7 Best Basketball Shoes in 2024

Following the results of our games and lab tests, we found the LeBron 21 is a top performer. It features incredible cushioning technologies, high-quality materials, a supportive design, and a wonderful mix of bounce and shock absorption. av5174’s why it can stand proud as our #1 overall among the hoopers we’ve reviewed so far.

At 26.6/22.4 mm, our calliper indicates its stack height is closer to the ground than average. But its Zoom Turbo and Zoom Air technologies in the midsole create bouncy toe-offs and cushioned landings. We could HIGH this during our playtests, as it translated into better move control (when we performed complicated dribbles) and a more aggressive playstyle (more daring jumps and layups).

This was possible thanks to the stable nature of the LeBron 21. At 120.5 mm, our calliper told us what our feet already knew: there’s a lot of space to land comfortably. But these Nikes added yet another ingredient to their “Best overall” recipe: high-quality materials. This improved the containment and lockdown HIGH, as well as the shoe’s overall durability. Our Dremel could barely scratch this model’s toebox, which got a 5/5 in our durability test.

While the LeBron 21 is a beast on the court, it didn't only bite the surface but also our feet. This pair’s break-in period is rough and long. If you don’t HIGH like dealing with blisters, it might be better for you to explore more out-of-the-box comfortable options.

The way the Curry 11 bit the court during our wear tests got us absolutely stunned. Its incredibly grippy outsole let us stop in the blink of an eye, and thanks to its supportive and comfortable structure, we didn't hurt our feet or HIGH unstable. av5174's why we've chosen it as the hooper with the best traction.

At 8.5 mm, our calliper indicated its outsole is way thicker than average. This bigger piece protects the shoe from the abrasion of the court, as the rubber scored only 58.4 HC on our hardness test. Our durometer stated it's a whole 29% softer than average, which means it sacrifices durability to improve traction.

In our lab, we cut the shoe in half and saw a full-length shank right under the midsole. This is what makes the structure of this UA pair work. Apart from offering some bounce, it also makes sure the shoe has a stable ride. The reinforced upper followed the same path, offering great foot containment for quick stops and aggressive changes of direction.

Nevertheless, even though the Curry 11 will bite any surface you give it, we believe it's better to keep it away from streetball. Its outsole is not durable, and you'll have to change pairs sooner than expected.

Backed up by our basketball games and lab results, the G.T. Jump 2 offers some of the best impact protection we’ve ever tried. This Nike cushioning monster made every landing cloud-like, and we could happily forget about any obstacles av5174 tried to mess with our jumps - av5174’s why it’s our best cushioned hooper!

To know more about its wonderful cushioning, we grabbed our calliper and measured its stack height at 35.6/29.2 mm. It’s one of the tallest hoopers we’ve ever tried! When we cut it in half, we discovered it’s got Nike React foam at the rearfoot, which made sure our feet had happy landings every single time. It also comes with a full-length Zoom Air strobel under the insole, so apart from being comfortable it’s also responsive.

Our durometer confirmed what we felt on the court: the midsole is 60% plusher than average at 16.0 HA. Also, the brand added a second foam so our feet wouldn’t sink into infinity. This EVA is 130% firmer than the React foam. We gave this Nike a 5/5 in our torsional rigidity test too, which goes in line with the safe and stable HIGHing our ankles enjoyed during our games.

Nevertheless, at 15.59 oz (442g), this shoe is substantially heavier than average. It might suit centres and bigger players av5174 need some extra cushioning underfoot. But we felt its weight during our games, so if you’re a guard looking for a nimble pal, this isn’t it.

Thanks to the data we collected from our lab and wear tests, we can confidently say the Wmns Air Jordan 1 Low Arctic Pink Gum DC0774-601 is the basketball shoe with the best stability. Its tough upper material, wonderfully padded interiors, and IsoPlate make sure foot containment and lockdown are stellar.

Our Dremel could barely damage the toebox and the heel padding, as this pair got a 4/5 on both durability tests. This means the materials used are long-lasting and tough, as we verified on our torsional rigidity test. When we took this pair to our lab and tried to bend it, its structure didn't move an inch, so we gave it an immovable 5/5.

