7 Best Mid Top Basketball Shoes in 2023

Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic on
7 Best Mid Top Basketball Shoes in 2023
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Mid-top shoes are a great option for all-around players. Lighter than a high top, yet slightly heavier than a low top, the mid-top or mid-cut basketball shoes offer more versatility, allowing you to stay agile and locked in securely.

If you want the best of both worlds, look no further than the mid-top basketball sneakers. In fact, we’ve rounded up the best mid-cut style models out there across different brands. We’ve tested them and put them through all sorts of scrutiny. 

Each brand offers its own highly-rated signature shoes from past and present NBA Legends, as well as non-signature options. We have chosen our top picks, check them all out!

Best mid-top basketball shoes overall

What makes it the best?

Nimble guards and big players are going to have lots of fun playing in Adidas Harden Vol. 7 shoes. This basketball shoe's design effectively ensures control, energy return, and confidence. Hence, it does not come as a surprise that many players consider this one of the best shoes from Adidas in recent months.

Pros

  • Super amazing traction on dustless courts
  • Heel-to-toe transition is smooth
  • Well-pronounced court feel
  • Fairly dependable impact protection
  • Comfortable and supportive heel area
  • Very good overall containment
  • Laces offers exceptional lockdown
  • True-to-size fit
  • Easy to put on and take off

Cons

  • Ventilation has to be improved
  • Not the best for outdoor use
  • Shoe is on the heavier side
Full review of Adidas Harden Vol. 7

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Men
Women
Any color
Better Scarlet/Core Black/Better Scarlet (GW4464)

Mid-top basketball shoes with the best support

Jordan Zion 2
91
Superb!

What makes it the best?

Among all the mid-tops in our records, the Zion 2 is the indisputable standout when it comes to ankle support. The collar and the heel counter excellently worked together to keep the rear part of our feet securely in its place. Aside from this, we also enjoyed a really consistent bite on different court types, and this was further complemented by the tremendous amount of ground feedback that we got while wearing this shoe.

The thick collar did wonders in keeping our ankle comfortable and well-supported. No matter the angle of our positions, we never had to worry that the rear part of the shoe would just give in. Of course, the sturdy heel counter also had a significant role to play. After all, the heel counter got a 5 out of 5 in terms of stiffness when we squeezed and twisted it as part of our assessments in the lab. 

The traction that this shoe had during our test games didn’t leave much to be desired. Its bite on the court surface was just as consistent as it could get. We did sidesteps, stepbacks, quick direction changes, and sudden twists to trick our opponents, and it never failed to give us the bite that we needed.

Using a caliper, we learned that the cushioning right under the heel and forefoot are 1.9 mm and 2.7 mm thinner than average. Even the insole is 1 mm thinner than the typical ones used in many basketball shoes. Because of this setup, we were able to enjoy a lot of court feel, which in turn afforded us more control over our fine movements.

What we didn’t like about the whole Zion 2 experience was its weight. At 15.2 ounces or 431 grams, this shoe just adds so much to the average 13.7 ounces or 387 grams. If you want to feel light on your feet, we believe this shoe is definitely not for you.

Pros

  • Strong side-to-side grip
  • Tremendous support
  • Very pronounced court feel
  • Reliable energy return
  • True-to-size fit
  • Breathable
  • Good for bigger men
  • OK for outdoors
  • Casual style

Cons

  • Dust-prone outsole
  • Lacks impact protection
  • Seriously needs breaking in
Full review of Jordan Zion 2

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Men
Women
Any color
Red (DO9073600)
White/Volt-black-dynamic Turquoise (DO9161107)
Black (DO9161060)
Brown (DO8990217)
Barely Green/Flash Crimson (DO9161367)
Black/Metallic Gold/Vast Grey (DQ7688001)
White/Metallic Gold/Vast Grey (DQ7688170)
Flax/Muslin/Sesame (DV3462212)
More colors

Mid-top basketball shoes with the best comfort

Adidas Dame 8
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Dame 8 is another shoe from the Damian Lillard series that delivers on aspects that matter. It is supportive, bouncy, light, and offers a decent amount of court feel. However, it has serious issues with traction on dusty courts, which some players may consider as a deal-breaker.

Pros

  • Good traction on clean courts
  • Impact protection in the heel
  • Forefoot responsiveness
  • Secure lockdown
  • Comfortable in-shoe feel
  • Side-to-side stability
  • Wide-foot friendly
  • Okay for outdoor courts

Cons

  • Dust magnet
  • Fiddly heel lining
Full review of Adidas Dame 8

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Unisex
Any color
White/Vivid Red/Core Black (GY0384)
Yellow Tint/Glory Purple/Signal Green (GY0383)
Black/Maroon/Gold (GW1816)
Black/White/Grey (GY6461)
Grey Three/Red/Core Black (HR1558)
Core Black/Gold Metallic/Carbon (GY2774)
White/Black/Grey (GY6462)
signal cyan/silver metallic/shock cyan (GY6465)
More colors

Best mid-top basketball shoes for outdoor courts

What makes it the best?

The Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is an investment that will give a lot of returns. We believe that this is the case where a high price tag is absolutely justified. For us, this shoe is an instant top pick in the durability and stability departments. And for sure, it is among the best options for outdoor use that we've seen in a while. If Nike fixes its firm midsole and trims down the weight for the next iteration, we are ready to claim it as THAT SHOE.

