In this article I’m going to tell you what I think are the 9 best squash shoes on the market today:
- Asics Gel Fastball 3
- Asics Blast FF 3
- Asics Gel Rocket 10
- Asics Gel Renma
- Asics Gel Tactic
- Adidas Stabil Bounce
- Harrow Typhoon
- Adidas Stabil Next Gen
- Eye S-Line
I’ll also list out the main squash shoe brands and answer some frequently-asked questions below. But for now, let’s get to the list.
It’s a little tricky to put together a list of the best squash shoes and I’ll tell you the first reason why:
Feet are weird.
For starters, some people have large feet and some people have small feet. That’s why the brands manufacture shoes in different sizes. But you knew that.
Beyond that, there are all sorts of different feet out there, on all different types of players:
- Wide feet
- Narrow feet
- Big toes
- Small toes
- Flat feet
- High arches
- Young player
- Old player
- Fast mover
- Slow mover
- Heavy-set
- Ali Farag
- Foot dragger
- Not a foot dragger*
*just kidding, doesn’t exist
There’s another problem I’ve got to deal with when making shoe recommendations.
Shoe manufacturers are weird.
I want you to imagine, for just a second, the *perfect squash shoe* — one that is popular with squash players at both the amateur and pro levels, that sells well year after year, that is just the right blend of cushioning, weight, comfort, durability, and style.
Ok, are you imagining the perfect shoe?
Now, let’s pretend you are in the shoe business, and not only that, but this perfect shoe happens to be in YOUR product lineup.
What would your next step be?
Simple: you’d stop making the shoe.
I’m not kidding.
This happens ALL THE TIME. I’ve been running this blog for over ten years and I’ve seen it over and over again. A shoe will come out. Squash players will test it out, and it will gradually become popular.
Suddenly people all over the world are buying it. Pros, club players, everyone. And then, like clockwork, the shoe company stops making it. Or they release an updated design that’s significantly different from the design that everyone loved.
Why does this happen? I don’t know. Maybe there’s a good business reason for it. Maybe they’re inhaling a little too much glue down at the shoe factory. Whatever the reason, we can’t control it, so we just have to roll with it.
I’m now going to give you a few of my top picks, but considering everything I said above, please remember two things:
- Whatever shoes you might buy, you’ll need to test them out for yourself. There’s no substitute for this. Shoes that work for my weird feet might not work for your weird feet.
- If you like a particular set of shoes, buy multiple pairs! That way you’ll have a backup in case the manufacturer stops making it.
One more thing. You know how the whole pandemic situation has messed with manufacturing supply chains across the entire world? Well it’s especially true for squash shoes. For one thing, the manufacturing is done mostly in Asia, which has been greatly disrupted by coronivirus infections and shutdowns. And with their suddenly limited resources, shoe companies have been redirecting their efforts to making outdoor shoes like running shoes and so on, which are selling better in the pandemic. So basically I’m gonna repeat myself and say it again except in bold caps: IF YOU LIKE A SQUASH SHOE, BUY MULTIPLE PAIRS!
Asics Gel Fastball 3
Product Info
Release year: 2019
Price: $160
Sponsored Links ↓
Buy (US): amazon.com | ebay.com | squashgear.com
NOTE: this shoe is in very low supply right now. You can only buy it in small shoe sizes. If you have larger feet, one option is to click Search > eBay under Sponsored Links above and choose your local eBay site. There are some sellers from Japan selling the latest colorways and delivering internationally. I have purchased two pairs this way (to the USA). I know this won’t work for everyone, so my suggestion if you are looking for an alternative high-end shoe is Asics Blast FF3.
The Asics Gel Fastball 3 is my pick for the best overall shoe right now. It’s the shoe I’m personally using at the moment and it’s also the choice of several pro players.
The Fastball offers a low profile, meaning a relatively thin sole, so you feel “close to the court” as you’re scrambling around. Despite the thin sole, it’s still got good cushioning because Asics has put some of their more advanced technologies into this shoe.
I’ve been using the Fastball 3 for over six months and so far found them to have very good durability. They have a strong but lightweight plastic reinforcement around the toe to protect against wear from foot drag. There’s not too much visible stitching on the shoe — meaning there are fewer weak points for the shoes to come apart.
I personally like the cosmetics of this line of shoes. They have some bright color choices, so they are far from boring, but at the same time the designs aren’t crazy over the top.
