Best Taekwondo Shoes for Dominating the Mat 2024: Find Your Perfect Fit

If you’re into martial arts, not just taekwondo, you’ll know that you must keep yourself protected. However, this saying doesn’t mean that you should only keep yourself protected from your opponent at all times – it also means that you have to take care of your health, and hissing a good pair of shoes can be crucial to keeping yourself safe.

Best Taekwondo shoes: Trainer’s top picks

Product	Adi Kick II	Martial Arts Sneakers	Martial Arts Shoe
Brand	Adidas	T.O.P ONE	Century Lightfoot
Sole Material	Polyurethane	Rubber	Rubber
Upper Material	PU	Canvas	Faux Leather
Fit	Short lace for better fit	Confortable fit	Pliable design
Weight	Very light shoe	Lightweight and flexible	Lightweight

There are numerous benefits to wearing shoes when training, including better support and hygiene – we’ll cover all of that later. Today, however, we’ll mainly focus on providing you with a list of taekwondo shoes you need to look at if you’re training.

Without any further ado, let’s get started!

Best Taekwondo shoes Complete list

• Adidas Adi Kick II
• TOP ONE-Martial Arts Sneakers
• Century Lightfoot Martial Arts Shoe
• Adidas Men’s Combat Speed
• Adidas Men’s HVC Speed Shoe
• Adidas Taekwondo ADILUX Shoes
• Traditional Cloth Tai Chi Old Beijing Shoes
• Ringside Power Boxing Shoes

1. Best Overall Taekwondo Shoes

Buying from a verified manufacturer is always a big plus, but when that manufacturer puts their money where their mouths are, it’s an even bigger hit. Adidas’s Adi Kick II is an upgrade on the previous model, and despite the latest model having very few faults, this newer model takes it to the next level.

Adi Kick II is made with more durable materials, and it’s made to keep up with the extremes that martial artists put them through. The shoes you’re wearing must be able to keep up with the pressure you’ll be putting on. Know that you’ll be kicking all the time, and you will find it hard to keep a single pair of shoes for a long time if they’re not made from high-quality materials. Adi Kick II is guaranteed to last long, and you won’t have to worry about wearing them down.

These shoes are made with PU materials, which ensures durability

It also doesn’t matter what martial arts you are interested in – these shoes make a great fit. Sure, they’re marketed as taekwondo shoes, but they make for a decent fit for any sport. The design is very lightweight, allowing you to take the pressure off your foot and focus on advancing your footwork.

The synthetic leather used to make these shoes is soft on the foot yet strong enough to take your kicks. What’s incredible about these shoes is that the laces are covered with leather, making your boots even more padded than usual. Fewer laces will be coming in contact with your foot – which will ensure that you feel less pressure when kicking, while the lacing system will keep your ankles even more secure.

The laces are less exposed than with other models. The laces remain covered mainly by leather, allowing for outstanding stability around the ankles! The laces tightened towards the ankles, making for a stable fit while also making it unlikely for the shoes to slip off during training.

A rubber outsole is also placed on these shoes, allowing the manufacturers to place pivot points on the sole. You’ll be making some quick turns, and if you want to make them without twisting your foot, these pivot points can be crucial.

Adidas is arguably the world’s best manufacturer of sports equipment, and all athletes love their equipment. It’s essential to purchase your gear from manufacturers who you believe are reliable.

Choosing a shoe should fit your foot tightly but comfortably simultaneously. Some users complain that the fit is too tight, which makes it uncomfortable. On the other hand, other users say that the fit is just right and don’t understand where all the complaints are coming from. The design will fit nicely around the curves of your feet and will undoubtedly provide you with a breathable fit.

If you need a wider fit, you should keep this in mind, as these shoes may be too narrow. Adidas recommends choosing a pair one size smaller than your regular wear, as the fit is made like that.

Even though people have complained that the shoes are uncomfortable due to their narrowness, they are in the minority. Most users report that the shoes fit wonderfully and that they’re very comfortable, and Adidas is generally known for making excellent products.

It’s essential to stay comfortable during physical exercises, and it’d be terrible to have to deal with blisters midway through training – these shoes won’t allow that to happen. These shoes fit so well that you’ll forget that you’re even wearing them.

To that, we can add the fact that they’re reasonably priced. These shoes aren’t costly, making them an excellent choice – you don’t have to break the bank for them. Many professionals use these shoes, and it’s odd to think you can get them at a relatively low price, but it’s true.

