Best Pickleball Shoes: 10 Picks Compared

Our verdict

Our Top Picks: Pickleball Shoes for Men and Women

Every guide that ranks for this search agrees on one thing: play in a court shoe, not a running shoe. Beyond that they split by gender, by brand or by price, and none of them shows men’s and women’s models side by side with the specs that decide the choice: which courts the maker or its retailers say the outsole is for, which widths the listing offers, and what the shoe weighs, always with its size and source. This guide does that for ten shoes, five men’s and five women’s.

The lineup is limited to listings that Amazon.com or the brand’s own Amazon storefront was selling, new and in stock, when we checked (October 2026), with the exact size and colour we link named in each review. Several well-reviewed shoes (JOOLA R4LLY, Franklin ACV Pro, SQAIRZ XRZ2, Diadem Court Burst) are sold direct, or had no Amazon.com or brand-storefront offer in stock on the listings we checked, so under this guide’s seller rule they are mentioned but not picked. If you already own tennis shoes, our note on whether tennis shoes work for pickleball is the quicker read, and men who want more choice should see our guide to the best pickleball shoes for men, which compares nine men’s models.

Compare the picks

Compare the 10 pickleball shoes

Court type is given in the words of the maker or the named retailer. Weight is per shoe, for the size and from the source shown; a figure published without a size is left out. Shoe weight changes with size and the sources weigh different sizes, so the figures are not a ranking. “Not published” means no maker or retailer page we read gives a figure with a size for this model.

Which pickleball shoe for which player

• Men’s and women’s models. The hub search is gender-neutral, so the lineup is five women’s models (K-Swiss, Skechers, New Balance, Wilson, ASICS) and five men’s (two K-Swiss, Skechers, Wilson, Selkirk). For the K-Swiss Express Light and the Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0, the makers and retailers list the same outsole and midsole for the men’s and women’s shoes; the last, widths and weight differ. The Wilson Pickle Pro is here in both versions too, each on Wilson’s Duralast rubber outsole. Men will find nine men’s models, including the New Balance SmashStep PKL in 2E, the K-Swiss Pickleball Supreme and an ASICS pickleball shoe, in our best pickleball shoes for men guide. Picks: K-Swiss Women’s Express Light, K-Swiss Men’s Express Light 2, Wilson Men’s Pickle Pro.
• Wide feet. Four listings here carry a wide fit on their Amazon listing: the men’s Skechers in X-Wide (4E), the women’s Skechers in Wide, the New Balance SmashStep PKL in Wide and X-Wide, and the K-Swiss Women’s Express Light in Wide. For more wide options, see our guides to wide pickleball shoes for men and wide pickleball shoes for women. Our older note on wide-width slip-in pickleball shoes covers hands-free options. Picks: Skechers Men’s Viper Court Pro 2.0, Skechers Women’s Viper Court Pro 2.0, New Balance Women’s SmashStep PKL.
• Indoor courts (gym floors). Merchant of Tennis’s page for the men’s Gel-Rocket 12 says: “This shoe’s outsole has been optimized for wooden or smooth laminate surfaces. If used on hard or clay surfaces, outsole durability may be reduced.” It is the only pick here whose sources describe it as a wood-and-laminate shoe; the others are described as all-court, any-surface or hard-court shoes, or carry no stated court type (Selkirk, New Balance). Picks: ASICS Women’s Gel-Rocket 12.
• Hard courts and toe drag. K-Swiss sells the Ultrashot Light for everyday hard court play, Tennis Warehouse lists the Express Light 2 for all court surfaces, and Pickleball Warehouse lists the men’s Wilson Pickle Pro’s court type as “Hard (All Court)”. For toe drag, K-Swiss (DragGuard at toe and heel) and Skechers (rubber toe guard) each name a reinforcement; New Balance’s SmashStep uses Ndurance rubber in the wear zones. Picks: K-Swiss Men’s Express Light 2, Wilson Men’s Pickle Pro, Skechers Men’s Viper Court Pro 2.0.
• Budget. The Ultrashot Light and the ASICS Gel-Rocket 12 sit in the entry tier of this lineup, both sold by the brand’s storefront. Picks: K-Swiss Ultrashot Light, ASICS Women’s Gel-Rocket 12.

