Considering which badminton shoes you should buy can get quite overwhelming. There are so many different badminton shoes out there. Ranging from cheap to expensive and from brands to brands. It is understandable that you don’t know which badminton shoes you should buy, especially if you are just getting started.
3 Factors When Choosing Badminton Shoes
There are a 3 factors you need to consider before picking the right badminton shoes for you. Your budget, your commitment to badminton and the level you play at.
Budget
Badminton shoes range from cheap to expensive. Most of the time you do get what you pay for. For instance, badminton shoes made from the likes of Yonex, Li Ning and etc will be more expensive due to its brand and quality. Don’t get me wrong, cheaper shoes can be of good quality too. They just don’t come with as many features or as well made as those that are more expensive.
Cheap Option
If you are looking for the best badminton shoes in terms of value for money, check out Mishansha Badminton Shoes. These are one of the highest rated badminton shoes on Amazon with along with most people rating it. With a 4/5 stars review of hundreds of people, you cannot go wrong with it.
Expensive But Quality
On the other hand, if budget is not a problem and you just want the best of the best, here are the top 5 badminton shoes you can get in terms of quality. You can’t go wrong with any of those 5 in the list. Do note that their prices are a little on the higher end.
Like I said, you do get what you pay for. For example with the more expensive ones, they give you more features and comfort. In fact, they will also enhance your performance on the court.
Furthermore, they are well made so they will be more durable and last longer compared to the cheaper badminton shoes. So, in the long run, the cheaper ones might just cost close to as much as the expensive ones since you need to change them more often.
It really comes down to how committed are you at playing badminton, which brings me to my next point.
Your Commitment to Badminton
This is a bigger factor than the budget. If you are really committed to badminton, going for the more expensive option makes way more sense. Additionally, playing badminton often with cheap shoes will wear them out really quickly and you’ll have to replace it with another pair. This will drive the cost up. A lot of times, the soles of cheap badminton shoes come off after about 6 months of constant usage, about 4 times a week. That will not happen if you were to get a quality pair.
The Level You Play Badminton At
When playing badminton at a high level, every small detail in your game from badminton strings to shoes will affect your performance. Therefore, getting the best gears out there including shoes is a no brainer. A quality pair of badminton will improve your footwork, stability, and speed.
On the other hand, if you are not playing at such a high level or just want to play for fun once in a while, there is no need to go for an expensive pair. Just get the cheap one and they will last you a long time.
Other Reasons To Consider
Here are 2 main reasons to buy a good pair of badminton shoes:
1. It improves your game performance
2. It can reduce or even prevent chances of injury
How will a good pair of badminton shoes improve my performance?
Most top quality badminton shoes will have features such as Ergoshape, Power Cushion, and Double Russel Mesh built in them. If you don’t know what those mean, let me elaborate further…
1. Ergoshape (think stability)
This will give you more balance. As I’m sure you know, badminton is a fast-paced game. Balance is extremely important because you will be moving in many different directions on the court.
Not only does it improve your balance, but it also makes it more comfortable for your feet. Badminton shoes with Ergoshape are flexible in the toe area. This is important for you to have better and more accurate footwork.
For example, if you want to lunge forward from your starting position, you’ll need to push yourself forward using your toes. Being flexible in the toe area will make you more explosive.
2. Power Cushion (think impact absorption)
This is a shock or impact absorb-er. It will allow the player wearing it make quicker transitions from point A to point B.
Let me give you an example…
Imagine lunging to the net to return a drop shot, your front leg will be bearing your whole body weight. This is when the Power Cushion shines. It will absorb most of the force form your body weight, similar to a car break.
The shock absorption is useful to stay in balance, helping you get back to the center of the court real fast.
3. Double Russel Mesh (think moisture control)
This is an amazing tech that provides you 8 times more airflow compared to shoes without it. In fact, this is to prevent your feet from getting moist and stinky, making you feel more comfortable. Furthermore, it is also very lightweight and durable.
Besides that, the Double Russel Mesh will also help to prevent blisters since your feet aren’t moist.
How will a good pair of badminton shoes prevent injuries?
There are 2 main injuries that badminton shoes can prevent. They are ankle injuries and blisters.
1. Ankle Injuries
Shock absorption is crucial when it comes to badminton shoes, especially at a higher level. Shoes that come with below average shock absorption will cause you to sprain or twist your ankles. Ouch! Furthermore, there could be more extreme injuries such as damaging the bones and tendons around your ankles.
You want to do your best to prevent any injuries. If it gets serious, it can keep you from playing badminton for 6 months or more. I am sure you don’t want that to happen.
Like I said, if you are playing badminton at a high level, the intensity will get you hurt if you are not wearing the right shoes. So get the best ones if you are planning to play at high intensity.
2. Blisters
Most top-end shoes will have special soles to prevent blisters. Any of these top 5 highest quality badminton shoes will help you do just that, some better than others but not by much. The continuous explosive movements will cause a lot of friction on your feet which may lead to blisters.
One of the ways top badminton shoes is in its ergoshape design. Combined with the Double Russel Mesh, your feet will be dry. If your feet are dry, they will not rub against the inside of your shoes or socks, hence preventing blisters.
I like to put badminton shoes into 3 categories. Low end, mid-range, and high end. Most of the time, a pair of mid-range badminton shoes should have those technologies in them or at least something similar.
Make sure the size fits you perfectly
One last thing to consider before buying badminton shoes. Make sure to buy the size that fits you well. With that being said, you do not want shoes that are too tight or have any room at all. Badminton shoes will expand on itself over time (at least the good ones will).
In fact, when you pick the right size for badminton shoes, they will feel tight but bare with it. Do NOT buy a bigger size. After wearing them a few times, they will loosen up and give you the perfect fit.
If you choose a size that is even a little too big, the feet will rub against the inside of the shoes, causing friction which then becomes blisters. Here is a good way to know if you have the right size of badminton shoes. Take the inner sole out and put it against your foot. If they are the same size, then it is the perfect size for you.
Conclusion
So to summarize the answer to which badminton shoes you should buy, that depends on your budget, commitment to badminton, and the level you play on. If you are just a beginner or play badminton for fun, there is no need to buy expensive badminton shoes. Buying a cheap pair will do just fine.
BUT if you are serious about badminton and want to play often, then buying a more expensive pair of badminton shoes will make more sense. They have better tech and design that will increase your performance while decreasing or even prevent the chances of getting injured. Hopefully, after reading this, you know which badminton shoes you should buy now.
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