Pros

  • Perfect for outdoor courts
  • Outstandingly durable
  • One of the most stable shoes
  • Wide platform
  • Very secure lockdown
  • Reliable traction on all courts
  • Breathable enough
  • Sustainable materials

Cons

  • Firm sole with poor impact protection
  • Heavier than average
  • Break-in needed
Full review of Nike Cosmic Unity 3

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Unisex
Any color
Brown (DV2757200)
Purple (DV2757500)
Jade Ice/Emerald Rise/Clear Jade/White (DV2757300)
Summit White/Pure Platinum/White/Black (DV2757100)
Wolf Grey/White/White (DZ2906001)

Mid-top basketball shoes with the best breathability

What makes it the best?

Up to a certain extent, the LeBron Witness 7 is practically just the Nike LeBron 20 made less pricey and more suitable for outdoor use. From aspects that are truly important such as traction and cushioning down to matters that are only peripherally valuable such as looks, you can count on the LeBron Witness 7 to deliver.

Pros

  • Highly effective traction
  • Impressive impact protection
  • Optimum comfort
  • Breathable upper
  • Reliable heel lockdown
  • Good lateral stability
  • Great outdoor option
  • Fashionable design

Cons

  • Lacks court feel
  • Poor upper durability
  • No outriggers on the sole
Full review of Nike Lebron Witness 7

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Unisex
Any color
003 grey fog/cobblestone/laser blue/hyper pink (DM1123003)
001 black/bright crimson/alligator/barely volt (DM1123001)
Black (DM1123004)
Fuchsia Dream/Sail/White (DM1123500)
White (DM1123100)
Black/University Gold-lilac (DM1123002)
Bright crimson/arctic orange/magic ember/cave purple (DM1123600)
Black (DM1123005)
More colors

Best budget mid-top basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

The Under Armour Lockdown 6 is among the cheapest models from the brand. Even though it doesn't scream performance, the shoe has all the basics to assist a player who is only trying their hand at basketball. Considering that you can get this shoe with a good discount these days, it is practically a free pair of entry-level kicks! And if it doesn't work for basketball, you can still wear this looker out and about.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Good impact protection
  • Wear-resistant materials
  • Lighter than average
  • OK for the outdoor court
  • True to size, good fit
  • Suitable for all-day wear
  • Stylish appearance

Cons

  • So-so grip
  • Dull cushioning
  • Not very supportive
  • Lacks breathability
Full review of Under Armour Lockdown 6

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Unisex
Any color
Black (3025616001)
Red (3025616600)
(500) Nebula Purple/Sonar Blue/Orange Blast (3025616500)
(400) Downpour Gray/Black/White (3025616400)
(004) Black/Gray Mist/Lime Surge (3025616004)
White (3025616101)
(102) White/Bubble Peach/Black (3025616102)
Black (3025616003)
300 Verde (3025616300)

Mid-top basketball shoes with the best cushioning

What makes it the best?

There is always so much hype around Air Jordan releases, and the Air Jordan 37 surely deserves all that surrounds it now. It offers a fresh new aesthetic and brings so much nimbleness to indoor hardwood courts. Players who are quick on their feet and fond of mixing up their footwork are going to have their heydays in this model.

Pros

  • A nimble performer
  • Dust-resistant grip on indoor courts
  • Incredibly bouncy forefoot
  • Nice court feel
  • Extreme breathability
  • True-to-size fit
  • Comfortably supportive
  • High-quality laces
  • Outdoor-ready

Cons

  • Not enough plushness
  • Cheap-feeling upper materials
  • Has to be broken in
Full review of Air Jordan XXXVII

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Men
Women
Any color
White/true red/light silver/bl (DD6958160)
Black (DD6958065)
200 pale vanilla/black/pale ivory/university red (DZ0812200)
Light Bone/Fire Red/Black (DD6958060)
White/Black-Citrus (DD6958108)
Black (DD6958001)
Black/white/hot punch/multi-color (DD6958091)
Green (DV6255300)

Comparison of the 7 best mid top basketball shoes

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Users rating
Experts
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Ranking
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# of colorways

How we test basketball shoes

To make the recommendations, each model on the list is put through a rigorous testing process. Aside from our standard wear tests and on-court assessments, we bring all the shoes to the RunRepeat shoe testing lab for a battery of mechanical tests. Here’s exactly our approach:

  • We buy all the mid-top basketball shoes using our own funds. This ensures that all our in-depth reviews are devoid of any taint of bias or brand loyalty.
  • Inside the RunRepeat lab, we cut the shoes into pieces. This allows us to examine each essential part and measure 30+ parameters such as ankle support, bounce, flexibility, grip, and many others.
  • We put in many hours of playing time to determine the level of performance, comfort, and durability of each model.
Author
Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic

Dimitrije Curcic has been playing basketball for over 22 years. Like Manu Ginobili, he’s a left-hander whose moves led him to a better career-shooting percentage than the Argentine himself. After playing professionally for 10 years, Dimitrije moved to coaching for two seasons before he became a basketball statistician for StatScore, and FanSided contributor for the San Antonio Spurs. Dimitrije loves to tell hoop stories through numbers and graphics and has been featured on Fansided, FiveThirtyEight, Eurohoops, and TalkBasket among the others.