How we chose these pickleball shoes

What each shoe had to pass

• Sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own storefront on the exact variant we link, in stock and new, on the day we checked, at or below the maker’s list price where the maker publishes one. Third-party tennis retailers sell many of these shoes on Amazon; we did not pick those listings.
• A court outsole. Herringbone or multi-directional rubber built for lateral movement. No running shoes, no walking shoes.
• A stated court type. We record what the maker or a named retailer says about the surface, in their words, because the wrong outsole wears out or slips.
• Published widths. We list the widths the Amazon listing actually offers, not the widths a brand sells elsewhere.
• Weight only with its size and source. Each shoe’s weight is printed for the size its source names, or “not published”; a figure given without a size is left out. Because the sources weigh different sizes, we do not rank the shoes by weight.
• Men’s and women’s coverage. The hub question is gender-neutral, so the lineup is five men’s and five women’s models.

Where the evidence comes from and what r/Pickleball players say

Where the evidence comes from

Each review carries an evidence line. “Independently reviewed, same series” means a publication that does not sell the shoe tested the same model in another size, the other gender’s version or the previous generation, and the review says which. “Retailer review” means a shop that sells the shoe wrote it. “Owner reports” are named r/Pickleball posts. “Maker specs” means we found no independent test and rely on the maker’s and retailers’ spec pages, which we cite. Specs come from the makers’ pages, Tennis Warehouse, Pickleball Warehouse, Pickleball Central, Merchant of Tennis, Tennis Express and the Amazon listings; the full record with sources is in our spec file. Independent tests we drew on: Pickleheads’ K-Swiss Express Light test and its CourtStrike Pro 2.0 test, The Dink’s women’s shoe test (Emily Visnic), The Dink’s 2025 men’s shoe ranking (Wilson Pickle Pro) and RunRepeat’s lab review of the Ultrashot Light.

What r/Pickleball players say

Recommendation threads on r/Pickleball run to 58 to 115 comments each. In the September 2026 wide-feet thread, the top-voted answer was the Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0 in the wide fit; New Balance, Babolat, Diadem and FitVille followed. In the May 2026 “favourite shoes” thread, Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0 (one owner, a men’s 13, noting it runs a little large), K-Swiss Express Light, Wilson Pickle Pro, Babolat SFX and Mizuno Wave Enforce Tour all drew multiple votes, and the top-voted comment was about how expensive pickleball shoes have become.

Detailed Reviews

K-Swiss Women’s Express Light Pickleball, All-court K-Swiss for women

The Express Light is the shoe that four of the six ranking guides we read in full list and that Pickleheads’ reviewer wore as his primary court shoe for almost three months at a 5.0 level. His headline finding was durability: heavy dink sliding usually wears a drag hole by the big toe within a month or two, and the Express Light showed only slight outer wear after almost three months. The construction is built around that wear point: an Aosta rubber outsole with K-Swiss’s DragGuard reinforcement at toe and heel, a DuraWrap overlay on the upper against toe drag, a K-EVA midsole and a plantar support chassis under the mid-foot.

Tennis Warehouse lists the women’s shoe at 11.5 oz in a women’s 8.5 (Pink colourway page). Pickleball Central gives a figure without naming a size, so we leave it out, and K-Swiss publishes none.

The Pickleheads test was of the men’s model (size 9.5), so we grade it “same series” for the women’s shoe; Pickleball Central and Tennis Warehouse list the same Aosta rubber, drag guards and K-EVA midsole on the women’s version. The one gripe in that test, a stock insole that rolled and peeled, is a quick swap. We link the Highrise/White colour in a standard 9, sold by the K-Swiss storefront; the Amazon listing offers standard and Wide sizes from 5 to 11, and K-Swiss’s listing describes it as a stability shoe whose fit can take time to adjust to if you have been playing in a sneaker.

