Adidas makes some pretty sweet volleyball shoes, which is interesting because they don’t usually market themselves as a volleyball-specific shoe brand.
I’m due for a new pair myself, so I’ve just spent the last day researching which Adidas shoes are best for various different kinds of volleyball players and also how they compare to other brands.
This article will help you decide which shoe to pick based on your own unique set of requirements as a volleyballer.
Stylish yet high performing all-round volleyball shoe with top tier shock absorption (great for jumping), highly secure and stable during lateral movements, and decent traction.
Best Overall Adidas Volleyball Shoe
The CrazyFlight shoe just barely won my overall rating over the Dame 7s, mainly because it does a pretty awesome job in all areas – it has no obvious flaws like the other shoes.
Perfect for both men and women, the CrazyFlight comes in a variety of styles including a low and a mid top.
It excels in foot and ankle security during quick lateral and stopping movements making it a really safe option that’ll help prevent ankle sprains.
It also performs better than the other shoes in terms of traction and even does pretty well in this regard on dusty courts.
The shoe is slightly heavier than some other brands of volleyball shoe, but still feels quite lightweight to wear.
It could use a little more spring when jumping, but it’s certainly not a bad shoe so far as jumping is concerned.
This shoe is exceptionally affordable currently retailing for just under $100.
Recommended Use
One of Adidas’ best overall volleyball shoes, fantastic option for any position on court.
The Good
Fantastic ankle support makes the Crazyflight awesome for defenders as well as spikers jumping and landing around the net.
Super affordable typically retailing for just under $100.
Top tier impact protection.
Very well-rounded shoe, fairly well balanced in all aspects.
The Bad
There really isn’t much I don’t like about the CrazyFlights!
The Dame 7 is one of my personal all time favorite shoes to wear for volleyball. They’re super affordable and offer plenty of support for spikers operating around the net.
Best Adidas Volleyball Shoes – Runner Up
Perhaps the best thing about Dame 7s is their shock absorption system. The thickness of the rubber in the sole makes this shoe ideal for any volleyballer doing a lot of jumping.
Taking care of your ankle, knee, and hip joints is imperative if you want to stave off injury and continue growing as a volleyballer. Jumping is brutal on your joints. So if you’re doing a lot jumping, the Dame 7 is a perfect match.
They are slightly heavier than most volleyball shoes, but I think that’s a fair price to pay if it means your knees won’t turn to dust…
Even though they’re heavier, they somehow still feel really really springy to jump in, and it feels like you’re landing on a cloud!
They come in plenty of different styles, so you can find a look you’ll love. Nowadays these shoes will only set you back around $80 so they’re a pretty affordable option.
Be sure to check out my full article on the best volleyball shoes for hitters.
Recommended Use
Great budget option for any middle blockers, opposite hitters, and outsides. They’re perhaps a little too clunky for setters, and liberos.
The Good
Excellent shock absorption and ankle support.
Great traction on court.
One of the most affordable volleyball shoes on the market at less than $100!
The Bad
Slightly bulky and boot-like, perhaps not a great fit for setters and liberos.
Amazing value for very little money. Easily one of the most comfortable volleyball shoes around. Can be worn off-court as a stylish classic looking sneaker. Made using recycled materials so you’ll be doing the environment a solid.
Best Budget Adidas Volleyball Shoes
There’s so much to love about this shoe. It’s really affordable costing only $65, and it’s made from over 50% recycled materials, so you’re literally saving the planet by wearing these kicks.
The Ligra 7 is well regarded as one of the most comfortable volleyball shoes on the market and is absolutely perfect for beginners or casual players, men or women.
Although these were designed for performance and comfort on the court, they can be worn absolutely anywhere and you’ll have that classic black sneaker look. They also come in white if that’s your preference.
Most volleyball shoes look out of place when not on the court, but the Ligra 7 can literally be worn anywhere! Seriously, you can wear these to the mall and still look cool.
Recommended Use
Great option for beginners who prioritize comfort over functionality. Can also be worn as a general-purpose sneaker too!
The Good
Remarkably comfortable feeling shoe considering the very basic tech stack.
Extremely affordable.
This classic looking sneaker can be worn off the volleyball court as a casual shoe.
The Bad
Fairly basic cushioning setup, not a great option for serious volleyballers playing/training more than once or twice a week.
Best Adidas Volleyball Shoe For Defenders
These kicks were specifically designed for indoor court sports like volleyball, handball, and badminton. They’re extremely responsive, meaning you can make very precise movements extremely quickly, making them perfect for defending in the backcourt.
They’re also extremely springy and feel amazing to jump in. They really excel for anything that requires explosive movement and have superb ankle support.
Having said all that, these shoes don’t have great shock absorption meaning they’re not ideal if you’re doing a lot of jumping (multiple times per week).
Perhaps more importantly than anything else, these shoes look ridiculously sleek so if you’re going for style points, these are for you!
Recommended Use
Perfect choice for liberos as well as setters who operate mostly from the back court – basically anyone not doing a ton of jumping will love these shoes!
The Good
Super responsive cushioning and top tier traction.
Sock like feel gives you an amazing connection to the court.
Super aesthetic looking!
The Bad
Not the best option for hitters as the cushioning isn’t very good.
On the more expensive side.
Final Verdict?
Personally, I’d recommend the Dame 7s for middle blockers, opposites, and any other hitters on a budget because of the exceptional value for money.
For liberos and back court specialists, I’d choose the Stabil Nex Gens because they’re super lightweight, ultra responsive, and insanely cool looking!
For pretty much everyone else I’d recommend the Crazyflights because they’re one of the best performing all-rounders on the market today.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my current list of the top volleyball shoes for 2024 for more ideas!
Are Adidas Shoes Good For Volleyball?
Generally speaking, yes, Adidas is a pretty solid brand when it comes to volleyball shoes.
I wouldn’t say they’re the best as their range of volleyball shoes is fairly small, but the shoes they do have tend to be solid overall.
Are Adidas Ultraboost Good For Volleyball?
Adidas Ultraboost running shoes are absolutely not a good idea for volleyball.
These shoes are notorious for having extremely poor lateral stability and containment with virtually no ankle lockdown.
This makes them really awful when it comes to those quick lateral movements we make on the volleyball court.
The Ultraboost is quite possibly one of the worst shoes you could wear for volleyball!
How Do Adidas Shoes Compare To Other Volleyball Shoe Brands?
The Adidas volleyball shoes definitely hold their own when compared to other popular manufacturers such as Asics, Mizuno, and Nike.
Mizuno are definitely well known for their volleyball shoes, as well as Asics and I highly encourage you to check out some of these brands when shopping around for volleyball shoes.
Nike and Adidas are definitely less established when it comes to volleyball specific shoes, but both have exceptionally good basketball shoes – some of which double nicely as volleyball shoes.
Below are the two areas in which I think Adidas volleyball shoes excel over the competition.
- Excellent shock absorption – Adidas has an excellent range of basketball shoes which I think are the best options for volleyball hitters who have to do a ton of jumping.
- 10/10 Style Points – In my opinion, Adidas shoes look a lot better than Asics and Mizunos for the most part. When all these different shoes perform fairly similarly, finding a pair that you really like the look of is always a good option!