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Boxing is a sport of speed, precision, power, awareness, and balance. To be successful, you must utilize each of these characteristics at the appropriate times. Failure to do so, even for a split-second, can result in immediate, crashing failure. For this reason, it’s important that you take all the precautions possible before stepping into the ring. Obviously weight and speed training are important. But what’s also important is the equipment you use. This is why all boxers need to invest in a pair of high-quality boxing shoes.
The best boxing shoes provide plenty or arch support while sacrificing nothing in the way of speed and agility. You would be very surprised at the improvement seen just by wearing solid, well-constructed boxing shoes.
Start Here: What Exactly Are Boxing Shoes?
Contents
Boxing shoes are like tennis shoes or cross trainers in a lot of ways as they are designed to be worn while partaking in physical activity. There are, however, a few differences between boxing shoes and cross trainers. For one, boxing shoes typically offer more ankle support.
Speed and agility are hugely important in the sport of boxing. To accommodate this, boxing shoes are made out of very lightweight materials that does not slow the boxer down. In addition, boxing shoes generally possess outsoles with a great deal of grip and traction.
What are the Benefits of Boxing Shoes?
While you can certainly box in tennis shoes or cross trainers, there are a few benefits offered by boxing shoes that are not offered by other shoes. These benefits include increased agility and speed, better traction, and more ankle support.
It should also be noted that some gyms do not even allow boxers to wear anything other than boxing shoes. This is because tennis shoes, cross trainers, and other types of shoes are designed with outsoles that could potentially scuff up the ring floor.
Also read: The Best Wrestling Shoes (New Edition)
Who are the Contenders for Best Boxing Shoes?
Cleto Reyes Leather High Top Boxing Shoes – Made of genuine leather and suede, these Cleto Reyes boxing shoes are not only aesthetically pleasing, but as functional as any boxing shoe you’re going to find. A polyurethane insole is both lightweight and highly supportive, allowing you to move around the ring with comfort and grace. Sporting non-skid rubber soles, they provide you with excellent balance and confident surefootedness all throughout your match.
Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes – With a patent leather vinyl finish, these Ringside boxing shoes sport an exterior made of synthetic fabrics which are both both breathable and supportive. Equipped with high ankle tops, they provide excellent ankle and leg support without compromising anything in the way of speed and agility. Providing you with a sturdy base are their non-slip rubber soles.
Rival Boxing Low-top Boots – Made of organic and synthetic fabrics, these Rival Boxing Low-top Boots offer superb ventilation and excellent airflow. Sporting flexible outsoles, they provide your feet with top-notch grip and feel. Designed in a fashion similar to that of high-top basketball shoes, they possess great cushion as well as top-of-the-line heel and arch support.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Boxing Shoes
In many ways, boxing shoes are just like any other shoe. They should fit comfortably, and offer you excellent arch and heel support. There are, however, some other things to consider when purchasing boxing shoes. Available in low-top, mid-top, and high-top styles, each boxer has different preferences when it comes to his or her shoes. But if you’re buying boxing shoes for the first time, you should pay special attention to their material, their ability to vent heat, their comfort, and their traction.
Material
Boxing shoes are made from a number of different materials, including leather, synthetic fabrics, and more. While each different boxer has his or her own personal preference for what type of material his or her shoes are made of, leather is typically the most flexible and comfortable material.
Venting
Boxing is a sport that requires you moving around on your feet for prolonged periods of time. Like any sport where this is necessary, your feet are going to generate a great deal of heat and sweat. It’s important that the shoes you wear allow that heat and sweat to be vented out as you’re training or fighting.
Comfort
Regardless of what type of shoe you’re wearing, comfort is the absolute most important aspect to consider. You don’t want to be worried about foot pain while you’re trying to focus on not getting smashed in the face by a hard right hook.
Traction
They key to boxing is staying on your feet. It’s already difficult enough to do without worrying about foot traction. But if you’re trying to avoid punches the entire round while also constantly worrying about keeping your footing, things probably aren’t going to end well. This is why it’s important to make sure that your boxing shoes have excellent traction.
Material
Cleto Reyes Leather High Top Boxing Shoes
With an exterior made of genuine leather and suede, this Cleto Reyes boxing shoe is both stylish and practical. Its ability to flex with your movements makes it very easy to move around in. Equipped with a polyurethane insole, it is equal parts comfortable and functional.
Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes
Sporting a high-top ankle, this Ringside boxing shoe is made from a high-quality synthetic fabric. Lining its exterior are small strips of patent leather and vinyl, giving it both excellent support and an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Rival Boxing Low-top Boots
Available in a bevy of different colors and styles, these Rival boxing shoes are made from both patent and synthetic fabrics and leathers. With microfibre lining their exterior, they keep your feet cool while also allowing them to move any way they please. A cushioned insole offers both excellent padding and stellar arch support.
Venting
Rival Boxing Low-top Boots
As far as venting goes, these Rival boxes shoes offer the best ventilation of our top 3. With a microfibre mesh exterior, they do an excellent job of absorbing sweat and letting heat escape. Their interior sports a mesh sock which allows for the even transfer of airflow, thus cooling all parts of the foot throughout training and competition.
