of the Adidas Combat Speed is made from breathable textile and synthetic materials.

The sole is made up of one piece of flexible rubber and textile. The ankle support is superb, and the ankle strap allows you even more control over the shoes’ tightness.

Adidas has a long history of producing boxing and wrestling shoes and has built a strong reputation.

As a result, you may be confident you will receive well-designed and high-quality shoes.

Best Boxing Shoes For Wide Feet

Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes

Having wide feet and shopping for boxing shoes is a nightmare; trust me, I know it from experience.

As someone who has wider feet and wears minimalist shoes in my everyday life, finding a comfortable boxing shoe is not easy.

Some, like the Hayabusa, are good, but the Ringside Undefeated boxing shoes are a perfect choice for people who value their toes’ freedom. They are also a lot cheaper.

The Ringside Undefeated sports a vinyl and leather aesthetic and looks like something a pro boxer would wear on fight night. They are high-top and provide ample ankle support.

Despite the hefty look, the shoes are relatively lightweight and breathable. The sole has wrestling-style circular grooves, which I like because they provide more lateral traction.

The key characteristic qualifying the Ringside Undefeated boxing shoes in this list is their wide toe box, which is invaluable in the battle against cramped toes.

Some people even complain they have to order a size up, which is actually a good indicator for those of us with hobbit feet. 

Best Low-Top Boxing Shoes

‌Everlast PIVT Low Top Boxing Shoes

Most boxing shoes have a mid or high top, which limits the possibilities for fighters who seek more freedom.

The PIVT Everlast shoes are a promising hybrid boxing shoe for gym and ring use.

Aside from the low cut, the PIVT’s main feature is its Michelin sole. The thicker, more distinctive design provides exceptional traction on the ring canvas.

This sole is a trademark of Everlast, and it’s also used in their Elite model, considered to be Everlast’s best boxing shoes. The Elite is more or less the high-top version of the PIVT, which we are looking at here.

This tire-like sole may seem strange initially, but it is designed to work equally well on conventional gym floors and a ring canvas.

The lightweight open-weave mesh, microfiber, and suede combine to produce the ideal balance of speed, comfort, and durability.

Best Nike Boxing Shoes

Nike HyperKO 2

The first Nike HyperKO model was a huge hit, inspiring several other brands to release comparable models.

The second edition does an excellent job of building on the legacy while upgrading some features.

The HyperKO 2 is a high-top boxing shoe with a true sock-like sensation. The fly knit material Nike employs on many of its shoes delivers that feeling, and the overall integration of it is excellent.

The HyperKO2 is most renowned for its industry-first cuff structure, which gives a flawless fit and experience.

This cuff forms an X-shaped brace around the lower part of the foot and ankle, resulting in a perfect lock of the foot.

The rubber outsole has also been upgraded over the previous generation, providing good traction on the heel and outside.

If I had to point out a flaw with this shoe, it’s too narrow in the front, which is the main reason I haven’t picked it as the best boxing shoe overall.

Best Adidas Boxing Shoes

Adidas Box Hog 4

The Adidas Box Hog is one of the staples of boxing training shoes, and Adidas has been making boxing boots since the 1940s, so they know their stuff. The Box Hog 4 is the latest iteration of their best-selling classic.

The newest version retains the feel of the original but takes advantage of modern technologies, and the design is markedly more contemporary.

The mesh upper of the shoe is lightweight, breathable, and appealing, and it will keep your feet dry even during hard workouts. Additional synthetic suede overlays have been added for durability.

The high tops provide excellent ankle support. The outsole is threaded in one way, as with other classic boxing shoes, providing outstanding traction for dashing in and out of range.

The downside of these is the notoriously narrow toe box. One look at it from the top will show you how narrow it is, so if you have wide feet or simply prefer wider shoes, the Box Hog will not fit you.

Adidas consistently delivers and exceeds expectations in terms of quality and feel. If you want a classic design with modern features, go with the Box Hog.

Best Non-Boxing Shoes For Boxing

ASICS Men’s Matflex 6 Wrestling Shoes

Wrestling and boxing shoes have many similarities: they are lightweight, flexible, and give excellent traction on a canvas or mat surface.

Many people, including me, favor wrestling shoes because of their durability and traction in all directions.

Wrestling has different demands than boxing and places a lot more stress on the feet and shoes. Thus, wrestling shoes are made to withstand more abuse.

The other distinction is that the soles are designed to provide traction and grip in all directions, including the sides.

The disadvantage of wrestling shoes compared to boxing ones is ankle support. Wrestling requires more ankle mobility, so the shoes have less ankle stability and are all mid- or low-top.

Asics Matflex wrestling shoes have a well-deserved reputation. They will serve you well in both the ring and the gym, making them an excellent choice for non-boxing shoes.

