Best Wrestling Shoes

Wrestling is fun and entertaining and one of the best parts is that the gear is pretty cheap, compared to what you would need to play other sports, like golf for example. Your largest investment will be the wrestling shoes, which aren’t anything close to expensive.

Here is a quick breakdown of the characteristics you should be looking for when shopping for the best wrestling shoes:

The shoes should be light. You will be moving a lot during the training and the matches, so the least you will want is to feel like you are carrying a gallon of water on each foot.

• The upper part should be soft and form-fitting. Your ankles should be tightly secured so that you don’t sprain them.
• The floor traction should be perfect. The least you will want is to slip and fall when you are grabbing your opponent. Tip: gum rubber sticks to floors.
• Go for half a size over your regular gym shoes.
• Brand names pay up. While this isn’t necessarily true with other products, try to get brand named shoes when shopping for wrestling gear.

Asics and Adidas are known two of the best wrestling shoe manufacturers on today’s market. Dan Gable, Rulon and John Smith are three of the top models.

Dan Gable Wrestling Shoes

Dan Gable is a popular model made by the even more renowned manufacturer Asics. The line of shoes is called after the amateur wrestler Dan Gable who rocked the scene of amateur wrestling back in the 70ies. They are priced at around $100 (a bit cheaper on Amazon).

Asics Rulon Wrestling Shoes

The Rulon model is yet another popular shoe made by Asics. Even though they may be a bit stiff at the beginning, they are lightweight, provide good traction and a great ankle support. Amazon sells Asics Rulon shoes for a bit less than $100, but prices may differ with other retailers.

John Smith Wrestling Shoes

The ‘John Smith’ line is designed by Adidas and, again, these are among the best wrestling shoes on the market. They come with several foot climate vents, provide superior traction and are so light that you can’t feel you are wearing them. The price range is similar to that of the other two models – around $100.

These three models are the top of their class and highly recommended if you are even remotely serious about wrestling. They are cheap enough to fit all budgets, so don’t even think about those $20 replicas you can buy at flea markets or shady corner stores. Whichever model you choose, make sure your shoes are comfortable – if not, they will make for a very long season. So, what wrestling shoes are you going to buy?