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 specifically developed to meet the demands placed on you and your equipment during regular boxing training (or competition).
Of course, you can box in regular sports shoes, and many people do, but why shortchange yourself and not simply get a pair of shoes for your favorite sport? As mentioned earlier, there are specific shoes for other activities as well.
Main advantages of boxing shoes:
The main advantages that boxing shoes have over regular sports shoes and sneakers are simply:
- Grip: boxing shoes provide much more desired grip due to the specific sole and grooves
- Lightweight: boxing shoes are very light compared to many other (sports) shoes
- Support: boxing shoes offer much more support to your feet and especially your ankle joints.
Improved grip of boxing shoes
As soon as you start wearing boxing shoes during your 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 placed in specific directions to support and add power to 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 thicker, cushioned regular sports shoes.
With good boxing shoes, you also feel somewhat "freer" in your movements, as if you are hardly wearing shoes. This is because a good boxing shoe is compact and fits snugly around your feet, as if they are "wrapped."
In terms of performance, the grip of boxing shoes is amazing; you can turn much more easily and they seem to stick when you want and release when you want. This means you don’t have to worry about whether your regular shoes will slip off or slide.
Boxing shoes are designed to function in a boxing ring. A boxing ring during a match can become quite slippery due to condensation, sweat, and water used (for cooling and drinking by the boxer). They can handle this, so especially on a (slippery) gym floor, they can help prevent unnecessary slipping.
Lightweight of boxing shoes
Almost all (good) boxing shoes are much lighter than regular sports shoes or sneakers. This feature, combined with a snug fit, gives you the freedom to move very quickly and agilely (light on your feet). This is obviously a requirement if you want to box well. You can move, dodge, and launch punches much more easily.
The lower weight of boxing shoes also means you will experience much less fatigue in your calves and legs. The strain on your legs is therefore greatly reduced, which results 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 model for firm support of the ankles, something essential for boxers and their quick movements.
The advantage of the high model of boxing shoes (somewhat similar to basketball shoes) is that they provide a kind of ankle brace for support. In boxing, you constantly make explosive movements and you don’t want to sprain your ankles with regular low sports shoes!
Additionally, boxing shoes provide better stability through special (mid)soles, minimizing the chance of twisting. The support of your foot arches is also important, so you will experience much less fatigue in your feet.
Especially during longer training sessions, you will notice that your body weight is distributed more evenly over the soles, allowing you to perform longer and better.
The outsole of boxing shoes is also much thinner and more flexible than regular shoes. This allows you to move much more easily and better on the balls of your feet. The soles are also designed to allow every form 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: Boxing Shoes- 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