Pros	Cons
durable and robust materials that are going to keep your shoes in good condition	some users find the fit to be too tight, which makes the shoe uncomfortable
great support for your ankles because of the improved lacing system
Covered laces ensure that there’s less pressure on the top of your foot when kicking
Great pivot points that allow for safer turning
comfortable padding
reliable manufacturer

2. Best for Budget Taekwondo Shoes

If you’re buying on a tight budget, you never want to exceed that budget. These shoes will make sure that you’re kept in line with that.

Not being able to spend the most significant amount of money isn’t necessarily a curse, as there are many shoes available for a reasonable price while still being good enough to qualify as something you’d like to buy.

Let us present you with these martial arts sneakers.

These shoes are great if you’re on a tight budget and can be used for more than taekwondo. You can go running and jogging in them, as well.

What’s great is that they’re unisex and come in two colors: black and white.

Their soles are much thinner than some other shoes from their competition, which can be considered an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on where you stand. If you’re looking for shoes with a better grip on the ground, you’re always looking for shoes with thicker padding.

However, if you’re looking to be quicker with your feet, the thinner padding will be a blessing. The foot-to-ground effect isn’t as practical as thicker soles, but if you want to remain quick, that isn’t a problem.

What’s incredible about them is that they’re very lightweight – probably the lightest out of all the shoes on this list. This means that you won’t even feel them on your feet, and you’ll definitely appreciate the breathability they’ll provide you with.

The leather used in the design is very soft, which amounts to them being breathable and light. The softness and thinness of the soles allow for great pivoting ability, not pressing you down to the floor and allowing you to move more quickly and with less pressing.

One thing you definitely should keep in mind is the padding that comes with these shoes – many users complain that it isn’t thick enough, which is why some users find the shoes uncomfortable. However, this allows for the shoes to be more slender.

Aside from that, these are great shoes at a meager price.

Pros	Cons
very cheap	sole found to be too thin for good support
thin soles that provide great pivoting	light padding (some users find this uncomfortable)
breathable materials
unisex with two designs
useful for more activities

3. Best Premium Taekwondo Shoes

If you feel you’re ready to spend an extra buck to go that extra mile – then Century’s Lightfoot shoes might be precisely what you’re looking for!

The pliable and breathable materials used in making these shoes are here to ensure that your foot is always breathing, as it’s made from lightweight yet rigid synthetic leather. The rubber sole uses no-mark technology, meaning that you won’t leave any marks on the mats and will keep your coach happy. The slide-proof grip ensures that you’re not trampling over and that your foot isn’t sliding.

The materials we mentioned provide a comfortable alternative to bare feet. What’s also great about this is that these shoes will fit anyone and work for beginners just as much as experienced fighters.

The materials used are exceptionally durable and can withstand overworking them. It’d be wrong to say that these shoes are restricted to any movement or use. The materials ensure that your foot is sweating less. Sweat is normal for any activity, but the breathability of this shoe allows your foot to sweat less. Another benefit is that problems that relate to this, the athlete’s foot, for example – will definitely decrease as the growth of fungi is reduced.

The materials’ durability allows the shoes to be worn for a long time before purchasing another pair.

Like the Adi Kick II, these shoes have pivot points on the soles. This allows you to twist your legs and turn quickly without fearing that you’ll hurt yourself. This is great if you want to improve your footwork, and it won’t alter your movements.

The fit is somewhat larger than with other shoes, and that’s something that you should keep in mind when you’re deciding on your footwear.

Pros	Cons
very light – these shoes put a great deal of focus on weight	possible issues because of sizing
breathable – the materials ensure that your foot can breathe
Durability – the high-quality materials will make sure that you don’t have to renew your pair every once in a while

4. Honorable Mention Taekwondo Shoes

Even though Century takes the crown for Best Premium taekwondo shoes, we feel it’d be unfair to finish the list without them. They’re a slight improvement on the regular Adi Kick II.

Take everything you’ve read about Adi Kick II and add more breathability, durability, and lighter materials – that’s what this is. They’re priced according to size, so they don’t all cost the same. We won’t spend too much time talking about it here, but if you feel like you want to check it out.

5. Best Taekwondo Shoes for Speed

Although they’re often marketed as wrestling shoes, this pair is an excellent example of adaptability to different disciplines and speeds. The first thing you’ll notice about them is their design’s simplicity, which is accompanied by style and elegance, and they take the top spot on the list regarding the most beautiful shoes.

