Hey everyone! We are back with another wrestling shoe review, this time taking a look at the ASICS Matflex 8.
As always, we organize our reviews around the Graveyard Scale, which evaluates the gear we get our hands on across the categories that matter most. For wrestling shoes, those are traction, comfort and fit, durability, weight and flexibility, and price/value.
The Matflex 8 left Dallas and me with different opinions. I liked its design, firmer construction, and overall feel considerably more than the Matflex 7. Dallas appreciated the support and affordable price, but two weeks of collegiate wrestling practices exposed some issues with traction and fit.
Our combined score is 7.3/10, rounded from the average of Dallas’s 6/10 and my 8.5/10. My rating reflects inspection and first impressions, while Dallas’s reflects actual wrestling use. Understanding that distinction is important to understanding this review.
We’re continuing our mission to help people find the best combat sports gear, with a goal of reviewing another 8–12 pairs of wrestling shoes and sharing our findings with communities including r/fightgear and r/grapplersgraveyard.
Overview of the ASICS Matflex 8 Wrestling Shoes
I purchased the Matflex 8 from Amazon in a size 10.5, Dallas’s usual wrestling shoe size. I remember paying approximately $55–$75, although that is an estimated purchase price rather than a confirmed current listing price.
Dallas wrestles at Grand View University and spent approximately two weeks using the shoes during extensive practices, training, and drilling. He also tested the Adidas Combat Speed 4 and Nike Inflict 4 on the same mats, giving us useful comparisons.
My contribution focused on inspecting and handling the shoes. Dallas provided the performance feedback, including how they fit his wide feet and how reliably they gripped during wrestling.
First Impressions
My first impression was that the Matflex 8 was a substantial improvement over the Matflex 7. The 7 felt thin and flimsy to me, while the 8 felt sturdier and better put together. I also liked the updated design considerably more.
The Matflex 8 felt firmer in hand than the Nike Inflict 4 and Adidas Combat Speed 4, both of which had a more sock-like feel. That structure was something I appreciated initially, although Dallas found it restrictive once he started wearing the shoes.
The outsole had a sticky feel similar to the Matflex 7. My initial impression of the grip was positive, but Dallas’s experience on the mats was less convincing.
Video review: coming soon
Pros
- Affordable purchase price.
- Clean design and a sturdier feel than the Matflex 7.
- Solid heel lockdown and supportive feel around the ankles.
- Comfort improved after breaking them in.
- No stitching problems or sole separation during the two-week test.
Cons
- Inconsistent traction, particularly on sweaty mats.
- Dallas struggled to push off confidently on the mats at Grand View.
- Tight fit with limited toe room for his wide feet.
- More restrictive feel than he wanted.
- Picked up dirt quickly.
The ASICS Matflex 8 is an affordable wrestling shoe with a lightweight feel, firm construction, and supportive heel lockdown. Comfort improved after break-in during our testing, though the narrow fit and inconsistent grip make it a cautious pick for wide-footed wrestlers.
- Affordable price
- Lightweight feel
- Secure heel lockdown and supportive ankle fit
Traction & Grip
Traction was the biggest weakness in Dallas’s testing. On some mats, he described the grip as decent, but never extraordinary. On the mats at Grand View, he couldn’t push off with the pressure he wanted and didn’t feel comfortable wrestling live in them. He also reported slipping on sweaty mats.
That matters when you’re trying to drive into a shot. A shoe can look good and feel supportive, but if you don’t trust it to hold when you push off, it becomes difficult to overlook.
Dallas experienced better traction in both the Adidas Combat Speed 4 and Nike Inflict 4 on the same mats. While this wasn’t a controlled laboratory test, it gives his feedback a useful reference point.
- Grip varied by surface, with sweaty mats presenting a particular problem.
- Both alternatives performed better for Dallas on the same mats.
How We Evaluated Traction
Dallas evaluated traction during approximately two weeks of collegiate wrestling practices, training, and drilling. My assessment was limited to inspecting and handling the outsole. The sticky feel I noticed in hand did not consistently translate into the grip Dallas needed while wrestling.
Comfort & Fit
Dallas wore his usual size 10.5, but the Matflex 8 initially felt so tight that he wondered whether it was the wrong size. He has wide feet and reported minimal toe room, a narrow fit, and pressure along the outside of his feet.
There was a noticeable break-in period. The shoes became more comfortable with wear, which he included among their positives, but he still described the fit as restrictive. Improved comfort didn’t completely erase the width issue.
Heel lockdown was solid, and he liked how supported his ankles felt. Those strengths make the fit more nuanced than simply calling the shoes uncomfortable: they held his feet securely, but squeezed more than he wanted.
- Comfort improved after break-in, with good heel lockdown and ankle support.
- Wide-footed wrestlers should be cautious; we did not test whether a larger size would resolve the pressure.
