When I first started boxing, I put absolutely zero thought into my footwear.
I thought about the sports bras I was going to have to wear, the shorts I was going to training, and the gloves I would inevitably have on my hands – but I admit (shamefully) that I never once considered what I was going to wear on my feet.
That was a huge mistake.
One that I remedied almost immediately after my first boxing session.
Like a lot of newbies to the sport, the furthest thing from my mind when thinking about boxing was what was going to be on my feet.
Why would I?
I wasn’t kickboxing – I was boxing…you know…with my fists!
About 15 minutes into my first training session I discovered just how important quality footwear is when you’re going to take boxing seriously.
Not only do you feel a lot more comfortable moving around the ring (or the gym floor while sparring) with the right shoes on, but you also get a lot of extra support and a lot of extra structure that helps you dominate in a way that’s tough to otherwise.
Pick the right shoes and you’ll be floating around the ring like Mohammed Ali and his bumblebee.
Pick the wrong shoes, though, and you’ll wear more than a few on the chin and will spend a lot of time admiring the shoes of your opponents from the mat.
Thankfully though, with the help of this detailed guide, you’ll never again have to worry about getting the wrong boxing shoes ever again.
We previously made a list of the best treadmill running shoes for women and the best shoes for the Stairmaster. Below together we are going to dig deeper into the ins and outs of what to look for in the best boxing shoes for women, what to avoid, highlight 15 of the top options on the market right now, and so much more.
By the time you are done with the inside info below you’ll know (almost) everything there is to know about getting a quality pair of boxing shoes on your feet.
Ready to jump right in?
Let’s get to it!
How to Choose a Boxing Shoe? What to Look For
To be a great boxer you have to have total control over the fundamentals of the sport – and that means squaring away your footwork ASAP.
At first, the odds are pretty good that your boxing shoes are going to feel a little “off” and a little foreign.
That’s not only normal, it’s to be expected.
After a couple of weeks of training, though, your boxing shoes are going to start to feel like an extension of your foundation. You’ll find that they eventually “fold” into your feet and your legs, giving you the strength, stability, traction, and support you need to dominate.
All that said, there are a handful of things you absolutely must be able to get out of your new boxing shoes – and we highlight a handful of those key features to look for below.
Low Top Vs Mid Top Vs High Top
Right out of the gate, you’re going to need to decide whether or not you are going to move forward with low top, mid top, or high top boxing shoes.
High top boxing shoes are very much of the “traditional” choice, the kinds of boxing shoes that legends like George Fraser and Mohammed Ali – as well as Mike Tyson – all had on their feet when they stepped into the boxing ring.
High tops provide a lot of extra ankle support that you’re just not going to get out of mid or low top shoes. If you are serious about competing in the world of boxing it’s not a bad idea to go with these shoes, either.
If, on the other hand, you are pretty much going to stick to the sparring side of the gym or really just want to work out with boxing training than you can probably get away with low top shoes pretty easily.
Mid top shoes sit somewhere between these two extremes – super support with high tops and a lot of flexibility with low tops – but it’s all going to come down to how they feel on your feet when you are actually boxing.
Remember, this is very much functional footwear we are shooting for here.
The last thing you want to do is slip your feet into a pair of boxing shoes that only look good, getting rocked almost right out of the gate because your opponent chose shoes that helped them win.
Boxing Shoes vs Wrestling Shoes
Expect to find a lot of wrestling shoes on the market that are also advertised (pretty aggressively, at that) towards boxers.
These shoes look very similar and a lot of newbies to the sport can’t tell the major differences between the two at first glance. In fact, a lot of veterans of the boxing world can’t really tell the difference between the two, either.
I can tell you that you want to steer clear of wrestling shoes as much as possible, though.
Wrestling shoes have a rubber sole that wraps up along the side of your foot, providing a lot of extra grip that will make your flashy footwork incredibly slow – and that’s just one problem with these shoes.
Boxing shoes have a lot less “grip” and let you slip and slide along the mat (strategically, course), allowing you to move your feet so that you can stop and pop your opponent on-the-fly.
