What Makes a Good Parkour Shoe?
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Choosing the right shoes for parkour can make a surprisingly big difference.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been training for years, your shoes are one of the few pieces of equipment you use for almost every movement. They affect how you grip surfaces, how comfortable you are landing, how well you can feel what’s underneath your feet, and even how confident you feel when training.
But with so many trainers available, what actually makes a good parkour shoe?
I’ve spent years training and testing different shoes for parkour and freerunning, and I’ve put together this guide to explain what I look for when choosing a pair.
I’ve also made a video going much more in-depth on some of my favourite parkour shoes and what makes them work so well:
The BEST Shoes for Parkour & Freerunning | Ultimate Parkour Shoe Guide
What Should You Look For in a Parkour Shoe?
There isn’t one perfect parkour shoe.
Different people like different levels of cushioning, flexibility and grip, and the best shoe for you will depend on your style of training and the surfaces you normally train on.
That said, there are a few characteristics that I think are particularly important.
1. Grip
Grip is probably one of the most important things to consider.
Parkour involves running, jumping, climbing, precision jumps and vaults across all sorts of surfaces. A good shoe needs to give you confidence when you’re putting your foot down.
I generally look for a single sole piece of rubber on the bottom of the shoe that provides reliable grip without being excessively sticky.
Too little grip can obviously be a problem, but there is such a thing as having too much grip too. A shoe that grabs a surface aggressively can sometimes make certain movements feel less natural.
The ideal shoe gives you enough traction to trust your feet while still allowing you to move naturally.
2. Flexibility
Parkour shoes need to move with your feet.
A very stiff trainer can make it harder to feel the surface beneath you, particularly when you’re landing precisions or moving around obstacles.
I tend to prefer shoes that have some flexibility through the forefoot while still providing enough structure to protect and support the foot.
This is particularly noticeable when doing technical movements where you need to make small adjustments with your feet.
3. Durability
Parkour is hard on shoes.
Really hard.
Running, jumping, climbing and repeated contact with concrete can destroy a pair of trainers surprisingly quickly.
A good parkour shoe therefore needs to be able to withstand repeated impact and abrasion.
One of the biggest things I look at is the sole. If the rubber starts separating from the rest of the shoe after a few sessions, it’s probably not going to be a particularly good long-term investment.
That said, durability always involves some compromise. A heavier, more reinforced shoe might last longer, while a lighter and more flexible shoe might feel better to train in.
4. Weight
Nobody wants to feel like they’re carrying bricks on their feet.
A lightweight shoe can make running and jumping feel much more natural, and it can be particularly noticeable during more dynamic movement.
However, lighter doesn’t automatically mean better.
If making a shoe lighter means sacrificing grip, durability or protection, I’d generally take the slightly heavier shoe.
For me, it’s about finding the balance between weight and everything else.
5. Cushioning
Cushioning is one of those things where personal preference really matters.
Some people love a lot of cushioning, while others prefer a much more minimal shoe that lets them feel exactly what’s happening underneath their feet.
For parkour, I think there is a useful middle ground.
You want enough cushioning to make repeated landings and running comfortable, but not so much that you lose awareness of the surface beneath you.
A massive amount of cushioning can also change how your foot interacts with the ground, particularly during technical landings.
6. Fit
Even the best parkour shoe in the world isn’t going to work if it doesn’t fit your foot.
Your heel should feel secure, your foot shouldn’t be sliding around inside the shoe, and you shouldn’t have excessive pressure around your toes.
This is particularly important for parkour because you’re constantly changing direction and putting your feet into different positions.
If your foot is moving around inside the shoe, you’re losing some of the control you’re trying to get from it.
Do You Actually Need a Parkour-Specific Shoe?
No.
This is probably the most important thing to say.
You don’t need a special pair of “parkour shoes” to start training parkour.
A normal pair of trainers can work perfectly well, particularly when you’re beginning.
What’s more important is that your shoes are comfortable, fit properly and give you reasonable grip on the surfaces you’re training on.
As you become more experienced, you might start to notice that certain characteristics work better for you. That’s when experimenting with different shoes can become really interesting.
Some of My Favourite Parkour Shoes
Over the years, I’ve tried a lot of different shoes for parkour.
Some have been brilliant. Some have been pretty terrible.
And some have been brilliant for one particular type of training but completely unsuitable for another.