This shoe has some of the nicest insoles I’ve seen. They are removable, so if you wear orthotics, or just want to let your shoes air out after playing, you can slide them out. The insoles are a little more rigid than others on the market, so it’s easy and quick to slot them back into the shoe.
Another nice thing about these shoes is they are available in the US, UK and Europe. So I can be fairly confident that they’ll be available to most Squash Source readers.
If there’s one drawback to these shoes it’s the price. They are on the expensive side, but in my opinion they’re worth the extra cost.
Asics Blast FF 3
Image via asics.com →
Product Info
Release year: 2022
Price: $140
Sponsored Links ↓
Buy (Canada): racquetguys.ca
Buy (US): asics.com | racquetguys.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com
I purchased the Blast FF 3 recently on the recommendation of one of my affiliates. So far I have tried it out once on court and felt the comfort and grip was excellent.
Normally I would test out a shoe for a longer period before putting it on my list of best squash shoes, however there are some serious supply problems in the indoor court shoe market right now. My favorite shoe, the Fastball 3, is severely low in availability, so I wanted to give an alternative high-end Asics shoe as soon as possible.
In addition to the recommendations I’ve heard and my own initial testing, I’m also aware that this particular Blast FF range has been used by several pro squash players, so overall I feel confident in recommending it.
Asics Gel Rocket 10
Product Info
Release year: 2021
Price: $70
Sponsored Links ↓
Buy (Canada): racquetguys.ca
Buy (US): amazon.com | asics.com | holabirdsports.com | racquetguys.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com | zappos.com
The Asics Gel Rocket range has been hugely popular over the years because you get a decent shoe at a very reasonable price.
I’ve been testing the Asics Gel Rocket 10 for several weeks now and I’m happy with it. I actually like it better than the previous Rocket 9. The new model grips the court better, and I also happen to like the design a little better.
This is the least expensive shoe on my list. If you want something even cheaper, try the Asics Upcourt, but beware that those shoes are not very durable (or at least the original version that I tested was not durable).
Asics Gel Renma
The Asics Gel Remna is a new model from Asics that first appeared in 2021. This is a shoe aimed at the pickleball market, but I have tried it out for the squash court and found it to be excellent for the price.
Product Info
Release year: 2021
Price: $90
Sponsored Links ↓
Buy (Canada): racquetguys.ca | racquet-science.com
Buy (US): amazon.com | asics.com | racquetguys.com | squashgalaxy.com | zappos.com
The grip on court is very good right out of the box. There was absolutely no break-in time for these. The stability of these shoes is also very nice. Your foot feels very secure in the them. Finally the Renma also have good cushioning for your knees. All in all, they’re a great option.
The downsides of these are firstly that the extra cushioning means they are a little bit heavier and higher off the ground than the Asics Gel Fastball. If you want the speediest shoe, get the Fastball. If you want a little more cushioning, try the Renma. Another issue that’s on my radar is the toe of these shoes is not very breathable, which might result in some stinky shoes. I’m going to be keeping an eye on that over the course of the next few months to see how it pans out.
Asics Gel Tactic
Image via asics.com
Product Info
Release year: 2021
Price: $95
Sponsored Links ↓
Buy (Australia): amazon.com.au
Buy (Canada): amazon.ca | racquetguys.ca
Buy (France): amazon.fr
Buy (Germany): amazon.de
Buy (Italy): amazon.it
Buy (Netherlands): amazon.nl
Buy (Spain): amazon.es
Buy (UK): amazon.co.uk
Buy (US): amazon.com | asics.com | racquetguys.com | squashgalaxy.com | squashgear.com | zappos.com
OK, I know this is the FOURTH Asics shoe I’ve recommended already. Asics is a huge player in the court shoe market and they have a ton of good models. I’ll get to some other brands in a sec.
The Asics Gel Tactic has been one of my go-to recommendations for a few years now because it’s a very good all-around shoe, for a competitive price. It’s hard to beat the value for money of this shoe.
The Tactic has a fairly basic design — no special bells and whistles — but what sets it apart is a bit of extra cushioning in the sole. You can find cheaper shoes (see the Gel Rockets above) but those tend to have a bit less support and stability.
A number of pro squash players have worn prior versions of this shoe, which tells you that in addition to being competitively priced, this shoe clearly can stand up to the rigors of the pro game.
One caveat on the Gel Tactic: they keep changing the design (of course). The older versions are good shoes too, if you can find them.
