If you’ve ever seen me play badminton it’s no secret that I love Asics. Whether you notice them shining on my feet or you hear my blood-thirsty shout of “FOR ASICS!” every time I smash you’ll be left wondering why I’m writing an article about the best Yonex badminton shoes.
The reason is simple, really. Long before I could afford anything from Yonex I bought all of my badminton gear at a local sports store that regularly clearanced its shoes at the end of every season. Since they carried Asics, I bought and wore the cheapest Asics they have. Maybe I’m a simple man but even after all this time, I haven’t mustered up the energy to switch to something else.
However, with the large percentage of my friends who wear Yonex shoes and seeing how popular they are on the internet, I figured I would be remiss if I didn’t give them an honest try. Now, I’m not rich enough to have actually bought and played in every shoe on this list, but I did narrow it down and purchase the one that I thought would be best for most players.
So I will give my complete review of what I consider to be the best pair of Yonex Badminton shoes, and then 4 more that seem to be good based on the price, specs, online review, recommendations from friends, etc.
Best Yonex Shoes for Badminton Players
- Best Overall: YONEX Power Cushion Aerus 3 Lightweight
- Best For Beginners: YONEX Power Cushion 65 Z2
- Best On A Budget: YONEX Power Cushion
- Best for Women: YONEX 65Z Ladies
- Best Looking: Yonex SHB-03Z
My Full YONEX Power Cushion Aerus 3 Review
I’ll start off this review by saying that, while this seems to be the best Yonex badminton shoe, it’s not quite for me. It highlights the main problem with Yonex that I totally forgot to mention above, they don’t have my size. Yonex only has shoes in men’s sizes up to 12 and they typically fit on the narrow side. Since I typically wear a 13 I wasn’t encouraged to switch to Yonex. However, I was encouraged to hear that people advised buying half a size down with this particular shoe so it was enough that I decided to pick them up, figuring they’d fit “well enough” to get a good idea of their playing performance if not their comfort level.
The main selling point for these shoes is that they are the “lightest badminton shoes” and I’m inclined to believe it. My highly scientific hand scale tells me that they weigh about 2/3rds as much as Asics. While wearing these didn’t turn me into a rocket, I did feel slightly less fatigued after several games.
What I liked about the shoe:
- Grip. Normally I prefer a badminton shoe with a small amount of slip. I feel that too much grip is hard on my aging ankles and knees as they don’t enjoy sudden stops and changes of direction. These shoes have almost a sticky grip but come with enough support that I didn’t have any ankle problems.
- Breathability.
- Seamless Construction. One of the only reasons that I was able to get away with wearing a badminton shoe smaller than my normal size is that it didn’t have any seams or low-hanging spots inside. While this shoe was tighter than I like, I didn’t have any specific pain spots or pressure points.
What I disliked:
- The size. Let’s be honest, it’s hard to get a good idea of a shoe’s comfort level when it doesn’t quite fit. I’ve passed these shoes off to my brother-in-law (who wears a size 11.5-12) and I’ll update this review once he puts some court miles on them.
All in all, I think this shoe is a great example of quality from Yonex. It highlights the experience and innovation that they have developed through years of play.
Oh did I say years of play? How about 60 years? Yonex produced their first Badminton racquet in 1961 and went on to sponsor most of the top tournaments and players in the world for many years. Long story short, Yonex is a name you can trust when it comes to badminton. Even if this pair of shoes didn’t work out for me, I’ll still be loving my Yonex badminton bag and grips!
What Makes Yonex Badminton Shoes Great?
Many people get confused about the selection of footwear, especially in the matter of sports. Badminton shoes are different from ordinary shoes and have many features to suit the needs of players. Choosing the wrong shoe can hurt your feet while playing, causes injuries, and also have a risk of affecting your performance.
Shoes are the first essential accessories for a Badminton game and experts highly recommend choosing a pair of shoes that fit all your needs.
Ergoshape
It is one of the most important features you must check because it decides the comfort of the shoe. The comfort and stability of the foot depend on the shape of the shoe. The structure must be flexible, effective, ergonomic, and protective. After wearing the shoe it should mold according to the shape of your feet. The forefoot and toe parts should have enough space for forwarding, backward and lateral movements. It should also provide good stability for your feet for good protection.
Good cushioning
Sports shoes must have good cushioning and footrests to save your feet from getting tired while jumping and running. Badminton players might have heavy impacts on the ground where they need a shoe that repulses pressure and force.