Sole Material Choice
Another key consideration you need to zero in on is the type of material that your boxing shoe soles are made out of.
Leather soles are far and away the most popular option today, allowing you to slip your feet all over the place without a lot of resistance – but also eliminating a lot of traction that you might have been expecting.
Rubber soles are pretty popular, too. These are incredibly lightweight, have just a little bit more grip than leather, and are a lot more affordable to boot.
Ankle Support
Another key piece of the puzzle is the ankle support that your boxing shoes provide (or don’t).
At the best boxing shoes are going to have a lot of ankle support, locking you into place, and giving you a solid base from which to box from. This is going to add a lot of structure to your boxing foundation, structure that disappears as soon as you start to lower the top of the shoes below the halfway point.
Some people, though, really like the flexibility and freedom that next to no ankle support offers.
You might not be able to drive on a jab or pop on an uppercut with less ankle support than you would have with full support, but (most) boxers are still able to get the job done all the same.
Width and How It Fits Your Feet
The size of your new shoes have to be really dialed in, even more so than casual sneakers you’re going to wear while out with your friends or shoes you have bought for work.
These shoes have to be like a “second skin” on your feet, lightweight and thin enough to basically disappear while you are boxing while at the same time still offering a lot of structure, a lot of support, and a lot of rigidity.
Try to find boxing shoes that accommodate the width of your feet as well.
You want something that feels snug at first but that releases and relaxes as you break them in, something that’s going to mold to your feet rather than something you’re going to slip and slide around in.
As a general rule of thumb, lady boxers like us are going to want to get their hands on boxing shoes that are between one and one and a half sizes smaller than what we might wear as casual shoes.
Best Boxing Shoes for Women
Listed below are the best boxing shoes for women you can find on the market.
Women’s Adidas Boxing Boots Speedex 18 Review
If it’s ultralight boxing shoes you are after, it’s really tough to look at any other pair of shoes than these ones from Adidas.
My absolute favorite, everything about these boxing shoes are built with performance and offense in mind. They’re definitely going to help you become the best boxer you can be.
Comfort
Like every other pair of athletic shoes from Adidas, these boxing shoes feel like a second skin when you slide them on your feet.
Reliability
The reliability of these boxing shoes are off the charts. They are, after all, made by Adidas – one of the biggest sports footwear companies on the planet – and can be trusted in all situations.
Fit
Like a lot of other boxing shoes for women, these Adidas shoes fit a little tighter at first and then relax as you train and compete with them on your feet.
Venum Adult Elite Boxing Shoes Unisex Review
Some of the coolest looking boxing shoes your find on the market today, these are very much performance focused boxing shoes that have rubber out souls, bonded insoles, and performance enhancing materials throughout.
Comfort
These boxing shoes are so popular with professionals that it’s almost impossible to watch a night of fights without seeing a couple of boxers wearing them. The comfort on these is off the charts.
Reliability
Reliability with the shoes is rocksolid, exactly what you would expect to get out on a pair of boxing shoes beloved by amateur and professional fighters alike.
Fit
Fit is a little snug at first, but the high top form factor allows you to spread some of that extra “pressure” across your feet in a way that makes them more comfortable as time goes on.
ASICS Unisex Snapdown 2 Review
More of a mid top than a traditional high top, these boxing shoes look like they came from the future – and they perform like that, too.
Wrestlers also like these because of the grip that they provide, but boxers won’t ever feel like they are stuck in the mud or glued down to the mat when they are wearing them, either.
Comfort
Like pretty much everything else that ASICS makes these boxing shoes feel like you have stepped inside of a cloud.
Reliability
Strong, sturdy, and well-made featuring a lot of modern technical materials, these are shoes that you can confidently where in the middle of a heavy training session or in the biggest competition of your life.
Fit
Fit is true (for boxing shoes, anyway) – size down one or 1 ½ sizes and you should be good to go.
Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoe for Men & Women Review
Hayabusa is a brand that prides itself on consumer psychology. The quality of this footwear explains why it has been thriving in the sports apparel market for almost 2 decades.
