High-tops shoes are everywhere these days. Converse, Vans, and the like have popularised the shoe style in the mainstream with designs cropping up everywhere across multiple brands and purposes. Basketball shoes however have long had the high-top feature for years now with designs dating back through the annals showcasing the style.
The 1980s were arguably the height of fashion for the high-top in basketball with the Adidas Originals Decade, the Reebok Omni Pump, and the exuberant 1989 Air Penny I from Nike. The high-top naturally offers more support around the heel; but does this 30-year-old fashion trend still hold up on the court in 2022 and beyond?
Why Opt for High Tops?
One reason why you should use high-tops is not because of who you are, but who you aren’t. Consider low-tops by comparison. It took until 2008 for a player with a signature series low top to win an NBA championship. That was Kobe Bryant.
Kobe was a one-of-a-kind player who personified success in basketball. This might have paved the way for other low-top users to win with this shoe style, but these players are again top calibre. It’s unlikely that the average joe has the same quality on the court. The law of averages and basketball talent diaspora means that you’ll still benefit from the high-top.
While studies are far from exhaustive (scientists tend to be studying cells, disease, and other pursuits instead of basketball shoes) some ultra shoe fans and reviewers have noticed that the high-top shoe design gives the user a better muscle onset time. In plain English, this means that your muscles are ‘activated’ sooner than if you were wearing low-top shoes, and subsequently could be better at preventing injury/pain from playing basketball.
In terms of the popularity, the jury is out but some sources believe that high-tops are marginally more popular than low-tops. Even if this statement was definitive, the reasoning is hard to pinpoint. Yet, what is easy to spot is that high-tops are in the conversation just as much as any other style because people like them. If they have such a good following then it’s worth you considering them for your next basketball shoe purchase.
Top 10 Best High cut Basketball Shoes
The Air Jordan 36 is undoubtedly a premium shoe with the quality to match the price tag; as the core, AJ series continues to produce quality basketball shoes. The high-top nature of this shoe fits the overall appeal of this being a heavily supportive shoe as the heel and back stand the foot upright.
The eclipse plate in the middle of the shoe ever-so-slightly arches the foot to give extra spring and venom to your lift-off moments. This of course works in tandem with the Zoom Air Strobel unit which is present across the entire sole of the shoe. The performance of this shoe is validated by a handsome list of contemporary users in the NBA including Luka Doncic, Rui Hachimura, and Jayson Tatum - all superstars in their own right.
Should you play your hoops outside you might want to reconsider as this uses fine materials which aren’t intended for harder and dusty courts. While it is by no means a delicate item, it simply deteriorates with excessive outdoor use.
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The Air Jordan 35 stands out in its own right and is far from hiding in the shadow of the newer 36 models. It would be too easy to say that the 35 was the prototype for the subsequent model; especially when some prefer the initial designs.
Immediately this shoe draws attention with its visible Eclipse Plate 2.0 which makes a gap in the shoe’s midfoot sole. This was designed to give greater lift-offs when players need that extra push off the ground. Potential users should consider that the plate is a lot more defined on the 35 compared to its visibility on the 36 - which can be a little unusual on the fit if you’ve not experienced any shoe like this before. The success of this hasn’t gone unnoticed with Michael Jordan reportedly smiling when he got to try on the Air Jordan 35 shoes himself. It’s not just ex-professionals who are fond of this shoe either, with Carmelo Anthony, Jeff Green, and Blake Griffin all lacing up these shoes on multiple occasions.
In addition to the plate, the traction follows the long lineage of Air Jordan’s performance in this field. I.e. they put the Herringbone to its best with radial patterns; which simply give you the confidence and ability to own all areas of the court.
While there are a few drawbacks to the AJ35, please remember the fit can be unusual at first due to the pronounced midfoot eclipse plate. Also, outdoor usage is almost completely prohibited as the materials are not intended for unkept courts.
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Shoes at the premium end of the pricing spectrum tend to offer so much; but do they always deliver? The Nike Air Zoom GT Jump is a great model which actually offers good value even with the big price tag.
The value might not be immediate on first inspection, yet becomes very apparent when taking stock of the creativity and ingenuity in the design of this model. Firstly, the PEBAX polymer used in the frame of the shoe is placed for energy redistribution; allowing players to enhance their jump and airtime. The multiple Zoom Air Units won’t harm that endeavour as they propel height to the next level.
