When it comes to sports shoes and especially basketball footwear; cushioning plays a very important role in terms of your overall comfort and subsequently your on-court performance. After all, nobody plays well if their feet are on in a stranglehold. Of course, there’s no objective ‘ best-cushioned basketball sneaker’ as players tend to have different needs and desires. We’re going to suggest 10 of our favorites that offer ultra-comfort and some that offer more of a court-feel fit too.
What To Look for When Buying Shoes for Cushioning?
As we will detail throughout this article the importance of cushioning is because you’ll likely be a lot more comfortable and less likely to pick up injuries from playing the game. One of the primary attributes to consider when looking for good cushioning is the quality of materials. This is for two major reasons.
Firstly, high-quality materials will serve you much better in terms of ‘cushion performance’. While it seems like an odd turn of phrase; it’s the same theory behind the usage of your pillow (something you use every night). You seldom opt for the cheapest one as it’ll be rough and unsupportive. That luxury pillow at the expensive bed store will ensure your head has total comfort and the chances are you’ll probably sleep better. Cushioning in shoes, especially basketball shoes works on the same principle; but instead of sleeping comfort, it’s on-court movement ability.
Secondly, the quality of materials is important to the durability of the shoes and the cushion embedded within them. If the shoe has no longevity then the cushion part of the shoe will be worn quickly and won’t offer the benefits when the shoe was first bought. While all shoes will depreciate over time; shoes without longevity can get expensive fast as you’re consistently replacing them.
Ensuring the quality of materials is difficult, however. The rough barometer to determine the quality of shoes is the price tag. In theory, the more expensive shoes will use more premium materials in the manufacturing process – subsequently making more desirable shoes. This rule isn’t always true as there are a few anomalies where expensive shoes are dross, and the more amicably-priced designs actually use quality fabrics.
Top 10 Best Cushioned Basketball Shoes
Hitting the shelves in February 2022, the Nike Air Zoom GT Jump has quickly become a staple of Nike’s range within this bespoke series concentrating on their celebrated Air Zoom technology.
The cushioning works in tandem with the Air Zoom gear to create a fit that is hard to match in terms of comfort. Yet despite the underfoot cloud-like sensation; the materials are also incredibly responsive and give great momentum to any player looking for more bounce in the lift-off. Again; the shoe structure is sculpted to harness the full power of the foot.
‘All-Round Performer’ is a term used to generally mean a shoe does all required of it at a suitable or acceptable level. This shoe is more befitting of the term: ‘All-Round Game-Changer’ given that it performs in the top tier of quality in seemingly every attribute. Cushioning, traction, support, aesthetics; there’s very little to pick fault with this shoe.
Yet for the sake of balance; a few minor flaws could be seen in that this shoe is still expensive. It did only come out earlier this year and basketball shoes are premium products, so don’t expect to see the price dip much anytime soon. It’s on the heavier side of the shoe market and it won’t perform terribly well on the outdoor courts either.
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There are shoes that have good cushioning, there are shoes with great cushioning and then there’s the Under Armour Anatomix Spawn 3. The team at Under Armour has made a shoe with ultra-cushioning that could easily trump all others. The brand’s bespoke Micro G foam is present in the midsole which helps with impact protection and to give explosive liftoffs; along with the thick plush materials used throughout the shoe. The traction has been frequently praised since the shoe was released in March 2021 as the anatomically designed traction pattern allows the user to navigate the court with perfection. These attributes work fantastically well for heavier players as NBA stars like Jamorko Pickett, Aaron Wiggins and Wes Iwundu have all rocked this design.
The drawbacks to this shoe are almost purely limited to the appearance of the shoe. The design is timelessly appealing yet never could be truly considered the height of fashion. While there are a few variations available to suit a variety of desires; it won’t be for those who want to set the court alight with flames of overt fashion.
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The Air Jordan 35 is another shoe that is never far from our recommendation. After its release in October 2020, this shoe jumped up the rankings and made the Air Jordan series more than relevant again in the basketball shoe market.
The expert-level of cushioning comes from the avid use of bespoke Nike and Air Jordan technology with the Zoom Air units and the second-generation Eclipse Plate work to keep your foot in place, an awesomely padded fit, and to give you ample support when you need that extra hang-time in the paint.