The most noticeable benefit of these shoes is comfort – as they’re often said to be very comfortable, on top of being quick. This comfort comes from high-quality materials that allow for great padding, ensuring the shoe has excellent support for the athlete.

As the name of the shoe explains – it’s built for speed. You’ll notice that it’s sleeker than any other shoe on this list, and the materials used in the design of these shoes are very lightweight – this allows you to feel nothing of it and fight as quickly as if you were barefoot.

They allow for an excellent grip, ensuring they never even remotely slip off your foot.

The sole is entirely rubberized, ensuring an excellent grip on the floor. However, it’s thin – this allows the shoes to move quickly, much quicker than other models on this list.

Something that you’re bound to notice is the breathable mesh on the side of the shoe, and it ensures that your foot is breathing correctly while you’re moving and that you’re not threatened by the feeling of a sweaty foot and the development of the athlete’s foot.

What’s incredible is the ankle support! As you can see, the shoe has a high-top style, meaning that the fabric goes over the ankle. The breathable mesh is flexible, ensuring movement flexibility, while the fabric holding your ankle in place offers support.

Pros	Cons
stunning and stylish design	some users complain of stiffness
great support for the ankles while keeping flexibility	thin sole, despite allowing speed, doesn’t offer too much stability
excellent grip on any surface	expensive
thin sole accompanied by lightweight materials provides for rapid movements
Mesh ensures breathability
incredible comfort due to the high-quality materials used

6. Best Taekwondo Shoes with No Laces

It seems that all we talk about are Adidas shoes, but the fact is – they’ve got some quality gear. We took notice of the fantastic no-laces technology, and we believe it’s taken to the next level with this model of shoes.

Laces, or lack thereof, are found to be very important in martial arts because of kicking. Whenever you’re booting with the top of your foot, you’ll feel pressure at the top of your foot. That pressure is the knot of your laces pressed into your foot, causing pain. Sometimes, you can feel laces pushed into your foot if you kick hard enough.

Even though this can’t cause any damage to your foot, it can hurt you and distract you from fighting. That’s why fighters prefer shoes without laces, which are much more comfortable than laced shoes. ADILUX made a great design that features no laces on the top of the shoe, allowing you to fight in whatever way you’d like!

These indoor martial arts shoes are made just to be slipped on without tying, and you’re ready to go!

Pivoting is an essential point of these shoes, as the sole is covered with pivot points. This makes the shoe great for kickers and anyone who needs to move quickly under large angles.

The pivot points, along with the rest of the sole, are completely unmarkable, meaning they won’t leave any marks on a mat.

The lightweight arch supports the forefoot and rearfoot, allowing them to move independently – for better surface adaptation and stability. Arch support is minimal with these shoes.

They’re found to be narrow. However, they stretch very quickly, so you don’t have to worry about them not fitting your foot – that will only happen in the beginning.

Pros	Cons
these shoes are amazing at pivoting	minimal arch support
there are no laces on these shoes, meaning that you won’t feel any pain when kicking	pricey
they adapt to your foot and stretch
unmarkable sole

7. Best Ligh Taekwondo Shoes

You’ve most likely seen these shoes in all martial arts movies, as they’re traditional in all martial arts cultures. These shoes are also the lightest ones on this list while being incredibly simplistic in design.

The iconic design is something that’s recognized by many. The black cover, accompanied by white soles, is a timeless design that’s become beloved by many people. However, the beauty in these shoes isn’t why we put them on the list. The reason is the simplicity of the design, which makes these shoes incredibly light and worth a look if you’re looking for a pair that will keep your feet comfortable.

They’re simple canvas shoes made from the simplest of materials. Even though they’re made from simple fabric, they’re still going to offer a lot of stability for the foot.

The reason that these shoes are so beloved by martial arts masters and trainees is that they’re so light and don’t restrict the movement of the foot in any way, but still provide stability because of the sole that’s made from rubber. You always remain well-footed in the ground this way, but you’re not going to feel that shoe on your foot.

They’re also going to keep your feet clean, and you won’t have to worry about whether the floor is dirty.

Interestingly, many people wear these shoes for leisure, not because they’re practicing martial arts. Not everyone wears them when fighting or training, and they’re so light and breathable that many people outside the martial arts world enjoy them.

They’re very breathable, and that has to be taken into account – the simple materials used in creating these shoes assure that you don’t have to wear socks when you’re wearing them, and you can honestly wear them anywhere.