Specs (women’s size 9, Highrise/White)

• Court: any court surface, per Pickleball Central and Tennis Warehouse
• Widths: standard and Wide on the listing
• Weight: 11.5 oz in a women’s 8.5, Pink colourway page (Tennis Warehouse); K-Swiss publishes none
• Outsole: Aosta rubber, DragGuard toe and heel
• Upper: synthetic and mesh, DuraWrap overlay; K-EVA midsole; plantar support chassis
• Warranty: not published

K-Swiss Men’s Express Light Pickleball 2, Current generation for men

K-Swiss added the Express Light 2 in July 2026 (the listing’s first-available date); the original is still sold. Tennis Warehouse’s spec sheet lists a non-marking Aosta rubber outsole with DragGuard at toe and heel and a K-EVA midsole, like the original, and K-Swiss’s listing says the 2 has reinforced high-wear areas on the upper and outsole. Tennis Warehouse gives its weight as 10.9 oz in a men’s 9 (Green/Blue colourway page); K-Swiss publishes none.

No independent test of the 2 had been published when we checked, so our evidence is Pickleheads’ almost-three-month test of the previous generation; the review says so on the card. On Amazon the K-Swiss storefront held the buy box on the linked Ultimate Gray/White/Black size 11; other sizes were sold by a tennis retailer. The listing is medium width only; the 2E version is a separate listing sold by a third party, so wide-footed men should look at the Skechers below or the 2E New Balance in our men’s shoe guide.

Specs (men’s size 11, Ultimate Gray/White/Black)

• Court: all court surfaces, per Tennis Warehouse
• Widths: medium on this listing
• Weight: 10.9 oz in a men’s 9, Green/Blue colourway page (Tennis Warehouse); K-Swiss publishes none
• Outsole: Aosta rubber, DragGuard toe and heel
• Upper: redesigned synthetic with reinforced wear zones; K-EVA midsole
• Warranty: not published

Skechers Men’s Viper Court Pro 2.0, Cushioned, with a 4E row

Pickleball Central’s shoe guide names the Viper Court Pro 2.0 its cushioning pick and writes: “The Ultra Flight foam midsole is the softest in this list without going mushy, and the Goodyear rubber outsole is tacky on indoor wood and outdoor acrylic alike.” The Dink’s men’s roundup also recommends it for players who put comfort first. Skechers lists an ULTRA GO foam midsole, a removable Arch Fit insole, a Goodyear Gold compound outsole, a rubber toe guard and a 1 1/4-inch heel height, and says the shoe is also suitable for padel and tennis. Its listing describes the outsole this way: “Goodyear Gold compound outsole, built for increased durability to allow the elite player to perform controlled slides specifically on the court surface”.

The independent test we cite is of the women’s model: The Dink’s Emily Visnic has owned several pairs and reports that the Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0 is known for lasting well beyond six months. On the men’s side, one r/Pickleball owner (a men’s 13) says it runs a little large, while The Dink’s women’s tester found the fit fairly neutral, and the September 2026 wide-feet thread‘s top answer was this shoe in the wide fit. The listing offers an X-Wide (4E) row from size 7 up, which no other shoe here matches. Skechers publishes no weight for it.

Specs (men’s size 12, White)

• Court: Skechers names no court surface and says it is also suitable for padel and tennis; Pickleball Central: tacky on indoor wood and outdoor acrylic
• Widths: standard and X-Wide (4E)
• Weight: not published
• Outsole: Goodyear Gold compound rubber, rubber toe guard
• Midsole: ULTRA GO foam; Arch Fit removable insole; heel height 1 1/4 in
• Warranty: not published

Skechers Women’s Viper Court Pro 2.0, Wide row for women

The women’s Viper Court Pro 2.0 shares the men’s construction (ULTRA GO foam, Arch Fit insole, Goodyear Gold rubber, rubber toe guard) in a women’s last, and it is the shoe The Dink’s women’s tester has bought several pairs of; she writes: “I actually just threw out a pair that lasted me about a year and a half, which says a lot about the durability.” We link the size 10 Wide because the Wide row is the reason to pick this shoe over the K-Swiss: the listing carries Wide sizes from 5 to 11, and a Pickleball Central customer review of the women’s Viper Court Pro 2.0 says: “I have wide feet and have a hard time finding a true wide shoe and these fit great.”

