Wrestling Boots & Shoes | Made4Fighters (2024)

FAQs

What kind of shoes are good for wrestling? ›

Split Sole - A split sole shoe has two distinct rubberized sections on the bottom - one under the ball of the foot, and the other under the heel. This provides traction when pushing off of the mat, but still allows for flexibility in the mid part of the foot.

Wrestling shoes are flexible and lightweight. They are made to feel almost as if they are not there at all and you are walking barefoot. Most wrestling shoes have a high-top design that stabilises and protects your ankles.

Why are wrestling shoes so expensive? Wrestling shoes are often made with high-quality materials and are designed to offer maximum grip, support, and flexibility on the mat.

With how much quick movement and cutting is involved in wrestling, it is recommended to have a snug fit for your shoe. Not too snug that your feet are hurting, but not too loose that your feet are moving around in your shoe. Too much either way, big or small, can lead to an increased risk of injury.

It is essential to have the right footwear that provides grip and traction, along with the necessary support and stability. Wrestling shoes are specifically designed to improve performance on the mats by providing more protection for the feet and ankles, unrivaled stability, and a sure-footed grip with each step taken.

Next, you need to determine your budget. Most wrestling shoes range from $40 to well over $100. If you're not sure whether your son or daughter will stay in the sport long enough to get full value from the shoes, it's best to go with the lower cost shoe (especially if the wrestler is a rookie).

When you're trying on wrestling shoes, keep in mind brand-size recommendations. For example, Asics and adidas recommend trying on a shoe one-half size larger than your street shoe while Nike recommends going a full size larger.

Third, it helps keep the shoes from getting too sweaty. Fourth, it helps keep the shoes from getting too smelly. Some wrestlers don't like to wear socks with their shoes, but most do. If you don't like to wear socks with your shoes, you can try wearing ankle socks or no socks at all.

Hot Tip: No Shoes on the Mat!

This is a way of tracking dirt and germs onto the mat, and is seen as a sign of both inexperience and disrespect in the wrestling community. If you don't have wrestling shoes, walking on the mat in socks or clean, bare feet is acceptable.

Balance is Beautiful: No more tippy-toeing disasters. The flat platform keeps you centered and steady, so you can stay focused on crushing those weights, not fighting your footwear. Your deadlifts (and your whole workout) will thank you for a great pair of wrestling shoes.

Is wrestling a cheap sport? ›

Wrestling is a very affordable sport for athletes. The registration fees are reasonable and there is no need to purchase expensive specialized sporting equipment.

Generally light and flexible, they try to mimic the bare foot, while providing slightly more traction and ankle support and less chance of contracting a disease or hurting the opponent with exposed toe nails. As a result, wrestling shoes tend to have a high top design to provide ankle support and cushioning.

Wrestling shoes are not capable of absorbing the shocks your feet receive when running, and also have no arch support. This can lead to heel and arch pain. Continuing to run in wrestling shoes can cause plantar fasciitis, a painful condition which can keep you out of action for some time.

Flexibility And Grip

To counter this, you must wear wrestling shoes with flat, well-gripping rubberised soles. At the same time, you also need to ensure that you can feel the ground beneath your feet to move on the mat efficiently.

Regular outside shoes are not allowed on the wrestling mats, as this causes damage to the mats, and can spread dirt and skin diseases. Socks must be worn with wrestling shoes and should be crew/tall socks. Here are a few things to remember when choosing practice attire.