It’s more than evident that this shoe is at the higher end of the fashion spectrum with some very appealing designs. One of the most visible designs is the ‘Glacier Grey x Laser Crimson’ colorway which uses all the primary colors with a metallic edge. This however is just the tip of the iceberg with many other designs available. This has led to some of the NBA’s biggest superstars including Zion Williamson, Luka Doncic, and Rui Hachimura lacing up these kicks multiple times at the top level of professional basketball.
If one wanted to pick holes in the Air Jordan 35, then the shoe won’t work terribly well on the hard outdoor courts. This isn’t an endurance issue; moreover that the quality fabrics are not intended for abrasive surfaces. A smaller issue (literally) is that the fit has been reported to run a little narrower than intended. This can work in your favor but should be avoided if you have wider feet.
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There’s no doubting the amount of effort put into designing and manufacturing the Nike Air Zoom G.T. Cut. Nike really has excelled themselves working with professional basketballers like the iconic Sabrina Ionescu to find out what the contemporary player needs on the court.
The end result of comprehensive research was that athletes desires stability yet don’t want to compromise their mobility. In basketball is this paramount to the success of any player at any level. Nike, therefore, has tried to make this shoe a ‘space-making machine’ so that users find the gaps to move up the court accordingly.
Of course, in this particular article, we must shine a light on the cushioning. The official webpage for this shoe on Nike’s website shows just how many different layers the shoe compromises of. These materials contribute to a thick underfoot feeling which allows your foot to do everything your basketball-mind desires. This is partly due to the responsiveness of the materials used which do not prohibit or hinder movement. In fact, they facilitate and support you as you attempt those high-profile jumps and transitions.
The traction performance has been noted as offering ‘edge to edge’ responsiveness, crediting its ability to help the user circumnavigate all areas of the playing surface.
Players who prefer shooting hoops outside can celebrate as this shoe has had favorable reviews to use outdoors. While you probably shouldn’t use it for every outdoor session; they will cope and perform with non-excessive usage on these harder surfaces.
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The LeBron series by default features a lot of cushioning. LeBron James is a physical specimen who gets up and down the court with great velocity. Notably; when gravity pulls him back down from the scoring stratosphere he needs something to break his fall.
If you’re like LeBron at all, with a bigger frame and make frequent jumps this shoe will suit you, as it is made with impact protection in mind. The cushioning gives you that bounce, but there are concerns about the longevity of this – as the shoe materials have been noted as not the most premium feeling in the contemporary marketplace.
However, that’s not true of the Knitposite 2.0 materials in the textile as they do their best to secure the foot in place while still allowing the foot ample breathability. Yet, there’s another caveat that the rest of the shoe might not support the foot as well as other designs available.
The elephant in the room here is the price tag. While Nike and the LeBron James collaboration series is no doubt a premium and luxury shoe; even the most ardent supporters will find it difficult to part with the best part of $200 for any pair of shoes – regardless of quality. If however, money is no object for you – then you can afford to pay for the LeBron name tag on this shoe.
When looking to buy this shoe be sure to check the detail regarding the top size. It’s one of the current shoes on the marketplace which has been made available in both high and low top variations. Be sure to choose the one you prefer!
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It’s unusual that the newer edition in this series hits the shelves at a cheaper price than its predecessor. The Air Jordan 36 might only be around $15 cheaper than the 35 but it’s still odd. That’s nothing against either shoe, but most likely to be a reflection of the internal efforts to make the 35 great – and the research costs for the subsequent shoe were probably considerably less.
The 2-loop band system and high sidewalls on the inside of the sneaker ensure the foot is in place at all times. It’s this design that ensures that you can launch into the paint with total control. While the cushioning and multiple Zoom Units ensure you can land safely. In addition, the Jacquard Leno-Weave upper and textile tongue provide a comfortable fit. These materials are incredibly lightweight which means the shoe slips on and is easy to use even with its loaded tech parts.
This iconic basketball brand deserves the truly iconic fashion that people want to wear. It’s hard to argue with these designs, the ‘Black/Rosa mortal/Court Purple/ Laser Orange’ is one that Nike is quick to promote on their website; and is incredibly fashionable.
