Did you know that basketball was invented as early as 1891? Since then, many people have become players and enthusiasts of the sport. There are many techniques that make a basketball player good, but many people forget that choosing the best basketball sneakers can make a world of difference as well.
And, of course, even if you don’t play basketball all the time, a good pair of basketball shoes can still be a very stylish and comfortable choice of footwear. There is a problem, however.
How should you go about choosing which pair of basketball sneakers to buy?
Before you buy, you will have to consider a variety of factors such as size, comfort, durability, and more.
I know. I’m a mom to a boy who loves basketball.
So we spent a lot of stressful time looking before we bought and I decided to share what we learned.
Keep reading and learn more about what you should think about before you buy yourself some new basketball shoes.
Consider the Size of Your New Basketball Shoes
You might think that finding the size of any popular sneakers would be easy. After all, all you have to do is find a pair of shoes that match the numerical size of your feet. However, the process of choosing a shoe in your size isn’t always that simple.
As a matter of fact, many people don’t even realize that they’re wearing the wrong shoe size. You might wear a particular shoe size, a size 9 for example, when you’re a size 9.5. You might not notice much of a difference when wearing regular shoes, but when it comes to basketball sneakers, you’ll want to make sure that you choose the perfect size and fit for your feet.
How should you go about doing this, you might ask? One of the best ways you can find a shoe that fits is to go to a shoe store in person. This may not be high on your priority list because, after all, it’s so easy to buy shoes on the internet without trying them on first.
While it is true you can go with your gut and order shoes in a particular size off of the internet, you might not be all that happy with the size and fit once the shoes arrive. Whether you take long walks in your shoes or spend hours playing basketball, you’ll want to make sure your shoes fit perfectly. If they’re too small, your toes will eventually end up crammed in the toebox and causing you a lot of pain.
On the other hand, if your shoes are too big, they might end up rubbing against your ankles and causing some nasty blisters.
What You Need to Know
When you go to a shoe store in person, you’ll be able to try on a few different sizes to make sure you’re wearing the right size for your feet. More than that, an employee might even be able to measure your feet so that you’ll have a professional opinion on your shoe size.
That way, you can start searching around for basketball shoes that you light without worrying if they’ll fit or not. However, you will have to consider that some shoe brands may have slightly different sizing compared to others. For that reason, even if you see a shoe in your size, you’ll still want to try it on to see if it’s not too tight or too loose.
A good way to test this is to put on a pair of shoes in the store and walk around for a minute or two. This will give you the chance to see how the shoe molds to your foot (or not). You’ll also be able to see if there is any part of the shoe that is immediately uncomfortable.
If so, you might be better off trying another shoe. Although new shoes shouldn’t be supremely comfortable because they haven’t been broken in yet, they should still be reasonably comfortable to walk around in. When it comes to buying shoes online without trying them on first, you’ll have to risk the shoes not fitting you properly.
If you know your exact shoe size, this will help to a certain extent, but it still is not a foolproof method.
Make Sure That the Shoe Is Durable
When buying a basketball shoe, the last thing you want is for your shoe to start falling apart after a couple of uses. That’s why durability is one of the most important things you should look for when buying a shoe, right next to the size and fit. After all, there isn’t much of a point of buying an expensive pair of shoes if it’s going to wear down in a short period of time.
Fortunately, many popular basketball shoe brands such as KicksCrew Jordan 1s are some of the most durable options you’ll be able to find. But what, in particular, should you look for when choosing a durable shoe? First, you should check the sole of the shoe.
The sole, of course, is what’s going to get most of the wear and tear as you wear the shoe. As you walk around on pavement all day with your shoes, the pavement will slowly start scraping layers away from the soles. Eventually, you’ll start to notice that the sole will look a little faded and it won’t have the traction it used to have because it was all rubbed away by the pavement.
In certain cases, if the sole has been worn down, it might become uncomfortable to walk in those shoes anymore. That’s because a lot of the shock absorption and cushion in the soles has been worn down, leaving only a thin piece of the sole left. Of course, when you’re playing an intense game of baseball or simply walking down the street to the grocery store, the last thing you want is to feel every lump and bump in the road under your feet.
When buying a durable shoe, you will want to look for sneakers that have thick and sturdy soles.