Cleto Reyes Leather High Top Boxing Shoes
While this Cleto Reyes shoe possesses excellent venting capabilities, it is just a step below the Rival Boxing shoe in our top 3. A small zipper on the side of the shoe can be undone to allow heat and sweat to escape its inside. Lined with an absorbent cloth material, it does a great job of preventing sweat from building up
Ringside Undefeated Boxing Shoes
While the Cleto Reyes and Rival Boxing shoes possess the best ventilation capabilities of our top 3, these Ringside shoes still do a stellar job of letting out heat and sweat. Made from a synthetic fabric material, they allow built-up heat to escape directly through their fabric exteriors. With a wide top, they give your legs some room to move, ensuring that they will not chafe.
Comfort
Cleto Reyes Leather High Top
Made of flexible genuine leather, this Cleto Reyes shoe offers your foot maximum movement without sacrificing support. Its wide upper portion as well as its wide laces prevent it from placing too much pressure on any one part of your foot or leg. A soft polyurethane insole makes it both lightweight and cushioned.
Ringside Undefeated
In the end, comfort is based on personal preference. So, even though we ranked the Cleto Reyes shoes above these Ringside shoes, you might have different thoughts. With a high-top ankle, they offer excellent support, always keeping your feet locked in place. Sporting wide laces and a wide top, they allow your feet to move freely without sacrificing control.
Rival Boxing Low-top
Though these Rival shoes still provide great comfort and support, they are a step below the Cleto Reyes and Ringside shoes in our top 3. With low-top ankles, they don’t provide quite the same support as high-tops, but still do a great job of locking your feet into place comfortably. An ergonomic insole offers both excellent cushion and top-notch arch support.
Traction
Cleto Reyes Leather High Top
Equipped with a non-skid rubber sole, this Cleto Reyes shoe provides you with excellent traction, ensuring firm and sure footing all throughout its use. Lightweight and padded, this sole also prevents you from coming down with too much force, reducing the overall strain placed on your foot.
Ringside Undefeated
Sporting lightweight rubber soles, the Ringside Undefeateds combine stellar grip-ability with exceptional movement. With extra-wide insoles, they are perfect for people of all foot sizes, giving your feet enough room to breathe without allowing them to slide freely all over the place.
Rival Boxing Low-top
As far as traction goes, these Rival boxing shoes are about equal to both the Cleto Reyes and Ringsides in our top 3. With a flexible rubber outsole that extends to the side of the shoe, it offers firm grip even when you have lost your footing.
Our Boxing Shoes Reviews
TITLE High-top Boxing Boots – Best Cheap
For a pair of boxing shoes in their price range, these TITLE High-top Boxing Boots are a phenomenal buy. Available in black, white, blue, and red, they allow you to match with your shorts and gloves. Constructed with synthetic leather and spandex, they’re flexible, breathable, and extremely lightweight, making them ridiculously easy to move around in. If you’re looking for a very solid pair of boxing shoes at a very affordable price, you should certainly take a look at these
Pros:
- Very breathable
- Extremely lightweight
Cons:
- Some durability concerns
- Questionable arch support
TITLE Speed-Flex Encore Mid Boxing Shoes – Best for the Money
Available in four different colors, including black, white, blue, and red, these TITLE boxing shoes offer high-end functionality at a low-end price. A mid-top shoe falling somewhere between traditional high-top boxing shoes and new-age low-top boxing shoes, they offer excellent ankle support while sacrificing nothing in the way of freedom and movement. A full synthetic leather exterior offers both superb flexibility and seamless ventilation. For their price, the TITLE Speed-Flex boxing shoes are the best boxing shoes on the market.
Pros:
- Very flexible
- Excellent ankle and arch support
- Superb ventilation and sweat absorption capabilities
Cons:
- They have no major flaws, but are also not the best boxing shoes on the market
Cleto Reyes Leather High Top Boxing Shoes – Best Overall
While there are a number of great boxing shoes on the market, these Cleto Reyes shoes are, in our opinion, unquestionably the best boxing shoes around. High-top shoes with a genuine leather exterior, they combine superb flexibility with excellent breathability to create a shoe that is both comfortable and easy to move around in. With a polyurethane insole and a non-skid rubber outsole, they are extremely lightweight, and possess superb traction, providing you with great balance at all times. If you’re looking for the best boxing shoes on the market, look no further. These Cleto Reyes shoes are the ones you’re looking for.
Pros:
- Flexible as boxing shoes come
- Superb traction and grip-ability
- Fantastic arch and ankle support
Cons:
- They run about a size too big
All in All
In boxing, mere milliseconds can be the difference between victory and defeat. A blink of the eyes. A drop of the hand. A misplacement of the feet. Any wrong move at the wrong time can result in your demise within the ring. To reduce the chance of making a wrong move, a pair of high-quality boxing shoes is a must.
Well-constructed and breathable shoes like the Cleto Reyes Leather High Top Boxing Shoes offer excellent arch and ankle support without sacrificing anything in the way of freedom and movement. Want to give yourself a fighting chance every time you go into the ring? Invest in a pair of boxing shoes.