The outsole on this shoe delivers great performance on the clean indoor courts with its traditional herringbone traction pattern. Nike and Air Jordan have gone as far as to call it ‘Lightning Quick’ given how well it has performed. However, the outsole isn’t sturdy enough for dusty or harder courts. Therefore, it’s not recommended for outdoor use, as reports have suggested it doesn’t hold up very well.
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The Nike LeBron 19 hit the shelves in November 2021 in conjunction with the cinematic release of Space Jam 2. How many other people can say their shoe range features in a popular animated movie? Maybe more than we care to list, yet the accolade is still very cool for LeBron James.
This shoe comes to the eye quickly for its bulky design and variety of groovy colorways. The cushioning and Zoom Units are visible from the exterior, and serve as a teaser to the indulgent comfort and bounce the user will get when wearing them. This is great for players in LeBron’s image; i.e. heavier players who like hangtime and need impact protection. This shoe however will have you replicating Bugs Bunny (another star of Space Jam 2) in terms of jump and bounce as you’ll practically hop around the court; with the double-chambered Air Max unit really doing its job in the heel.
The shoe is sculpted and built to foster ‘lightweight containment’; as the exterior textile layers are made from thin yet strong fabrics to reduce the in-shoe movement your foot goes through during a game.
As the shoe is still relatively new on the market two notable attributes are still up for debate with reviews tending to contradict one another. Firstly, the traction pattern. What could be considered a novel experiment; might also be seen as a little too indulgent from the LeBron series. The tread pattern takes visible inspiration from LeBron’s crown emblem and performs somewhat unusually.
The other unknown relates to outdoor usage. While the reviews tend to lean toward not using them outside there’s been relatively few to draw conclusions on. Probably because it’s too much of an expensive mistake should they get shredded to bits and pieces on the local outdoor park.
There are some drawbacks however with this model, as it is at the top end of the market and commands the best part of $200 as its retail price. Again, if money is not of concern to you that your disposable income allows for this then it’ll certainly be a premium purchase you’ll enjoy showing off on the court.
In addition to that, it should come as no surprise that the weight of this shoe is not entirely ergonomic. While yes, the technology will give you a decent liftoff it can also bring you down to earth with its bulky and weighty design. So you have to navigate the court with real vindication and be assured in your movement.
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Two-time NBA champion, Kevin Durant has been collaborating with Nike for quite some time now. The two parties’ energies perfectly intertwine as neither the iconic player and the sports brand combine to create some awe-inspiring designs. The Nike KD 14 keeps up that rich tradition.
In terms of features, the mid-foot strap is quick to intrigue the eye as contemporary designs tend to shy away from this specific characteristic. That’s largely because it’s been written off as a useless aesthetic commodity. In actuality, however, the Nike KD 14 re-invents the basketball shoe – giving it back its purposes as it helps to lock down the foot and subsequently improve on-court stability.
This actually sets the tone for the rest of the shoe’s performance as it works incredibly well to support the foot and keep it in place during those high-pressure points when going hard in the paint. This stems from the taller design which stands the foot up tall; to sit within the cushioned fit.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a well-cushioned new shoe from Nike without the bespoke Cushlon foam. This fabric composite has been credited as incredibly durable and made with quality materials to foster the foot during its usage. In addition to the Zoom Air unit, there is more than enough bounce and energy re-distribution to help you jump up the court.
The cushioning is certainly present as the thick cushioning encloses around the foot; if however, you are subject to wider feet – you might want to evaluate whether this shoe will work for you. This is because the fit can run a little narrow, with the thick fabrics inside it could make for a tight squeeze if you have non-standard-sized foot width.
If you’re intending to use these shoes outdoors, then it might be potentially worth reconsidering that idea. That’s because these shoes have been noted as not the most reliable on the harder surfaces like the concrete courts.
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Nike recognizes its position as a global sportswear brand and owns that responsibility to act more sustainably. The Nike Cosmic Unity is a direct answer to the melting polar ice caps as this shoe champions recycled materials. At least 25% of the shoe is made from what Nike affectionately calls ‘trash’; which seems to be a very amicable notion.
This shoe allows you to get close to the court (court-feel) but has enough padding to ensure you don’t feel like you’re going barefoot. The Zoom Air Strobel unit works incredibly well with the lower-to-ground designs; yet still offers that extra ‘oomph’ when making hard drives down the court.