Let me quickly tell you the benefits that this footwear offers you.
Easy Movement
Using mesh build, flexible rubber outsole, and microfiber leather, Hayabusa created a work of art that gives you superior movement in the ring without compromising the airflow to your feet.
Comfortable Feeling
Once you dip your feet into these shoes, it will take a lot of convincing to remove them. They’re that comfy!
Durable
This shoe was manufactured with durable materials. That’s why lengthy training sessions or brief, but intense ring moments have minimal impact on it.
Lightweight
The hallmark of every great boxing shoe! The Hayabusa Pro Boxing Shoe is light on your feet and makes it easy to duck and throw moves of your own.
Everlast PIVT Low Top Boxing Shoes Review
Everlast has been one of the biggest names in the boxing world forward feels like forever, and the low top boxing shoes they offer here are top-notch for sure.
Not quite as flashy as some of the other options on this list, you definitely won’t be disappointed when you get your hands on these shoes.
Comfort
Perhaps not exactly as comfortable as some of the other boxing shoes out there (and some of that has to do with the low top nature of them), for the most part these are decently comfortable shoes to train or compete in.
Reliability
You’ll have an almost impossible time finding anyone that talks negatively of the reliability or consistency of Everlast equipment.
Fit
Fit with these shoes is generally pretty true, at least as far as athletic shoes for women is concerned.
Box Hog Women’s Adidas Boxing Boots Review
These boxing shoes are incredibly well-regarded for boxers at every skill level, even those that are just getting started.
It definitely doesn’t hurt that these Adidas boxing boots look a lot like a pair of technical socks with a bit of grip on the bottom – keeping them light, keeping them flexible, and helping you to maximize your performance in the ring.
All in all, solid performers that aren’t going to break your bank account.
Everlast New Elite High Top Boxing Shoes Review
If you’re concerned about getting trendy-looking shoes that are also perfect for the boxing gym or in-ring action, look nowhere else!
Though I wouldn’t recommend this pair for people with wide feet and high insteps, it’s a great buy. You get 5-star ankle support and they come with a weight that barely registers when you put them on. This is because of the open weave mesh design which also allows for air circulation.
It’s a classic case of what I ordered vs what I got (in a variety of colors).
Yes! Athletics - Beast Wrestling Shoes Women
One thing I can assure you is that these shoes will take your fighting game to the next level.
The rubber sole and microfiber suede material keep your feet light and ensure that you’re not deprived of agility and speed during training sessions or in the ring.
What I love most about this footwear is that its material is breathable and deodorized. This eliminates any chance of smelly feet when you take off your shoes.
Rival RSX-Guerrero Classic Lo-Top Boxing Boots Review
Made out of some of the highest quality construction materials in the boxing boot world today (including legitimate cowhide suede leather), these boots are and you to take a beating and still continue to perform strong – all without skipping a beat.
The ventilated upper helps to keep your feet nice and cool, too.
The ergonomics are pretty solid, with a lot of ankle support, and the overall level of grip that you’re going to get is remarkable – especially with how free your feet remain.
Reebok Women’s Boxing Shoes Review
These Reebok women’s boxing shoes definitely have a vintage look to them, one that some people are going to go crazy for but one that other people aren’t going to like all that much at all.
Regardless of where you land when it comes to the aesthetics of these boxing shoes, though, it’s impossible to argue with the performance they make possible.
A lot of technical materials, synthetics, and rubber outsole solutions have been integrated throughout these shoes to give you peak performance while boxing. Light, structured, and supportive, they are a top choice.
Nike Women’s Air Pink Anthracite Boxing Shoes Review
Another great choice from the legends at Nike, these boxing shoes are definitely going to capture the attention of fans – and your opponent – when you have them on your feet.
Super lightweight (almost unbelievably lightweight, even), the Anthracite boxing shoes are going to give you a little more bounce and a bit of extra freshness when you go toe to toe against someone in the ring.
Like a lot of other Nike shoes, though, they run pretty narrow as a general rule. Get some that have a wider fit or bump up the size.
