10 Best Parkour Shoes (Self-Tested) | Free Running Shoes

If you have just started doing parkour then you must be looking for the best parkour shoes. It is necessary to use separate shoes because they have the required qualities that are needed for excellent performance in free running. Considering these requirements, here is the list of the best free running shoes.

Without wasting any time, let me tell you that Men’s Micro G Pursuit by Under Armour is considered as the best among these shoes being cheap and also has a good grip. It is a unisex shoe which means it is suitable for both boys and women.

Best Parkour Shoes for Free Running

1: Under Armour Micro G Pursuit – Top Parkour Shoe

This has a lot of qualities that made it to the top and its design is one of them.

Minimalistic Design:

It has a lace-up closure while the upper part is made with textiles and is extremely light-weight. It is also available in many colors and styles with minimal shoe design.

It has a breathable mesh on the top which keeps your feet ventilated. The design is not very new, even the strip in the midsole is just for the design without any true function.

This shoe is true to its size. It is because of the padding in the ankle which makes it fit comfortably to feet. This shoe fits like an old shoe even on first wear as they have enough space in the toe box.

Its cushioning density is optimum with EVA midsole in the middle. It has a single density midsole with a very low drop.

Cushioned Insole:

Inside of the shoe is lined with foam to provide cushioning. It is so soft that you will feel that you are running on some gel. You will feel the comfort once your shoe land on the ground after a jump.

With an 8mm drop, this shoe classifies as a great free running shoe. However, it is low profile and not very well-known.

Sometimes while doing parkour, you forget that jumping from a great height can have a pressure o your feet. This shoe is designed to absorb the impact of the ground as much as possible.

It can be a good shoe for beginners, but if you are already an expert, you would mostly choose a shoe with less comfort and more flexibility.

Rubber Outsole:

The outsole of the Armour Men’s Micro G Pursuit Running Shoe is made up of rubber. It is thick and strong.

The pattern at the outsole is also adequate for a parkour shoe. It can provide you with a high rebound. The traction on the indoor and outdoor surface is also great. The outsole is a one-piece as well as the midsole and that is a pretty appreciative thing for a good shoe.

Let us take a look at its pros and cons and then I will leave it up to you whether you should buy this shoe or not:

2: Gel-Venture 6 – Asics Parkour Shoes

Gel-Venture 6 is a great choice among Asics shoes for free running and is #1 in the list of Amazon Men’s Running Shoe. But it is added in our list because it provides a fantastic grip while running on the road.

Design with Breathable Mesh

Gel-Venture 6 free running shoe is available in many colors and designs. The main design features a breathable mesh covered with stripes of synthetic fiber. Breathable mesh is pretty efficient in keeping your feet cool and dry. It is an essential thing to keep your feet healthy.

Rubber material:

Most of the shoe, including the insole, upper part, and the further covering is synthetic while the outsole is made up of rubber. Rubber stands right in extreme conditions while synthetic fiber absorbs moistures and helps further in keeping your shoe dry.

Insole with Removable Sockliner:

The insole has a removable sock liner that can be removed to obtain a medical orthotic.

It is better to choose a shoe which fits you and this can help to fit. The reason behind this is that if the shoe is slightly larger, then you may not be able to run fittingly and if the shoe is somewhat smaller, then you will get injured when you will land because our feet spread out a bit on landing.

Low Arch Support:

If you need too much arch support, I would suggest you pick any other shoe from the list. It is because this shoe has low arch support as compared to other brands. Although your feet are flat, then it is the best parkour shoe for flat soles.

Outsole with Vertical Patterns:

The outsole has verticals patterns which are good for traction. Although they may not last long yet they will provide you with enough friction to perform at your best in the sport. The traction is enough to perform well in wet conditions yet it is better to avoid parkour in rainy weather.

Overall it is one of the best shoes for parkour training with breathable mesh and comfortable insole.

This shoe is also good for trail running as it has a one-piece outsole. It can with-stand debris from trail or harsh elements.