I’ve included some of the shoes I’ve enjoyed using in my video, where I go into much more detail about how they perform and why I like them.
One thing you’ll probably notice is that there isn’t a single design that all parkour shoes follow.
Some are incredibly lightweight and minimal. Others offer more cushioning and protection. Some prioritise grip, while others are designed to be versatile enough for everyday training.
That’s part of what makes finding a good parkour shoe so interesting.
I have listed some links at the bottom of this article with some of my parkour shoe recommendations.
What About Running Shoes?
Running shoes can work for parkour, but they’re not always ideal.
Many modern running shoes are designed around forward movement and can have large amounts of cushioning underneath the foot.
Parkour requires much more varied movement.
You’re moving sideways, backwards, up walls, over obstacles and landing on relatively small areas. You therefore need a shoe that feels predictable when your foot isn’t simply travelling forwards.
That doesn’t mean you can’t train parkour in running shoes. You absolutely can.
It’s just worth being aware of how the design of the shoe affects the way it feels when you’re moving.
What About Skate Shoes?
Skate shoes are another popular choice among practitioners.
They tend to have relatively flat soles and good grip, which can make them feel great for certain types of parkour.
The downside is that they can sometimes be heavier and less flexible than shoes specifically designed around running and athletic movement. Or it could be the opposite. The can be light and flexible, but they're made from materials that aren't going to withstand the harsh environments that we train parkour in.
Again, it’s a trade-off.
Finding Your Own Favourite
Ultimately, choosing a parkour shoe is quite personal.
The shoe that I love might feel terrible to somebody else.
Your foot shape, training style, preferred surfaces and personal preferences all play a role.
I’d recommend paying attention to how a shoe actually feels while you train rather than simply looking for something that has been labelled as a “parkour shoe”.
Think about:
- Does it grip the surfaces you train on?
- Does your foot feel secure?
- Can you feel the ground?
- Is it comfortable during repeated landings?
- Does it flex naturally?
- Is it durable enough for the amount you train?
- Does it work for the type of parkour you enjoy?
If the answer to those questions is yes, you’ve probably found a pretty good shoe.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a single “best” parkour shoe.
The best shoe is ultimately the one that works for you.
I’ve gone through quite a few different pairs during my years of training, and my preferences have changed over time. What I wanted from a shoe when I first started training isn’t necessarily what I look for now.
If you’re interested in seeing some of the shoes I’ve tested and hearing my thoughts on them, check out my full parkour shoe guide on YouTube.
And if you’re currently looking for your next pair of parkour shoes, hopefully this gives you a better idea of what to look for.
My Recommendations
Ollo Alpha and Ollo Sapien X - Shop Here
I would go as far to say that the OLLO shoes are some of the best parkour specific trainers that I have worn for parkour in the last 5 years. They last an incredibly long time, and they're built for parkour training.
If you have an additional bit of money to spend, I recommend the Sapien X over the Alphas.
STORROR Tech Tens - Shop Here
I am not sure how much longer these shoes are going to be available for as STORROR are currently doing a stock clearance sale after some recent challenging times.
The STORROR Tech Tens were built and designed by parkour's leading brand, and they spent a lot of time developing the shoe.
Whilst they are quite heavy, and are by no means my personal favourite, I know some members of the community absolutely swear by them.
You can check my STORROR shoe video review below.
Reebok Classic Nylon - Shop Here
Reebok Classics are by no means a parkour specific shoe, but I have been using them on and off since 2017.
They're a reliable pair of trainers that you can pick up in most sport and footwear stores. They also usually have some pretty good discounts and sales where you can get a pair for cheap.
They're another community favourite, and once broken in they are incredibly comfortable.
Nike Charge Skate Shoe - Shop Here
The Nike Charge is my skate shoe recommendation for this list. It has just enough cushion to make you feel protected, whilst also keeping things minimal and thin enough for you to feel your landings.
Take Flight Stealth 2 - Shop Here
A surprising entry on this list. I have been testing these shoes over the last month and they have really surprised me.
They feel great on my feet, and the grip straight out the box is something to be noted. I've had a few sessions in these now, and I've been very surprised on how well they fit on the foot.
They're a bit more fitting than the other shoes listed above, so bare that in mind, but I am repping them with additional insoles that Take Flight sell, so if your foot is a bit more on the larger side, I would recommend taking those out.
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