Adidas Stabil Bounce
The Adidas Stabil Bounce are a nice little choice. I played with them a few years ago and found them very cushioned. I also love the designs. The only downside of these was they weren’t super durable.
These are going out of print soon but you can still find some available.
Harrow Typhoon
I played with these a couple years ago primarily, but I’ve kept them in my shoe bin to this day because they are comfortable to wear. They have good cushioning and a roomy toe box.
These shoes had good grip on the squash court. Nowadays they are serving occasionally as my clay-court tennis shoes.
These are available in the US.
Adidas Stabil Next Gen
Image via adidas.com →
Product Info
Release year: 2021
Price: $150
Sponsored Links ↓
Buy (Australia): amazon.com.au
Buy (Canada): amazon.ca
Buy (France): amazon.fr
Buy (Germany): amazon.de
Buy (Italy): amazon.it
Buy (Netherlands): amazon.nl
Buy (Spain): amazon.es
Buy (UK): amazon.co.uk
Buy (US): amazon.com
This one’s a bit of a wildcard. I have tried these shoes on court but never played with them in a game.
These are the highest-end shoe in Adidas’s range and it’s hard to tell from the photos but they feel high end in the hand. There are little design touches around the shoe that feel really well thought-out, from the lacing down through the design of the sole.
Just looking at the photos, I thought these looked quite bulky, but in person and on my feet, they actually felt very light despite having a promising amount of cushioning.
Eye S-Line
Product Info
Release year: 2019
Price: $135
Sponsored Links ↓
Buy (Canada): controlthet.com
Buy (US): squashgear.com
The Eye S-Line models come in a variety of bold color options and are very popular on the pro circuit.
I tested these out and I’m gonna be honest, these shoes hurt my feet after a while. The soles are not cushioned enough for my 45-year-old feet.
The reason I’m including them on this list is SO many pro players use them that it would feel almost weird not to mention these.
Why Trust My Opinion
I’ve been playing squash since I was a teenager, including playing 4-5 times per week and playing in leagues and tournaments. I’ve also been running this blog for ten years now, so I’ve seen a lot of squash shoes come and go.
My general approach is to test out as many shoes as I can reasonably get my hands on. I’ll play with them for a few weeks before reviewing them. For each review I’m able to do, I like to take account of the shoe’s grip, weight, cosmetics, durability, and overall comfort. I also read all the comments on Squash Source to get an idea of what other people are saying.
Squash Shoe FAQ
What are the top squash shoe brands?
Here are some brands of squash shoes I’ve covered so far on Squash Source. Sometimes these brands make squash-specific shoes, and other times they make shoes for other indoor court sports like handball, volleyball or badminton that also can be used for squash.
Adidas | Ashaway | Asics | Babolat | Black Knight | Dunlop | Eye | Harrow | Head | Hi-Tec | Karakal | Kempa | Mizuno | New Balance | Nike | Oliver | Prince | Python | Salming | Teuton | Victor | Wilson | Yonex
What is special or different about squash shoes?
The most important thing about squash shoes is they must be non-marking. Meaning, they will not leave marks on the squash court.
Oftentimes, non-marking shoes will literally say “non-marking” on the sole. Other times you need to read the product description to find out.
Here are some things for you to consider:
- Grip – do the shoes give you good traction?
- Durability – how well do the shoes hold up over time?
- Comfort – do they fit well and feel comfortable?
- Cushioning – how well do they protect your knees and the rest of your body?
- Weight – sometimes shoes with more cushioning will also be heavier
Can you use volleyball/handball/badminton shoes for squash?
Yes. Those are indoor court sports. Many of the bestselling squash shoes are aimed at those markets but will be non-marking and perfectly fine for squash.
Can you use running shoes for squash?
No. Sorry. There is a chance they will leave permanent black marks on the squash court floor. I wouldn’t risk it.
Can you wear squash shoes outside?
Well…. I don’t.
I’m possibly a bit of a purist but I don’t want to get dirt and other outdoor gunk on my squash shoes.
For one thing, I feel like that will damage or dirty the squash courts. But more importantly, I feel like that will negatively impact how well my shoes grip the court. I don’t want to risk getting injured, even over something small like that.
How long do squash shoes last?
It depends on how you drag your feet on court and whether your shoes are sturdy at those spots.
Aside from foot drag, the other thing that can send shoes to the graveyard is foot odor. Check out my article on how to deal with squash shoe odor for some tips on dealing with stink.
