Having played indoor volleyball internationally, I’ve burned through my fair share of volleyball shoes over the years.
I understand exactly what men look for in a good volleyball shoe and what the most popular options are for different positions.
Recently, I’ve written in a lot greater detail about the best volleyball shoes money can buy in 2024, but a number of these kicks aren’t currently available in men’s sizes.
So today I’ve created a list of the best volleyball shoes that are actually stocked and available in men’s sizes today.
Let’s begin!
The Asics Sky Elite FF men’s volleyball shoes are, in my opinion, by far the greatest volleyball shoe ever created, by a big margin!
Best Overall Men’s Volleyball Shoes
If you’re a serious volleyballer, there simply is no better volleyball shoe you can own today than the Sky Elite FF from Asics.
It’s pretty rare we come across a volleyball shoe which can be worn by all positions and doesn’t have any major flaws…
The Sky Elite FFs have arguably the most responsive traction of any shoe… they practically stick to the floor.
The Flytefoam cushion is also extremely well designed making this, in my opinion, the most well cushioned volleyball shoe ever.
This is really important because it means better impact protection which means your joints will thank you over the long run.
It also gives the shoe a bit of extra bounce when jumping; an absolute joy to play in.
They fit great for wide feet and come in several super aesthetic colorways.
Ideal For
- Virtually all volleyball players. This is one of the shoes which works well for just about everyone!
Not Ideal For
- Liberos, maybe. This shoe has quite a thick midsole which means they’re fairly high off the ground. Some liberos may prefer wearing a shoe which feels closer to the ground.
Right up there at the top is Mizuno’s flagship volleyball shoe, the Wave Momentum which is an ultra lightweight, highly responsive, well cushioned shoe great for all positions.
Best Men’s Volleyball Shoes – Runner Up
Mizuno, along with Asics, are the OGs in the volleyball shoe space.
Their current best shoe is the Wave Momentum, however there’s a pretty important distinction you need to be aware of…
The Wave Momentum 1, while it’s not quite as springy and responsive as the Wave Momentum 2, has far superior cushioning and some of the best shock absorption capabilities of any volleyball shoe.
For that reason, I always recommend jumpers go for the original Wave Momentum because impact protection is the single most important thing for anyone doing a ton of spiking.
If you’re a libero or setter, you require less cushioning, so the Wave Momentum 2 will be a better choice for you. You’ll be able to enjoy the crazy spring and reactiveness this shoe has to offer.
Whichever version you go for, the Momentum is an ultra lightweight shoe that feels amazing to play in.
Another decent shoe for my wide footed friends!
Ideal For
- Volleyballers who prefer lightweight shoes. The Wave Momentums are some of the lightest shoes on the market.
Not Ideal For
- Anyone expecting a massive range of colorways. The Momentums notoriously only come in a couple of pretty average colorways.
One of the most versatile volleyball shoes of all time, the Gel-Rocket 10 is an exceptional choice for a variety of positions.
Most Iconic Men’s Volleyball Shoes
The Gel-Rocket is an iconic general purpose court shoe which became pretty popular for volleyball many moons ago.
This is another shoe which does a reasonable job across the board.
It’s also the best shoe for outdoor volleyball, in my opinion, so if you play on concrete, I’d definitely go for the Gel-Rocket 10.
Traction is solid and it’s remarkably supportive for a very low top, low to the ground feeling shoe.
I recommend these mostly for liberos and setters who require very high responsiveness.
The one downside of this shoe is cushioning.
It wasn’t designed with a high volume of jumping in mind, which makes it not one of the greatest options for hitters.
If you’re an opposite or middle blocker and are dead set on going with Asics, pick the Sky Elite FF as the cushioning is far superior.
Ideal For
- Liberos and setters. This shoe is also not a bad option for outside hitters who play occasionally.
- Outdoor volleyball players. This is my number one recommendation for those who play on concrete/hybrid floors.
Not Ideal For
- Frequent flyers. If you’re jumping a lot, the cushioning on this shoe really isn’t optimal.
Best Budget Men’s Volleyball Shoes
Yes, the Nike Giannis Immortality is a basketball shoe but it’s easily one of the best options for volleyballers for several reasons.
Firstly, it’s incredibly lightweight. This is the lightest shoe on this list by a decent margin. Because of this, it’s extremely responsive meaning it’ll enable you to perform tons of quick lateral micro adjustments while passing.
For that reason, it’s one of the best budget shoes for liberos who need a shoe which promotes this agility.
If you’re a setter looking for a budget option, this is also a great pick.
The cushioning is not so good in these, which is part of the reason they feel so light and springy. For that reason, I’d advise anyone doing a large amount of hitting to avoid these shoes.
