The Best Tennis Shoes For Men Taking To The Court In 2025

Forbes

5 days ago

While its roots date back to the 12th century, tennis has arguably never been more popular than it is today. But you don't have to be a celebrity player to deserve dedicated tennis shoes that both protect your feet (and ankles and knees) and improve your game. We chose the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express Tennis Shoe as the best tennis shoes for men overall, as they provide improved traction and stability and give you the cushioning you need as you charge up and down on the court.
The best men's tennis shoes can give you an edge on the court by enhancing stability and support. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
Many people use the term 'tennis shoe' to refer to running shoes, cross trainers and other types of footwear, there really is such a thing as a tennis shoe designed specifically for use while you play tennis. We consulted several tennis shoe experts for advice on choosing and using specialized tennis shoes, as well as their recommendations for the best tennis shoes for men.
Best Tennis Shoes For Men Overall: K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2
Best Value Tennis Shoes For Men: Adidas Men's Grand Court 2.0
Best Men's Tennis Shoes For Clay Courts: Asics Solution Speed FF 3 Clay
Best Men's Tennis Shoes For Hard Courts: Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 5
Best All-Court Tennis Shoes For Men: Babolat Propulse Fury All Court
Best Vintage-Style Tennis Shoes For Men: On The Roger Clubhouse Mid
Amazon K-Swiss Hypercourt Express 2
Sizes: 7 to 14 | Outsole: High-density Aosta 7.0 rubber | Midsole: Surgelite
There are a lot of highlights to point out about the K-Swiss Men's Hypercourt Express 2 tennis shoe, so it's tricky to know where to start. Let's start with something that sets them apart from many others: They are highly breathable. 'Most tennis shoes don't 'breathe' very well, so as soon as they're relieved of tennis duty, you want them off your feet,' says Ed Wedding, a tennis instructor at TeachMe.To. Not so with these shoes. The Hypercourt Express 2s excel at releasing excess heat and moisture, keeping your feet cooler, drier and more comfortable. They also keep your feet stable and supported thanks to a midfoot TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) shank and a 'Plantar Support Chassis' that supports and properly positions the bottom of the feet, which are cradled by a 'Surgelite' midsole (Surgelite is a proprietary foam).
The seam-free upper is a welcome touch, as is the sock liner, which provides comfort and further heat and sweat release. Some people point out that these shoes are on the heavier side, and that's accurate, though it's not like they're lead weights. Also, if you have a particularly wide foot, these may not be the best option for you, as they run on the narrower side.
Amazon Adidas Men's Grand Court 2.0
Sizes: 3.5 to 14 | Outsole: Rubber | Midsole: Cloudfoam
We love two things in particular about the Grand Court 2.0 Sneaker from Adidas: the relatively low price tag and the entirely timeless styling. These shoes would have looked good as far back as the 1970s and will quite likely still be in style in the 2070s, too. And while arguably this is more of a lifestyle tennis shoe than a true activewear shoe, they can handle a game of tennis or three on the weekends. Your foot's cradled by a midsole made of 'Cloudfoam,' which is an EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam, while a sock liner adds more comfort and some wicking properties.
The outsole is made of a basic rubber and has a minimalist tread pattern, but keeps your grip and helps you stay upright on a clean, well-maintained court. They do run a bit small, so size up by a half size to play it safe and know you might even need to go up a whole size for a proper fit.
Amazon Asics Solution Speed FF 3 Clay
Sizes: 6 to 15 | Outsole: Precision-sole technology | Midsole: FlyteFoam
Clay court tennis shoes are designed with a treading on the outsole that provides good traction and releases built-up dirt easily, helping you maintain your grip as the game goes on. The outsole of the Asics Solution Speed FF 3 Clay tennis shoes, sports what Asics refers to as 'Precision-sole technology.' It's built with two separate blocks, so you get maximum flexibility and foot movement, while the midsole is made up primarily of a proprietary foam called 'Flytefoam.' It's lighter than traditional EVA foam, though it gives the same benefits.
