The 11 Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes

When you’re playing outdoor basketball, you need to ensure that you are wearing the right kind of shoes that offer enough support and protection from the terrain. Outdoor basketball is typically played on hard surfaces where you need a good grip and protection to prevent injury and allowing you to focus on the game.

There are many options when it comes to basketball shoes, but there are some specific features you need to consider when it comes to outdoor versions of this game. The best shoes will be supportive, comfortable, and durable. To make your shopping easier, consider the following options and features.

View the Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes, Below.

• Nike Men’s Lebron Soldier XIII SFG Basketball Shoes
• Nike Men’s Lebron 17 Basketball Shoes
• Under Armour Men’s Lockdown 4 Basketball Shoe
• Nike Zoom KD 12 Basketball Shoes
• Under Armour Curry 3ZER0 III
• Nike KD Trey 5 VII Basketball Shoe
• Adidas Men’s Dame 5
• adidas Men’s Harden Stepback Basketball Shoe
• Under Armour HOVR Havoc 2
• adidas Men’s Ownthegame Wide Basketball Shoe
• Nike Men’s Lebron Witness IV Basketball Shoes

1. Nike Men’s Lebron Soldier XIII SFG Basketball Shoes

These Lebron Soldier outdoor basketball shoes are lightweight and breathable to keep your feet cool and comfortable during every game. They feature an adjustable lace-up closure that allows you to get the most accurate fit needed. These outdoor shoes are made using the innovative Zoom Air LEAP system by Nike, which is designed to enhance maneuverability and bounce on outdoor terrains.

These Lebron Soldier outdoor basketball shoes have a sleek upper design that is streamlined for speed while also looking great when out on the court. These are high top shoes that offer support to the ankles to prevent injury during a game. The lean and lightweight Flywire cables offer stability where you need it most as they feature a heel counter to ensure your feet are in the correct position during every game to reduce pain, fatigue, and injury.

This shoe is lightweight, sleek, and durable to provide accurate support to the feet and enhance your skills on the court.

2. Nike Men’s Lebron 17 Basketball Shoes

These shoes from Nike are of great quality as they were specifically designed for world-famous player Lebron. These are the largest heel Nike Air Max shoes available, ensuring they can absorb more force and shock than any other shoe, and also offer a lot of traction. The visible, maximum-volume Zoom Air pockets under the foot provide continuous responsiveness to help you perform at your best on the court. These outdoor shoes are made for fast-paced action, reducing fatigue and injury so you can stay focused on the competition.

These Nike Air outdoor shoes have a wide fit and toe box to provide natural balance, with a traditional tongue to make them easy to wear and comfortable on the feet. The adjustable lace-up closure allows for the most accurate fit to your feet, making these some of the best basketball shoes for a variety of players. This Zoom Air shoe is incredibly comfortable due to the soft foam pod cushioning that is located directly under the Nike Air Max unit to provide cushioning in the heel. There are plastic clips that wrap around the foot to lock the heel in place and make sure you have the correct foot position all game long.

These outdoor shoes are incredibly comfortable and offer a lot of support with the responsive cushioning, foam padding, and locking clips for the correct foot position.

3. Under Armour Men’s Lockdown 4 Basketball Shoe

These shoes for outdoor offer a lot of support as they have a rubber sole with a great traction pattern. This offers a great grip and smooth traction to keep you balanced on the outdoor court, ensuring you can move freely at great speeds. These are comfortable high top shoes that feature a breathable sock liner that is lightweight to provide underfoot support by keeping the feet cool and dry all game long. These are some of the top shoes for outdoor games due to the EVA midsole that offers a responsive ride to keep you comfortable, and the heel counter locks the foot in place for stability.

These basketball shoes for outdoor games are some of the best as they feature a synthetic leather upper that provides a responsive fit and a streamlined look that provides style both on and off the court. This upper is perforated to provide breathability and keep the feet cool. The lace-up closure is adjustable to provide the most accurate fit to your feet. The rubber outsole offers good traction and durability, keeping the shoes in good condition even with repeated wear.

These shoes for outdoor wear are durable with a rubber outsole and have a breathable upper to provide long-lasting support and comfort.

4. Nike Zoom KD 12 Basketball Shoes

The Nike Zoom 12 shoe is very comfortable due to the breathable sockliner and cushioned footbed. These outdoor shoes feature a lightweight sockliner that sits over the iconic Nike Air cushioning in the footbed to provide a smooth feel on the feet. These outdoor basketball shoes also feature a FlyKnit constructed tongue, which is designed to comfortably cover the top of your foot to add loft with a padded, soft feeling, much like the underfoot cushioning.