At this point, the amount of technology cultivated on this design might start to become a literal drag, yet this is offset by a woven-mesh exoskeleton that is lightweight but keeps the foot locked in. The shoe can still be a touch heavy but this does help to lighten the load.
While the style could be considered a little gaudy and over the top, that hasn’t stopped NBA stars like Nikola Jovic, Zach Collins, and Rudy Gay from all sporting this shoe. The Serbian, Jokic landed himself a 49-point game back in January 2022 as his Denver Nuggets side just ousted the LA Clippers 130-128. His shoes might not have been the totality of the result, but they would have certainly helped him on his way.
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The Nike Kyrie 7 is a great shoe engineered for players wanting a boost and that little extra speed all over the court during frantic movements. The mesh upper allows the feet to breathe, control the velocity of play while not hindering overall comfort. It’s easy to see how Kyrie Irving would want to be associated with this shoe given its built-in image.
That’s not the only tech slapped on this shoe. A lot of hard work has gone into the unique traction pattern; to give a multi-directional court response. If that’s not enough there’s the Air Zoom Turbo unit too! This special zoom piece gives eccentric lift-off power coupled with great speed to ensure you’re not only getting air but speed too.
While Nike simply doesn’t make bad basketball shoes, the Nike Kyrie 7 has on occasion been described as inconsistent especially when it comes to the traction performance. That said, a quick try out in the store will tell you how the shoes work for you.
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LeBron James might not be wearing these in every game these days, but the nineteenth edition of his signature series still serves a great purpose. Firstly, the Nike LeBron 19 offers great protection from impact even for bigger players. This is a product of expertly laden cushioning which offers its own benefits including great comfort.
The taller design coupled with the aforementioned cushioning gives fantastic support and is one of the shoe’s best strengths, notwithstanding the groovy designs it's available in. The shoe was released in conjunction with the ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy movie; so appeared in the motion picture before it was on the shelves. This means that there are some outrageous colorways celebrating Looney Tunes as well as some classic Nike color variations.
One notable consideration about this shoe is traction the usability. The initial theme seems to suggest that it doesn’t improve your on-court control that much. The shoe hasn’t been out that long however so there are not nearly enough reports to make up a conclusive sample size, but it’s certainly worth seeing how they feel on your feet.
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The LeBron James Soldier series has been a staple of Nike’s output since its inception. LeBron’s career has encompassed some exceptional milestones engrain the ‘Solider’ element to his game. While the series has changed a lot since the initial LeBron Zoom 20-5-5 in 2005; the shoes still live for the moments like the 2016 NBA Finals when LeBron led the Cleveland Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit; going on to claim the NBA Championship that year.
This high-top design gives a great level of support and impact protection. This comes into its own, especially for bigger players. This however only becomes apparent when you have fully broken in the shoes which might take a few plays sessions. After which, however; many reviewers have said the shoe’s responsive cushion blends to your foot to give you the right assistance you need.
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The senior designers at Nike set out to encapsulate the speed and power of LeBron James in the eighteenth edition of his signature series. A tall ask; but one that tends to get favourable reviews when prompted – especially around the cushioning.
If you need a comfy shoe, then you should look no further than this. The cushioning takes the headlines here as it slips on and simply feels like a pillow for the foot; with reviewers regularly praising the cushion performance. The quality materials come into their own as it becomes apparent the shoe is a premium choice.
Yet when it comes to actually play basketball in it, it’s still great; but is it $199 great? Critics are quick to point the finger that the traction is far from what Nike can produce, and the LeBron 18 is simply paying for his next swimming pool. That said, the outsole does look great with its custom rubber colorways – but could be just making it more evident that the shoe is style over substance.
Nike does deserve credit for trying to implement tech with the shoe, however. The brand has been hard at work consistently re-imagining the fly knit materials and hit a winner with the Lightweight Knitposite 2.0 which is featured here and on the predecessor in the series. It again adds to the comfort as well as the breathability of the shoe.
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Adidas and Derrick Rose have worked extensively to compete in a fierce Basketball shoe marketplace. The D Rose Son of Chi is just the shoe that hits at the low to mid-range and becomes possibly the best All-Rounder high-top on the shelf.