Asics are the kings of wrestling shoes, and many other models will be equally good, but the Matflex is their most popular model, so I chose it to represent wrestling shoes.

Best Boxing & Kickboxing Shoes

Adidas Adi-Kick 2

Now, kickboxing shoes aren’t really a thing. Kickboxing in its most popular form as seen in K-1, Glory, and One FC, and training in the style is done barefoot.

But there are instances where you might want to use shoes, such as having to train on a hardwood floor, having foot issues, it’s too cold, or any number of other reasons.

One option is to go for wrestling or minimalist shoes. But if you want something you can kick with and not be frowned upon, the taekwondo/martial arts shoes Adi-Kick 2 shoes may be a better choice.

As the name suggests, these shoes are designed for taekwondo, where kicking is the whole game.

The bottom part of the Adi-Kicks is designed like a boxing shoe, with a thin and flexible sole, but the upper part is low, and most importantly, the laces are covered by a piece of leather.

This means you can kick with the shoes and not hurt your foot or training partners like you can if the laces are open.

If you have to train kickboxing with shoes and are allowed to, martial arts shoes like the Adi-Kicks or similar models are your best bet.

Best Women’s Boxing Shoes

Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes

All of the models featured here are unisex and can be worn by either men or women. The shoes are marketed as unisex, and ladies can choose from a wide range of sizes.

Some versions feature a wider range of color palettes, which may appeal to the softer side of women.

Nonetheless, each model on the list is appropriate if it is the correct size which makes the Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoes the number one choice for women.

How To Choose The Best Boxing Shoes

Height/Ankle Support

The most notable difference between boxing shoes is the height of the ankle. Boxing shoes come in three styles: low, mid, and high tops.

As the name implies, low tops are merely ankle-high. They provide the least ankle support in exchange for reduced weight and increased mobility.

The most popular style is mid-top, which strikes an effective mix between ankle protection and movement.

High tops are stronger and more stable, yet they might be uncomfortable for certain people.

If you have weaker ankles, choose mid or, better yet, high tops, which provide the most ankle support. If you intend to cross-train, a low top is better suited.

Remember that, despite their names, not all shoes in the same category are the same height.

Low-top shoes can sit directly on, beneath, or just above the ankle knuckle, depending on the maker and type.

Some high tops, such as the Nike Hyper KO 2, get it perfect, while old-school boots may go halfway up your shin.  

Size & Fit

Boxing shoes are practically glove-tight and must fit properly while remaining quite comfortable. Most models are super flexible and lightweight.

Since you will be doing complex footwork and much of your success in boxing depends on the feet, the fit and features of the shoes are more important than some people realize.

Most boxing shoes are suitable for men and women and most types of feet. The people who have trouble finding the perfect shoes are those with wide feet or who are used to barefoot shoes.

If you fall into this category, I strongly recommend avoiding Nike and Adidas, no matter how well the shoes are made, because the toe boxes are too wide.

Both the Hayabusa and Ringside options are much better.

When choosing boxing shoes, always refer to the manufacturer’s sizing charts. Remember to always measure your foot, not your current shoes.

Your everyday sneakers are designed differently, and often, the size does not match what you will need with boxing shoes.

Design

There are a few design decisions you should consider. The first is the outsole.

Old school models like the Adidas Box Hog have a narrower and more level outsole, while Hayabusa and Nike Hyper KO2 have it wider and rounded on the edges, more like wrestling shoes.

The thickness of the sole is also important. Most boxing shoes have very thin soles, but others, like Everlast, use a thicker one.

This is great if you want to use the shoes for other exercises like running, jumping, or hitting the weights.

Price

Overall, boxing shoes are expensive. There aren’t many manufacturers, and it’s a smaller niche market, which always means the prices are usually higher.

But the good news is that if you only use your shoes at the boxing gym, they should last a long time.

Even the less expensive ones are pretty good and well-made. As usual, paying more frequently results in a higher quality product, but after a certain price point, you pay for design and brand rather than quality.

Frequently Asked Boxing Shoe Questions

Summary

Hayabusa sits atop my best boxing shoes list because they combine the best average function, quality, visuals, price, and availability.

If you want something created by brands that have been on the market for a while (and you don’t have wide feet), the Nike HyperKO and Adidas Box Hog 4 are excellent options.

Title Boxing has a decent and affordable offering for those on a budget in their Speed-Flex Encore model.

The Adidas Combat Speed is a bit more expensive but more versatile and of better quality, which you can also consider as a beginner on a tight budget.

Finally, if you want to train boxing in a non-boxing-specific shoe, wrestling shoes are the way to go, and Asics is the best manufacturer on the market.