But to answer the question, a good pair will last me 6-12 months playing a few times a week.
Fernando says
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Hello there, I am looking for some advice. I use custom insoles in my squash shoes. This means that not all shoes fit well. I just got a pair of asics Gel Domain 3, but with the insole, they don’t seem to fit well (as if they are not high enough to hold my foot) . I am looking for shoes that are higher on the ankle. Any suggestions?
Thanks a lot
Bill H says
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You can try heel cups. I use Tuli brand & got them on Amazon.
They obviously increase heel height only. The side benefit for me is that it lessens my plantar fasciitis exposure.
Good luck
Tim says
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Hello,
can you help me with the future shoes that i will buy because with all of my old one ( asics blade 5, blast ff and a lot of eye pairs ) i slip so much on the court when it’s starting to wear out …
So do you know some shoes with good grip ?
Thank you for helping me.
Pierre says
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Those are good squash shoes you’ve mentioned. I’m unsure what to recommend that would be better than those in terms of grip.
Richard Holland says
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Sportsshoes.com in the UK is marketing the Asics court speed FF as a squash shoe, despite the fact that Asics says its a tennis shoe. Its a non marking sole so in principle should be ok, and has all the latest tech in it (Flytefoam) as well as gel cushioning. Dont see how it will be much different from the Blast FF but with a more breathable upper. Going to give it a go and let you know.
Tony says
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Richard, how was your “test” of the Asics court speed FF?
nick says
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After watching some videos about volleyball players using basketball shoes, I decided to try basketball shoes for squash. I’d been playing in Stabil 11s for many years but found them very heavy and with not much cushioning. I was regularly replacing the insole with an extra-cushioned aftermarket one, but even still I felt like my body was getting pretty beat up due to lack of cushioning so I wanted to try a basketball shoe as they are intended for more running and impact than the Stabils. I picked the Nike Paul George 3 shoe as it was reviewed to have excellent traction. At first they were quite slippery however after playing in them a few times, the outsole broke-in and now they give very good grip. They also weigh less than the Stabils and fit my foot well (ie. no slipping inside the shoe). There is definitely more cushioning and my body appreciates that. I think basketball shoes can be a good option if you pick one that has good traction. There are a number of channels on youtube that review basketball shoes….these are a good resource if you want to try a pair for squash.
One thing to note is that often basketball shoes come in several different colourways and the different colour outsoles have different traction. In particular, among Nike’s shoes at least, the clear outsoles seem to have poorer traction as compared to the solid colour outsoles of the same shoe. Just something to keep in mind.
A B says
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Basketball is played on a sealed wood floor. At top levels, the court is extremely sprung- some squash courts are well-sprung but not quite to that level. I would always use hi-tops for basketball (like all pros have since Clyde Frazier…)as the chance of coming down on someone’s foot is always there.
The Stabils are notoriously heavy. Maybe that’s why your Nikes feel light. I would expect bball shoes to be too heavy for squash in general. Cushioning for landing must be emhasized, so the sacrifice in bulk is a problem given the much greater running demands for squash. Voleyball players don’t need to run much at all.
I would do what many teaching pros do: use whatever is cushioned and most comfortable for everyday training; play your competitive matches in a lightweight shoe. Without an excellent grip the shoe is dangerous as well as less functional. Take care to rough up the outsole out of the box and wash dust off.
Bart says
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Hi,
While there is a topic on shoes for wide feet, I was wondering which models/brands are more suited for narrow feet.
I played on Asics Gel Hunters before but really wanted to get a pair of black shoes. Bought the Asics Gel Rocket 9 in black, but after wearing them my feet really started to hurt near the base of my little toe. I also noticed my feet moved around in the shoe too much.
I take size 45 EU/11 US, but very often I pull the ‘lace-sides’ together when I want the shoes to fit tightly.
Any help, experiences or advice would be welcome.
Thnaks!
Bart
Pierre says
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Usually Asics are the go-to for narrower feet. Will see if anyone’s got a different suggestion
Rod says
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In the past I would have suggested Adidas. But I just started using a pair of the Stabil X and the toe box is wider than on previous Stabil models I’ve owned (10/11). BUT…the built in sock liner does keep your foot very secure though so they might be worth a try.
