The most comfortable basketball shoes on the market will always excel in two key features: materials and, most importantly, cushion. Our choices for the current best basketball shoes out there consist of the most well-rounded shoes, but here, the cushion is the main feature we are looking at. So, no matter if we are talking about a great on-court performer, or just a cool casual shoe, to make it on this list, it will have to have great cushion.
When we are choosing performance shoes that excel in comfort and cushion, what we are looking for are shoes that allow you to play for the most amount of hours with the least amount of impact on your joints. At WearTesters, we spend long hours every day testing our shoes, so we know and appreciate when we have a well-cushioned shoe on our hands. Anything that can keep us on the court for longer, whether it be indoors or outdoors, is always something we look forward to.
As far as retros and casual shoes go, we are looking for great step-in comfort and for shoes that will allow you to rock them for the longest time without soreness.
If you already picked up your hoop shoes for the year and want to boost their cushioning, a great option for that is Move insoles. They can take almost any hoop shoe from flat to bouncy and supportive. You can also check out our list of the best overall basketball shoes for a little more context. You can also check out Wertesters in Español’s list as well.
So, with all that being said, let’s get into our picks:
Last updated 09.02.2024
Most Comfortable Basketball Shoes Show
Most Comfortable Basketball Shoes 2024 Overall
Most Comfortable Basketball Shoe 2024
Nike GT Jump 2
It’s nice to see the changes Nike made in this shoe. They have taken everything that was great in the first model and tweaked it to make the GT Jump 2 that much better as a performance basketball shoe. But this shoe is still one of the best-cushioned shoes we have ever seen, which, in combination with the upgraded materials and fit make it the most comfortable basketball shoe currently on the market. Read the full review.
New Balance Fresh Foam BB V2
The New Balance Fresh Foam BB V2 just might be New Balance’s best basketball shoe to date. With this shoe, you’re getting elite traction that can handle outdoor play with ease, a thick plush cushioning system (that’s also ideal for outdoors), excellent materials and build, and this is completely subjective, one of the best-looking hoop shoes of the year. Read the full review.
Way of Wade 11
The Way of Wade 11 is another impressive flagship model from Way of Wade and an improvement on an already great model in the Way of Wade 10. With the Way of Wade 11 you’ll be getting reliable traction with a unique, story-driven outsole design that promises to excel indoors. You’ll also get exceptional responsiveness and stability from the full-length Boom midsole and EVA foot frame carrier and a much-improved material setup. Stability and lockdown should also be great and that “customized” carbon fiber shank plate will be elite. This is the best-looking and feeling Way of Wade model to date. Read full review. Price: $225
Nike Zoom GT Hustle 3
The Nike GT Hustle 3 offers a mixed bag of performance features. The cushioning is great and would be amazing for outdoor use, but the traction on that type of playing surface would suffer greatly. This amount of cushioning would also be great for big, powerful basketball players who need elite impact protection, but the build and containment might not be able to keep up with these types of players. However, it is a super comfy basketball shoe, regardless of it’s potential deficiencies. If you’re a lighter guard who enjoys a substantial amount of cushioning underfoot, this might be the shoe for you. Additionally, if you’re a heftier player but you have a very linear playing style, you may also be a good candidate for the GT Hustle 3. Read the full review. Price: $200
Nike LeBron 21
The Nike LeBron 21 promises to be a beast on court. It can be described as a remix of the Nike LeBron 20, and, that shoe was amazing. It was also one of the most comfortable hooop shoes of last year. The LeBron 21 features the same exact cushioning system, as well as improved materials. Barring any unfortunate surprises, this will be one of the top models this year, one of the most versatile, and one of the most comfortable on court, as well as an attainable Kobe substitute. Read the full review. Price: $200
adidas Harden Vol 8
adidas has created a more than worthy successor to one of their best basketball shoes in years, the Harden Vol 7. In terms of performance, the Harden Vol 8 should be equally as effective on court as the Vol 7. But, that’s just half of the story. In terms of overall design and overall build, the Harden Vol 8 maintained a common design language with the Harden Vol 7 while at the same time improving and refining several aspects. This is, admittedly, an odd-looking basketball shoe, but at the same time, it stands out. Truly memorable basketball shoes perform great and look different, and the Harden Vol 8 does just that. Read full review. Price $160.
Nike KD 17
To keep things short and sweet, the Nike KD 17 is basically the same shoe as the Nike KD 16. If you like that shoe, you’re going to enjoy this one. The Nike KD 17 is a top-tier and super versatile performance basketball shoe that will work well for almost every playing style and position on the floor. The KD 17 also gets extra points for being a “better than average” outdoor option, especially if you can find an XDR version. Read the full review.
Jordan 39
The Air Jordan 39 could have easily been the best basketball shoe of 2024-25 with a few simple and inexpensive changes. Instead, we have a shoe that does offer some standout features, but also has some glaring, foundational issues that may render the shoe unplayable for the general public. The cushioning system is elite, but the shoe’s torsional support and containment are lacking. If you are willing to spend a little extra money on top of the $200 the shoe already costs and purchase a pair of insoles that come equipped with torsional support, that may be able to solve some of the shoe’s weaknesses. Read the full review. Price: $200
Nike GT Cut 3
The Nike GT Cut 3 is a fun low-top basketball shoe. It’s bouncy, agile, and just one of those models that makes you want to sprint up and down the court as soon as you lace it up. The Zoom X does not disappoint, and Nike has done an outstanding job of implementing it into a basketball shoe. It’s soft and squishy, but by no means feels unstable or slow on court, and it might just be the best GT Cut model to date. Read the full review. Price: $190
Nike Air Max Impact 4
The Nike Air Max Impact 4 proves that price does not always equal performance. Though this one is a budget model, it provides “signature line” comfort. The foam is presumably Phylon, but it is a very plush and slightly bouncy iteration of it with an Air Max unit in the heel. In addition, the upper is very soft and breathable which is always a plus. Don’t be fooled by the price tags of some sneakers. Great performance and comfort can come at any price point. Read the full review. Price: $90
Jordan 38
The Jordan 38 is a great all-around shoe, that just happens to be super comfortable. The combination of the super thin materials of the upper, which require no break-in time, and the sublime cushioning system earn the Jordan 38 a spot on this list.
