The 8 best vegan basketball shoes of 2023 - by experts (2023)

Basketball is one of the few sports where the only equipment a player needs is a pair of certified shoes. In order for you to jump higher, run faster and perform at your best, the right basketball shoes are important components for a good game. Additionally, when properly padded, they can help prevent a variety of foot and ankle injuries, keeping you playing ball for years to come.

For as long as we can remember, manufacturers have capitalized on the sport's tremendous popularity by creating hundreds if not thousands of basketball shoes, varying in design, style, cushioning, price and so on. With that in mind, it's not hard to see why choosing the right pair of basketball shoes can be quite overwhelming for many people.

For us who are vegans, the selection process is much more difficult considering that the majority of basketball shoes are made of non-vegan materials like suede or leather. But don't worry, we're here for you. In this article, we're going to take a look at some of the best vegan basketball shoes on the market today, so you might want to stick with it.

At a glance

1. Nike LeBron 17
2. Adidas EQT ADV
3. Nike Zoom KD12
4. Adidas Harden Vol. 3
5. Nike Kyrie 5
6. AND 1 attack
7. New Balance FuelCore Nergize
8. PEAK Streetball-Meister

The 8 best vegan basketball shoes of 2022

Finding a pair of quality, non-vegan basketball shoes is already a daunting achievement, let alone finding a pair that is vegan-friendly. We understand your struggle, which is why we did our research and compiled a list of the best vegan basketball shoes on the market today. Time to bounce ball!

1. Nike LeBron 17

The LeBron 17s, as the name suggests, were designed specifically for the great LeBron James, so, as you can probably tell, these are shoes designed for taller, heavier players. The shoe is understandably pricey given the naming association, but it's well-equipped to ensure peak performance and ongoing responsiveness with the help of maxed-out Zoom Air units.

Below the Zoom Air units is a foam capsule that acts as an extra layer of cushioning in the heel for ideal comfort. There's also a plastic clip that wraps around the heel to help stabilize it. We love how protective the cushioning system is, but we're not entirely happy with the lack of traction in these shoes. Despite this, the shoe is excellent for solid jump and impact protection.

2. Adidas EQT ADV

Most basketball shoes these days feature a modern aesthetic, with very few styles rocking the retro design of yesteryear. While the EQT ADV isn't advertised as vegan-friendly, the product description doesn't indicate the use of leather or suede. Instead, it says the pair is made from polyurethane, synthetic suede and knit materials, so it's safe to assume they're vegan.

The shoe features a molded EVA midsole and an extremely durable rubber outsole that offers excellent traction. And although the design of the shoe is inspired by the 90s, it shows a great aesthetic that allows you to easily combine it with your casual wear.

However, remember that this shoe needs regular cleaning as it only comes in the lightest color: white.

3. Nike Zoom KD12

With the Zoom KD 12 from Nike, rounding off is the order of the day. Simply put, these shoes are just great in every way. We would highly recommend them to versatile players who want to do everything.

Nike's improved Air Zoom cushioning comes into its own in this shoe, providing everything from ideal feel and responsiveness to exceptional bounce.

The Nike Zoom KD 12 is impressive in every sense of the word in our opinion, but there are players who don't like their performance on dusty pitches. We're not sure why exactly, but our best guess is that they attract dust as they have a soft rubber outsole for flexibility.

Other than that, there are no other downsides worth mentioning. Overall a great basketball shoe.

4. Adidas Harden Vol. 3

The Harden Bd. 3s by Adidas were designed as a tribute to James Edward Harden Jr. They are equipped with the proven herringbone traction pattern, which gives the player excellent stability and traction on every course and allows changes of direction on a whim.

In addition, the shoe features a low-to-the-ground cushioning system that ensures high responsiveness and excellent feel on the court.

What we love most about the Harden Vol. 3s cushioning system is that, despite being fairly low to the ground, it doesn't undermine impact protection at all.

Because these shoes are designed to suit Harden's playing style, they come with added lockdown for improved control and side-to-side movement. Best of all, the shoe comes in a variety of colors.

5. Nike Kyrie 5

The Kyrie 5 from Nike is another excellent pair of synthetic sneakers that offer ultra-mobile players great freedom of movement on the court.

The Kyrie 5 isn't as densely padded as some of the other options on our list, but then again, they're meant to offer maximum flexibility and fluid movement on the court, so we're willing to overlook the mediocre cushioning. It makes up for it in other aspects.