Durability
During the two-week testing period, Dallas reported no fraying, peeling, stitching issues, or sole separation. Support and structure held up well through his practices, although the shoes got dirty quickly.
He did feel that traction declined with use. We didn’t measure outsole wear, so that remains his performance observation rather than proof of a specific material failure.
The early construction results were positive, but this was a two-week review. We can’t use that window to make claims about how the shoes will hold up over a full season.
- No visible structural failures during testing.
- Dallas felt grip deteriorated even though support and structure remained solid.
Weight & Flexibility
Dallas described the Matflex 8 as light and fairly flexible, but also restrictive around his foot. Those qualities can exist together: the shoe can bend without feeling roomy or particularly forgiving.
When I handled it, the Matflex felt firmer than the Combat Speed 4 and Nike Inflict 4. I liked that more substantial construction, but Dallas’s experience shows why a supportive feel needs to be balanced with comfort.
- Felt light and reasonably flexible to Dallas.
- Firmer construction provided support but contributed to a restrictive fit.
Price & Value
Affordability is a real selling point. At the roughly $55–$75 I remember paying, I liked the design and construction for the money.
Dallas had a more qualified opinion. He recognized the price as a positive and thought the shoe could suit a beginner seeking affordable support. However, he personally wouldn’t buy it at full price because of the tight fit and inconsistent grip.
That’s the tradeoff. An inexpensive shoe can still be the wrong purchase if it doesn’t fit your foot or grip your training surface reliably.
- Potentially appealing for a beginner on a limited budget who finds the fit comfortable.
- Less convincing value for wide-footed wrestlers or anyone who shares Dallas’s traction concerns.
Final Rating for the ASICS Matflex 8 Wrestling Shoe: 7.3/10
| Reviewer | Rating | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 6/10 | Two weeks of collegiate wrestling use |
| Cameron | 8.5/10 | Inspection, handling, design, and first impressions |
| Combined average | 7.25/10, rounded to 7.3/10 | Equal average of our two overall ratings |
I came away impressed by the Matflex 8’s appearance and sturdier construction. Dallas came away less enthusiastic after wrestling in it. Both perspectives belong in the review, but his experience deserves more consideration when deciding whether the shoe will perform well on the mat.
The combined rating is an average of our overall opinions, not a calculated total of individual Graveyard Scale category scores. It also combines two different evaluation methods, so the number should be read alongside the testing details.
Alternatives and Recommendations
The Matflex 8 is worth considering if you’re getting into wrestling, want to keep spending down, and find the fit comfortable. Its support and early structural durability were positives. However, being a beginner doesn’t make reliable traction less important.
For wide-footed wrestlers or anyone who prioritizes grip, Dallas’s feedback points toward considering other options. The Matflex 8 was his least favorite of the three shoes he tested.
Those are comparisons from our experience, not a claim that all three currently sell for the same price.
Buying Guide
We purchased our Matflex 8 pair from Amazon. Check the exact model, size availability, price, and return terms before ordering, especially if you have wide feet or are unsure about the fit.
Our Best Wrestling Shoes guide brings together the other pairs we’ve reviewed so you can compare our findings.
Best Wrestling Shoes List
We’ll continue updating our Best Wrestling Shoes list as we review more pairs. Here are our current editorial ratings:
- Adidas Tech Fall 2.0 (review) – 9.5 / 10
- Nike Inflict 4 (review) – 9.3 / 10
- Rudis Wrestling (review) – 9 /10
- ASICS Aggressors 6s (review) – 8.75 / 10
- Nike Speedsweep VII (review) – 8.6 / 10
- Adidas Combat Speed 4 (review) – 8.1 / 10
- ASICS MAtflex 8 (review) – 7. 3 / 10
- ASICS Matflex 7 (review) – 7.0 / 10
- Adidas Mat Wizard 5 (review) – 6.5 / 10
Reviews in progress:
- ASICS Matblazer
- Adidas Mat Hog 2.0
- ASICS Mat Control 3
Graveyard Scale Criteria for Wrestling Shoes
Our Graveyard Scale uses categories tailored to each type of combat sports gear. For wrestling shoes, the weighting totals 10 points:
- Traction & Grip – 3 points: How reliably the shoes grip during shots, pivots, scrambles, and changes of direction.
- Comfort & Fit – 2 points: Toe room, width, heel lockdown, support, pressure points, and comfort through training.
- Durability – 2 points: How the soles, stitching, materials, and structure hold up within the actual testing period.
- Weight & Flexibility – 1 point: How light and flexible the shoes feel while maintaining useful support.
- Price & Value – 2 points: Whether the performance and construction justify the cost for the intended wrestler.
For this Matflex 8 review, we used these categories to organize our observations. The published 7.3/10 is the rounded average of Dallas’s and Cameron’s overall ratings; individual weighted category scores were not assigned.