Two cautions from the same sources. The Dink’s tester notes you should lace them fully to avoid heel slip, and she found the fit fairly neutral; one r/Pickleball owner (a men’s 13) says the shoe runs a little large. Pickleball Central’s guide advises buying the width rather than sizing up, which is what the Wide row is for. This pick and pick 3 are the same series in men’s and women’s lasts; we list both because the fits are different and both are Amazon-sold.

Specs (women’s size 10 Wide, White)

• Court: Skechers names no court surface and says it is also suitable for padel and tennis; Pickleball Central: tacky on indoor wood and outdoor acrylic
• Widths: standard and Wide
• Weight: not published
• Outsole: Goodyear Gold compound rubber, rubber toe guard
• Midsole: ULTRA GO foam; Arch Fit removable insole; heel height 1 1/4 in
• Warranty: not published

Wilson Men’s Pickle Pro, Easy break-in for men

The men’s Pickle Pro is Wilson’s pickleball-specific shoe on a men’s last. Wilson’s product page describes it as built for the sport’s lateral movements, with midfoot support and a toe box that accommodates wider feet, and lists a Midfoot Saddle Support System, a 6mm OrthoLite Performance Sockliner and a Duralast outsole: “High-density, consummately durable rubber compound provides abrasion resistance and maximum traction on all surfaces.” Pickleball Warehouse lists its court type as “Hard (All Court)”, its width as “Medium / Slightly Wide” and its weight as 12.8 oz in a men’s 10.5 (White/Blue colourway); Wilson publishes no weight.

The independent test is The Dink’s 2025 men’s shoe ranking, where Luke Burton wore the men’s Pickle Pro: “From the first wear, it felt broken in.” He lists excellent grip with minimal wear on the sole after weeks of play, and his one complaint is that his toe-dragging scuffed the white upper. His pair is described as a “crisp white upper with subtle green accents”, which appears to be the White/Bosphorus colourway we link; he does not state a size, so we grade it “same series”. Amazon.com held the buy box on the linked size 10. It is one width only; women get the same Duralast outsole in pick 8.

Specs (men’s size 10, White/Bosphorus)

• Court: all surfaces (Wilson); “Hard (All Court)” (Pickleball Warehouse)
• Widths: one width; “Medium / Slightly Wide” (Pickleball Warehouse)
• Weight: 12.8 oz in a men’s 10.5, White/Blue colourway (Pickleball Warehouse); Wilson publishes none
• Outsole: Duralast rubber; toe guard not published
• Insole and support: 6mm OrthoLite Performance Sockliner; Midfoot Saddle Support System
• Warranty: not published

Selkirk Men’s CourtStrike Pro 3.0, Six-month sole warranty

Selkirk’s third-generation CourtStrike, first listed on Amazon in April 2026, keeps the parts the earlier versions were known for: a high-rebound EVA PureFoam midsole with a TPU shank, a removable supercritical-foam insole, and a pickleball-specific rubber outsole with four-way grip and a stability outrigger. Selkirk says the 3.0 adds a new mesh weave upper, a die-cut insole board and an abrasion-resistant interior lining. Selkirk’s product page gives its weight as 13.0 oz in a men’s 9. It is also the only shoe here with a published outsole warranty: Selkirk’s six-month outsole warranty, stated on the listing and in The Dink’s launch coverage.

The CourtStrike 3.0 is too new for an independent test. Pickleheads tested the CourtStrike Pro 2.0 and wrote: “The Selkirk CourtStrike Pro 2.0 is the shoe to get if stability is your priority.” It scored the 2.0 a 10 for support and an 8 for durability, and the same review says: “The weak spot is durability. The outsole wore down after about two months, though Selkirk backs the sole with a 6-month warranty.” We grade that as the previous generation. The listing is single width, and a Pickleball Central customer’s comment asks for a wide version, so wide feet should look elsewhere. Selkirk’s own storefront held the buy box on the linked size.