Many insist on wearing them indoors because they’re so simple and can quickly be kept clean.

Pros	Cons
incredibly light – simple materials used with these shoes ensure that you don’t feel them on your feet	durability – these shoes are made from simple materials, and you’re likely going to have to renew your collection once a year
breathable – the same materials ensure breathability
Traditional style – Old Beijing style is iconic, and everyone notices it
Good support – despite their simple design, they still offer support.
Inexpensive – these shoes don’t cost too much.

8. Best Taekwondo Shoes for Support

These shoes can easily be described as a powerhouse, as they’re built to support your foot safely in the fabric. Even though they’re marketed for boxing, they’re applicable for more martial arts (not just boxing and taekwondo).

The first thing you’ll notice about them is the sturdiness of the style – they’re built to keep your foot safe and to ensure that you never twist your ankle. You’ll notice it’s a high-top design, meaning the shoe extends above your ankle. Many athletes look for this as the ankles belong to the most easily-twisted group of joints, unlike the shoulder, for example.

The design’s quality definitely deserves a few points, but the durability raises a few question marks. Many users complain about durability, saying that the shoes don’t last too long, which needs to be considered. However, the materials used in the design ensure that your foot is wrapped safely and that you don’t have to worry about twisting it.

It’s insanely comfortable, though, and the rubberized sole is excellent at keeping you well-grounded without tripping and falling over. This allows you to be more agile while feeling comfortable at the same time. If you’re an athlete, you know that any discomfort is easily noticeable, and it’s a distraction. You don’t have to worry about that with these shoes.

The ankle strap provides excellent support, and it’s one of these shoes’ most significant selling points. Mesh construction is accompanied, assuring proper ventilation during your training.

Pros	Cons
great support – this shoe is very sturdy, assuring that you don’t hurt yourself	durability – many users report that the shoes start to fall apart too quickly
fine materials – materials used with these shoes allow them to be supportive while being comfortable at the same time	questionable pivoting – the sturdy build doesn’t allow for too much agility
ankle strap – the ankle strap ensures that you don’t twist it
Great sole rubberization – this allows for a better grip on the floor.
Breathable mesh – more ventilation in the shoe ensures that you sweat less.
versatility – worn with many martial arts

Guide to Buying Taekwondo Shoes

When you’re looking for that perfect pair of taekwondo shoes, there are a few aspects that you have to keep in mind.

Firstly – durability. You never want to buy a product that will start falling apart within a year. That’s why looking at the materials used when making shoes is essential and crucial to get your money’s worth. This will also have a great deal of effect on breathability.

Some materials are more breathable than others, and while some manufacturers may focus on more durable materials, this often means that the shoe is less breathable. In that case, you’ll be witnessing a good performance, but you’ll also notice your foot sweating. It’s challenging to balance durability and breathability, so shoes that offer both usually don’t come at a low cost.

Another thing you should keep in mind is support. Shoes with thicker, more rubberized soles usually offer much more support and keep you much more stable. If you lose that stability, you’ll notice that it’s much easier to trip you over. This is why most fighters insist on buying shoes with thicker soles. However, these soles directly affect speed because they’re heavier. Shoes with thinner soles are much lighter and they allow you to have quicker feet movement.

Lacing is another crucial aspect of this. Newer technologies allowed footwear manufacturers to create shoes that didn’t require lacing. We have a few examples of those shoes on the list, which is excellent for you because having laces on the top of your foot will always cause discomfort and pain when you’re striking your opponent.

There are great examples of shoes that lace up on the ankles and don’t hurt the top of your foot. That way, you have more support on your ankles and less pressure on the top of your foot. Make sure to look into the no-lace technology before you buy.

Lastly, we’d like to mention pricing. Most of the shoes on this list are pretty, but many with ridiculously high prices aren’t worth that much. Be on the lookout for any scams by online sellers.

Our Verdict: Enjoy your new Best Taekwondo Shoes

We have already decided that Adidas Adi Kick II is the best pair of shoes on this list. Overall, they cover all the bases, and the added benefit of coated laces only adds another bonus to that list. Something that’s not taken into account often enough is that a reliable manufacturer makes these shoes, which you should always look for when buying any sports gear.

The Adi Kick series, be it the first or the second model, is beloved by martial arts athletes, and you should consider them a strong contender for the top spot. Notably, these shoes are made from durable materials, and they’re not overpriced at that, so you’ll undoubtedly face very few problems when using them.