6 Best Tennis Shoes in 2023

The king of all tennis shoes is the ASICS Court FF 2 and its game-optimizing features serve as a testament to its superiority. This shoe has no issue facing frequent wear because of its reliable construction. And on the game proper, it proves to be energy-saving every landing and supportive on every position shift.

In our lab, we measured its midsole’s softness. With a 32.6 HA value displayed on our durometer, this shoe is definitely on the firm side, granting us supreme responsiveness and extra stability on the court. Although we subjected Court FF 2 to a lot of games, the outsole remained intact. As it turned out, our durometer detected the outsole hardness at 86.3 HC, which is the reason behind its wear resistance.

Court FF 2 emphasized a low-profile experience rather than a cushiony one. This is shown by our caliper which recorded heel and forefoot stack heights of 28.8 mm and 20.6 mm. While the amount of cushioning is average, we didn’t feel the need for more since the incorporated gel inserts took care of the impact protection. Also, it resulted in a solid ground feel.

According to ASICS, the shoe’s drop is equivalent to 10.5 mm but in our lab, we found it’s only 8.2 mm. If you prefer a more cushioned ride, we suggest looking for other options.

NikeCourt Air Zoom Vapor Pro is the best lightweight tennis shoe because it’s the most burden-relieving and strain-easing shoe we’ve ever used playing. Its crowning glory is its incredible lightness doesn’t leave any repercussions on the shoe’s stability and performance on the court.

We felt the agility rushing through our feet and legs, on account of the weightlessness of this shoe. We noted a weight of 12.10 oz (343g) in our lab, but on foot, it gave the impression that we were shoeless. Despite its lightweight sensation, Vapor Pro didn’t compromise our steadiness in this shoe. We confirmed this using our caliper, which registered a midsole width of 113.5 mm in the forefoot and 84.8 mm in the heel. This ensured our secure footing during side-to-side shifts.

Keeping our feet and ankles contained is the snug fit of Vapor Pro. We checked this in our lab using our caliper and we measured the broadest part of the toebox to be 98.2 mm, which is indeed foot-hugging.

While the fit is supportive, we discovered that the upper isn’t integrated with any safeguarding elements. Looking into its upper through our microscope, we verified that there are no protective overlays. If this is a deal-breaker for you, we suggest seeking more protective upper tennis shoes.

As far as lateral support and balance are concerned, the tennis shoe that we deemed unexcelled is the Adidas Barricade. Our sudden shift of movements is something this shoe can handle with no fuss. And the fact that our feet are void of fatigue after games is simply evidence of its delivered stability.

Because of the shank in the Adidas Barricade, not only did its cushioning feel structured but our footwork was as energetic as ever. It prevented the uncontrolled bending of the shoe, maintaining its shape and, thus our steadiness. 

The perfect feature of this shoe that pairs well with its exceptional stability is its remarkable lockdown that cemented our feet in place despite our aggressive movements on the court. Surprisingly, this all came from a lightweight package that is Adidas Barricade. 

The drawback lies in the shoe’s price point which is at $140. Unless you don’t mind splurging 15.8% more compared to the average cost of tennis shoes, we recommend going through more affordable selections.

Winning the major league in terms of cushioning of best tennis shoes is the ASICS Gel Challenger 13. The comfort we felt while playing in this pair is just divine. Beyond the phenomenal in-shoe experience, the cushioning granted us a level of support that crossed foot distress and discomfort out of the equation.

We almost didn’t want to take off this shoe because of the impressive midsole that afforded us zero-pain experience on the court. Every part of our feet is taken care of by the Gel Challenger 13 as even the tongue and heel are padded liberally. And no, this didn’t take a toll on the weight of the shoe. It still felt light and a breeze to maneuver on the game.

Even when we played with great intensity, we never worried about the Gel Challenger 13 letting us down as we witnessed how tough it was. However, the shoe did come at an extravagant price of $140. This is 15.8% pricier than most tennis shoes. If you’re limited on the budget, we suggest exploring other more economical shoes.

Establishing superiority in durability among all the other tennis shoes we’ve tested, ASICS Gel Resolution 9 has utterly fascinated us. We discovered that this tennis shoe is the perfect pair for engaging fiercely on the court because apart from its first-rate quality, it is energy-efficient, protective, and extremely grippy!

On the court, even if we skid and halt abruptly, the outsole kept its integrity. The upper also held up greatly even after being exposed to the demands of tennis multiple times. Speaking of quick movements, we also felt safe playing in Gel Resolution 9 without uncontrollably sliding because of its notable traction. 

Moreover, we love that our feet are guarded from any impact caused by our forceful motions. This is all thanks to the effective shock absorption of the shoe. Unfortunately, when it comes to weight, Gel Resolution 9 bears slight heaviness. If you prioritize a weightless feel in your tennis shoes, we suggest investing in other lightweight pairs.

We determined the finest cost-effective tennis shoe among all the shoes we have tried and it is the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2. It might be 13.1% more competitively priced than the average tennis shoe but it offers boundless worth on the court, from immense support for vigorous footwork to tremendous comfort!

We are utterly dazzled by the upper of this tennis shoe that amazingly combines three essential things for dynamic maneuvers: flexibility, support, and protection. While we are safely contained in this shoe during lateral movements, it still allows us to move naturally. This is all on account of the DuraWrap on its upper, which also acted as an added security layer for our feet.

We appreciated the construction of Hypercourt Express 2 for being light, which also encouraged us to be nimble. However, we found that this shoe is wide-fitting, which is something that we believe might not be advantageous for players with slim feet. If you have narrow feet and would prefer a skintight hug from a shoe, we recommend checking out other wide options.