10 Best Parkour Shoes & Brands (2020) Reviews and Guide

Have you just started parkour and looking for the best parkour shoes?

It is necessary to use shoes that are specifically made for parkour because they have the required qualities which are needed for excellent performance in this sport.

Without any further wait, here is a comparison of top parkour shoes

Best Parkour Shoes 2020

1. Stealth Ultras by TakeFlight – The Best Parkour Shoe

Every company created shoes for different sports like running, tennis, baseball, and many others but no company ever paid much attention to Parkour. Parkour is officially a sport but still, it was neglected by footwear and other sport gear manufacturers. We can say that Take Flight is the only company that truly loves Parkour and created these special Take Flight shoes for parkour.

At a glance, let me tell you that Stealth Ultras by TakeFlight is considered as top parkour shoe being affordable and durable.

Fulfills every Parkour Needs: Traceur does have specific needs such as a rubber sole for shock absorption such as present in Onitsuka Tiger Ultimate 81. Traceurs can perform better only if all of their needs are fulfilled and most important of them is the range of motion. This shoe provides a full range of motion and maneuverability to traceurs.

In free-running, the out-sole of the shoe is usually bearing the most of the effect of the activity. For that, it needs to be strong. This shoe has a rubber sole that provides flexibility and cushioning to the heel. Flexibility provides you with the ability to perform a wide range of parkour tricks. It also protects your body from the effect of landing from a high jump.

Strong Grip: You also need a strong grip under your feet to climb beside durable soles. This shoe offers an insane amount of traction which is destined to keep you steady on any uneven ground.  Means, you can do free running with confidence while your feet are in these best shoes for parkour.

Parkour is also about style and show off. All good parkour shoes not only focus on performance but also on the design and looks of the shoe which are not neglected in the Take Flight Parkour Shoes.

These shoes took the design to the next level by providing full black and blue color shoe. These two colors also work well with your casual wear making it possible for you to wear this shoe anywhere you like. However, the taste of style changes from the person to person and I cannot say anything about it.

Another essential thing for the intense parkour training sessions is keeping your feet bacteria-free. It is a shame that this shoe lacks anti-microbial pads but still have a breathable mesh. This breathable mesh brilliantly serves its own purpose of keeping the feet airy and odor-free.

Either you consider this as a downfall or simply the quality, their price is a bit more than usual shoes. It is true that you can find many parkour shoes under 100$ even 50$ but this one goes a bit above 100$.

Overall Review: If you haven’t picked any shoes for parkour then this shoe can be your ultimate choice as it will fulfill all of your need in an affordable price.

2. Gel-Venture 6 – Best Free Running Shoe

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 to our list of best parkour shoes because it provides a fantastic grip while running on the road.

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.

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.

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.

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 that 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 Men’s Non Slip – Parkour Sneakers

This shoe has sleek black color design and is bit unique from others in the list. Many other shoe colors are available on Amazon but with the same design. However, black one is most famous among others for shoes which are best for parkour.

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.

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 parkour shoes and better if you buy two pairs of shoes instead of one.

The out sole 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

Is this shoe waterproof?
No, it is not waterproof.

Is this true to size?
Shoe material is stretchy so I would suggest you to buy 1/2 size down.

4. Revolution 4 by Nike – Best Shoes for Parkour

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

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.

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 – Grippiest Shoes

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.

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 out-sole 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 mid-sole 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. It will run easily for 500-600 miles because of its rubber sole. You may see insole contraction with time but it is durable enough to prevent any wear and tear. The mid-sole will also hold its cushioning and will remain 90% same even after a long use.

6. Gel Contend 5 – Parkour Running Shoes

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 mid-sole. 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 mid-sole 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 Shoe for Freerunning

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, it has metallic look near sole which is not that good but believes me, it looks 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 training shoes and easy to wear as well.

8. Merrell Trail Glove 4 – Parcore Shoes

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 EVA mid-sole. 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.

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 foot-bed, 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 mid-sole and the out-sole. 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.

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 efficiently while at the same time its material protects your feet.

9. Inov-8 Bare-XF 210 – Grippy Parkour Boots

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. Under Armour Micro G Pursuit – Top Parkour Trainers

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

It has a lace-up closure while the upper part is made with textiles and is extremely light-weight.

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

Performance: 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. It is also available in many colors and styles with minimal shoe design.

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

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 sole: The outsole of the Armour Men’s Micro G Pursuit Parkour Running Shoe is made up of rubber which fulfills one of the important requirements of being among the best parkour shoes. 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:

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Parkour Clothing and Shoes Brands

If you are a die hard fan of a specific brand, then you might want to purchase shoe from a specific brand. Thus, we analyzed shoes of each brand and selected the ones which are best for doing parkour.

Take a look at the following video which gives overview on the top 5 parkour shoes

Are you wondering what to look for while ordering these shoes?

Well, here is a definitive buying guide for you.

What to Look for while buying the best Parkour shoes? – Buyer’s Guide

The selection of shoes for casual wear is simple but if you want to select shoes for some specific sport or activity then it will be a difficult task for you.

Contents

Yet, you will need some expert advice in order to get the best shoes for Parkour. The Parkour is a maximal sport in which you need to jump, run as well as climb in an urban environment.

You have to pass through many obstacles and need some extra durable as well as flexible shoes. If your shoes are not supportive then you are not able to run fast rather than climb or jump through obstacles.

