Best Parkour Shoes
Updated on July 5, 2024
Shop the best shoes for parkour
Anyone who has ever watched Jackie Chan flipping off walls and jumping from multiple floors to chase or get away from the bad guys has imagined doing the same things themselves. You know you did!
Today, many gyms offer parkour training to help you live out your childhood dreams of running up and backflipping off walls. Parkour is a recreational yet extreme sport with moves remarkably similar to those Jackie Chan popularized in the 80s and 90s.
If you want to follow in his footsteps, though, you need some really good parkour shoes.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or an old hand at the sport—doing parkour tricks relies on your footwear just as much as on your know-how. Without great parkour shoes, you can expect a lot of slipping, stumbling, or falling.
Maintain your safety and foot health with grippy, comfy, and cool parkour shoes.
What are Parkour Shoes?
Parkour shoes are footwear worn during training or practicing parkour. Generally, these are simply athletic shoes whose features align with what parkour athletes (or traceurs) need.
It’s only lately that some brands began working with popular parkour athletes to create and design shoes for parkour specifically. If you ask your local parkour trainer what shoes they wear, you’ll find that many wear running shoes, skate shoes, and other sports shoes.
The only common factor when it comes to choosing parkour shoes are the features. Parkour athletes gravitate towards rubber soled, bendy, and cushioned shoes.
Parkour is a very physically demanding sport, with most of your movements concentrated on your lower limbs. You’ll be running, jumping, scaling, flipping, and landing on a wide variety of surfaces.
This means you’ll need shoes that will flex with your foot and provide enough protection from heavy impact. Lucky for you, many KURU shoes check all the boxes for parkour shoes: comfortable, grippy, well-cushioned, and supportive!
Features of Parkour Shoes & Finding the Best Fit
Personal preference also plays a part in choosing parkour shoes. For instance, not all parkour athletes like high top parkour shoes since it can somewhat limit ankle movement. But at the same time, there are others that prefer it due to the protection it offers.
Here Are a Few Tips For Finding the Best Fit:
- Look for shoes with a wide toe box. You want all your toes flat and comfortable inside the shoe when parkouring.
- Make sure your heel doesn’t lift when walking or running. Try on both the shoes to ensure they fit both your feet.
- Shop for shoes during the afternoon, when your foot size has already expanded.
- Bring or wear the same type of sock you would normally wear while parkouring when buying parkour shoes.
When it comes to parkour, the shoes play a huge role in how well you can perform each daring step, leap, and flip. The best type of shoes for parkour are those that offer the following features:
- GripGood grip is an absolute must for parkour shoes. Without it, you’re likely to slip and slide on walls, bars, or pipes. Look for shoes with a one-piece or full-coverage rubber sole.Grip
- FlexibilityParkour isn’t like basketball or tennis where you work on a consistently flat surface. Half of the time, you’ll be running on roofs, jumping off rails, or climbing poles. You’ll want to have shoes that can mold and fit even to awkward shapes.Flexibility
- CushionYou need maximum cushion for your parkour shoes, especially if you’re going to be jumping off considerable heights. Without proper cushioning, you’re likely to get tired, sore, and painful feet more easily. Less cushion is only acceptable if you’re just starting out on parkour training and mostly doing it indoors where there are mats that can soften your landing. This way you can have a better feel when you mess up a landing and iron out your technique.Cushion
- ComfortLook for shoes with a wide toe box and breathable uppers. You don’t want your toes squeezed into each other when parkouring.Comfort
- Arch supportProper arch support can help improve your grip. It also helps stabilize your balance, which is crucial when landing and running swiftly.Arch support
- TextureThis refers to the nubs and bumps on the sole of the shoes. You might think that those bumps improve your grip, but not really. Parkour trainers recommend flat shoes with rubber soles so you have more surface area and more grip.Texture
How To Pair Your Parkour Shoes and When To Wear Them
Parkour shoes are basically athletic or sports shoes, so they are more fitted for casual, everyday ensembles. The only exception are probably jeans.
True, jeans always look great with any sports shoes. But if you’re wearing parkour shoes and actually doing parkour tricks, you’ll want to leave your jeans and denims at home.
Like parkour shoes, the best clothes for parkour are also ones that offer maximum comfort and flexibility. You’ll want clothes that let you move freely and won’t hold back your body’s range of motion.
Here’s a few ideas on what to wear:
- Loose fitting sweatpants, comfort fit shirt, fingerless gloves, socks, and parkour shoes.
- Basketball shorts, sleeveless hoodie, socks, and parkour shoes.
- Jogging pants, sports bra, loose tank top, socks, and parkour shoes.
When To Wear Your Parkour Shoes
If you go through the trouble of finding the best parkour shoes, then the best time to wear them is when you’re training parkour indoors or executing your moves outdoors. Parkour shoes are also a great footwear option when doing regular exercises, running, or jogging.
Your parkour shoes will generally go well with any casual outfit, as long as they aren’t too dirty or ragged from your training. However, parkour shoes don’t pair well with formal or business wear—not unless you wear plain or solid color ones in black or white.
Unlike leather athletic shoes, which would look great with formal or office wear, parkour shoes are made of mesh and other soft fabrics for flexibility and breathability.
Parkour Shoe Care Tips
Proper care for your parkour shoes is essential to keeping them in good condition and preventing foot pain down the road. Here are some tips from KURU on how to best take care of your parkour shoes.