Finding high-quality basketball shoes which will do ‘more than last’ on outdoor courts has become tedium for basketball enthusiasts who will play wherever. This can result in purchasing poorer quality shoes to simply do a job; or having great shoes wrecked as they don’t hold up at the sight of dust. Adidas has changed the game here with the D Rose Son of Chi as it has the technology to be an exceptional shoe while having the outward durability to last more than a minute on the more rugged courts. While this isn’t a great light to play water polo in them, go on a cross country hike, or throw concrete hoops in them every day – they will last.
Elsewhere the shoe’s traction and bounce have been praised for being consistent and giving good control and lift-off to foster all runs of the play.
It should be noted however that this particular model has been known to run a little small and narrow on the sizing. It is therefore suggested to try a size up so that you don’t incur any injury with an excessively snug fit.
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The Nike Renew Elevate is a great option to suit all budgets. At only $79 this shoe will outlast most other shoes on the shelves for a greater price. This is even true on the outdoor courts as the shoe boasts fantastic durability even if wear and tear might become evident.
It’s not just budget seekers who can benefit from this frugal shoe as 2017 NBA All-Star, DeAndre Jordan has been known to rock these shoes – especially during his tenure as a Los Angeles Lakers player.
The mesh-weaving might not be bespoke to this design given the large manufacturing numbers, yet is incredibly popular for its design; fit, and breathability. In turn, this helps the shoe’s cushioning and support which has been praised for performance; again, especially considering the large amount of them made.
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Kevin Durant’s fourteenth instalment in his signature series with Nike has been available since April 2021 in many variations; with the high and mid-top options widely available – oh and how could we not brush past the shoe without the eye-catching zebra skin design.
The 12-time NBA All-Star has been a mainstay in basketball’s elite since being selected in the first round of the 2007 draft. Durant’s shoe embodies him as a player. Kevin has made a career from quick movements and efficient transitions. This shoe might not be able to make you fully play like Durant, but the Zoom Air and Cushlon foam will certainly put you in the right direction of the starting Brookly Nets lineup (slightly).
While the materials are still good, they might be considered a little lower than the contemporary standard for hi-top shoes. It’s also worth noting however that the size tends to be on the narrower side, so it might be worth checking out a few sizes if you happen to have a wider foot.
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Conclusion
If you need a quick rundown of the best features of all these shoes, then we’ve got you covered. Price comes in a lot to some and one of the most modestly priced shoes on the market right now is the Nike Renew Elevate. Nike shoes are seldom available for less than $100 so these at $79; so are instantly great value for money. Add in the fact they perform well across various attributes including being great on the outdoor courts.
Even if it’s more than double the price of the Nike Renew Elevate; the Nike Air Zoom GT Jump can still be recommended in the terms of value. While the price tags could attract different crowds, the quality of shoes for each dollar spent is relative. The Nike Air Zoom GT Jump is part of a trilogy of engineered sports shoes with the end goal of making athletes perform better. Given the technology loaded in this shoe, you can still go no wrong at $179.
The Nike Kyrie 7 is a perfect mid-range option with great perks including the Air Zoom Turbo Unit to help you not only get off the court but travel it at lightning speed. At the top-end of the pricing strategy sit the two shoes from the Nike LeBron series, 18 and 19. Both are incredibly flashy and might turn some heads at your local court; yet are quite expensive compared to the rest of the shoes here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Will high-top shoes make me a better basketball player?
By themselves, no! While high-top shoes are very nice they don’t have the capacity to make you a better player instantly. The fit might support you better, but fundamentally you’ve got to put the hard work in.
Are high-top basketball shoes the best?
This is a very subjective question with an equally varying answer. No shoe top type is better by design, but some simply prefer the look of the high-top with the style being relatively popular in mainstream fashion. Others feel the benefit from the extra support that a taller shoe brings.
I don’t like high-tops, what’s wrong with me?
Nothing! That’s totally fine. If you’re not keen on this stylistic point but still want to benefit from some of the attributes of the shoes; then see if the manufacturers make these designs in mid or low-top variations. The bigger companies tend to do so in their more popular lines.
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.