The best shoes for pickleball players
Last Edited
Jun 24 2025
Category
Gear
A lot of companies have started making pickleball shoes in recent years, which is no surprise given the sport's incredible growth.
But there are some red flags that consumers need to look out for before pulling the trigger on a new pair of "pickleball shoes." In many cases, bigger brands have simply repurposed tennis shoes or general athletic shoes and slapped a pickleball label on them.
That's not what we're looking for as players.
So if you want shoes that are designed specifically for the unique movements of pickleball and demand high level performance from your kicks, you've come to the right place.
We've tested several shoes from top brands in the pickleball space, sought feedback from pros and high-level amateurs and put together a comprehensive list to help you find the perfect pair of shoes for your game.
This page will be updated regularly as new models are released and we get our hands (er, feet) on the latest and greatest shoes in the sport.
Last updated: June 2025
1. DAPS Desi Low pickleball shoe
The DAPS pickleball shoes were released to the public this spring, and already several pro players have switched to them, including the players on The Kitchen's MLP team -- the Nashville Chefs. The DAPS out-perform the big brands in several key metrics, and you don’t just have to take my word for it — they have the data to back it up. They sent the shoe to the Heeluxe Performance Lab, which compared the DAPS to several other well-known shoes in the pickleball space.
The results favored the DAPS in several areas:
-Faster starts
-Quicker stops
-Better energy return
-More energy efficiency
You can find our in-depth review of the shoes here, and read our breakdown of what the shoe experts at Heeluxe had to say about them here.
DAPS come in men's and women's sizes, and there also is a Desi Mid version of these shoes.
2. Diadem Court Burst pickleball shoe
Billed as a highly agile and fast shoe, these kicks also boast impressive stability so that you can get into position before your shots. The upper material not only locks your foot in place with a light 4-way stretch fabric, but wicks sweat and breathes with ease. Diadem added flexible TPU overlays in key areas for toe draggers.
There are men's and women's sizes and various colors. Shop the full collection here.
3. HEAD Motion Pro BOA pickleball shoe
The latest pickleball-specific shoe from HEAD keeps up with our high standards for top-notch pickleball gear. These kicks introduce the precision of a BOA PERFORMFIT WRAP to the world of pickleball. This dual dial closure system avoids pinching while bolstering stability by preventing slipping and sliding inside the shoe when changing directions.
4. Skechers Viper Court Elite pickleball shoe
This shoe from Skechers was designed in conjunction with pro player Tyson McGuffin, providing breathability, stability and comfort.
The high-quality TPU shank offers rigidity and support for quick changes of direction, and the EcoFlight midsole backs up this stability with impressive cushion that fights fatigue. The Goodyear rubber outsole provides good traction for both indoor and outdoor surfaces.
5. K-Swiss Pickleball Supreme shoe
K-Swiss has long been known for their comfortable tennis shoes, and now they've designed a shoe specifically for pickleball players. The responsive midsole offers great energy transfer to help us power through fatigue during the last points of the day.
Specifically engineered to support the repeated lateral movements of a pickleball player, the K-Swiss Pickleball Supreme shoe is well equipped to bolster your quickness and comfort on the court.
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