The shoe makes up for its lack of cushioning with exceptional support that helps keep the foot in place. In addition, it offers aggressive traction that ensures excellent stability on all types of basketball courts.

We also like that the cushioning is aligned with the curvature of the shoe, as this adds significantly to its aesthetic. We also love how lightweight this pair is.

6th AND 1 attack

If you play basketball occasionally and are looking for a reliable pair of shoes that won't cost you an arm and a leg, the AND 1 Attack is your best bet.

These basketball shoes are made entirely of textile and synthetic materials, so they're definitely vegan-friendly. The Attack boasts a low-top design, meaning you get great mobility and flexibility without the bulk.

Considering that this is a low-top shoe, it doesn't really offer much foot protection like its high-top counterparts, making it unsuitable for taller players.

Luckily, the shoe features a micromesh upper with substrate cutouts for ideal breathability. The nylon ghillie grommets do a great job of providing a secure lock so you can maneuver with confidence. Great value for money to say the least!

7. New Balance FuelCore-Nergize

The New Balance FuelCore Nergize is one of the best basketball shoes for women. It features a REVlite midsole that offers the player excellent responsiveness and lightweight cushioning.

You can also experience the NB Memory Sole Comfort Insert, a plush insole that provides great comfort with every step. In other words, this isn't just a pair for basketball; It's for all kinds of activities.

The FuelCore Nergize flaunts a bootie upper that conforms to your foot for a supportive and comfortably snug fit.

In addition, the use of synthetic materials in this shoe offers a very lightweight construction for quick and effortless footwork. Last but not least, these shoes come in a wide range of color patterns to cater to your personal preferences, keeping you both comfortable and stylish.

8. PEAK Streetball-Meister

PEAK may not be as prominent as the above competitors, but their shoes represent great value for money and look simply fabulous aesthetically.

The Streetball Master features a seamlessly integrated fabric that ensures durability and comfort. It has a thick and solid synthetic sole with a deep traction pattern for optimal stability.

In addition, the shoe has a stabilization module that rolls on the lateral side of the forefoot, improving support and significantly reducing the risk of spraining. Also, the rubber used to make the outsole is very durable and water-resistant.

Although the shoe is comparatively cheap, it offers excellent levels of protection, stability and traction, making it ideal for recreational players.

Choosing the right vegan basketball shoes

Although the basketball shoes reviewed above are of the highest quality, that doesn't mean that every single one of them is a good fit for you. There are factors you need to consider before making a purchasing decision, from shoe style and cushioning to traction and support. These factors are explained in detail in the following sections to ensure an informed purchasing decision.

shoe style

Before deciding on a pair of basketball shoes, you need to understand that there are three main styles of basketball shoes, namely high-top, low-top and mid-top. High-tops were always the most popular because they offered incredible ankle protection, but they were the heaviest of the three. Nowadays, low tops are the shoes of choice as they are lighter and much more flexible.

As you might have guessed, mid-top basketball shoes are right down the middle. They offer sufficient ankle protection with manageable weight and flexibility. Does that mean they are the best of the three shoe styles? Not necessarily. It all comes down to the player and their style. The following paragraphs shed light on what each of these shoe styles has to offer.

High-Tops

If you like staying under the rim and always looking for rebounds, high tops are an excellent choice for you as they offer plenty of stability and protection so you can charge with complete confidence. They are also well padded to ensure maximum comfort. We would not recommend this type of basketball shoe for players who are lightweight and ultra mobile.

Low-Tops

Unlike high-top basketball shoes, low-tops are the ideal choice for quick-footed players due to their remarkable mobility and flexibility. They're usually made of stretchy, lightweight materials without the unnecessary bulk. If you're more on the heavier side, this type of shoe will spoil your game as it doesn't offer as much protection as high-top.

Mid-Tops

As mentioned earlier, mid-top shoes fall somewhere between high-tops and low-tops. It can be said that they are quite rounded, but they do not have a distinctive feature. They offer adequate ankle protection and are also quite flexible. If you're a player who doesn't need tremendous flexibility or bulk, like a winger or a forward, mid-top shoes are your best bet.

materials

If this post were dedicated to determining the best non-vegan basketball shoes, we wouldn't have talked much about construction, but since we're talking about vegan options, we have to talk about the materials used in the construction of basketball shoes. It is important that you stay away from shoes that wearWilderor leather in their construction as they are not vegan.

