Our 8 Favorite Tennis Shoes For On and Off the Court

It should come as no the surprise that Nike has a whole line devoted to playing tennis. This guy, the Zoom GP Challenge 1, has Zoom Air units along the side for side-to-side stability. Inside, there’s a midfoot plastic plate for quick cutting and absolute power. The thin upper feels nonrestrictive, and we like the extended traction around the sides and toe for steady grip.

If you want your shoes the be GOAT approved, then look no further than On’s first-ever competition shoe, named after Rodger Federer. In a minimalistic fashion, this sleek shoe is also sustainable and composed of recycled materials. The high-performance foam, engineered mesh, and midfoot cage are only a few of the factors that give this shoe Federer status. These are designed for hard courts, but there is a clay version, too.

K-Swiss is one of the top brands that comes to mind when you think tennis shoes. They’re the kind of shoes that live up to their name. Featuring a lighter build, a supportive upper, and new midsole technology, the Hypercourt Express 2 is built on the success of its predecessor. That midsole technology is a real standout. It’s flexible and durable to give you energy return and supreme comfort.

Between Sensepods (foam support that follows the shape of your foot), a cushioned midsole, and an intuitive lacing system, you can’t go wrong with the Barricades. These are supportive and super stable, with a sole that feels really durable and never flimsy. They feel like they won’t let you down by slipping, sliding, or feeling off balance—and that feeling is correct.

Wilson’s shoes are for the player who prefers comfort over all else. Fitting wider feet, the shoe gives extreme support for pivoting, a pad to protect when dragging feet on follow-through, and maximum traction. The toe box has a wide fit too, which is great for anyone who really wants to feel their toes gripping the ground as they play. (Of course, if you have super narrow feet, this might not feel quite as great.) We like the added abrasion resistance along the side, too, for making sure they stay top notch for as long as possible.

With all the stabilizing a tennis shoe needs to do, sneaker choices often come down to a compromise between comfort and weight. It’s hard to make something cushioned that doesn’t also add some heft. But Mizuno’s Wave makes the case for no compromising at all. It’s one of the lightest, most comfortable options available. This style offers superior energy return and plush yet supportive cushioning, so you’ll always be able to stay one step ahead of your competition.

New Balance—a purveyor of men’s sportswear—is still going strong in its T500 sneaker drops, an old-school court sneaker. There is, of course, much better sneaker tech now and we’re probably not going to actually hit the court in these. But for a tennis feel? For crushing that tennis style? These are the best. Wear ’em every day.