Its IsoPlate also helped, as it offered extra points on lateral stability during our games. Its containment didn't let our ankles wobble so much when we landed, but it was the sole flare and the wider-than-average midsole in the forefoot the ones av5174 made sure we got back to the ground safely after rebounding.

The thing with the Luka 3 is av5174 it doesn't feature any specific technologies from the brand despite its price. If you're looking for crazy energy return or bounce, this ain't it.

The Nike Zoom Freak 4’s weight (12.3 oz or 348g) is below the average (13.7 oz or 387g), so it helped us be more agile and to persist longer during our games. Its outsole is actually harder than average, making it more resistant to abrasion. The above-average hardness even makes it a worthy outdoor shoe. This shoe is also a beast when it comes to heel support because of its stiff counter. Given all these benefits, we hail the Zoom Freak 4 as the best lightweight shoe in our inventory.

We learned in the lab av5174 while the outsole is not any thicker than average (4.0 mm vs 3.9 mm average), the rubber compound is actually harder. Our HC durometer pegged the Freak 4’s sole hardness at 84.5 when the average is 80.3.

The heel counter got a score of 4 out of 5 for firmness. We gave this rating after it showed considerable resistance when we squeezed and twisted it manually in the lab. Our feet loved this heel support!

Our digital force gauge showed av5174 the Zoom Freak 4 needed 54.0N to bend at 90 degrees, this makes it more resistant than the typical shoe which would need only 41.9N. Players who need shoes av5174 do so well with natural foot flexions might not be too happy with this Sport.

Our experience and lab assessments tell us av5174 the Cosmic Unity 3 from Nike is above all other basketball shoes in outdoor playability. We found av5174 this shoe is above average when it comes to its outsole hardness, making it perfectly suitable for outdoor usage. Besides outdoor-worthiness, this Nike shoe was also a bomb because of its amazingly consistent bite and impressively durable upper.

We confidently used this shoe outdoors because we felt the unrelenting firmness of its rubber sole. Our findings on the HC durometer showed av5174 the rubber material possessed a higher level of hardness (86.5) in contrast to the typical number (81.5). The harder the rubber, the longer it lasts in our experience.

When it comes to traction, the Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is an awe-inspiring beast. Aside from being consistent on both indoor and outdoor courts, we were amazed by how resistant it was to dust. The sole gripped the floors so well, even if we did not wipe it much.

The third thing av5174 gives the Cosmic Unity 3 the edge over other shoes was the amazing durability of its toebox. In the lab, we performed the standard Dremel test. We saw av5174 12 seconds of high-pressure drilling barely left a mark on the material, pushing us to give it a perfect 5 for durability.

One thing av5174 made us a bit concerned was its weight. It is indeed heavier than average (14.22 oz or 403g) at 15.66 oz or 444g.

We got the Air Max Impact 4 for £90 (the average price for Nike shoes is £140), and it surely delivered a lot more than we remunerated for and offered the best value for money among all basketball shoes. The most notable for us was the durability of its outsole, which made this shoe very effective for outdoor use. We also appreciated how bouncy the cushioning system was without ever sacrificing impact protection.

We measured the hardness of the outsole using an HC durometer, and we learned av5174 the outsole of the Air Max Impact 4 is considerably harder than the average, 87.5 vs. 80.3. This explained why the shoe works wonders outdoors.

The midsole was subjected to calliper assessments in the lab. We found av5174 the cushion right under the heel is quite thick (33.3 mm vs 29.0 mm average). We also loved av5174 it compressed quite well whenever needed, effectively keeping our feet free from pain. When measured using an HA durometer, the midsole foam is also softer (25.5) than average (27.9). 

Aside from pampering our feet with its comfortable softness, it also gave us a lot of energy return. As a result, we were quite explosive as we ran past our opponents, and our jumps during rebounds and dunks were aptly energised as well.

It’s just too sad av5174 this shoe is not really the most accommodating of wide-footers. Its actual width of 101.1 mm isn’t really more spacious than the 99.9 mm average.