You should stick to shoes that are made of synthetic materials such as synthetic suede and rubber. We are actually very happy to see well-known manufacturers like this oneAdidasAndNikeconstantly innovate and improve their use of synthetic materials and develop new high-tech textile materials that appeal to the vegan lifestyle and do not affect the player's performance at all.

damping

If you're on the lighter end of the scale in terms of weight, you may not fully appreciate the importance of adequate cushioning since there's not a lot of pressure on your joints. However, if you weigh a lot, the pressure on your joints increases, especially when jumping, which requires wearing shoes that have enough cushioning to protect your joints.

Cushioning technologies are pretty extensive these days, from Adidas Bounce to Nike Zoom Air to UnderArmour MicroG. The way these protectors work is that they distribute the force generated at impact evenly across your foot, so the base is protected.

Cushioning units are usually located in the middle of a shoe. It's worth noting that most cushioning technologies are foam based.

If you're an ultra-mobile basketball player who values ​​responsiveness, you need to stay away from shoes with soft cushioning technologies like the Nike Zoom Air, as they tend to severely limit a player's mobility. As you move and jump a lot, your feet are subjected to more impact, which puts wearing shoes with firm cushioning on display.

traction

Basketball is a sport that requires fast footwork and quick transitions, which is why traction is a key factor to consider when looking for basketball shoes. Without the right traction, you'll slide all over the place. A single sudden slip can result in a lifelong injury and prevent you from ever playing basketball again, so you need to take this factor seriously.

There are two main components of traction that vary from one pair of shoes to another, namely the traction pattern and the rubber compound of the outsole. The herringbone pattern is by far the most popular traction pattern in basketball shoes. What is a herringbone pattern? Well, it's rubber zigzag lines that provide players with traction in all directions and prevent dust from sticking.

Now, the herringbone isn't the only traction pattern available for basketball shoes, but it is the only one that has stood the test of time. The problem with other traction patterns is that they are only intended to differentiate brands from the rest and be labeled as innovative. But why fix what isn't broken? The herringbone pattern is guaranteed to work, so don't worry about others.

Evaluating the rubber compound used in basketball shoes can get a little tricky, as it's not that easy to tell good rubber from bad rubber. You should keep in mind that hard rubber is ideal if you are looking for maximum durability but doesn't really offer much traction, while soft rubber is excellent in terms of traction but attracts a lot of dust.

So what type of gum should you choose? Well, basketball shoes aren't the cheapest shoes out there, so you want to ensure maximum longevity by choosing the most durable type of rubber. If you value aesthetics and don't mind shelling out hundreds of dollars for basketball shoes every now and then, you can opt for soft rubber as it looks more elegant.

Support

Proper support used to be associated with high-top basketball shoes. This is no longer the case nowadays thanks to the technological breakthroughs that the industry keeps making. In fact, most basketball players today wear low tops to take advantage of their ideal flexibility and responsiveness. Today's low-tops come with features that provide support.

One of the most prominent support features is the outrigger. It's a component commonly found on the outside of a basketball shoe that acts as an extension of the outsole. It increases the base of the shoe, which in turn increases support without making the shoe look bulky. Another popular support element is the metatarsal shanks, which provide the player with excellent torsional support.

Heel counters are another supportive component found in most modern basketball shoes. These elements help fix the player's foot in the shoe, preventing it from moving abnormally and leading to injury. We're confident that more supportive features are on the way, but you should remember that supportive features are secondary compared to choosing the right fit.

Correct fit

Proper fit is arguably the most important factor when choosing shoes for any type of activity, not just basketball. You want your shoes to offer a fit that locks your feet in and prevents them from moving anywhere. It is best to try on your shoes in store so that you can buy them with absolute certainty that they are right for your feet.

But as we live in a digital world where everything is done online, we recommend ordering your ideal shoe in two sizes, as most shoes tend to run slightly smaller or larger than the stated size. After you have found which of the two sizes suits you best, you can simply return the other. Just make sure the brand's return policy guarantees a full refund when returning products.

Also keep in mind that most shoes require a break-in period. So, even if you buy a pair of shoes that are exactly your size, they might feel a bit tight at first. Don't rush to return them immediately. Give them some time to loosen up and adjust to your feet, and then they'll get as comfortable as you want them to be. If not, simply send the shoes back and choose a size larger.

Final Thoughts

We're fairly confident that any of the products reviewed above will fit your needs and budget, and we'd appreciate if you let us know which of these basketball shoes appealed to you the most and why. If we were to pick a winner, we wouldn't hesitate to choose themNike Zoom KD12because we think it's the most well-rounded of the bunch and just looks amazing.