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There is an old saying that goes: shoes maketh the man. This is truer than ever in wrestling. For thousands of years, wrestling has been one of the most demanding martial arts in the world. Its evolution saw the development and usage of dedicated shoes to protect the wrestlers’ feet and enhance their performance.
This is why shoes are the most important part of a wrestler’s gear. A proper set of wrestling shoes can make a lot of difference on the mat. There are several important characteristics that need to be considered when you’re buying shoes for the mat. These include grip, durability, weight, support, stability, comfort, and style.
In this piece, we’ll look at the best wrestling shoes in 2023 that you can buy:
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Grapplers Graveyard | Best Wrestling Shoes - UPDATED
- Best Overall Wrestling Shoes – ASICS Aggressor 4s and Aggressors 5s
- Runner Up – ASICS MatFlex 7
- Best Durability – ASICS Agressor 5s
- Best Women’s Wrestling Shoes – ASICS Womens Matblazer
Grapplers Graveyard Best Wrestling Shoes Top Picks - Evergreen
In this section, these are staples that we truly believe have stood the test of time. Finding the best wrestling shoes of all time (and making this list) is a big deal.
Here are some staples for the best wrestling shoes:
- Best Budget Wrestling Shoe: ASICS Matcontrol 2, HVC Wrestling Shoes, or Matflex 6
- Best Nike Wrestling Shoe: Inflict 3 Wrestling Shoes
- Best Nike Wrestling Shoe (On a Budget): Speedsweep VII
- Best Adidas Wrestling Shoe: Tech Fall 2.0 Wrestling Shoe, Mathog 2.0, or Adidas Combat Speed 5
- Best Adidas Wrestling Shoe (On a Budget): Mens HVC Wrestling Shoes
- Best Luxury Brand Wrestling Shoe: Rudis Wrestling Shoes
What should you look for when choosing wrestling shoes?
Finding the right wrestling shoes for yourself is essential to get the best performance on the wrestling mat. The right pair of these shoes will help you get traction, flexibility, and comfort. At the same time, they’re also a huge factor in preventing injuries during contests.
But then the question arises, how does one pick the ideal wrestling shoes for themselves? Well, there are several factors that you need to look for here. While there are no perfect wrestling shoes, you can get the ones most suited to you by knowing the following:
Wrestling Shoes Provide Ankle Support
One of the main reasons you’d want a pair of dedicated wrestling shoes is the increased ankle support they provide. This is due to their high-top design that covers and hence supports the ankle. They help make the wrestler more stable and balanced.
Wrestling puts a lot of strain on your ankles and due to these shoes, the chances of spraining or twisting your ankle are massively reduced. But of course, every athlete needs a different level of support and so there are different shoes catering to that.
Designed for all performance levels
Also, remember that the best wrestling shoes must be designed for all levels of performance on the mat. This means that they should cater to all levels of the game – beginner or advanced. This is as the basic requirements of grip, flexibility, durability, and support remain the same.
There are specialized wrestling shoes that can be more useful to the more skilled wrestlers. These offer add-ons in terms of customization options, improved breathability, and reinforced shoe soles. Hence they’re the right choice for higher performance and support for higher levels.
Naturally, these shoes are pricier so beginners may not be able to afford them. However, one just needs to find the shoes that come with the right combination of the quirks above in their budget. Remember, not all of the aforementioned upgrades are necessary for your level.
A Cheat Sheet for Choosing the Right Wrestling Shoes
Here is a quick list of things that need to be checked off the bat:
- Good Ankle Support
- Long Lasting grip
- Design (either matches the team or matches the brand)
- Flexibility of the shoe
- Durability of the shoe
- Comfortability or how quickly you can break them in
Choosing the best wrestling shoes is essential to perform at your best and prevent injuries. You need to consider several attributes before making the purchase. A major one is grip, so you don’t slip on the mat. Ankle support and flexibility are also key attributes as they provide you with more stability and a good range of motion respectively.
There should be no compromises on durability and shoe-material quality as they allow your shoes to survive wear and tear, and last long. Furthermore, the shoes’ breathability helps you compete for longer and prevents your feet from sweating. Lastly, versatility and style are also considered important by many.
Thankfully, the shoes mentioned on this list contain the very best features that wrestlers look for today. We’ve done the research for you so picking one of them over the many other wrestling shoes should be a no-brainer.
The wrestling shoes listed and talked about below have been carefully chosen based on the above criteria that we laid out. You can be sure that each shoe on the list is one that will not only provide you the support you need but has the flexibility and durability to help boost performance and get you through a couple of seasons. In our experience, it is best to have a ‘game-time’ pair and a ‘practice pair’.
To keep things affordable, we would say go with the budget brand for the training pair so you can just get those worn out and beat up, and then go for a higher-quality pair for the actual matches. Just be sure to spend enough time breaking the game time pair so you don’t run into any problems with your feet aching in matches.