Adidas Hog 4 Boxing Shoes Review
Adidas has been a benchmark for high-quality sports apparel for a very long time for a reason. Their Hog 4 shoe ticks boxes for quality, eco-friendliness, lightweight, durability, and foot support.
This shoe is so light on your feet that you’ll barely register its presence during sparring sessions. It’s also a bit narrow, but not in a discomforting way. You can wear the Adidas Box Hog 4 shoes for hours and your feet will stay fresh because it’s breathable.
It’s flexible and snugly fits feet with high insteps. It also provides support for the ankles, which means you can make sudden turns with ease. Solid!
Rival RSX-Guerrero Shiny Lo-Top Boxing Boots Review
These boxing boots are a little flashier than the RSX style options from Rival we just mentioned a moment ago, helping you to feel a little more confident every time you step into the gym or into the ring for a fight.
On top of that, though, these boxing boots are absolutely shoehorned with top-tier technical fabrics, materials, and footwear engineering principles that are going to help you win more fights with your footwork.
Obviously, there’s no replacement for training when you really want to win. But these shoes are going to help you take things to the next level!
Lonsdale Boxing Boots For Girls Review
It’s really cool to see a high quality pair of boxing boots designed with girls in mind – and it definitely would have been nice to see a quality pair of boxing boots like these available when I was just getting started.
Girls today are going to feel super spoiled when they slide their feet into these boxing boots.
With a heavy focus and emphasis on safety and stability, these boxing boots do feel a little bit stiff and a little bit heavy compared to some of the “fighter focused” options out there.
Still, you want young girls to be practicing the fundamentals and basics of the sport before they really let loose – and that’s what these boots help them do.
Adidas Unisex-Adult Speedex 18 Boxing Shoes Review
As a brand known for getting the job done, this is not a surprising addition to the list. This high-collar footwear will make you feel like Ronda Rousey in the ring.
It’s made of light and breathable materials that take your agility a notch higher. Let’s not also forget how devastatingly fast your footwork will become. That’s an advantage that you can’t overlook.
You can't have a conversation about fighting shoes that provide comfort for the feet and improves movement without including the Adidas Unisex-Adult Speedex Boxing Shoes.
Benefits of Having Boxing Shoes
A lot of people (myself included) really thought long and hard about whether or not boxing shoes were going to make all that much of a difference – and if they were worth the extra cost I could have just worn a decent pair of sneakers. It's always hard to pick between different options, I spent a lot of time researching MMA gloves that I can use to punch my Wavemaster XXL.
As I mentioned earlier, I learned the difference in a hurry the first couple of times I trained and fought.
Let me share with you a couple of the big benefits you’ll get by purchasing quality boxing shoes.
Help With Pivoting
Straightaway, the ability to pivot better (faster and more consistently) is going to give you an opportunity to land a lot more shots – a lot more effectively, too – in ways that would have been tough to pull off with slippery boots.
Being able to pivot quickly, moving from offense to defense and then back again, is going to make you a much better fighter.
Gives Ankle Stability
Protecting your ankles while fighting is a huge piece of the success puzzle, even though you shouldn’t ever have to worry about someone hitting you in the feet while you are boxing.
Footwork is the name of the game when it comes to launching powerful strikes and rapidfire jabs.
Ankle stability focused footwear helps you to unleash your footwork against an opponent, driving and striking against them as you dance across the canvas.
Comfortable
Obviously, it’s always a good idea to get your hands on quality boxing shoes that are going to make you feel a lot more comfortable.
The right boxing shoes (shoes that are obviously focused on this sport specifically) are going to dramatically improve your performance right from day one, in large part because you’ll be so much more comfortable on the mat.
Better Feel
I can tell you right now that quality boxing shoes are going to let you “feel” the canvas under your feet are whole lot better than clunky, oversized, or molded traditional sneakers or trainers never will.
Flat souls give you a lot of extra real-time feedback from the canvas itself, helping to pick your spots, pick your pivots, and level your attacks in ways that would have been tough to do without this degree of feel.
You’ll be able to dance around the campus much more confidently (and consistently) with feel focused shoes on your feet.
