Compression Athlete
7 min
Updated: Jul 2, 2023
Whether your position is outside hitter, setter, or libero, and no matter if you’re spiking, passing, or playing defense, wearing the proper footwear always benefits your game.
And when it comes to choosing the right footwear, you’ll find that a high-quality pair of volleyball shoes offers several features unique to the sport that you won’t find on an average pair of athletic shoes or trainers.
In general, volleyball shoes are designed to assist and boost the sport’s lateral and vertical movements, while also offering support and stability to prevent injury.
That’s a big job for a pair of shoes, so it likely comes as no surprise that certain volleyball shoes perform it better than others.
Here, we’ve put together a list of the Best Volleyball Shoes for 2023. These picks will keep you light, quick, and supported on the court.
In their construction, volleyball shoes are more similar to basketball shoes than any other sport’s shoes. And this makes sense, as both sports are played on a court and share similar footwork, jumping, and agility.
However, volleyball shoes differ slightly from basketball shoes and other athletic shoes.
If you think of all the action in volleyball from attacking to blocking to serving, and more, volleyball players spend a lot of time on the balls of their feet in order to perform skilled and agile moves.
EVA midsoles, a foam-like material, is common in volleyball shoes to support the ball of the foot.
Impact cushioning, upper ankle support, and rubber soles for traction, are all typical features of a quality volleyball shoe to assist your movement and protect your body.
Seeing as how injury to feet and ankles is a primary concern in volleyball, shoes that can reduce slippage, cushion jumps, and stabilize the foot and ankle will keep you in top form on the court.
Note: Featured products are independently selected and reviewed by Compression Athlete. If you purchase through our links, we may earn commission.
The Adidas Crazyflight Mid Volleyball Shoes feature a unique energy-returning Boost Midsole that provides ignition for jumps and cushion for landings. These volleyball shoes have a regular fit, knitted inner sock, and Top Grip rubber outsole.
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Adidas’ Crazyflight Mid Volleyball Shoes have an ankle-hugging mid-cut design that provides a stable platform for twisting, turning, and lateral movements. These volleyball shoes utilize a durable and lightweight mesh upper and a TPU-reinforced midfoot for great support.
The Adidas Crazyflight Volleyball Shoes feature a three-quarter-length energy-returning BOOST midsole cushioning that’s framed by EVA for superior sideways stability. These volleyball shoes have a regular fit and comfortable suede lining.
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Adidas’ Crazyflight Volleyball Shoes sport a sleek and lightweight design with a Top Grip rubber outsole for quick movements around the court. These volleyball shoes have a breathable feel and a TPU-reinforced midfoot for great support.
The Adidas Novaflight Volleyball Shoes feature a flexible Bounce midsole that’s specially shaped for explosive jumps. These volleyball shoes have rounded edge outsoles that support natural movement with a 360-degree radius.
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Adidas’ Novaflight Volleyball Shoes feature a lightweight mesh upper, a classic lace closure, and a midfoot lockdown system to keep your foot securely in place.
The Nike Zoom HyperAce 2 Volleyball Shoes feature a foam midsole with Nike’s Zoom Air cushioning that’s lightweight and provides responsive cushioning. These popular volleyball shoes have a durable rubber tread for superior traction and fast reactions.
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Nike’s Zoom HyperAce 2 Volleyball Shoes have a breathable textile and synthetic construction, along with a heel cage that enhances your stability and support while on the court.
The Nike React HyperSet Volleyball Shoes feature soft and springy React foam for incredible energy return and quickness. These volleyball shoes utilize an adjustable lateral strap and Flywire technology to securely hold your foot in place.
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Nike’s React HyperSet Volleyball Shoes sport a rubber sole for superior traction on the court. These volleyball shoes have a mesh and synthetic leather construction that’s lightweight and durable while offering breathable support.
The Nike HyperSpeed Volleyball Shoes use Zoom Air technology under the forefoot to deliver a propelling sensation on the court. These volleyball shoes feature a NikeSkin overlay on the toe for durability and lightweight cushioning under the toe for comfort.
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Nike’s HyperSpeed Volleyball Shoes have a lightweight and breathable design paired with rubber soles for extra grip. These volleyball shoes feature lace tighten straps for enhanced ankle support and a tongueless design for easy on/offs.
The Under Armour HOVR Block City Volleyball Shoes feature responsive UA HOVR cushioning to reduce impact and return explosive energy. These volleyball shoes have a midfoot panel for durable support with lightweight mesh for breathability.