Bob says
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Hi Bart,
I have quite narrow feet. I purchased Teuton Speed engine shoes a few months ago. They are really nice. The most comfortable shoe I have ever worn. I liked them enough to eventually order all the colors! I think there is a thread on here about them. B
JK says
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Maybe a little late, but my feet are narrow so I really like my muzino wave stealth Vs. One of the reason I disliked the eye s lines is that they were too wide for my feet among other things. I would also avoid Salmign Kobras if you don’t want to have to tighten the laces to keep it narrow – naturally they feel pretty wide but you can narrow them up nicely.
For me mizuno shoes feel very similar to asics in terms of cushioning (which is very good) but have better materials and fit for me. I’ve only ever tried the Fastball 3s, but they felt very flat and wide for me, too wide even when I tightened the laces.
Brayden says
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Hi,
I have been wearing the Salming Hawks for about 4 months. I have recently developed knee pain that I haven’t felt in 4 years. Just a question if anyone has found the Hawks to have a lack of cushioning, and whether the Kobra2 is a better option? I used to wear Asics Gel Rockets and had no issues. Cheers
John says
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Hi Brayden,
I have used the Hawks at the beginning of the year, I thought the comfort and support was decent, I didn’t have any aching knees but during play sometimes coming to an abrupt stomp to stop and change direction my right heel would take a little bit of a beating and I could feel a little bit of pain. I ended up ditching the shoes though because I just could not find consistency for stability in them, I kept taking slips and hitting the deck, it happened on multiple courts.
I then went to the Kobra 2’s, and I liked those a lot, but one of the shoelace hoops broke off and came loose in less than 2 months of owning the shoe and playing. So I returned it on warranty, and just use Asics.
Henke says
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Has anyone been able to identify Ramy’s shoes? He’s wearing them in his latest Instagram videos but they’re taken from too far away for me to see what they are. They’re black with some white on the sides where the sole wraps around, as far as I know he’s still sponsored by Salming (He wore the Viper 5s for a few weeks then went back to his old Race R9s) but they don’t have any models out which match. Could be something new and unreleased?
Mark says
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Ramy is wearing salming race x
Cesar says
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Hi folks,
During the Black Ball Squash Open 2018 I got very intrigued by the shoes Mohamed Abouelghar was wearing. I follow this site somewhat closely and always try to follow what the top pros are playing with (shoes, rackets, etc) and to my surprise I could not find out what Abouelghar was wearing. It took me some digging to finally find what seems to be a new player in the vibrant squash shoes scene, named Teuton. I don’t want to be advertising it much, and I don’t know a thing about the shoes apart from their site and FB page. Youtube doesn’t seem to have a single video review so far on them (at the time I’m posting this (dec 12 2018).
Here’s a photo of Abouelghar wearing them in Cairo: https://goo.gl/GA1Tqn
According to their site, it seems like Amanda Sobhy has also been signed by Teuton.
Good to see new players coming in strong, more competition is always better! Good luck to Teuton!
Cesar says
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And here is Amanda Sobhy in Hong Kong playing with them: https://bit.ly/2LdhTJ5
Pierre says
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Thanks Cesar I will post about these!
Pierre says
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Ok I just posted about Teuton. Thanks for the tip Cesar!
Steve says
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Hi guys
My son has just been made his own custom pair of orthotics, he is only 8 and size 2 feet, currently he wears asics but when putting them into the shoe, his whole foot became to high for the shoe, so I’m looking for a deep fitting junior shoe where the orthotics will fit, does anyone have any suggestions ??
Pierre says
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Hmm I am not sure and we will see if anyone volunteers a suggestion on this. I am current testing out a pair of Adidas (Stabil Bounce) and they are much deeper than the Asics I wore previously (Rocket 8). I don’t know if the same would hold true of the junior Adidas shoes but you may want to look into them.
Steve says
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Hi Pierre
Thanks for replying, i have found a solution, the salming falco junior
Shoe has a removable insole which then enables me to place my sons orthotics into the shoe and they fit perfectly, as a heads up his asics insoles were not removable
Steve
D says
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Hi Steve, if you ever buy a different shoe after the Salmings, know that some Asics have removable insoles, such as the Fastballs and Blasts. Those that don’t, like the Asics Gel Rockets, are slightly glued but also removable with a bit of a tug.
Cheers and best for you and your son.