Basic cleaning and maintenance tips for parkour running shoes:
- To make your parkour shoes last longer and get more use out of them, make sure to clean them regularly. Try to clean your shoes thoroughly every two weeks. If you train outdoors often, you’ll want to clean your shoes even more frequently than that.
- Parkour shoes may be flexible enough to survive a cycle inside your washer but it’s better to hand wash them to avoid wearing them out faster. Washers are more aggressive on your shoes, after all.
- Many shoes for parkour have canvas, mesh, and other fabric uppers. These are pretty hassle-free to clean. All you need is a shoe cleaning gel and a soft brush.
- If you don’t have a shoe cleaning gel, you can use mild soap or detergent mixed with water. Be gentle in scrubbing the fabric but you can go harder on the soles if you need to get rid of some stubborn dirt.
- To bring back the gleaming white rubber soles of well-used parkour shoes, you can use a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Alternatively, equal parts of bleach and water works well, too. Just remember to do a spot test before using the mixture on the entire sole of your parkour shoes.
Storage tips to maintain the quality of good parkour shoes:
- Wipe away any dirt or mud off your shoes.
- Store your shoes away from direct light, including sunlight.
- Keep your shoes in a cool, dry, and moisture-free environment.
- Avoid storing shoes in plastic boxes that do not have proper air circulation.
- Place mothballs or desiccants like silica packets inside the shoes or shoe box.
- Use shoe trees to maintain the shoes’ shape. Go for cedar ones for added moisture absorption.
FAQs
What are the best shoes for parkour?
The best type of shoes for parkour are sports or skate shoes with excellent grip, cushion, and flexibility. Here are a few tips to help your search:
– Look for shoes with a flat, all-rubber sole. This gives you the most grip.
– The bendier your parkour shoes, the better. Flexible shoes will let you move better, especially on uneven or awkward surfaces, like rooftops, bars, and poles.
– Get shoes with as much cushioning as possible. You’ll want something to soften the impact when landing from your jumps.
– Find shoes with good arch support. It not only helps with your grip and balance but also helps your feet not tire or hurt as easily.
Are KURU shoes considered orthopedic shoes?
Even though KURU shoes were not initially intended to be orthopedic shoes, thousands of our customers say they experience relief from various foot conditions—including bunions!
How is the arch support of KURU shoes?
KURU shoes deliver excellent arch support without the need for thick inserts or expensive, custom orthotics.
Superior arch support starts with our patented KURUSOLE technology, which delivers natural cushioning and dynamically hugs your heel with every step. Every foot is unique, and our ULTIMATE INSOLES adapt to fit your needs by using your own body heat to custom-mold to the shape of your feet over time.
The corrective nature of our superior arch support is designed to neutralize your weight distribution and place your foot in the best anatomical position. This support can take some getting used to. We suggest slowly breaking in your new shoes over the course of 2–3 weeks.
I just received a pair of your shoes and my feet are sore/hurt after wearing them. Why is that?
Some customers experience tenderness when they first start wearing a new pair of KURUs. That’s ok! Your body may need time to adjust to the new levels of anatomical support you experience with our patented KURUSOLE technology.
Our shoes are also designed to mold to your unique foot shape, which takes a bit of a break-in period.
To help mitigate this, we suggest you follow our break-in procedure, including wearing your KURUs for a couple hours perday around the house in the first couple of weeks as they break in and form to your foot.
How do I know which shoes to buy? Which is best for me?
The best shoe for you will depend on your unique foot type and the style you’re looking for.
The best shoes for men and women alike offer adequate arch support and cushion. KURU’s line of pain-relieving footwear help alleviate foot pain symptoms for all-day comfort.
Athletes, active individuals, and even those embarking on a new fitness regimen face a higher risk of experiencing foot and ankle injuries, whether from trauma or overuse.
In fact, 47% of respondents in our study reported that their foot pain began due to an injury.
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Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
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KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE gently cups your heel to keep your fat pad in place. This minimizes wear and tear, especially when running and …Show More
Our patented KURUSOLE gently cups your heel to keep your fat pad in place. This minimizes wear and tear, especially when running and jumping during parkour. The KURUSOLE then follows the curves and contours of your foot arch, providing much needed support. The technology also dynamically flexes with each step to encourage a more natural gait.
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KURUCLOUD
The KURUCLOUD is the foundation of our three-part technology for Pain Relief Beyond Belief. It’s made from lightweight EVA foams, …Show More
The KURUCLOUD is the foundation of our three-part technology for Pain Relief Beyond Belief. It’s made from lightweight EVA foams, which gives shoes plenty of bounce for optimal shock absorption and making them perfect for parkour shoes. It also makes our shoes feel extremely light—almost as if you’re walking on clouds.
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ULTIMATE INSOLE
The ULTIMATE INSOLE is what makes KURU shoes one of the most comfortable and well-fitting shoes you can wear. The durable dual-density polyurethane foam …Show More
The ULTIMATE INSOLE is what makes KURU shoes one of the most comfortable and well-fitting shoes you can wear. The durable dual-density polyurethane foam provides both rigid arch support and areas of softness for optimal foot health. The material also allows the insole to retain its bounce and cushioning longer than other insoles, while slowly following the shape of your foot for a custom fit.
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KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE gently cups your heel to keep your fat pad in place. This minimizes wear and tear, especially when running and jumping during parkour. The KURUSOLE then follows the curves and contours of your foot arch, providing much needed support. The technology also dynamically flexes with each step to encourage a more natural gait.
Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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