These shoes for outdoor wear have a durable rubber outsole that offers great traction to keep you balanced on the court. This is a lightweight yet durable shoe that will last a long time and support fast speeds with flexible movements on the court. The lace-up closure is adjustable to provide a snug fit to your feet, which is required for support. These are sleek and attractive sneakers that can be worn by both men and women who want the best support during a game.

These shoes for outdoor wear are comfortable with a breathable sockliner, cushioned footbed, and durable rubber sole for good traction.

5. Under Armour Curry 3ZER0 III

This is one of the best sneakers for support on outdoor courts. It is made using a carbon fiber shank that offers stability and balance to the feet, allowing you to move freely with support during a game. These are lightweight shoes for outdoor games, ensuring they will be comfortable to wear for long periods. The rubber sole is durable and has great traction due to the multi-directional traction pattern, which provides a good grip for balance when running and moving on hard outdoor surfaces.

This outdoor basketball shoe features Charged Cushioning technology in the footbed, which is responsive to provide comfort and support every step of the way. These are some of the best sneakers due to the fact they are a player model based on the shoes worn by Golden State Warriors champion Stephen Curry. This means that they are designed to be worn by professional players, ensuring they are great quality, supportive, and incredibly stylish. This shoe for outdoor courts is available in multiple colors to suit your style.

These sneakers for outdoor games have a durable rubber sole with great traction, a cushioned footbed for support, and a carbon fiber shank for stability.

6. Nike KD Trey 5 VII Basketball Shoe

This outdoor shoe from Nike is durable and great quality with the reinforced rubber sole. The reinforced toe box provides a means for longevity, ensuring these shoes will stay in good condition even with repeated wear. This shoe is ideal for outdoor courts as the rubber sole offers good traction and stability, protecting the feet from the hard surfaces underfoot while also keeping you balanced when running fast. The interior of these shoes is very comfortable due to the breathable upper and cushioned footbed.

This Nike outdoor shoe features innovative Renew foam in the insole that is responsive to provide bouncy cushioning and plush feel, allowing you to keep focused on the game as your feet are always comfortable. These shoes for outdoor games have a mesh upper that has been engineered to offer breathability and flexibility. This can keep the feet cool and dry while also supporting the free movement, allowing you to perform at your best on the court without experiencing discomfort.

These basketball shoes for outdoor games are durable and made to last with a reinforced outsole and breathable upper to keep the feet comfortable.

7. Adidas Men’s Dame 5

These are stylish and durable outdoor shoes that feature a lightweight upper that provides breathability and is flexible. The rubber sole offers good traction to keep you balanced and stable when running, jumping, and moving on outdoor courts. These are some of the best sneakers as they are built for player Damian Lillard's signature game, ensuring they are of great quality and offer the right kind of support required in this sport. These sneakers are available in several colors and patterns to suit your style.

This shoe is comfortable due to the responsive cushioned footbed that can provide targeted support to the pressure points of your feet, reducing pain and fatigue when training or playing. They feel soft on the feet and feature internal pods for additional comfort. The midsole is made to provide lateral stability that supports quick changes of direction, allowing you to move freely on the court without risk of injury or pain. These shoes have an elastic collar that is flexible enough to support a range of foot sizes while also offering a snug fit for the best support.

These professional sneakers for outdoor wear are stylish, comfortable, and supportive with cushioning and additional internal pods on pressure points for improved traction.

8. adidas Men’s Harden Stepback Basketball Shoe

These outdoor sneakers are some of the best as they are lightweight and breathable, so they can be worn all day long without discomfort. As they are breathable with a synthetic upper, these sneakers will keep the feet cool and dry, which prevents chafing and injury even when wearing them for a long time. They have a wide forefoot that allows the toes to spread naturally to support balance and flexible movement. As they are flexible, these outdoor sneakers are suitable for a range of players to wear.

These are high-quality sneakers for outdoor wear and feature a cushioned midsole. This allows flexible movement and supports the feet to reduce fatigue and injury, ensuring you feel comfortable from your first step on the court to the end of your game. These are stylish sneakers that come in several colors to suit all styles. The padded tongue and collar offers ankle support and keeps the feet in the correct position. With a high top cut, these are comfortable sneakers that support the lower legs well to reduce injury.

This basketball shoe for outdoor wear is comfortable and supportive with a cushioning midsole, breathable upper, and good traction.