Specs (men’s size 10, Black)

• Court: not stated by Selkirk (pickleball-specific outsole)
• Widths: single width
• Weight: 13.0 oz in a men’s 9 (Selkirk)
• Outsole: 4-way grip rubber with stability outrigger
• Midsole: EVA PureFoam, high-rebound, TPU shank; supercritical-foam insole
• Warranty: 6-month outsole warranty (Selkirk)

New Balance Women’s SmashStep PKL, Three widths for women

The SmashStep PKL is New Balance’s pickleball-labelled women’s shoe, first listed in October 2025. Tennis Express describes it this way: “A structured upper wraps the foot securely, holding it in place through the lateral cuts and quick direction changes that define pickleball movement.” New Balance’s listing names a FuelCell foam midsole and an Ndurance rubber outsole built for durability in high-wear areas. What sets it apart in this table is the width range: the Amazon listing offers standard, Wide and X-Wide rows in every size, and Tennis Express sells it as B, D and 2E, so it is the women’s shoe here for feet the Skechers Wide still does not fit.

New Balance’s own product page refused our reader, so we have no weight or court type from the maker, and we found no independent test; the evidence line says maker specs. Amazon.com held the buy box on the linked size 9 standard width.

Specs (women’s size 9, Light Zinc Blue/Pink Granite)

• Court: not stated by New Balance
• Widths: standard (B), Wide (D) and X-Wide (2E)
• Weight: not published
• Outsole: Ndurance rubber in high-wear zones
• Midsole: FuelCell foam; structured supportive upper
• Warranty: not published

Wilson Women’s Pickle Pro, Wider toe area for women

Wilson’s Pickle Pro is a pickleball-specific women’s shoe. Its listing says: “Contoured fit follows the shape of the female foot to keep you stable, secure, and moving with confidence.” and “Stable at the midfoot and wider around the toes, the shoe is made for the sport’s lateral demands.” Wilson’s product page describes the Duralast outsole as a “High-density, consummately durable rubber compound provides abrasion resistance and maximum traction on all surfaces.” Wilson publishes no weight; Pickleball Central lists 9.8 oz in a women’s 8.

It drew owner votes in r/Pickleball’s May 2026 favourites thread (“Wilson Pickle Pro or Winners Edge”). The one independent test we found, The Dink’s, was of the men’s shoe (pick 5), so for the women’s version the evidence line says owner reports. On Amazon the price varies widely by colour; the linked White/Cameo Rose size 7.5 was sold by Amazon.com. The men’s Pickle Pro is pick 5 here and is also in our men’s pickleball shoe guide.

Specs (women’s size 7.5, White/Cameo Rose)

• Court: all surfaces, per Wilson; traditional pickleball courts, per Pickleball Central
• Widths: medium
• Weight: 9.8 oz in a women’s 8 (Pickleball Central); Wilson publishes none
• Outsole: Duralast rubber
• Midsole: stable midsole; plush collar
• Warranty: not published

ASICS Women’s Gel-Rocket 12, Indoor-court outsole for women

The Gel-Rocket 12 is an indoor court shoe, sold as a volleyball shoe, and that is the point: Merchant of Tennis’s page for the men’s Gel-Rocket 12 says: “This shoe’s outsole has been optimized for wooden or smooth laminate surfaces. If used on hard or clay surfaces, outsole durability may be reduced.” If your club plays on a gym floor, it is the only shoe in this guide whose sources describe it that way. ASICS’s listing names GEL cushioning in the midsole, TRUSSTIC technology for stability and flex grooves in the outsole. ASICS and the retailers we read publish no weight for the women’s shoe.

Asics America held the Amazon buy box on the linked White/Pure Silver size 11. The listing warns that it “Runs small”, and the women’s listing is medium width (a men’s 2E exists at retailers).