3: Feetmat – Anti-Skid Free running shoe

This shoe has sleek black colour design and is bit unqiue from others in the list. Many other shoe colours are available on Amazon but with the same design. However, black one is most famous among others.

Rubber Lace Design:

The thing that makes this shoe different from others is its unique design at an affordable price. The whole upper part is a breathable mesh with rubber lace holes that comes from the middle.

As these lace holes are made of rubber, so you are never going to face the problem of torn lace holes. Now you can tighten up the laces as much as you wish.

Sometimes we are too lazy to change our shoes after a morning walk. This stylish design makes it possible for you to wear these at work in the office or casually at home. Thus, the shoe design makes it great for indoor, outdoor as well as for sports like parkour.

Affordable Cost:

You are lucky if the price is not an issue for you, but most people look for in-expensive shoes. It is good to buy affordable shoes and better if you buy two pairs of shoes instead of one.

One-piece Outsole:

The outsole is in one-piece, and I always prefer you to choose such one-piece soles. The reason for this is that the two-piece soles wear out quickly when you try to stop your body or lower your speed. One-piece sole will provide support to the whole lower part of the shoe, keeping it intact with the group while staying.

It also has anti-skid support so you will not fall off while stopping after a run.

FAQs about Feetmat Men’s Running Shoes

4: Revolution 4 by Nike – Women Parkour Shoes

Here comes the grand of brands, Nike. This shoe of Nike makes it to the top 10 of Men’s Running Shoes on Amazon. Let us test this shoe here

Simple Design:

The design is ordinary and similar to many shoes. A breathable mesh on the top is made up of synthetic fiber. Overall the exterior is pretty much minimalistic. You also get a Nike logo on the right of the shoe.

The simplicity in the design of the shoe is because it is an entry-level shoe. It is not so unique and does not has any type of cutting edge technology or new features embedded in it.

Flexible Insole:

The insole has cushioning to provide flexibility. It is non-removable. The primary issue which I observed with the shoe is the squeaking sound while walking. It is also pointed out by many users. I tried to figure it out and found that it is due to the insole. So, if you see squeaking sound coming out from shoes then buy an extra pair of insoles. These will help you to reduce this sound.

Extreme Durability:

Nike never fails its customers in the strength of the product. The rubber is strong and durable so you can use it easily on hard pavement such as asphalt.

In short, these shoes are worth the money. Its weight also comes in standard category as it weighs above 10 ounces. It is actually among the cheap parkour shoes rather then the high-end ones.

5: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19 – Parkour Shoes for Boys

This shoe is made by Brooks Brand. It has a lot of features which we are going to discuss now

Streamline Design

The shoe has a modern and streamlined design. The exterior is 3D printed. It provides your feet Go-To fit and comfortable resting place for your toes.

The interior is breathable and smooth thanks to the engineered mesh. It also has enough room in the forefoot and toe-box area. Overall, it has true to size profile as seen in Adrenaline GTS 18.

True Cushioning

It is crucial to get shoes with the true extent of cushioning. In parkour, you always need a response from the ground. You must be able to feel what is under your feet. Thus, the outsole must not be so thick with the foam that you cannot feel the ground. It must be thin enough to provide you with the right sensitivity and responsiveness.

This shoe comes with such balanced cushioning, which is thick enough to be comfortable, yet you can feel the ground under your feet.

Best Arch and Knee Support

Brooks Men’s Adrenaline GTS 19 provides you with the best Arch and knee support. Have you ever felt pain in your sole of the feet after a slight walk and wondered what the cause of that pain is? It is your shoe. I mentioned earlier that your shoes keep you healthy. Now I am going to prove this to you.

This shoe is recommended for over-pronators because of its high stability. It is stable but this stability comes at a cost. It has DNA loft wedge lined in it. However, this DNA loft foam is not soft. It is actually harder than the Biomogo foam used on its Brooks Adrenaline GTS 19 previous (18) version.

This shoe enhances the sense of under arch support due to small pieces of foam glued to the midsole edge. It also raises the sidewalls a bit and provides a cupping effect.

If you have completely flat feet, then avoid these shoes and go with any other shoes. But if you are looking for arch support, you cannot find shoes better then these. Also, the knee support is extraordinary.