BEST WRESTLING SHOES (2024)
If you are looking for. a more in-depth and ordered list of wrestling shoes read this article where we have our 10 highest-rated wrestling shoes:
Top Wrestling Shoes Ranks
- #1) ASICS Aggressors 5s
- #2– Rudis Wrestling Shoes
- #3) – Nike Inflict 3
- #4) – ASICS Matblazer (women’s Wrestling Shoes)
- $5) – Adidas Tech Fall 2.0
- #6) – ASICS Agressor 4s
- #7) – Adidas Mat Hog 2.0
- #8) – Adidas Mat Wizard 4
- #9) – ASICS Matflex 7
- #10) – Nike Speedsweep VII
- Bonus – Adidas Combat Speed 5
ASICS Wrestling Shoes
ASICS Agressor 5s
The ASICS Agressor 5 took our number one spot on the highest-rated wrestling shoe this season not only is it the best quality wrestling shoe we own it also has the best color ways to choose from (along with Rudis of course). To find our complete top 10 list of wrestling shoes be sure to check out the article above.
The Asics Agressor 5s fit perfectly to the foot, feel extremely light when training, and offer a great deal of ankle support. The price on these is about $125 which does not exceed some of the other pairs that we about later on in this article.
The shoe soles are grippy and do have a long shelf life even with excessive us of the shoe. This season you cannot go wrong with these shoes.
Asics Agressor 5s are some of the best wrestling shoes on the market. Get a high-quality product without breaking the bank.
Asics Men’s Aggressor 4
The Aggressor 4 is another pair of wrestling shoes from ASICS that deserves a mention here. This shoe is arguably the best-looking one on this list, but there’s a lot more to it than its aesthetic design.
The Aggressor 4 is a great choice if you’re a wrestling athelete, but your feet are too wide for most other wrestling shoes. The shoe is durable and thick, but it still manages to remain lightweight. A lace garage is also included to prevent you from scratching up your opponent and prevent tripping.
The ASICS Agressor 4 is one of my personal favorite shoes to wear on the mats for a number of reasons. My personal opinion is that te Agressor 5s are slightly better than the Agressor 4s but they are pretty much the same shoe with the 5s being more steep in price.
If you are okay without getting the latest and greatest make and model this is the shoe for you. Otherwise, we recommend checking out the Agressor 5s that are of the same quality just slightly better a bit more on the price point.
Asics Men’s Matflex 7 White Wrestling Shoes
Asics is always going to have a spot on this list. The Matflex 7 is excellent in design and extremely comfortable. Sitting at a very affordable price point, this shoe is. staple to have for this wrestling season.
The Matflex 7 model is more than just a well-priced option in the world of wrestling shoes. It has superb build quality and breathability, along with a multitude of different features.
This model of wrestling shoe (the Matflex) is a classic for us, the matflex 4 was our first pair of wrestling shoes and typically you see a lot of first-timers go with this pair of shoes. Now, they are like the training wheels version of wrestling shoes so soon after buying these you may want to upgrade to something better but nonetheless, the Matflex make is perfect for practice shoes (if you plan on going with multiple pairs of wrestling shoes).
It is one of the best choices for the wrestling mat as far as grip is concerned. This is due to its comparatively thin EVA sole that allows you to get a better feel of the mat when you wrestle. You’ll get a lot of traction that’ll prevent slippage.
Asics Matflex 6
ASICS makes Japan’s finest shoes for athletes which include wrestlers. Its Matflex 6 model is more than just a well-priced option in the world of wrestling shoes. It has superb build quality and breathability, along with a multitude of different features.
It is one of the best choices for the wrestling mat as far as grip is concerned. This is due to its comparatively thin EVA sole that allows you to get a better feel of the mat when you wrestle. You’ll get a lot of traction that’ll prevent slippage.
The latest ASICS Matflex is also very comfortable and is great at absorbing shocks. At the same time, this shoe is also easy to clean because of its removable sock liner. Like several other wrestling shoes on this list, it has a lacing garage to hide the aglets of your shoe laces for safety.
Shop the latest ASICS Wrestling Shoes Men & Women
ASICS is a popular brand that makes running shoes for athletes. It is also one of the top brands in the wrestling community and is recognized for producing high-quality wrestling shoes. Its range of wrestling shoes is designed to provide excellent traction, stability, and support during wrestling matches and practice sessions.
ASICS offers a variety of wrestling shoe models with different features, such as ankle support, breathability, and flexibility, to cater to the different needs and preferences of wrestlers. Some of its top-rated shoes have also made it to our list.
Asics Agressor 5s are some of the best wrestling shoes on the market. Get a high-quality product without breaking the bank.
Rudis Wrestling Shoes
Rudis is one of my favorite wrestling brands on the planet right now, no questions asked them and ASICS are number 1 and number 2 in the category of creating the best wrestling gear (mainly shoes because that’s what we are talking about here).
The only downfall for the Rudis line is that their shoes tend to be on the price side compared to ASICS (which is a good problem to have) so they cater to more well-off audience.
If style, flash, and cool colors appeal to you and you want a high-quality wrestling shoe to back you up on the mats, Rudis would be our go-to option for you. They are continuously dropping extremely nice pairs of wrestling shoes and some of the best wrestlers on the planet hoist sponsorships from them.