Manas says
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Hi,
Are black colored non marking shoes allowed in international games
Thanks,
Manas
Pierre says
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Yes as long as they say “non-marking” on the sole, they should be fine. At SOME courts people might give you a hard time about black soles, and this is because they are extra vigilant about not having the courts get marked up (which happened at my courts recently, it was sad) but this is rare and if you just show them the shoes are labeled non-marking, you should have no problem.
Del Mudaly says
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Hi
I have used the salming race X/ R’s but they have been discontinued.
Used the Kobra but it did not suite.
Cannot find a suitable race shoe now.
What is a good alternative?
Is the Hawk worth trying ?
Pierre says
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I’ve seen them in person, they’re a different design to the Race/Kobra, and I’m told they are getting good reviews from pros who have tested them, but I haven’t tried them myself
Jason Kim says
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Del Mudaly,
If you’re looking for Race X shoes, they’re still sold online. controlthet.com has them in a couple of sizes, and they do ship internationally. I got my S-Lines from that website.
As for the hawk, I’d try them. I don’t have them but they look awesome and I’ve heard only good things about them.
Alex Nagshineh says
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I’m in the same boat actually. Swapped the Race X for the Eye shoes which is comfortable but I’m getting sore ankles again so might return to Salming but the new Hawk’s look totally different to the Race X.
Timothy Harmer says
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Hello,
I have been using Gel Blade 6’s since November and I love them for how light they are (I am big mover on court and travel a lot). However, they give me terrible blisters on the ball of my foot (mainly left). I think it’s from the side ways movement of the foot in the shoe. Can anyone recommend anything that might help this or some shoes that are not so wide and my suit me more?
Dave says
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Either some insoles to grip and stabilise your feet better, or change your lacing pattern to one that increases front foot hold. (Google will know).
Alan says
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A bit obvious, but you don’t get blister when wearing two pairs of socks.
D-Man says
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Trusox may be able to help you. They can prevent your foot from moving around in the shoe and preventing blisters: https://trusox.com/
If you are a heavy foot sweater like I am, and the moisture is causing your foot to move around in the shoe/sock, causing blisters, then I’ve found this to help a lot: https://www.carpelotion.com/
Hope this is helpful.
Rohith says
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Hey can I use ascics gel solution speed 3shoes for playing squash ?
Pierre says
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The soles are non-marking, based on what I’m seeing at the link below, so technically you could use them on a squash court.
http://www.asics.com/us/en-us/gel-solution-speed-3/p/0010255821.9095
That black pair actually looks pretty sweet. They are marketed as tennis shoes and I don’t know how they’d feel on a squash court.
Lloyd says
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Hey, I was wondering if anyone can help. I normally buy cheap racket shoes because I burn through shoes at an alarming rate. I rub a hole consistently in the side of the shoe. (The inside facing side of the right foot). I was wondering if there are any shoes that have a reinforced section there? Thanks
Rod says
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Just a thought but have you tried tennis shoes? I had a friend using the Asics Gel Resolution 7 for squash (playing at a pretty high level) and they worked well. You might find that tennis shoes have thicker soles that last longer due to the harder and more abrasive surfaces they play on.
Jimmy says
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Dont buy tennis shoes- they’re completely different than squash shoes, Rod is giving you bad information.
Lloyd, what shoes are you buying? Generally cheaper shoes don’t last as long, so you’re just cycling through cheap shoes pretty quickly. You could try adidas stabil? Or eye shoes, I’ve heard pretty good things about both their longevities.
Pierre says
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In Rod’s defense I did see a couple pros playing with the Asics Gel Resolution 4 back in the day. But generally yeah I’d be wary of that.
Matthew says
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Are you a lefty? I’m a lefty and it’s always my right shoe that gets that hole. My righty friends who wear the same shoes as me get the hole in the same place on their left shoe.
A B says
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The worst mistake you can make is failing to replace your shoes often enough- whether cheap or expensive.
This will lead to foot problems. You can play fine with holes in the upper, but poor cushioning is a disaster, and replacing the insole with even a custom orthotic only goes so far. Grip is essential also, but if you clean you soles and never wear them off-court they should last for the life of the shoe.
I’ve had two bouts of plantar fasciitis, a “Morton’s neuroma” (from jamming the second and third toe on forward impact- healed with a shot of cortisone), and I used to get blisters. My movement got better with experience, but the biggest fix has been remembering to replace my shoes after about 80 hours on court- no matter what they look like. I then use them off-court as they are quite comfortable.
