Badminton Shoes – How to Choose The Best One (Hand Picked)

Badminton is a sport where movement is crucial, especially when it comes to the elite level competitions. You need a good equipment to be able to reach the top, and good badminton shoes are a must.

Let’s assume you have purchased a high-quality racket which is perfect for your playing style. Now you need to maximize your movement performances.

Good agility and footwork, as already described in the previous post, are crucial to being able to return impossible and trick shots.

A good pair of badminton shoes leads to three crucial things – better injury prevention, better blister prevention, and better overall performance.

This is significant, especially when it comes to competitive period. One injury means you are out of the championship race.

Today, we will review top badminton shoes, and then we will talk about how to choose the best ones for you.

Badminton Shoes Model	Full Review	Check Price
Babolat Men`s Shadow Spirit Tennis Shoes Blue and Yellow	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
Yonex SHB01LTD “Lee Chong Wei” Edition	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
Diadora Men’s B. Elite L III Court Shoe	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
ASICS Women’s Gel Upcourt	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
Asics Men’s GEL-Rocket 7	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
Yonex SHB-02LTD Limited Edition	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
Adidas Performance Men’s Barricade Club	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
Mizuno Women’s Wave Lightning RX2	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
PUMA Men’s Invicto Sala	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon
Head Men’s Speed Pro Lite Indoor Low Shoe	Full Review	Check Price on Amazon

Best Badminton Shoes – Ultimate Buyer’s Guide

Now that you know what to look, let’s introduce you to our recommendations. Stick to the previous eight parameters and you won’t make a mistake. And do not forget to consider your individual needs!

Babolat Men`s Shadow Spirit Tennis Shoes Blue and Yellow

These are the most comfortable badminton shoes you will find in the market. Babolat Shadow is known by elastic wraps which provide a great grip and the perfect fit of the shoe.

Pros:

• Four sizes available.
• Great patterns on the sole for better lateral movement and stopping power.
• World-class ventilation.
• Price is affordable.
• Excellent ergonomic design.
• These shoes maximize agility.

Cons:

• Cushioning is critical.

Yonex SHB01LTD “Lee Chong Wei” Edition

There is a reason why these shoes carry the name of the best Malaysian badminton superstar (internal link). The shoe has “Double Russell Mesh”, so the sweating and unpleasant odor are reduced to a minimum with Yonex SHB01LTD “Lee Chong Wei” Edition.

Pros:

• Improves footwork.
• Excellent rubber outsole for the indoor game.
• Good for an attacker who constantly pressures, smashes, and controls the pace of the game.
• Great durability.
• Good badminton shoes for players who want to minimize chances of injury.
• Excellent shoe stability, grip, and comfort.

Cons:

Diadora Men’s B. Elite L III Court Shoe

Diadora Men’s B. Elite L III Court Shoe is made of 77.3% leather and 22.7% polyurethane, which means excellent choice for toughness and durability of the shoe. It is an excellent shoe when you play on the cement floor.

Pros:

• Great design.
• Breathable shoes with excellent ventilation.
• Excellent styling.
• Flat bottom great traction, excellent for sliding and sacrificing shots.
• Excellent grip and stability.
• Amazing variety of sizes.

Cons:

• Limited color options.

ASICS Women’s Gel Upcourt

Both genders should have the best badminton shoes, and ASICS Women’s Gel Upcourt is considered to be the best women shoe. Despite the sole is very thin, the comfort is world-class, just as stability during the long rally.

Pros:

• Lower center of gravity leads to awesome injury prevention.
• Extremely colorful shoe and attractive to wear, very pleasant colors to watch.
• Very high badminton shoes standard.
• Rubber sole with a gum rubber outsole means the shoe is high-quality and suitable for all kinds of surfaces.
• Additional cushioning on the inner sole.
• Excellent for direction changes.

Cons:

• A lot of white areas, which needs extra care.
• Only two sizes available.

Asics Men’s GEL-Rocket 7

It sounds like a great choice of badminton shoes for a player who wants top performances when the opponent is extremely difficult. The design is very modern and the features are awesome.

Pros:

• Awesome comfort.
• The design of these shoes is very suitable for turning and sudden direction changes.
• Advanced gel cushioning system, great ventilation, and great support.
• Good traction and great grip, great when you play on PU or wooden surface.
• Very light shoes.
• A world-class choice for lateral turns.
• Good design for your ankles to reduce to chance of injury.

Cons:

• Only two sizes available.
• You might have a hard time playing on a cement floor.

Yonex SHB-02LTD Limited Edition

Are you looking for great badminton shoes with premium performances? Pick Yonex SHB-02LTD Limited Edition, you won’t be disappointed. Asymmetrical fit with stunning ergoshape improves footwork, stability, and support during the game.

Pros:

• Made of P.U. leather.
• Double Russel Mesh for excellent ventilation and dry feet.
• The midsole is equipped with multiple advanced stuff, like Power Cushion and E.V.A.
• Great impact absorption and grip.
• An additional layer of durable skin on top – this shoe is made to last!
• Advanced ergoshape has a positive influence on agility and footwork.
• Modern design and bright colors.
• Variety of sizes.

Cons:

• Mid-to-high range price.
• Size dimensions are bit tricky.

Adidas Performance Men’s Barricade Club

This is the model of badminton shoes known for its durability. The design is a bit bulkier but yet attractive. Color choice is outstanding – neon, blue, orange and many more.