Top Boxing Shoes Brands
Now that we have gone over (almost) everything you need to look for in quality boxing shoes, let me dig a little deeper into some of the top brands on the market today.
Adidas
Adidas boxing shoes have a legendary reputation today that stretches back to the earliest days of the sport. Their men and women’s options are amongst the best of the best when it comes to boxing focused footwear.
Everlast
Everlast is another of those legacy names in the world of boxing, even if their overall quality has slipped a little bit compared to some of the top-tier options on the market today. Still, you really can’t go wrong with a parent boxing shoes from this company.
Reebok
Recognizing that both Nike and Adidas were dominating the basketball footwear world, Reebok doubled – and then tripled – down on footwear specifically for the combat sports world (like boxing).
Today, Reebok boxing shoes are amongst the most popular options for professionals that need to win fights for their career as well as amateurs all over the world. Their women’s line of boxing boots are fantastic.
Asics
If you want the most value for your money when buying new boxing boots, this is the brand you’ll want to invest your money in.
ASICs does a great job at balancing costs and quality without cutting corners anywhere along the way.
Nike
You know exactly what you are getting when you purchase Nike shoes.
Super technical, super refined, almost over engineered, and loaded to the brim with technical fabrics and materials, these boxing boots are always going to rank very highly on the market.
Lonsdale
A bit of a specialty brand when it comes to boxing boots, the odds are pretty good that if you aren’t in the boxing world you likely never heard of this company.
At the same time, if you are in the boxing arena already, the chances are also pretty good that a lot of the people at your gym or that you spar with have these on their feet.
I know that’s true in my situation!
Rival Boxing
Rival is another of those “inside secrets” brands that only real boxers know about, and you’re definitely going to want to check them out as soon as you get a chance – especially if your budget is a little tight.
The boxing shoes they have for women and children specifically are going to rank right up there amongst the very best of the best from any other company on the planet today.
FAQ
Here we answer a few of the frequently asked questions about boxing shoes.
Do You Really Need Boxing Shoes?
Absolutely!
The right footwear totally transforms you from a fighter fumbling around inside of the ring trying to find their footwork into a dominant force where every step, every pivot, and every punch is thought out in advance and then delivered with extreme prejudice.
These specialty footwear options are well worth the premium price tag.
Low Top Vs Mid Top Vs High Top, Which One Should I Get?
A lot of this comes down to what kind of shoes you are most comfortable with as well as what you’re looking to do with the shoes in the first place.
Those that just need a pair of quality boxing shoes to train are probably going to want to look for something generally lightweight, pretty flexible, and super affordable. Low top boxing shoes fit that bill perfectly.
Those that are going to compete, those that want to squeeze every drop of performance out of their footwear, and those that need a little extra stability while boxing are going to want to reach for high tops (or even mid tops) more often than not.
How Should New Boxing Shoes Fit?
Brand-new boxing shoes are (almost always) going to fit a little bit tighter than the kind of shoes you’re probably by to walk around casually in.
I know that the first pair of boxing shoes I purchased were a little loose and a little sloppy right out of the gate, and they absolutely destroyed my abilities in the ring.
As soon as I dialed things in – and purchased boxing shoes that fit pretty tight right away, but loosened up as they broke in – everything sort of cleared up overnight.
Pay close attention to the size of the boxing boots you buy, but really make sure that they are a little bit on the tight side of things as opposed to a little bit on the looser end.
Keep these details in mind and you’ll be good to go!
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Ben Mayz
Hi there! I'm Ben, main author and chief editor at Fitlifefanatics.com. I have been obsessed with Strength Training and Fitness for 18 years now.
My passion for living a happy fit lifestyle is what made me realize that fitness is what I wanted for my future.
I went on to earn my Masters in Sports Training & Biomechanics.
My passion for Strength training & fitness and my love of helping others is what made me start Fitlifefanatics.
Here, myself, and a team of specialist aim to provide the most accurate, and actionable information possible in hopes to help foster the fitness community forward.
You can learn more about Fitlifefanatics on our About Page