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Under Armour’s HOVR Block City Volleyball Shoes use increased foam in the ankle collar for enhanced comfort and a molded sockliner that forms to your foot. These volleyball shoes have a lockdown lacing system and a rubber traction pattern for superior floor grip.
The Under Armour HOVR Highlight Ace Volleyball Shoes feature an extra high design for ankle support that doesn’t feel heavy or restrict your movement. These volleyball shoes use UA HOVR cushioning to reduce impact and return explosive energy.
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Under Armour’s HOVR Highlight Ace Volleyball Shoes have an extended ankle collar for support that’s super stretchy for easy on/offs. These volleyball shoes have a lockdown lacing system, molded sockliner, and a rubber traction pattern for superior floor grip.
The Mizuno Wave Momentum 2 Volleyball Shoes feature a signature Wave design for stability and cushioning at the heel with great support and responsiveness on the court. These volleyball shoes have XG Rubber traction and Dura Shield toe protection.
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Mizuno’s Wave Momentum 2 Volleyball Shoes utilize a DynamotionFit Bootie construction for a comfortable, secure, and stable fit. These shoes have an EVA midsole for lightweight cushion and are available in 9 different colors.
The Mizuno Wave Luminous 2 Volleyball Shoes feature new ENERZY technology with dynamic energy return and a soft midsole. These volleyball shoes utilize a WAVE plate to disperse energy at impact for superior cushioning and stability.
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Mizuno’s Mizuno Wave Luminous 2 Volleyball Shoes sport INTERCOOL breathability and an in-shoe DynamotionFit Bootie construction for a snug and stable fit. These volleyball shoes have XG Rubber Extra traction for superior grip on the court.
The Mizuno Wave Lightning Z6 Volleyball Shoes feature an EVA midsole and a re-engineered sole for explosive movement. These volleyball shoes utilize a breathable mesh upper with a half-bootie construction to give you flexible and effortless movement.
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Mizuno’s Wave Lightning Z6 Volleyball Shoes are lightweight and allow for fast reaction. These volleyball shoes provide an extra secure balance with a stable outrigger sole.
The Asics Netburner Ballistic FF MT 3 Volleyball Shoes feature a supportive fit that’s designed to help you make quick starts on the court. These volleyball shoes combine 3D Space Construction and X Guidance technology for superior flexibility.
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Asics’ Netburner Ballistic FF MT 3 Volleyball Shoes utilize TWISTRUSS technology in the outsole to improve stability while pivoting and twisting for a boost in momentum in and out of turns.
The Asics Upcourt 5 Volleyball Shoes feature a flexible and comfortable design with a broader section of mesh paneling to create a soft and adaptable fit. These volleyball shoes sport a rubber outsole grip for increased traction and are available in 6 colors.
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Asics’ Upcourt 5 Volleyball Shoes have a supportive mid-foot overlay for stability during multi-directional movements and a reinforced toe and heel counter for long-lasting durability.
If you’re new to the game, you might be wondering: Do I really need a pair of volleyball-specific shoes to play? Or can I just wear a pair of athletic shoes that I already have?
Well, the answer is pretty straightforward. If you’re playing volleyball competitively, then you absolutely need a pair of volleyball shoes to wear for both practices and games.
Volleyball shoes are designed to be lightweight and supportive, while providing cushion and traction for all the quick cuts and high-flying jumps that are performed.
Additionally, when compared to other shoes, volleyball shoes provide better ankle support to help prevent or lessen the severity of ankle injury.
In other words, you’ll definitely notice a difference between wearing a quality pair of volleyball shoes and a non-specific athletic shoe when you’re on the court.
Volleyball shoes will allow you to play at your highest level and provide support and protection while you do.
But if you don’t have volleyball shoes or you’re waiting on a new pair to arrive and don’t know what wear in the meantime, the best alternative option would be a pair of basketball shoes.
As we mentioned above, volleyball shoes and basketball shoes serve similar purposes and therefore share several design similarities.
If basketball shoes aren’t available to you either, then choose a pair of your athletic shoes that offer the best traction and ankle support.
These two areas are important when it comes to performing at a high-level and avoiding injury.
Just like with any other sport that requires agility, jumping, and quick reactions, if you choose to play volleyball without the proper gear and footwear, you run the risk of injury.
A great pair of volleyball shoes isn’t the only volleyball essential that you’ll need. Be sure to check out our top picks for the best volleyball shorts and the best volleyball knee pads.
Get ready for volleyball season with the best gear using our Complete Volleyball Checklist.