Pros:

• Amazing choice of sizes.
• Excellent ventilation and dry feet throughout the game.
• Rubber sole prevents sliding when you jump or return sacrificing shots, good choice for cement floor.
• Positive influence on speed and agility.
• The insole is removable – great all-around badminton shoes might fit any type of player.
• Attractive design and colors.

Cons:

• Too big ankle stability and higher injury risk.
• The price varies from affordable to expensive.

Mizuno Women’s Wave Lightning RX2

Mizuno Women’s Wave Lightning RX2 is a good choice if you primarily target comfort and durability. These are great badminton shoes for women, equipped with Dynamotion Grove and Power + Bounce for better shock absorption.

Pros:

• Good cushioning system for excellent stability during sudden direction changes.
• Extra grade rubber and non-marking sole for amazing grip.
• World-class traction.
• Amazing ventilation.
• Excellent variety of colors.
• Four sizes available.

Cons:

• Affordable to high-range price.
• Size dimensions are confusing.

PUMA Men’s Invicto Sala

 

PUMA Men’s Invicto Sala is a lightweight shoe for high performances. It might be a very comfortable choice for players with narrow feet.

Pros:

• Very elegant design with a tremendous combination of textile and leather.
• Lace-up system and holes on the top side for better ventilation.
• Rubber sole for excellent stability.
• Positive effect on speed, agility, and footwork.
• Great grip and traction.
• Variety of colors.
• Great choice of sizes.

Cons:

• Not good for people with wide feet.
• The shoe is a bit heavier.

Head Men’s Speed Pro Lite Indoor Low Shoe

Head Men’s Speed Pro Lite Indoor Low Shoe is a pair of badminton shoes known for extreme comfort. Made of the rubber sole, it is excellent for PU or wooden surface. Advanced lateral support provides a great grip.

Pros:

• Made of 80% synthetic leather and 20% nylon mesh.
• Positive influence on ankle flexibility and foot flexibility.
• Lightweight shoes.
• Great ventilation which keeps your feet dry.
• Excellent cushion system.
• Superb traction.

Cons:

• Mid-range price.
• Only three sizes available.

Badminton Shoes – What To Look For?

An excellent choice of badminton shoes will provide you with critical advantage during the difficult match.

The most important things, which you have to pay attention to when buying badminton shoes, are weight, ankle support, ventilation, sole thickness, sole type, price, cushioning, ergo shape, and additional moisture control (optional).

Weight

A good pair of badminton shoes needn’t be too heavy. Heavy shoes might decrease your performances and you might be late, while too light shoes increase the risk of an injury.

However, we recommend you stick to the light shoes since you will move faster and your agility will be better. The recommended weight is 250-400 grams.

Ankle Support

When you turn, jump, or rotate, the pressure of your whole body goes on your ankles but you must have a free range of motion for better movement.

Badminton shoes are usually designed with less ankle support due to direction change requirements. Look for the badminton shoes with flexible ankle movements.

Ventilation

If you play a tournament or an elite level game, your feet will be sweating like hell. These conditions are perfect for fungi and bacteria development, just as a very bad odor creation.

Badminton shoes must have good ventilation, remain cool and dry, and prevent you from distractive situations during the match.

Sole Thickness

The perfect sole for badminton is the one which is thin and has the lower center of gravity. This enables quick movements.

Sole Types

There are two options here – rubber sole and gum rubber soles. Your perfect choice depends on the court performances.

When the court is made of PU or wood, we recommend you purchase gum rubber soles. These shoes will provide you with additional traction.

However, if the surface is a cement floor, stick to the rubber soles. Good badminton shoe shouldn’t leave marks on the floor when you slide.

Price

Any badminton shoes that cost under 100 dollars should be considered affordable. Of course, more money usually means better performances.

Cushioning

Good cushions can decrease the force of the impact, which means better overall movement during the game. You will feel more comfortable in your feet, and the chances of injury will be smaller. The pressure on your knees and ankles is reduced.

Ergoshape

This is critical for a better stability of your toes during slides and smashes. Feet and toes need to remain flexible. Good ergoshape also improves the reaction time and explosive motions.

Extra Moisture Control

This is the feature of premium badminton shoes. For example, “Double Russel Mesh” improves the ability to fight moisture at least 8-10 times, compared to regular badminton shoes. This is significant for better ventilation and dry feel.

Wrap It Up

A good pair of badminton shoes should definitively fulfill the needs of every player, non-dependent on his playing level. The most important things, when it comes to elite players, are good badminton rackets and badminton shoes.

If your goal is a world-class comforat, try Head Men’s Speed Pro Lite Indoor Low Shoe, Babolat Shadow or Asics Men’s GEL-Rocket 7 out. Adidas Performance Men’s Barricade Club might be the best choice for all-around players.

The best women models are ASICS Women’s Gel Upcourt and Mizuno Women’s Wave Lightning RX2. Two premium models, Yonex SHB-02LTD Limited Edition and Yonex SHB01LTD “Lee Chong Wei” Edition, are worth of every cent – they have more to offer, especially when it comes to ventilation and odor.

The fans of a classic should try Diadora Men’s B. Elite L III Court Shoe out, and this model is also a great combination of price and quality too. PUMA Men’s Invicto Sala sounds like a good solution for players with narrow feet.

Don’t forget to fit our choices into your individual needs and playing style.

Which badminton shoes are you going to choose?