Dragging the toe is not necessarily poor movement. Suffice it to say that Jansher always did it. I don’t know if anyone has tried reinforcing the upper with tape or rubber. I would bite the bullet and get new shoes every 3 months if you play 5 x/week. If you find a cheap shoe that works, buy a batch as they tend to get closed out…
Leo says
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Hi there ! Great blog. I’m looking for a suitable replacement for my beloved ASICS gel Fireblast 2– I am a heavy mover and wear squash shoes especially on the inner toe side (dragger) – and suggestions would be great! Would love to replace with ASICS and have them last more than a couple of months !
Keir says
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Try the ASICS Gel Blast – 7’s
Christian Sidor says
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I’m looking for some help with sizing. I’m planning to buy some Salmings, but am unsure what size to buy. I have Asics Gel Blast in size 11.5 and Adidas PowerStabil in size 12 (both US).
Can anyone comment on which size I should go with for Salming Vipers?
Thanks !
Lawrence says
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Hi Christian
In my experience the Salming sizes are the same as Asics.
Hope this helps.
Christian Sidor says
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Thanks! I just got the Salming Kobras (not Vipers as I originally said) and 11.5 seems like the right size. Can’t wait to try them out on the court.
Blas says
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Does anyone know how is the sizing of asics shoes compared to salming or Adidas? I bought adidas and salming shoes before in size 11.5 US and they fit perfect for me. I don’t like Adidas new shoes and salming are too pricey, so I want to try some Asics but i only find them online. I appreciate a lot your comments.
Rod says
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In my experience they tend to fit true to size. Adidas tends to fit narrower than Asics and Salming based on the models I’ve worn in the past. I’ve worn Stabil 11s, Salming Race R1 and Asics Fastball 2, Blast 5, Gel Squad and Rockets.
Jason says
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True except for the Salming Kobras. From experience you need atleast a half size bigger in Kobras then you do with Asics.
Alex says
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Hey guys. I wanted to ask, which are the ‘slipperiest’ squash shoes around? I like to slide a bit on Court. I can do so with my tennis shoes but they are harder and heavier so they aren’t practical. You see te pros (especially Farag) who slide pretty easily. I’ve heard that some Asics shoes are designed to slide? Does anyone know particular models they are easy to slide in? (Currently wearing adidas stabil x. Too much grip)
Thanks guys
Spencer says
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I’d love to know if anyone has insight on this! I’m trying to work on hard low lunges to the front and sliding can be a useful tactic, but I seem to slide only randomly in my shoes at the moment.
jon says
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Even if you are flexible enough, sliding into a deep a split is not very effective as you get trapped, much better to go into a deep forward lunge imho; sliding sounds dangerous.
Paul H says
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All squash shoes are designed to NOT slide, otherwise you have no purchase when you push off and lose speed and energy. Also, if you are deep lunging for a ball, as you should and the foot slips away, you could be in big trouble, That’s why they mop up any sweat on court. Squash is not tennis.
A B says
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NEVER slide your front foot on a lunge. Sliding your rear foot up (“toe drag”) is fine – not using the sole of course. It helps you keep balance and makes the exit smoother as you have a new plant foot right underneath your torso to push off from.
No, Ali Farag never does a clay court slide. Never.
USMAN ABSAR says
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hello,
i wanted to ask about a training shoe which could be used for squash,
do you guys recommend me to use nike metacon 1 shoes,
they are training shoes which look flexible, do you recommend these shoes
Pierre says
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Interesting, I had never heard of those. I don’t know if they would be any good for squash. They seem to be made for CrossFit and those types of workouts. Here are some Metcon 3s with what look like non-marking soles.
http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/metcon-3-mens-training-shoe/pid-11599437/pgid-11464961
Will see if anybody that has tried them has a comment!
USMAN ABSAR says
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thanks mate
Jack says
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I tried the Minimus 40 trainer from New Balance – although it has a Vibram outsole that appears to be very similar to most court shoes, it did not grip well on the squash court and I ultimately returned them. Not sure if many training shoes have a good of ankle support as most squash shoes.
Gabriel says
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what shoe will give best cushioning ? tried the asics gel rockets but found them lacking .I was thinking of something like addidas stabill boost 20y but i am finding it hard to source them . any suggestions ?
Wouter says
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You might want to give Mizuno a try.
Last season I used the Mizuno wave stealth 3 and it felt like I was walking on trampolines, I kid you not. They are one of the heaviest shoes around, but given my total body weight, I’d say they’re pretty light.