Under Armour is a relatively new company, but they happen to be crushing the market with their fitness gear, clothing, and the best basketball shoes for ankle support. Their latest pair is designed for men and provides moderate ankle support, ultimate traction, and a comfortable fit that will allow you to keep your head in the game and off of your feet.
Our Verdict: These shoes offer a true fit for people with an average width, however, if you have wider feet you should purchase them half a size larger, in order to give your feet enough space to move. The herringbone multidirectional tread offers better than average traction on indoor and outdoor courts. The style of the shoes themselves offers a moderate amount of ankle support, with adequate flex, so you won’t have to worry about the shoes applying too much pressure to your ankles when you move. These shoes will work for any player in need of more ankle support on the court and anyone who is looking for shoes that won’t impact their mobility when they’re running or handling business on the court.
Overview and Features
If you’re a new player, then you’re probably spending a lot of time on the court, focusing on learning basketball rules, finding the right position for your playing style, and practicing your jump shots, but you may also come to realize that the type of shoes you wear can also have a big impact on your performance and even how you feel at the end of a game. When you play, wearing the wrong shoes can cause you to become fatigued sooner, can leave you sore after, and can impact how quickly you run or how well you outmaneuver another player. Because of this, it’s important that you take the time to find a pair that works for you. This pair by Under Armour is one of their best-sellers for a number of reasons.
Our Rating:
- A variety of color options
- Flexible, yet supportive
- Reasonable price
- Herringbone traction for ultimate grip
- Cushioning made with EVA foam
- Breathable
Design
Aside from the overall comfort, traction, and top of the line ankle support these shoes offer, one of its biggest selling points are the eighteen color options, which include the following choices:
- Black
- Black and red
- White
- Graphite
- Pierce
- Black and white
- Red and white
- Ghost gray
- Zinc gray
- Black and graphite
- Black and black
- Black, steel, and white
- Cadet
- Steel blue
- Steel white
- White and black
- Team royal
- White and midnight navy
- Royal and white
Mid-Ankle Protection
Unlike high tops, mid-ankle basketball shoes will provide a moderate amount of ankle support, preventing the ankle from rolling when you’re flying down the court, while still allowing for the type of flexibility you need.
Cushioning
Let’s start with the cushioning. Typically, shoes in this price range will go overboard with the cushioning, only for it to wear out after a month or two of playing. But the EVA foam used in these shoes can deliver the right amount of comfort and support and since it’s lightweight, you won’t have to worry about them slowing you down by the second quarter. The tongue and upper features thicker padding which will provide a decent amount of cushioning and support in the ankle area.
The EVA foam interior of the shoes provides the right amount of comfort and support, while conforming to the shape of your foot. Additionally, the foam helps to keep the shoe’s weight down, so you can enjoy a shoe that’s both comfortable and lightweight. The foam insole and midsole work together to provide an ample amount of comfort but without negatively impacting responsiveness.
Fit
As far as fit goes, I found that these shoes fit as expected and come in the standard length and width. However, some players did note that the toe has a narrower fit compared to some shoes, so you may want to go up half a size for some extra toe space if you have wider than average feet.
Closure-wise, the shoe has a standard lace-up closure design. If you want more support and a tighter fit you can easily adjust the oval shoelaces and padded tongue for a firmer fit.
These are mid-top shoes that provide adequate ankle support and protection. While the shoes are designed specifically for basketball, the cushioning, support, flex and traction also make them a great choice for other sports, working out, walking, and even running, due to the lightweight design. These shoes will fit like a glove from day one. You won’t have to deal with a lengthy breaking in period. Instead, you’ll love the supportive design and the type of fit that will provide the responsiveness you need when you’re in the middle of a game, from day one.
Affordability
Unlike other top-selling shoes, this pair is priced affordably. But just because they’re available at a lower price doesn’t mean that the manufacturer skimped on the quality. These shoes offer the type of custom supportive fit you would expect from a pair that goes for twice the price.
Traction
In terms of traction, these shoes use the herringbone multidirectional pattern on the outersole and do an excellent job of allowing you to easily and smoothly retain your footing, whether you’re trying to outmaneuver another playing or you’re running down the court. The pattern used is a popular one and it’s commonly found on higher priced shoes. The one-piece thick sole is designed for both stability and comfort.
The outersole design will allow your feet to easily grip the surface of an indoor or outdoor court, giving you more control as you dodge other players, go for a shot, or run down the court.
Material
The shoes are made out of synthetic leather and mesh. The heel counter and forefoot area feature perforations that are designed to promote air circulation. For the midfoot area, the molded quarter panels provide extra breathability and are made out of a light textile that’s designed to wick away moisture and keep your feet nice and dry.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Nineteen color options
- Flexibility
- Moderate ankle support
- Reasonable price
- Herringbone multidirectional traction
- EVA insole and midsole design
Cons
- Does not provide the same type of ankle support that high tops do
- Not recommended for players with wide feet
How these Shoes Measure Up to the Competition
Adidas remains one of the leading basketball shoe manufacturers in the industry. Their latest pair the Adidas Originals Pro Bounce men’s basketball shoes give Under Armour’s lineup a run for their money, but is it more a matter of the brand name or the actual quality of the shoes? I found that both shoes have a very similar design in terms of style, support, and materials used. However, because this pair by Adidas is said to have a more relaxed fit, if you have wider feet you may want to check them out. If you’re on a tight budget and you want basketball shoes that are available at half the price of what Adidas is charging, then stick with this pair by Under Armour. In the end, it’ll be more a matter of personal preference and style, but for the most part, these shoes are about the same in terms of quality and durability.
Conclusion and Rating
Our Rating:
These Under Armour men’s basketball shoes are available in nineteen color options, feature better than average ankle support, traction, and flex, so you know you’ll be able to move the way you need to during a game, and all without negatively impacting your performance. The only drawback for some is the fact that the toes of the shoes are somewhat narrow, which means you should purchase a pair that’s half a size larger than what you normally wear, if you have wide feet. I gave these shoes a rating of five out of five stars.