Now let us do an overall review on these shoes. They will run easily for 500-600 miles because of enough rubber on their outsole. You may see insole contraction with time but it is durable enough to prevent any wear and tear. The midsole will also hold its cushioning and will remain 90% same even after a long use.

6: Gel Contend 5 – Asics Parkour Shoe

Seventh in the list is Gel-Contend 5 Running shoe made by Asics. It has a nearly similar design to the Gel-Venture 6 mentioned above. Let us see what are the differences between both of them

Ortholite Sockliner

This shoe is available in many designs so you can choose the one you like. The insole features an Ortholite Sockliner with moisture management. The insole is made such to absorb shock while jumps.

This shoe comes at an affordable price so it will not be a burden on your pocket even if you have to buy it every four months.  This shoe is a perfect combination of comfort and low cost. You get two enjoy flexibility and softness of insole at a very affordable price. The insole is like memory foam so it might not be too good for a training shoe.

The majority of the cushioning you get in the shoe is due to the AmpliFoam in the midsole. But if you are a heel-strike runner, you have the benefit of the Gel Cushion right under your heels. But it is limited to the heel area and if you do not strike heel much you might feel this as extra weight.

Good Foam Density

The only issue I found in these shoes is the foam density. It is much higher as compared to other shoes. You always need minimal foam density and for that, you have to sacrifice your comfort. I know that foam is for protection of your shoes but too much also reduces your sensitivity to the ground.

Overall, this shoe is good if you are not going to train in it. Being true to its size, the toe box has enough space. Also, the heel is neither too tight nor too loose. However, due to the tight midsole and rigid overlays, this shoe does not help much in flexing.

On the downsides, the material of the shoe absorbs water and does not repel it efficiently. It will not affect your performance but if you are running on wet grass, it can irritate your feet.

7: New Balance 520v5 – Best Free running Shoe

520v5 Cushioning Running Shoe is one of the best new balance parkour shoes. The upper shoe design is mostly a synthetic breathable mesh combined with a comfort collar. The shoe is made 100% with synthetic material. The shoe outsole is made up of rubber.

A shoe for every Occasion

This shoe is suitable for both tough parkour training or casual running. The insole is made with a new compound to give the feeling of a soft gel and design is combined with underfoot flex grooves.

When you wear them for the first time you may feel hard on the bottom tab but it will improve and sensation would be gone within a week. You are going them to find true to size shoes so choose a perfect pair for yourselves.

In online pictures, they have metallic look near sole which is not that good but believe me, they look very classical in-person.

While wearing a shoe, the last thing you would want is the weight of shoe pulling you down to the ground. However, these new balance parkour shoes are extremely lightweight and easy to wear as well.

8: Merrell Trail Glove 4 – Glove Running Shoe

This is one of its types of shoes on our list. It is made by Merrel for Men and is Trail Glove 4 runner shoe. There is something special about which you can guess by its name. This shoe fits on your feet like a glove.

Protective Shoe Material

Extra durability and stability with underfoot cushioning are provided by the 4mm CMEVA midsole. It will long last as it is compressed which further adds to its lightweight attributes.

The shoe is made with 100% pure synthetic material, while the sole is made with rubber and is also lined with trail protect pad for underfoot protection.

There is also breathable mesh so you can run far without worrying much. Also, the shoe is nearly weightless as each shoe weighs just 0.5 pounds (226 grams). The material is also abrasion resistant in addition to its low weight.

Arch Support

The thing that concerns most of the people is the arch support in this shoe. It is flat like a pancake at the bottom. But the insole has a bit of arch in the middle. So if you have a slightly flat foot then this shoe is good for you but if you require more arch support, I would not recommend shoe to you.

In the footbed, there is a non-removable microfiber foot which prevents microbial activity. It keeps your feet neat and also prevents odor.

Trail Protection Pad

Although it flat but there is a trail protection pad in-between the midsole and the outsole. It will protect your feet from sharp objects, stones or uneven surfaces. It further maintains the forefoot flexibility of the shoe.

