- Material Quality
- Weight
- Ankle Support and Stability
- Price
Material Quality
First, we rate boxing shoes based on their material quality.
The most important aspect here is the sole. We take note of shoes with a quality outsole/insole combo that gives support while still letting you feel connected to the ground.
As for the rest of the shoe, we look for boxing shoes made with breathable and flexible material.
We think the best boxing shoes feel more like a sock than a shoe; it hugs your foot in all the right places and forms itself to your foot’s shape. With the best boxing shoe, you’ll forget that you have them on when you’re in the ring.
Weight
Next, we rate boxing shoes based on their weight.
With all boxing shoes, there’s a tradeoff. High-top boxing shoes offer more ankle support but are heavier, while low-top boxing shoes offer less ankle support with less weight.
We recommend boxing shoes with this tradeoff in mind, because in the end, this depends on your boxing style. For a boxer that likes to sit in the pocket, it won’t matter if his shoes won’t let him glide around the ring.
Ankle Support and Stability
Next, we rate boxing shoes based on their ankle support and stability.
With all the lateral movements in boxing, it’s important that your boxing shoes keep your ankle locked in place.
As mentioned before, we consider the tradeoff between ankle support and weight when it comes to high-top and low-top boxing shoes.
We think it’s important to consider your fighting style and past injuries when recommending the right boxing shoe to you.
Price
Lastly, we rate boxing shoes based on price.
No matter if you’re a beginner or an experienced boxer, your shoes will get a lot of use.
Since you’ll put your boxing shoes through daily wear and tear, we consider price as an important factor to maximizing your boxing shoes’ value.
If the price is lower, we’ll communicate to you what the tradeoff is: either in material quality, ankle support, or weight. We recommend boxing shoes where the price point is right for the material quality, ankle support, and weight offered.