If you are a hitter and are looking for a cheap option, check the last shoe on this list!
Ideal For
- Liberos and setters. These shoes are great for any player not jumping a crazy amount.
- Anyone balling on a budget. The Immortalities are one of the most affordable athletic shoes money can buy.
Not Ideal For
- Hitters. You’ll want to avoid these if you’re doing a good amount of jumping.
For the big man who wants some extra bounce when jumping and needs a lot of cushioning for impact protecI’ve decided to bring out the big guns for this shoe recommendation. The Lebron 18 has the craziest bounce of any shoe to ever step onto a volleyball court!
tion, the Lebron 18 is as good as it gets.
Best Men’s Volleyball Shoes For Hitters
If you’re an opposite hitter or middle blocker, you really should prioritize cushioning.
The shoe you wear should not only help protect your joints from the landing forces incurred by jumping, but they should also give you a bit of extra spring.
The Lebron 18s are known for their crazy bounce.
The cushioning setup is absolutely out of this world, so these are an excellent volleyball shoe for anyone with jumper’s knee, dodgy hips, or a bad back!
Outside hitters who prefer a lower to the ground feel should be mindful that these stand very high off the ground, so they’re not ideal for passing and digging.
They’re also not cheap, but I think still make a great investment for any middle or opposite!
Ideal For
- Middle blockers and opposite hitters. This is the perfect big man’s shoe!
Not Ideal For
- Anyone who prefers a low to the ground feel. These shoes stand quite high off the ground, so probably not the best option for liberos!
The All City 10 is one of my favorite shoes for setters, liberos, and outside hitters because of its great lightweight feel, strong traction, and decent cushioning. Plus they look incredible!
Best Men’s Volleyball Shoes For Liberos & Setters
If you’re a libero, setter, or outside hitter, this recommendation is for you.
Each of these positions do a good amount of quick lateral movements like passing and setting. To perform these efficiently, you need highly responsive shoes with a low to the ground feel.
The Li-Nings are an extremely responsive, low feeling shoe with the added bonus of really exceptional cushioning – making them ideal for outside hitters as well as back court specialists.
This is one of my favorite, premium all rounder shoes that can be worn by virtually any position on court.
So far as basketball shoes go, Li-Ning is a less well known brand but they have absolutely smashed it out of the park with the Li-Ning All City 8s, 9s, and 10s which have been some of the highest rated and most well received shoes of 2024.
They also look absolutely incredible.
Ideal For
- All positions. This shoe performs really well for all types of volleyball players.
Not Ideal For
- Anyone balling on a budget. These aren’t as expensive as the Lebrons, but they’re not super cheap either. If you’re a libero on somewhat of a budget, I actually think the Immortalities are a better choice.
One of the most reliable shoes of all time, the Dame 7 has a brilliant cushioning setup making it excellent to jump in. It’s also one of the most affordable shoes on this list.
Best Men’s Budget Basketball Shoe For Volleyball
I’m a big proponent of basketball shoes for volleyball because they’re very similar in design and certain basketball shoes check all the boxes for certain volleyball players.
The Dame 7s are a really solid, budget option for those who liked the Lebron 18s but decided they were far too expensive.
For about half the price, you can get a really quite decent cushioning setup. No, not as good as the Lebrons, but far better than the majority of volleyball shoes.
This should be music to the ears of opposites and middles.
The Dame 7s also are quite a high standing shoe so perhaps not ideal for back court players.
They are excellent for outdoor courts, fit perfectly on wide feet, and cost less than $100!
Ideal For
- Middles and opposites on a budget. The cushioning setup in these feels really nice which makes them great for big men. And they’re really affordable too!
Not Ideal For
- Most other positions. This isn’t a shoe I’d wear as a libero and I feel like there’s better options for setters. Outsides could certainly wear these.
Final Verdict?
In terms of ‘pure’ volleyball shoes, the Asics Sky Elite FF are right at the top of my list for good reason. They’re about as good as it gets for all players with the exception of liberos.
Liberos can choose between the Li-Ning All Citys (either 9s or 10s are very similar and both work great) or if they wanted to save some cash, the Nike Giannis Immortality is a solid option.
For the heavy hitters doing plenty of jumping, the Lebrons are my favorite shoe, but they’re very expensive. The Dame 7s are the best budget option for these players.
Setters and outsides can pretty much pick from all of the above based on their preferences and individual needs as a player.
ABOUT Harvey Meale
As a former international level volleyball player, I now spend my days working out and writing for Volleyball Vault. I look for ways to bring my wealth of experience and knowledge to create unique and insightful perspectives in my content.