Now if you’re thinking, do professionals really buy into this recycled shoe? The answer is yes. Players like Jonas Valanciunas, Goga Bitadze, and Jusuf Nurkic all wore this shoe several times in professional competition. Furthermore, three-time WNBA all-star and 2018 number one pick, A’ja Wilson worked with Nike during the shoe testing period; so it most certainly has a professional validity.
Despite the environmentally mental stance, the shoe has; it’s odd that we have to report the shoe isn’t considered to be a great performer on the outdoor courts. It’ll cope with the occasional downtown park hoop but not as a frequent shoe for your daily concrete surface session.
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The Nike Air Zoom BB NXT might not feature on our website as much as other Nike products, but it more than earns its place in this list for its expert-level of cushioning. It’s a plush-on-plush fit that delivers a great level of comfort even when fresh out of the box. It’s that Nike React foam that goes well beyond to soak up and redistribute energy. The multiple Zoom Air Units work within the setup to deliver that extra momentum when looking for airtime.
The linear traction pattern gives you great ability to control your movement even when having to exercise great agility and change direction at a moment’s notice.
If you prefer to play your basketball on the harder outdoor courts; then these shoes are a very credible option. The durability of this shoe shouldn’t be underestimated as it will more than keep up with your hard surface game – and actually perform on it.
The overall structure is aesthetically pleasing, but not the best put together in terms of providing distinct foot support. The materials can still obviously hold a shoe, but just don’t expect the same level of upright support that other shoes on this list provide.
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Conclusion
By this point, we hope that you’re closing to selecting your next pair of basketball shoes; with a focus on the cushioning attributes. Here is our lowdown and highlights:
The cushioning and the shoes with the top-tier cushioning tend to be more expensive than their inferior adversaries. The Under Armour Anatomix Spawn 3 doesn’t subscribe to that rule and is actually a very affordable option at $99.99 – yet still features some of the best cushioning out there in the contemporary basketball shoe market.
Should be incredibly affluent and have a large pot of disposable income; then you might want a flashy pair of basketball shoes to impress others and exude your wealth. The Nike Lebron 18 and Nike Lebron 19 are both indeed great shoes but do come with some caveats (see above). These shoes are a bit like the car market, you’re paying for the badge, make and model. Everyone wants to drive a Ferrari, right? That’s why it’s expensive. The Lebron series is the Ferrari of basketball shoes. It’s incredibly sought after, costly, and not always perfect.
If you’d rather sit in the middle of the pack and desire a ‘middle of the pack’ combination of luxury and value then the Nike Cosmic Unity is a truly great choice for $149.99. It delivers a solid performance across all attributes, especially a thick padded cushioning – and saves the planet in the meantime. What’s not to love?
Also populating the mid-point market is the Nike KD 14, which is a pragmatic approach to all the needs of the current basketball player. This means crafting the shoe with real ergonomic pedigree.
If you’re incredibly keen to throw outdoor hoops but still want the benefit of great cushioning then the Nike Air Zoom G.T. Cut presents remarkable plus points. It’s one of our favorites as it is often featured in our comparison articles. In addition, it doesn’t quite reach the top bracket for prices – so still offers a degree of value.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is there one brand that’s famous for good cushioning?
It’s hard to pinpoint one specific brand, but for the sheer quantity of shoes with great cushioning; Nike is producing some excellent shoes with awesome setups to ensure your feet are comfortable.
Why is cushioning so important anyway?
Ultimately a good cushioning setup will allow you to protect your feet for longer. Even if you prefer the court-feel setup, you’ll still need a layer or two of impact protection. If you get shoes with good cushioning you’ll be able to extend your playing days and probably have fewer injuries.
Which Basketball shoes with the best cushioning then?
All of the options listed above are great! There’s no objective answer as feet tend to vary by wildly and most shoes are put together with different cuts, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The best way to find the cushioning for you is to try a few pairs on and see what works.
Hey, I’m Aleksandar and I am a Basketball freak! That is why I decided to create this blog. Teaching people How to dunk a basketball and How to Jump Higher in this sport or other related sports that require vertical jumping, is my specialty. If that’s your aim, then you have come to the right place.