Inside the Solution Speed FF 3s is a sock liner that was made through a process that reduces water usage and carbon emissions, and that holds your feet in comfort within these relatively lightweight shoes. They run a bit narrow and do need a break-in period, so wide-footed people beware.
Amazon Adidas Adizero Ubersonic 5
Sizes: 6.5 to 16 | Outsole: Speedframe | Midsole: Lightstrike
Playing tennis on a hard court can be hard on your feet. All the forward and back and lateral movement can be a strain on the foot, while all of the foot falls on that hard surface take their toll if you don't have the right shoes on. Fortunately, these shoes from Adidas were made with hard courts in mind. The outsole and inner cushioning are pronounced at the heel, designed to absorb extra impact. And a lightweight mesh upper holds your foot right in place, so with each footfall the impact can be properly absorbed.
A 'Lightstrike' midsole helps keep your foot supported and stable, making those fast lateral movements safer. The midsole is thinner than in many tennis shoes, keeping you a bit closer to the court and more in tune with the game. These shoes do require some break-in before they feel great, so allow time for that before any major matches.
Sizes: 6.5 to 14 | Outsole: Michelin rubber | Midsole: KPRS-X foam
The Babolat Propulse Fury All Court Tennis Shoes are all-court tennis shoes, meaning they were designed for fast motion to and from the net and from side-to-side. The also offer a lot of versatility, with good performance on hard courts, clay courts and even grass. This is thanks to the KPRS-X midsole, which is a cushioning 'system' designed to cradle the heel and foot with an EVA pad. The shoes also feature what Babolat calls a 'Powerbelt,' which is a strap that wraps around the midfoot, enhancing lateral support. This is key with all the motion that can come when you're working the whole court in a trying singles match.
The brand partnered with Michelin to make the durable rubber outsole, and the tread pattern was created to maximize grip in all directions. As is this case with many tennis shoes, these run a bit narrow, so just watch out for that.
Amazon New Balance 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer
Sizes: 6.5 to 18 | Outsole: Ndurance rubber | Midsole: Abzorb foam
To be clear, the New Balance 608 V5 Casual Comfort Cross Trainer is not a dedicated tennis shoe; it is a cross trainer, as the name suggests. That said, many people use the shoe for playing tennis and are perfectly happy with the performance. If you would prefer not to own multiple pairs of shoes, then investing in one pair that serves you well on the court, in the gym and on a jog is a good idea. The shoe's 'Ndurance' rubber used in the outsole is a durable, high-abrasion rubber compound that resists damage and holds up well over time.
The 'Abzorb' midsole is an injection-molded EVA foam that provides plenty of cushioning. And while the leather upper is comfortable, it doesn't breathe that well, so watch out for sweaty feet on hot days. Also, some people report that these shoes squeak a lot on certain hard surfaces.
Sizes: 7 to 14 | Outsole: Rubber compound | Midsole: Speedboard
At a glance, you might think that the Roger Clubhouse Mid tennis shoe from On came straight out of the 1990s, and that's entirely by design. But these vintage-style shoes are anything but old school in terms of materials and craftsmanship. They feature a tough outsole made of a proprietary rubber compound and are infused in areas with 'CloudTec' cushioning that helps absorb and diminish impacts. The midsole's 'Speedboard' system incorporates EVA foam that cushions your feet and gives some energy return.
These are pricey shoes and, according to our research, they may not be a good fit for people with narrower feet or high arches. But once broken in, they are plenty comfortable, and they are stylish from the get-go. (And in case you were wondering, yes, the 'Roger' in the name is for tennis legend Roger Federer.)
The gear team at Forbes Vetted produces scores of fitness and footwear guides each year, testing, researching and reviewing everything from Hoka running shoes to the best walking shoes for seniors. This article was written by Forbes Vetted staff writer Steven John, who focuses on gear and tech and who has been reviewing products for more than 14 years.
