Are you on the market for a new pair of volleyball shoes but don’t want to fork out a ton of cash?
I’ve got you covered.
Having played volleyball for well over 10 years, I’ve come to learn that cheap shoes either end up being really awful, or surprisingly good.
In this article I discuss 5 volleyball shoes that are surprisingly good for their price tag, and I’ll also be able to point you in the direction of the budget shoe that’s right for you.
Let’s begin!
Best Overall Budget Volleyball Shoes
Yes, you can wear basketball shoes for volleyball, so don’t fret!
Plenty of top pros do it and for good reason: basketball shoes are often better configured for certain volleyball positions, and there’s a much larger range to choose from.
The Dame 7 excels in just about every aspect.
The Litestrike midsole is excellent for jumping in with really good impact protection, so if you’re a hitter, your joints will be well protected.
Traction in the Dame 7s is actually superior to the Dame 8s, which is always handy.
Oh and ankle support is top notch, making these brilliant for middle blockers and opposite hitters who are doing a lot of jumping and landing around the net.
They do okay in terms of responsiveness and lateral movements, but if you’re a libero or setter, you might prefer a shoe that performs a little better in this regard.
The Dame 7s are also great for anyone with wide feet, so that’s a bonus too.
These will usually go for under $100 on Amazon and they’re simply the best shoe in this price range, hands down.
Recommended Use
Great option for middle blockers, opposite hitters, and even some outside hitters!
The Good
Excellent shock absorption.
Mid top design offers great ankle support.
Excellent traction compared to the Dame 8s.
The Bad
Slightly bulky and boot-like, perhaps not a great fit for setters and liberos.
Best Budget Volleyball Shoes – Runner Up
The Asics Gel-Rocket 10s are one of the most versatile and durable volleyball shoes on the market, which is somewhat surprising since they also retail for under $100.
Right off the bat you should understand that the GR10 isn’t technically a volleyball shoe and was designed as a general purpose court shoe.
It’s actually more geared towards pickleball, badminton, and squash.
For this reason, the cushioning setup is not so incredible, unfortunately.
What this means is that the bounce and impact protection really aren’t the greatest and so I wouldn’t recommend this shoe for anyone doing a lot of jumping.
Having said that, they’re super responsive and have excellent traction and therefore make excellent shoes for liberos and setters who have less need for shock absorption.
Be warned that these shoes run small and are quite narrow.
You will most likely get blisters if you order your normal size so be sure to get at least 1/2 a size bigger!
Recommended Use
Fantastic, super responsive option for setters and liberos.
The Bad
Cushion isn’t designed for volleyball/jumping, so I don’t recommend this shoe for spikers.
They run super small and feel quite tight inside – make sure you order at least 1/2 a size bigger!
The Harden Stepback 2 is really well known for its excellent lateral support making it a great option for safety focused volleyballers.
Most Supportive Budget Volleyball Shoes
If you’re concerned about ankle support and want a particularly safe volleyball shoe, the Harden Stepback 3 is a great choice.
For what might be the cheapest shoe on this list, the Stepback 2 is actually a really decently made product.
The cushioning setup is, as you would expect, okay but not incredible.
The traction is surprisingly good and they handle outdoor courts exceptionally well, making them perfect for people who tend to wear their volleyball shoes for more activities than they probably should!
The best part about this shoe is the lateral support.
The internal heel counter combined with the fairly wide outrigger make for a really well locked down shoe that is hard to roll.
They’re a unisex shoe that come in a variety of interesting colorways to choose from.
Recommended Use
Fantastic all rounder with excellent ankle lockdown – great for anyone concerned about injuries.
The Good
Great durability and a fantastic option for outdoor courts.
Super well locked-down feel, creating a super secure ride.
Great for wide feet.
The Bad
Poor breathability.
Great Budget Volleyball Shoes For Back Court Players
These shoes are one of the best performing budget basketball shoes that work really well on the volleyball court also.
They’re easily the lightest shoe on this list which is great for anyone who enjoys that super lightweight feel.
The cushioning setup is okay, but not great. It’s definitely better than the Gel-Rocket 10s, and likely good enough for some entry level spikers.
But where this shoe really excels is its traction and responsiveness, making it a really excellent choice for setters as well as liberos.
Recommended Use
Another great, lightweight, low-to-the-ground shoe ideal for setters and liberos.
The Good
Extremely affordable retailing at around the $100 mark.
Super responsive and lightweight. These shoes make you feel extremely connected to the court.
The Bad
Pretty average cushioning system, so not ideal for anyone doing a large amount of spiking.
Note: These shoes retail primarily via Amazon, as they’re no longer selling through the official Nike USA website. You should be able to find other local retailers near you with a simple Google search.
One of Asics’ most popular court shoes, the Upcourt 4 is another extremely cheap option that is a fine choice for beginners in the sport of volleyball.
Also Great Budget Volleyball Shoes
Along with the Gel-Rocket 10s, the Upcourt 4 have a pretty solid reputation for a variety of court sports.
For somewhere in the neighborhood of $80, you really have to be quite pleased with the quality of this shoe.
It handles lateral movements quite well, is fairly supportive, and is remarkably durable.
The cushioning setup is also not really configured for the sport of volleyball, so don’t expect the softest landings if you’re jumping a lot.
As with most Asics shoes, they’re quite narrow and you’ll likely need to order at least half a size up.
Recommended Use
Yet another fairly decent all-rounder, suitable for all positions although not ideal for spikers.
The Good
Decent lateral stability and support.
Great durability, good option for outdoor courts.
The Bad
Pretty average cushioning system, so not ideal for anyone doing a large amount of spiking.
Final Verdict?
By far the best option on this list for anyone doing a good amount of jumping (most volleyball players) is the Adidas Dame 7 due to its excellent cushioning setup and great overall performance.
Setters and liberos are really spoilt for choice here as any of the other 4 shoes will be a great fit.
I’d recommend going for the Harden Stepback 3 as it’s probably the best all-rounder after the Dame 7.
Be sure to check out this article to learn more about the price of volleyball shoes.