The shoes for parkour must give you some extra support, comfort, flexibility, breathability, and protect your shoes from the other side water or any other messy material.

Let take a look at the features that you need to check while buying parkour shoes:

Outer Sole

The main thing in the shoes is the outsole of shoes because that part of the shoe will interact with the surface. If the shoe sole is very thin then the water and other hard objects may create problems for you.

On the other hand, if the shoe sole is very thick. It creates the shoe heavy and you are not able to run fast with a heavy sole shoe.

If the shoe outsole is very soft and fine then there are chances that you will lose your balance as well as fall down on the ground.

Furthermore, in some shoes, the outsole is made by some rubber material and it is attached to the upper part of the shoe by some glue. Yet they look pretty and attractive because some design and cutting are made on that sole but they give you no benefit in your sport. In addition, they cause problems for you in a messy or urban area.

There are many chances that the attached outsole will go down and create a big problem for you.

The outsole for best parkour shoes must not be very thin and soft as well as it must not be very hard and thick. It should be made by some normal and flexible rubber material that gives you support and flexibility during your sport.

Weight of shoes

In order to give your feet more cushioning and comfort, you have to always choose some lightweight shoes. Because if your shoes are heavy then your feet need more energy and effort in order to just carry the weight of the shoes.

You are not able to run fast, jump as well as climb at a time. Furthermore, with heavyweight shoes, your feet become tired in a shorter amount of time and you are not able to carry out your sport further.

The parkour shoes are a little bit heavier than the normal shoes but they should be not so heavy that your feet are unable to carry their weight. Furthermore, when you wear your shoes your body should not feel that they are wearing something extra.

But your body has to feel that your feet are not carrying some extra thing. Your shoes must carry a suitable weight that your feet are able to carry and do sport easily. The shoes must be lightweight in which you can easily jump, climb, and run faster.

Good Breath-ability

Some people ignore the upper part of the shoe and the breathability option in their shoes. They just look at some other features of the shoes. But in reality, they ignore one of the most important features of the shoes. Because it does not matter whether you have to wear your shoes in a cold climate or in a warm climate.

Because in both types of climate your feet need fresh air. If your shoes are not breathable then you have to face problems with sweating and bad odor.

When we run fast, jump, and climb the temperature of the feet is changing, sometimes they become very hot. The hotness of feet creates sweating that makes your feet wet and makes the shoe slippery.

Furthermore, the sweating makes a bad odor smell in your shoes and after some time that smell is coming from your feet too.

In the best parkour shoes, the upper of shoes is made of some high-quality mesh material that gives you a good breathability option. Besides this it allows fresh air to come across the shoes in order to keep your feet temperature normal and make them sweat-free.

Furthermore, the mesh material also makes your shoes free from bad odor, smell, and sweating as well as keep them clean from inside.

Grip, Flexibility and Cushioning

The best parkour shoes are those that give you a good grip on any kind of surface. In parkour sport, you need to run in an urban environment where you get a messy surface, more dirt, slips, and water also. You need to run, jump, and climb as well as pass the obstacles coming in your way.

In order to do this best parkour activity, your shoes must have more grip. It provides you grip on any kind of surface as well as balance your body in order to do your parkour sport.

When you have to do different actions in your sport then the shoes must be flexible so that you can do all the activities easily as well as without fear of injury and pain.

If the shoes are not flexible then you can only do running rather than jump or climbing. The best parkour shoes are flexible enough that give your feet an easy room as well as more flexibility in order to do any kind of action in their parkour activity.

If your shoes are not soft and cushion full then your feet will swallow and you may feel pain in different parts of the feet like on the toe section, ankle as well as mid part of feet.

The best parkour shoes have high quality cushioning that gives your feet a feeling of softness as well as they feel more comfortable in fast running and jumping. The cushions are inserted in the middle sole of the shoes as well as in the heel cup too. In order to protect your heel muscles and give them safety from injury as well as pain.

Durability

Today in this time of busy life everyone wants some extra durability and long-lasting products. Probably because people have no time as well as no extra budget to buy things after every month. Same in the case or parkour shoes if you want some extra durability shoes than check the outsole material of your shoes.

The outsole is made by rubber and the best outsole is that which is made by synthetic rubber because it does not damage and it is not much affected by sunlight and other harsh materials.

If the outsole rubber is of some low-quality material then this will cause a serious problem for you and you have to change your shoes frequently in order to do your support.

Furthermore, the more durability and long-lasting shoes are minimalist shoes. The rubber of the shoes must be strong enough that it gives you support and grip not only on a plain surface but also on wet, rocky as well as messy surfaces too.

In addition, the rubber is strong and sharp enough that it can protect your feet from outside water, grease as well as oily liquids and keep your feet dry and moistureless.

Price

If you do the parkour sport frequently then you need some high-quality shoes as well as you also need 2 to 3 pairs in a year. The best thing is to buy shoes that have some average cost and they come up with some extra support features.

Check the quality that is essential in parkour shoes and buy some budget-friendly as well as average cost shoes in order to enjoy your parkour sport.

Besides this, if you buy two pairs of shoes at an average cost then this is a good thing because you can switch them frequently. If your one pair becomes dirtier then you will have a second one that you can wear and continue your sport until the first one becomes clean.

FAQ’s

Wrapping Up