The article was reviewed by Forbes Vetted gear editor Cam Vigliotta , who has years of experience testing, researching and reviewing health, wellness and lifestyle products, focused largely on gear used by active people. He holds a degree in kinesiology with which he specialized in studying bipedal movement.
, who has years of experience testing, researching and reviewing health, wellness and lifestyle products, focused largely on gear used by active people. He holds a degree in kinesiology with which he specialized in studying bipedal movement. John spoke to several experts while preparing this article, including Ed Wedding, a tennis instructor at TeachMe.To and Dr. Stephen Hill, an associate professor at the College of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University.
We know that new and updated products hit the marketplace all the time, so we regularly review our content for accuracy and relevancy. It was first published in June 2025.
To be sure this article features helpful, reliable tennis shoe recommendations, we focused on things like stability, support and cushioning, with style in the back of the mind. We first broadly considered brands known for making excellent tennis shoes, then we searched out some of the most popular models from each of these companies.
Next, we made sure that each of the specific models of shoe we had singled out would provide its wearer proper traction, support and comfort while on the court.
We eliminated shoes that had repeated poor reviews and bad ratings, and we elevated shoes that were consistently well-reviewed and well-rated online.
We leaned into the insights provided by Wedding and Hill to make our final selections.
Finding the right tennis shoes for your play type and foot shape can give you the edge on the court while also keeping your feet and ankles safer. Here are a few of the most important criteria to consider when shopping for tennis shoes for men. Stability
In tennis shoes, as with most athletic footwear, stability refers to the shoe's ability to reduce inward rolling (known as overpronation) or an outward roll (underpronation), both of which can lead to serious injury. They achieve the goal of added stability in few ways, including a firm midsole and a close-fitting, supportive upper. 'Many tennis shoes [also] have a midfoot shank for stability needs or plantar fasciitis, or even a carbon fiber plate for greater responsiveness,' says Hill. Cushioning
Your feet take a lot of abuse during a tough tennis match, what with the constant hustle forward and back and from side-to-side, and usually on a hard surface. Cushioning isn't a mere matter of comfort; it's a matter of reducing the harm repetitive impacts do to your feet, ankles, knees and up to your hips and spine. 'For the serious tennis player, shoes are probably the most important component of one's attire,' says Wedding. 'They protect your feet while giving you great support when playing for extended periods of time.' Treading
Different types of tennis courts call for different tread patterns on a tennis shoe's outsole. Clay courts, for example, often have a herringbone-patterned tread and are designed to easily release dirt. Grass courts call for more aggressive treading, usually with nubs akin to those found on trail-running shoes, albeit lower in profile. And for hard tennis courts, the treading is often multidirectional, which makes sense, as that is a good word to describe the game itself. Support
'Look for a shoe that's supportive—not only in a straight line, meaning running forward, but laterally when moving side-to-side as well," says Wedding. 'This is imperative as there is so much of this 'scrambling' movement when attempting to get to the ball in time to hit that great forehand or backhand.' Tennis shoes offer support and proper foot positioning thanks to durable, reinforced uppers, a wide base and low-profile outsole and a design that holds the heel in place.
Can You Use Running Shoes For Tennis?
It's not recommended. 'I think it is important that the consumer understand the sport-specific features of tennis shoes to suit the needs of different players, and why they should not use running shoes for tennis or vice versa,' says Hill. Dedicated tennis shoes have stability and support features that are there for good reason.
How Do I Know When It's Time To Replace My Tennis Shoes?
It's time to replace your old tennis shoes when you notice any significant wear and tear, when you can feel a loss of cushioning, the traction is not as good as it used to be or if you find yourself feeling new aches and pains.
Why Do I Need Different Types Of Tennis Shoes For Different Court Types?
Different court types—meaning clay, hard or grass—call for different types of tennis shoes primarily because of the different tread patterns needed for a proper grip on the court. Hard courts also call for more cushioning than clay or grass.