RUDIS Wrestling Shoes pays homage to the life of a warrior while also serving as a weapon for those seeking victory in battle on the mat. Rudis shoes are not only crafted to perfection but also extremely lightweight.
Adidas Wrestling Shoes
Adidas Tech Fall 2.0
The first wrestling shoe on our list is Adidas’s mighty Tech Fall 2.0. It is a successor to the original Tech Fall that debuted at the 2016 Summer Olympics. It became acclaimed for its light weight, high performance, and superb comfort. The Tech Fall 2.0 takes it all up a notch.
This new version may just be the perfect wrestling shoe on the market. Its highlights include its balance and stability when you’re on the wrestling mat. The Tech Fall 2.0 is made from high-quality materials, giving it immense durability and grip.
Like the original model, it has a mesh design that increases ventilation and breathability. This allows wrestlers to train and compete for hours. Another selling point of this shoe is that it is designed for all types of wrestlers – from beginner to advanced.
Adidas Combat Speed V
The second entry from Adidas is its Combat Speed V wrestling shoe. This may have an old-school look but it is one of the most modern wrestling shoes today. Those looking for high quality under a tight budget – aka high school or collegiate wrestlers – tend to choose it.
The previous Adidas Combat Speed model received acclaim for providing wrestlers with high performance. This new model is a step up from it in terms of durability and material quality. It is light and it provides ample ankle support, being designed for quick movements.
You can count on the Combat Speed V to help you compete well even if you have flat fleet.
Adidas Mat Hog 2.0
The second-generation Adidas Mat Hog is an absolute banger with lots of features. It is easily the most versatile wrestling shoe on this list. Many choose it due to the numerous customization options available on it; there are many colors, designs, sizes, etc.
It comes with a whole range of lacing options, which allows wrestlers to loosen it up to create more room or tighten it for more ankle support. You also get a mesh design that adds breathability and prevents sweating. A lacing garage is offered here as well.
For what we have felt with this, the Mat Hog 2.0 is a high-quality shoes. The shoes fit well on our feet, feel comfortable, and are made with high-quality material but one thing to keep in mind here is that after excessive use, they may split pretty easily. Myself and others who have reviewed the product have noticed that splitting and wear/tear happen to set in pretty quickly with these shoes.
Nike Wrestling Shoes
Nike Inflict 3
Nike has some of the better wrestling shoes on the market. When choosing between wrestling shoes the contest is really between them, Rudis, ASICS, and Adidas. Anyone else who falls out of line of those four really has to build up a standard. The Nike Inflict 3 live up to the hype.
If you just love Nike products, your team is sponsored by Nike, or you just desire Nike over every other brand, this should be for you. We loved the feel and look of the Nike Inflict 3 and believe it to be a current top three wrestling shoe on the market.
The Nike Inflicts are comfortable on the foot, fit well to your feet, obviously, meet the standards of quality that is tied to Nike’s name, and feel extremely flexible so they help promote free movement on the mats.
Now, at the end of the day, the shoe does not make the athlete but it can be a huge help in certain moments.
Nike Speed Sweep VII
We also have an entry from Nike in the form of the Speed Sweep VII. This ticks all the boxes of what a wrestling shoe should be. It is lightweight, so it allows wrestlers to move quicker. It has a lot of grip and traction so that you don’t slip on the wrestling mat.
As expected from Nike, the shoe has been designed and built superbly. The quality of the materials used is astounding and so are the aesthetics. It is also comfortable and has a reasonable price tag. A lacing garage further separates it from most other wrestling shoes.
Notable Brand Options With a Rating
Rudis
Having a list of wrestling shoes and not mentioning Rudis in this discussion should be a sin. They are definitely the more pricey option on the list but nonetheless, they are the standard next to ASICS in our opinion.
Adidas
Addidas is a notable brand that should be mentioned when it comes to choosing a wrestling shoe this season for a number of reasons, the biggest being that they just make high-quality products. You cant go wrong with any shoe design by them for this reason.
Nike
Nike is an all-around leader in almost all sport categories and wrestling shoes is not an exception. While we do think that there are brands that have mastered this shoe better than Nike, if you have brand limitations due to the school you are with, Nike’s wrestling shoes are not bad. Sure, maybe they are not the best but certainly not bad.
ASICS
ASICS and Rudis are the Gold Standard for Wrestling Shoes. Time and time again, Asiscs is just making the best wrestling shoes, point blank period. If you are having trouble going with anything, default back tot ASICS. The shoes are not only high quality but also not the most expensive option to choose fro (that would be Rudis in most cases).
Best Looking Wrestling Shoes
If looks and style are what you are going for look no further than the options below. If price point is also not an issue for you, we highly recommend checking out Rudis and comparing the options you have there with the ones below.
In my opinion, Rudis Wrestling Shoes are not only some of the best on the market but some the best-looking wrestling shoes you can actually choose from. It is always a plus when te shoes that you are wearing give you a bit of flash in this world where social media forces us to be more aware of how we present ourselves.
“Look good, feel good. Feel Good, play good. Play good, and get paid good!”
The off-season is the perfect time to work on developing insane levels of strength, power, speed, and conditioning so you can ragdoll opponents come the season.