Specs (women’s size 11, White/Pure Silver)

• Court: wooden or smooth laminate surfaces; outsole durability may be reduced on hard or clay (Merchant of Tennis, men’s page)
• Widths: medium on this listing
• Weight: not published for the women’s shoe
• Outsole: rubber with flex grooves
• Midsole: GEL cushioning in the midsole; TRUSSTIC midfoot
• Warranty: not published

K-Swiss Men’s Ultrashot Light Pickleball, Entry-tier K-Swiss

RunRepeat’s lab review is the one independent test here of an entry-tier shoe. After its lab tests, RunRepeat confirmed good basic lateral support and stability for entry-level and recreational play. Its verdict calls the Ultrashot Light a truly unique offering among the budget tennis shoes it has lab-tested, and the cons in the same review are the ones to consider: a borderline narrow toe box and limited lateral support for aggressive movement.

K-Swiss’s listing says the DragGuard rubber outsole gives grip and durability for repeated toe drags, quick stops and everyday hard court play, with Surgelite cushioning, and suggests half a size up for extra toe room or wider feet. Tennis Warehouse lists 12.0 oz in a men’s 10.5; K-Swiss’s listing gives a figure without naming a size, so we leave it out. It is medium width only. The K-Swiss storefront sold the linked size 8.5.

Specs (men’s size 8.5, A-white/Blue/Multi)

• Court: everyday hard court play, per K-Swiss’s listing
• Widths: medium
• Weight: 12.0 oz in a men’s 10.5 (Tennis Warehouse); K-Swiss publishes none with a size
• Outsole: DragGuard 7.0 non-marking rubber, modified herringbone
• Midsole: Surgelite; DuraWrap upper
• Warranty: not published

Pickleball shoes vs tennis shoes vs running shoes

Every ranking guide and retailer page we read says the same thing: a court shoe has a wide, flat base and a lateral-support structure, and a running shoe does not. Pickleball Central’s shoe guide gives it a heading of its own, “Court shoes, not running shoes”; Pickleheads devotes a section to the similarities and differences; our own earlier note on the difference between pickleball and tennis shoes covers the same ground. Between pickleball-branded shoes and tennis shoes the difference is mostly about fit and wear points: the pickleball-specific shoes here (Selkirk, Wilson, SmashStep, Express Light) advertise toe-drag reinforcement or a roomier forefoot, while the indoor-court ASICS is the gym-floor route. The Dink’s 2026 men’s roundup puts the trend this way: “The best options in 2026 aren’t simply tennis shoes with “pickleball” stamped on the box.” If you want a list of what not to wear, we keep one on the worst shoes to wear for pickleball.

What to look for in a pickleball shoe

• Outsole and court type. Non-marking herringbone or multi-directional rubber is the norm. Makers and their retailers say which surface a sole is built for: Merchant of Tennis’s men’s page lists the Gel-Rocket 12 for wooden or smooth laminate surfaces, Wilson rates the Pickle Pro’s Duralast rubber for all surfaces, and Pickleball Central says the K-Swiss Express Light can be used on any court surface. Match the sole to where you play most.
• Toe and heel protection. The parts that wear first are the big-toe area and the heel. K-Swiss (DragGuard) and Skechers (rubber toe guard) both name a reinforcement; Pickleheads’ long-term test of the Express Light is the independent evidence we found that such a reinforcement holds up.
• Width. Buy the width, not a bigger size: Pickleball Central’s guide warns that sizing up to get width ruins the lateral support that makes a court shoe a court shoe. The wide rows here are the Skechers (men’s 4E, women’s Wide), the New Balance SmashStep (D, 2E) and the K-Swiss women’s listing.
• Weight, read with its size. Makers and retailers weigh different sizes (a women’s 8 or 8.5, a men’s 9 or 10.5 in this guide), some give a figure without a size, and several publish nothing, so a single figure tells you about that shoe in that size, not how it compares with another model.
• Fit and break-in. One r/Pickleball owner (a men’s 13) says the Skechers runs a little large, while The Dink’s women’s tester found its fit fairly neutral; the ASICS listing says it runs small, and The Dink’s men’s tester found the Wilson Pickle Pro broken in from the first wear; K-Swiss suggests half a size up on the Ultrashot Light for extra toe room. Read the listing’s fit note before you order.
• Warranty. Only Selkirk publishes an outsole warranty (six months) among these ten. Everyone else is “not published”.
• When to replace. Pickleheads’ reviewer describes the usual end of a court shoe as a drag hole by the big toe, which heavy dink sliding can open within a month or two; The Dink’s women’s test reports the Skechers lasting well beyond six months. There is no fixed hour count, so check the toe and the tread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Both are court shoes with lateral support and a flat herringbone-type sole. Pickleball-branded shoes such as the Selkirk CourtStrike and Wilson Pickle Pro add toe-drag reinforcement or a roomier forefoot aimed at the sport’s short lateral movements. Our note on tennis shoes for pickleball goes further. If you are shopping for women, see our guide to pickleball shoes for women. For shoes sold for both sports, see our guide to tennis and pickleball shoes.