9. Under Armour HOVR Havoc 2

This basketball shoe is made from lightweight materials to offer flexibility and breathability, keeping you comfortable throughout every game you play. They are designed with a molded textile upper that offers enhanced comfort by supporting the natural contours of your feet. The webbed lacing system is designed to lock your foot into place, ensuring you have the correct foot position to reduce fatigue and injury when training or playing. The mesh tongue on this basketball shoe increases airflow to keep the feet cool and dry all day long.

This basketball shoe comes in a range of colors to suit all styles, making it one of the best options for all kinds of players. They feature a die-cut EVA sockliner that provides underfoot cushioning and support to reduce fatigue during a game, allowing you to push hard and perform at your best. This basketball shoe for outdoor play features an innovative foam insole that is highly responsive to improve your skills on the court and also to offer stability. The midfoot TPU shank keeps the foot stable and in the correct position to ensure safety when playing.

This outdoor basketball shoe is comfortable and supportive as it is lightweight and has underfoot cushioning for a secure fit.

10. adidas Men’s Ownthegame Wide Basketball Shoe

This is a durable and comfortable shoe that has a rubber sole that offers great traction to keep you balanced on the court. This shoe is streamlined and sleek to ensure that you not only look good but also perform at your best on the court. This is a mid-cut basketball sneaker that is easy to wear and offers just enough support to keep you stable when running, jumping, and training. They have a wide fit to support a range of shoe sizes and allow the toes to spread naturally for enhanced balance.

These sneakers have a synthetic leather upper that is durable to ensure longevity. They are very comfortable due to the foam cushioning in the footbed, offering support during clutch moves. This shoe also provides a dual-zone traction pattern to keep you balanced and steady while being able to move freely on a range of terrains. With a lightweight upper, these sneakers can keep your feet cool and dry even when you are working up a sweat. They are stylish enough to be worn off the court for everyday comfort.

This basketball shoe is comfortable and durable, making them great value, as they will last a long time with responsive cushioning and multi-directional traction.

11. Nike Men’s Lebron Witness IV Basketball Shoes

This streamlined shoe for outdoor basketball is lightweight and has a breathable top to provide long-lasting comfort. The synthetic upper is flexible to allow free movement and features air pockets to provide good airflow to keep the feet dry and free from chafing. This makes the shoe very comfortable to wear and great for those in training or performing in matches as it offers a lot of support. These shoes are of high quality as they come from the renowned brand Nike and have been made for basketball players like Lebron.

This Nike shoe for outdoor basketball offers ankle support with the mid-length cut to keep the leg in the correct position. This will reduce fatigue and the risk of injury, making them some of the best to wear in training. The lace-up closure is adjustable to allow for the most accurate fit required. The gum rubber sole of this shoe provides good traction to keep you balanced and stable on the court. The L-shaped tongue and collar are comfortable on the ankle and have been padded to provide more cushioning to the legs.

This basketball shoe is good quality as it has been streamlined and is made from lightweight materials that allow for free movement while offering good traction.

Buyers Guide To Outdoor Basketball Shoes

There are a lot of options for basketball shoes, which can make it hard to find the best ones for your needs, but if you are playing outdoors, there are some specific things to keep in mind. Outdoor basketball shoes need to be able to provide comfort and withstand the hard surfaces used in outdoor courts to be suitable for players to wear.

How to Find The Best Basketball Shoes For Outdoors

There are some features you will need to consider to find the best outdoor shoes basketball and other sports. When it comes to wearing sneakers outdoors, they need to be made well to offer the correct level of comfort and protection from the terrains you may be playing or training on. Some of the key features we considered in this review that can also be used to narrow down your options when shopping for the best shoe are:

Durability

Durability is a great factor to consider no matter what kind of shoe you’re buying, as it ensures that the product will last and will be worth your investment. However, this is particularly important for those who participate in sports as it can take a long time to find the best shoe that offers the level of support and comfort you need, so you want to make sure it will last.

When it comes to determining the durability of a basketball shoe, you will need to consider the materials used on both the top and sole of the shoe. Great material for the sole of shoes in terms of durability is rubber, due to the fact this has a high return and will last a long time. Durability should be one of your main concerns when searching for any kind of shoe, especially those worn for basketball and similar sports.

Comfort

There are various factors you can consider when it comes to determining how comfortable a shoe will be, but one of the most popular is cushioning. Brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Air Jordan rely on interior cushioning for their basketball shoe ranges to ensure that they will keep players comfortable and perform their best. Consider what kind of insole is used within the shoe, whether it is padded or features an air unit that can provide additional cushioning to specific areas of the foot. It is also best to consider shoes with responsive cushioning, as this means it will have a high energy return and remain comfortable for longer.