All about the Soles of Your Shoes
If the sole seems too soft, it might wear down too fast. On the other hand, if the sole is denser and thicker, it will be able to last much longer.
As with sizing, you can learn a lot about a shoe’s durability by walking around with them in the store. When you walk around in a new pair of shoes, what do you feel under your feet? Do you feel the cushion of the shoe or can you feel uncomfortable pressure from the sole, especially when you step on objects?
A good shoe should never let you feel whatever you’re walking over, whether it be a pebble or anything else. Instead, a good shoe will make it so that it will feel like you’re walking on a cloud. Even as the sole wears down naturally, your basketball sneakers should still provide you with plenty of even cushion and comfort.
Otherwise, you’ll find that wearing the shoes will soon become a very uncomfortable task. Keep in mind that the sole’s material matters as well. The soles of many sneakers made today are made of polyurethane.
This is a very sturdy material and it provides plenty of cushion. If you can’t get your hands on polyurethane soles, natural rubber soles may still do the trick. You should avoid thinner soles such as leather or cork for basketball shoes.
These soles are better for dress shoes that don’t undergo a lot of wear and tear but not for basketball shoes. They also won’t provide enough cushion for running and jumping around the basketball court. Keep in mind that the durability of your soles can save you money.
By picking shoes that last longer, you won’t have to go through the process of buying a new pair of shoes for a while.
Choosing the Right Style for Your Basketball Shoes
The style of your shoes may not be immediately important when it comes to choosing a new pair of basketball shoes, but it can make a difference in how you feel in those shoes. Of course, the last thing you want is to wear shoes that don’t make you feel confident. Fortunately, there are many different basketball styles that you can choose from.
There are also many different color combinations. When it comes to choosing between different shoe styles, your choice will primarily be subjective. One person might love a particular shoe style or design while you might hate it or vice versa.
In terms of personal preferences, you might find yourself gravitating towards a shoe style that complements your fashion sense. For example, if you enjoy a trendy and coordinated look, you could consider wearing matching shirts with Jordan 1 sneakers, as they effortlessly blend various color combinations and add a touch of urban flair to your outfit. Ultimately, the decision boils down to your unique taste and how you envision expressing it through your choice of footwear.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t blindly follow the hype for new shoes. Certain shoe enthusiasts might insist that an upcoming shoe is going to be the best and most stylish shoe on the market. However, if you don’t care for the design of the shoe, you shouldn’t bother buying it because it’s popular.
This is not to mention that new releases tend to be quite expensive. There’s no point in buying an expensive shoe that you don’t like because of all the hype behind it. Instead, you will want to put any shoe hype behind you and choose a shoe that resonates with you.
You might like a shoe with a large color scheme or you might like a plain white pair of sneakers. Whatever the case, you should like how the shoes look on your feet. The last thing you want is to feel like wearing the shoes is a chore because of how they look.
The Details
You should want to look forward to wearing your shoes because, in you’re eyes, they look great. As long as you accomplish this, the money you spend on your shoes will never be wasted. There is a catch, however.
You should never let the appearance of a pair of shoes blind you to the more important aspects of those shoes. Many people are so excited by the look of a pair of shoes that they forget to check out the shoe’s specs. After all, the look of the shoe is purely aesthetic.
The design of the shoe isn’t going to make the shoe last longer or make it feel more comfortable. In fact, the least important reason to buy a new pair of shoes is because of how the shoes look. When you find a pair of shoes that you like when you look at them, you will still want to take a closer look and see whether or not the shoes would be a good choice for you.
For example, you might find some stylish shoes that you love but, upon closer inspection, you find that the toe box is a little tight and that the soles don’t have great shock absorption.
At this point, you still might be tempted to buy the shoes because they look so stylish, but this would be a mistake and a waste of money. This is because you would be buying the shoes for nothing else but their appearance.
Once you start to wear them, you’ll realize that they’re quite an uncomfortable pair of shoes and not ideal for playing basketball or even taking long walks down the street. For the best results, you’ll want to find a stylish shoe that also feels good on your feet.
How to Choose the Best Basketball Sneakers
Learning how to choose the best basketball sneakers doesn’t have to be hard as long as you know what to look for. The size, durability, and style of the shoes you buy are all very important. Without these factors, you might not even end up liking your shoes.
To learn more, don’t hesitate to check out the other blogs on our website.
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