This shoe gives you superb grip due to the Vibram Outsole TC1 as well as efficiency in running because of improved flexibility.

Fitness like glove

The glove-like fitness of the shoe comes from its Merrell Omni-Fit lacing system. The padding in the tongue and collar also makes this shoe snuggish. Not only fit but it also keeps your feet in place and prevents it from slipping.

Fitness is the whole concept behind this shoe. It fits on your feet like a glove. This shoe has a lace-up closure to tighten it up as per your feet’s size yet has enough space in the toe box.

Less Cushioning

Parkour shoes usually do need much cushioning. Merrell Trail Glove 4 is more about fitness, performance, responsiveness rather than comfort. This might be the reason this shoe has very low cushioning in it.

Overall, this shoe has breathable mesh, 10/10 fitness and less arch support. It gives you more control and makes you run effeciently while at the same time its material protects your feet.

9: Bare-XF 210 – Inov-8 Parkour Shoes

Inov produced this stylish Bare feet design shoe for Men with pure textile. It is meant mainly for cross training or gym but it is also a good parkour shoe.

Flexible Sole:

Bare-XF 210 V2 Sneaker has a sole made with rubber. The sole is not very thick to provide you with a maximum response from the ground but also provides good traction with the ground. you would not imagine that the sole is as thin as 3mm.

The sole also has a great extent of flexibility so you can jump on pipes and you can do parkour in every type of environment.

This shoe allows you to bend easily and perform complex physical movements. It is because of the ease to move toes in this shoe.

Barefoot Style:

This shoe may look like a minimalist parkour shoe from its outer design but in reality, it is a good barefoot shoe.

One thing that you should keep in mind while selecting a barefoot type shoe is that it will not last long due to their thin soles. At the same time, they are good because of their minimalist design and proper fitting. Proper fitting makes your feet feel like a part of these shoes.

This shoe has the property to adapt to the weather. You can splash water on it and it will still remain dry.

Rope climbing is possible on the shoe because of the Rope-Tec material rubberized on the sides. This rubber material on sides can affect breathability but overall it has good airflow in it.

10: TIMP 1.5 by Altra – Zero-Drop Running Shoe

This shoe by Altra are only zero drop shoes on our list. Do not know what is the meaning of zero drop shoes? Let me explain that to you

Zero Drop Shoes

This term is first used by makers of these shoes. It describes that heel is at the same height as the ball of the foot which means the stress from the knee will be reduced and shifted all over to calf muscles. It usually happens when you are standing barefoot on flat ground.

Perfect Design

Although, this shoe is waterproof yet it drains so well that you can use them in rain too. Also, it is not good for the muddy area. Its nice design makes it feel lighter and beautiful.

The outsole of the shoe has minimal wear. It is like the Max Track outsole which they are using. It is durable but it is a bit slippery material. However, you would love its fit if you train in a not so moisty environment.

This shoe has very fit lacing. If you are using for normal wear then you can keep laces loose but you can activate the racing mode so that this shoe becomes one with your feet. However, you have 5 eyelets which may look a bit odd.

Overall, the shoe is improved from previous versions of Altra’s shoes. Here is a similar review from Ginger Runner

The role of shoes in sports is very vital. They provide you grip, flexibility, and speed so, they must have a breathable mesh to keep your feet cool and dry. It is essential to buy the right shoe because choosing wrong can have a negative health impact.

Our team of expert parkours carefully selected all of them listed above, and all of them have the required features. So you can choose any of them without a worry.

Here are some FAQ’s that will give answers to all of your questions

What kind of Shoes is Good for Parkour?

Shoes with good grip, less cushioning, more durability, better traction pattern are usually appreciated for parkour. However, you can use other sneakers but make sure they have all the required qualities.

What shoes do freerunner wear?

Shoes with medium-thick sole, more grip, and breathable mesh are mostly suggested for freerunner. They can also wear parkour shoes as both are the same.

What to look for in freerunning shoes?

In free running shoes, grip matters the most so one should look for the outsole traction and its material for the grip. There are other things which matter as well such as breathability and stability.