Traction

Good traction is necessary to keep you balanced and stable during a game. Outdoor basketball typically takes place on hard surfaces and uneven ground, so your shoes should offer a lot of traction.

The best outdoor basketball shoe will have a multi-directional traction pattern on the sole to provide stability. Traction will offer a good grip on the ground to ensure that you do not fall and injure yourself when playing basketball, running and shooting hoops, without keeping you stuck in place. The traction in a shoe can also improve your performance, allowing you to focus on the game rather than your feet.

Size and Fit

All footwear should fit well, but this is essential when playing a sport such as basketball, which requires a lot of running, jumping, and other intense movements. This means that the shoe you wear during both training and a match needs to fit you well and stay in place on your feet. The best outdoor basketball shoes will offer enough room in the toe box so the feet can spread naturally, which supports your balance, while also fitting snug around the heel and center of your foot.

Some of the shoes in this review have full-length stability and additional features to lock the foot into place. Nike is one such brand that relies on heel clips to lock the foot into place, preventing them from moving around and ensuring the correct position. Not only will this give you more focus on the game at hand so you can perform at your best, but it can also reduce injury by keeping your feet positioned correctly.

The Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes Based On Your Playing Style

As well as considering specific features of each shoe, from the traction to the materials to the fit, you also want to consider how you play basketball. The position you play and the kind of style you have on the court can also determine what is going to be the best shoe for you.

Forward Players

If you are a forward player who takes most of the dunks in every match, then you will want to consider a shoe that has a lot of interior cushioning and features an air unit in the forefoot to protect pressure points of the feet when jumping and taking dunks.

With a good level of cushioning, the shoes you wear can protect your ankles from damage and ensure that you can move freely across the full length of the court. You will also want shoes that have a good level of traction to keep you balanced. When landing jumps, traction will keep you steady and balanced. There is also a study that has been carried out on this very subject – click here to read it.

Dribbling Focus

Other basketball players will be more concerned about speed and agility, which means instead of focusing on the interior cushioning of a shoe, you will need to think about the traction and exterior instead. You will want to ensure that the kind of shoe you wear during a game will offer smooth traction, keeping you balanced and stable while still supporting fast speeds. A rubber sole will be preferred here, as these kinds of shoes tend to have a good traction pattern across the full length of the rubber sole and offer the most durability.

Dribbling and Dunking

If you are just starting in basketball, then you may not know what position you want to play in or where your skills lie. A lot of professional players require a shoe that can support them in more than one area of the game, which is why brands like Nike and Air Jordan have a variety of sneakers to choose from.

It is possible to find an outdoor shoe that supports all movements in the game, from agile running to dunking. This will require you to look into a shoe that has a high top to provide just enough ankle support required for stability as well as a mid-range level of cushioning to provide comfort. The traction is something you will still need to consider, especially within the heel counter, as this is part of the foot that takes the most shock during a game no matter what moves you make.

Is Air Jordan a Good Brand?

Air Jordan is perhaps one of the most popular brands of basketball shoes. This brand is a partner of the sportswear company Nike and was created by former NBA player Michael Jordan, hence why it is so popular.

Air Jordan is a brand that features basketball shoes and considering they have been designed by a champion in the field, who is working in partnership with Nike, they are some of the best available. However, compared to other shoe types such as the Nike Zoom Air, Clutchfit Drive, or Micro G, an Air Jordan is now considered to be more of a fashion piece rather than something worn by serious athletes, so you may want to consider alternative options.

Other basketball shoes have also been designed by professional players, such as the UnderArmour Clutchfit Drive, which has been developed by Stephen Curry or the Lebron Solider shoes by Nike. While shoes like the ClutchFit Drive are designed by professional players, there are options such as the Nike Zoom Air or the Micro G by UnderArmour that have instead been endorsed by players.

A great way to find the best outdoor basketball shoes is choosing a model that is worn by professionals in the field, which is why we would recommend something like the ClutchFit Drive or Nike Zoom Air over Air Jordan as they have been tried and tested on the court. Perhaps you play volleyball instead? Find a great pair of volleyball shoes here. 

Did You Know?

Michael Jordan, the namesake of Air Jordan shoes, played 15 seasons in the NBA and won six championships with the Chicago Bulls.

Expert Tip by Alexis DeSalva Kahler

The position you play will dictate which shoes are right for you. If you play both indoor and outdoor basketball, you will likely need separate shoes to ensure you have the right traction needed for playing outdoors.