Every guide and retailer we read advises against it: running shoes are built for forward motion and lack the lateral containment a court shoe has. Pickleball Central’s buying guide is blunt about it under the heading “Court shoes, not running shoes”.

On their Amazon listings: the Skechers Men’s Viper Court Pro 2.0 in X-Wide (4E), the Skechers Women’s Viper Court Pro 2.0 in Wide, the New Balance Women’s SmashStep PKL in Wide and X-Wide (D and 2E), and the K-Swiss Women’s Express Light in Wide. K-Swiss sells a men’s Express Light 2 in 2E on a separate third-party listing.

The ASICS Gel-Rocket 12 is the only pick sold as an indoor volleyball shoe, and Merchant of Tennis’s page for the men’s version says its outsole is optimized for wooden or smooth laminate surfaces and that outsole durability may be reduced on hard or clay courts. Pickleball Central says the K-Swiss Express Light can be used on any court surface. For shoes chosen for outdoor courts, see our guide to outdoor pickleball shoes, and for shoes chosen for indoor courts, our guide to indoor pickleball shoes.

It depends on the shoe and the size, and on whose scale. Makers and retailers publish weights for different sizes, some give a figure without a size (we leave those out), and four of these ten have no published weight for the linked model. Each review and the table give the figure with its size and source, so read them shoe by shoe rather than as a ranking.

It depends on the surface and how much you drag your toe. The Dink’s women’s tester reports a pair of Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0 lasting about a year and a half, and Pickleheads saw only slight wear on the K-Swiss Express Light after almost three months of six-hour weeks; a toe hole or a slick sole is the sign to replace them.

For two of the three pairs in this guide (K-Swiss Express Light, Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0) the makers list the same outsole and midsole; the last (the foot shape), widths and weight differ. The Wilson Pickle Pro is the third pair (picks 5 and 8). The women’s models here are the K-Swiss Express Light, Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0, New Balance SmashStep PKL, Wilson Pickle Pro and ASICS Gel-Rocket 12; the men’s are the K-Swiss Express Light 2 and Ultrashot Light, Skechers Viper Court Pro 2.0, Wilson Pickle Pro and Selkirk CourtStrike Pro 3.0, with more in our men’s shoe guide. Wear the model built for your foot, and see our guide on what to wear for pickleball for the rest of the kit.

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For most players the answer is still a K-Swiss Express Light: the K-Swiss Women’s Express Light Pickleball (check price) for women and the K-Swiss Men’s Express Light Pickleball 2 (check price) for men, on the strength of Pickleheads’ almost-three-month test, with a 10/10 durability score, and the DragGuard outsole it praised. Players who want cushioning or a true wide fit should take the Skechers Men’s Viper Court Pro 2.0 (check price) or Skechers Women’s Viper Court Pro 2.0 (check price). The Wilson Men’s Pickle Pro (check price) is the men’s pickleball-specific shoe that The Dink’s tester found broken in from the first wear; the Selkirk Men’s CourtStrike Pro 3.0 (check price) is the pickleball-first build with the only published outsole warranty. On a budget, the K-Swiss Men’s Ultrashot Light Pickleball (check price) is the entry-tier K-Swiss for recreational play, and indoor players should go straight to the ASICS Women’s Gel-Rocket 12 (check price). Women who need D or 2E widths have the New Balance Women’s SmashStep PKL (check price), and the Wilson Women’s Pickle Pro (check price) is the pickleball-specific women’s shoe with a wider toe area.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.