Power cushion
The interior of the Yonex shoe should be designed with a power cushion that serves the purpose of shock absorption. While playing Badminton, the player jumps, lunges, runs, and twists all around with lateral movements. To withstand this pressure and force, the shoe must have power cushioning to absorb the pressure while impacting. The shock absorber also maintains the body balanced by equally distributing your weight all around.
Comfort
Comfort is one of the main concerns for all players. Finding a shoe that offers the best comfort is not an easy thing. These shoes are prominent in enhancing comfort and make you feel at ease while playing. Here are some of the factors that affect the comfort levels:
- Size: The size of the shoe must be the same as the size of your feet and make sure you have measured your feet before purchasing the one. Usually, you must select a shoe that is a little bit longer to increase the movement levels.
- Bodyweight: The body weight changes the center of gravity on your feet. Make sure you feel comfortable inside the shoe and that the weight got equally distributed all around the feet.
- Interior: The interior of the shoe should be made up of high-quality materials to provide good comfort. Badminton players often tend to practice for long hours and get tired. To reduce fatigue and pain, the interior must be well-designed. Yonex shoes create extremely good conditions inside the shoe with enhanced breathability, support, and protection.
- Water resistance: It is obvious that sports shoes must have water resistance properties to prevent water and moisture from entering your shoe.
Durability
Investing in low-quality shoes can be a waste of your time and also causes injuries to your feet. Badminton shoes usually last for one to two years depending on the quality of the material and design. Make sure to choose the best quality shoes to ensure durability.
Double Mesh
Badminton players often face problems with sweat and moisture as it involves physical movement. Sweat and moisture do cause irritation and also allergies. It has the ability to absorb moisture 8 times better than the normal material. It reduces unnecessary moisture, keeps your feet cool and dry. This mesh is light in weight and provides good airflow. This mesh has multiple benefits and helps you to play happily.
Fit
It is always better to select your shoe with extra space so that you can move your shoes inside easily. If the shoe is too tight, it can cause heavy friction between your feet and shoe. This can create blisters and injuries to your feet. Also, your sports shoe can get loose eventually after using it for some time. So, make sure to choose your footwear that fits correctly as it is really essential to prevent discomfort.
Sole
The sole is the main part of the shoe that withstands the force and pressure during the impact. The upper part and sole make the whole design of the shoe. It is part of the shoe and most of the soles are made up of rubber, synthetic, and gum rubber materials. Gum rubber soles provide high traction and give you a good grip on the ground. But this kind of soles gets dirty and dusty quickly which reduces the traction. So, you have to clean these shoes frequently to stay safe. Some soles are made up of asymmetric patterns that prevent injuries.
Heel
The heel is the under part of the sole that raises your feet up from the ground. The heel part is usually higher in the rear part of the shoe compared to the front part. The heel part gets connected to the upper part of the shoe. Badminton shoes should have higher heels compared to ordinary shoes. The heel has to be responsive in nature.
Insole
The insole is a layer of material that covers the insides of the shoe as a wall between the outsole and your foot. The insole must be made up of soft, smooth, and high-quality material to add comfort and protection. It keeps in touch with your skin so it should give good breathability. Few insoles are made up of linings which increases the lifespan.
Outsole
The outsole comes in contact with the ground and it is different from all the other parts of the shoe. It must provide a good grip on the ground, be durable, reliable, and water-resistant. Outsoles are made up of different materials and are very thin to thick in size.
Protection
From ancient times, people are wearing footwear to protect their feet from risks in the environment. A shoe is a protection for our feet from our surroundings. Badminton shoes are designed to prevent your feet from injuries, blisters, moisture, fatigue, discomfort, and pain. You can play all day in these shoes without getting tiredness.
Stability
As the players run and jump all around the ground, the shoe has to give you good stability and keep your feet safe. Some shoes may move or slip due to poor design and cheap quality. So, be sure that your shoe is well-designed. Also, it should allow the wearer to move easily.
Traction
There are three types of badminton courts made up of wood, polyurethane, and cement. The best Yonex badminton shoes are made to grip all three. Wood and polyurethane are very smooth in nature and need high traction levels. These floors are slippery and can cause the player to slip while twisting and jumping. You have to prefer gum rubber soles if you tend to play on wood floors as they provide good traction and hold on to the ground.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, perhaps you shouldn’t be quite as brand crazy as I am when it comes to badminton shoes. Yonex makes some of the top badminton shoes in the arena and, if they made my size, you can bet that I’d be rocking at least one pair after his review. So, whichever shoes work for you, get it, lace ’em up, and get out on the court!
