Just as there are special shoes for running, football, bowling, tennis, golf, and countless other sports, there are of course also shoes for boxing. Boxing shoes are developed specifically to meet the demands placed on you and your equipment during regular boxing training (or a match).
Of course, you can box in regular sports shoes, and many people do, but why short-change yourself instead of simply buying a pair of shoes for your favorite sport? As mentioned earlier, there are also specific shoes for other activities.
Main benefits of boxing shoes:
The main benefits boxing shoes have compared with regular sports shoes and sneakers are actually quite simple:
- Grip: boxing shoes provide much more of the desired grip thanks to their specific soles and grooves
- Lightweight: boxing shoes are very light compared with many other (sports) shoes
- Support: boxing shoes provide much more support for your feet, especially your ankle joints.
Improved grip from boxing shoes
As soon as you start wearing boxing shoes during training, you will immediately notice that they provide much more grip and support than your regular sneakers. The grooves in the soles of good boxing shoes are positioned in specific directions to support and reinforce every movement made in boxing.
Boxing shoes are suitable for various types of flooring, such as wooden floors and, of course, the type of canvas used in a boxing ring. Because the soles of boxing shoes are also relatively thin and flat, you feel much more connected to the floor than with a thicker, padded regular sports shoe.
With good boxing shoes, you also feel much "freer" in your movements, as if you are barely wearing shoes. This is because a good boxing shoe is compact and fits closely around your feet, as if they are literally "wrapped".
In terms of performance, the grip of boxing shoes is excellent: you can turn much more easily, and they seem to stay planted when you want them to and release when you want them to. This means you do not have to worry about your regular shoes slipping or sliding.
Boxing shoes are designed to function in a boxing ring. During a match, a boxing ring can become quite slippery due to condensation, sweat, and water used for cooling down and drinking by the boxer. Boxing shoes can handle this, so they can certainly help prevent unnecessary slipping on a (slippery) gym floor.
Lightweight boxing shoes
Nearly all (good) boxing shoes are considerably lighter than regular sports shoes or sneakers. This feature, combined with a close-fitting design, gives you the freedom to move very quickly and nimbly (light on your feet). This is of course essential if you want to box well. You can move, evade, and push off much more easily to throw punches.
The lower weight of boxing shoes also naturally means you will experience much less discomfort from fatigue in your calves and legs. This reduces the strain on your legs considerably, resulting in more explosive power and endurance during long training sessions.
Support for your ankles and feet from boxing shoes
Boxing shoes offer more support through specific features and characteristics. They are generally a mid-top to high-top design for firm ankle support, which is essential for boxers and their quick movements.
The advantage of the high-top design of boxing shoes (somewhat comparable to basketball shoes) is that they provide a kind of ankle brace for support. In boxing, you constantly make explosive movements, and you do not want to sprain your ankles while wearing regular low-top sports shoes!
In addition, boxing shoes provide better stability through their special midsoles and outsoles, minimizing the risk of rolling an ankle. Support for your arches is also important, meaning you will experience much less foot fatigue.
Especially during longer training sessions, you will notice that your body weight is distributed more evenly across the soles, allowing you to perform for longer and more effectively.
The midsole/outsole of boxing shoes is also much thinner and more flexible than that of regular shoes. This makes it much easier to move on the balls of your feet. The soles are also designed to allow every type of lateral movement, which is essential for the footwork of a good boxer.
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External sources:
- Reddit.com: Do boxing shoes make a huge difference when sparring or is it not really needed?
- Reddit.com: Do they really help?
- Youtube: Csquaredboxing: Everlast Elite 2 Pro Shoes Unboxing & First Look
- Youtube: Csquaredboxing: Everlast Elite 2 REVIEW- MY FAVORITE BOXING SHOES?!
- Youtube: Everlast ELITE 2 Boxing Shoe Review