The 38 is nimble, and very well-ventilated, it is equipped with a great no-nonsense traction setup (which in this colorway is etched into a translucent rubber sole), and a very well-balanced layered cushioning system. This cushioning system combines a Phylon midsole, a full-length Zoom Air Strobel, and a slab of Cushlon 3.0 nestled between the outsole and the midsole. A great, comfortable hoop shoe. Price: $200. Read the full review.
adidas AE 1 Low
To keep things short and sweet, the adidas AE 1 Mid is an excellent shoe (one of the best of the year in fact) and the AE 1 Low is slightly better in almost every way. Although the AE 1 Low looks similar to the originals, this is a very different basketball shoe and a better one at that. Not only is it better, it’s cheaper. The first AE 1 retailed for $120, which was already a very reasonable price for such a high-performing signature model, and the low version will run you a mere $110. Read full review. Price $110.
adidas AE 1
adidas has been having a bit of a resurgence in the performance basketball market. The Harden Vol 7 was fantastic, the Trae Young 3 was very solid, and now we have the AE 1 which is a top-tier basketball shoe and one of the best first signature shoes we have ever seen. Anthony Edwards’ first signature shoe might end up being the best overall basketball shoe of 2024, but even if it doesn’t end up at that level, it’s an excellent, and very comfortable basketball shoe. Read full review. Price $120.
EQLZ 247
The EQLZ 247 is an excellent, well-rounded, high-performing basketball shoe, which is made all the more impressive since this shoe is coming to us from a practically unknown brand. The EQLZ 247’s innovative traction system, comfortable and responsive cushioning, high-quality materials, and well-designed support features collectively contribute to its impressive on-court performance. For $150, you’re getting great value for its performance and quality, making it a solid choice for serious basketball players looking for a unique and beastly on-court performance model. Read the full review. Price: $150
Puma All Pro Nitro
The Puma All Pro Nitro is quite different from the original model, but it is a more than worthy successor to an iconic performance basketball shoe. Prepare to experience remarkable traction, a plush and well-balanced cushioning system, and reliable materials that deliver their intended functionality. For anyone in search of a top-notch performance basketball shoe, the Puma All Pro Nitro is a compelling choice that ticks all the right boxes. Read the full review. Price: $130
AND1 Attack 3.0
The Attack 3.0 is a very nice, and very comfortable hoop shoe. Traction and cushioning are clearly the highlights of this model. If you’re a younger hooper looking for a great shoe from a different brand this is a great pick. Or if you are a long-time fan as we are, wondering if these pack a performance punch, rest assured that they do. A great performance model that is all around very comfortable. Read the full review. Price: $129
Puma TRC Blaze Court
The Puma TRC Blaze Court continues Puma’s resurgence into the basketball performance sneaker scene. The outsole looks awesome and performed excellently. It’s mainly made of multi-directional lines with herringbone in critical places. Trinomic is now foam-based, as Puma shows when you turn the shoe over. The rest of the midsole is ProFoam+ which is comfortable. If you haven’t tried Puma basketball, this is a perfect shoe to start for comfort and performance. See the full review. Price: $120
Most Comfortable Budget Basketball Shoes 2024
Check out our list of the best budget basketball shoes here.
Nike Air Max Impact 4
Easy choice here. The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is a budget model with a ton of Air Max cushioning housed within a plush phylon foam carrier.not much more to say. Read the full review. Price: $90
Most Comfortable Outdoor Basketball Shoes 2024
Check out our list of the best outdoor basketball shoes here.
New Balance Fresh Foam BB V2
The New Balance Fresh Foam BB V2 are super comfy and can handle outdoor play with ease. Read the full review.
Most Comfortable Basketball Shoes: Retro/Casual 2024
Air Jordan 11 Low I.E. OG Bred 2021
The Air Jordan 11 Low I.E. OG Bred 2021 is proof that retros can still be comfortable and that Jordan Brand was ahead of its time. The tech specs of any AJ 11 are well-known: Phylon midsole with full-length Air-Sole. That still beats most modern basketball shoes. The upper is a nice black leather with mesh sections so your feet don’t feel like they’re in an oven all the time. Playing in these wouldn’t be a terrible idea either. Read the full review. Price: $170
Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT
The Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT really stays true to its name. The CMFT is to be read as “comfort.” It features a canvas upper that is more forgiving than leather. For the midsole, it was basically injected with foam, presumably Phylon, and they decided not to cover it on the outsole. That makes the foam more able to compress and expand under the weight of the wearer. There’s also a heel Zoom Air unit for that extra pep in your step. Read the full review. Price: $150
Air Jordan 1 Zoom
The Air Jordan 1 Zoom doesn’t make it hard for us to find out what the update is with arguably the greatest sneaker of all time. But this isn’t just any regular Zoom unit. They actually used the same Zoom Strobel unit that was first seen in the Nike KD 12. With that, you’ll be able to feel how springy and comfortable these are right away. The materials are all reflective but there are other colorways if that’s not your thing. Also, you’ll probably want to go up half a size when you purchase a pair. Read the full review. Price: $175
