For the most part, Taekwondo practitioners will use shoes whilst training on a hard surface. Whether it’s for poomsae or sparring, the reason for this is that shoes are highly practical in the gym.

One example of this is if the floor is cold, or un-matted; wearing shoes will help keep your feet warm. Secondly, you’re less likely to slip and fall over whilst kicking, which could result in injury. Most importantly though – people will often wear shoes to protect the toes. Here, you’re less likely to break your toes if you wear shoes as they act as a protective layer from a wayward kick. As a result, many Taekwondo practitioners will wear TKD shoes whilst training. As many of these shoes are highly affordable too, it makes perfect sense as a safety precaution.

What To Look For In Taekwondo Shoes

Cost

The biggest factor people think about when buying shoes for Taekwondo is cost. Although this makes sense, TKD shoes are already relatively inexpensive when it comes to sports shoes. American football cleats and basketball shoes are much more expensive.

There is always a trade off between design, functionality and quality compared to cost. As you would expect, brands such as Adidas and niche Korean companies make the best, but most expensive TKD shoes. Lower down the scale are Chinese brands which cost around $15. It is up to you to decide whether the price differential is worth paying or not.

Comfort

TKD shoes must be comfy. Nobody wants to wear shoes for practice which hurt their feet. Taekwondo is already painful enough without adding any extra uneccessary problems.

For the most part, TKD shoes are made to be lightweight, so there shouldn’t be too many problems other than a shoe not fitting properly. If you have particularly wide or unusually shaped feet, it may be worth buying shoes from a store so that you can try them on in advance before purchasing.

Durability

All shoes on this list are made by quality brands, so will last a good amount of time. However, TKD shoes are not like regular shoes and are generally not as durable. This is because they are always kicking a bag or opponent and are made to be lightweight. This combination is not good for longeivity. However, as they are cheap, this does not matter too much compared to other martial arts equipment.

Weight

Whilst Taekwondo shoes should offer your feet a degree of protection, they should also not weigh too much. It is already difficult enough raising your knee in the air and throwing a 6ft high kick several times. This is made even more difficult if you have a heavy shoe on.

Therefore finding the ideal balance for yourself between too heavy and too light is vital. Much of this is personal preference, but those who want extra protection for their feet will have a trade off by taking on some extra weight.

Grip

An often overlooked factor when buying Taekwondo shoes is grip. If you think about Taekwondo, being able to stand stably on the floor is extremely important, especially when throwing a high kick. As such, it makes sense to buy from a company who has put time and effort in to designing the soles of Taekwondo shoes.

For example, having circular pads on the bottom of the shoe will allow you to pivot extremely easily compared to having no pad at all. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is quite a restriction having a shoe which grips the floor too tightly and does not allow you to move effectively.

The Best Taekwondo Shoes You Can Buy

Vbestlife Taekwondo Shoes

These shoes are incredibly cheap, costing under $15.

Sometimes you should be wary about things costing too little, but with these shoes, this is not the case and the reviews speak for themselves. The Vbestlife shoes are fitted with small breathing holes to make sure your feet aren’t too hot during training. Further, they’re also soft and fitted with an anti-slip sole. Looks wise, they don’t even appear to be cheaply made either and have a cool Yin/Yang logo on the back.

Whilst they’re not the absolute best quality on the market, they are great value for money.

Adidas SM II Low Cut Taekwondo Shoes

Adidas SM-II taekwondo shoes are made from leather and are extra lightweight. Further, they have one lace on the top of the shoe to add mobility.

As you can see from the images, the bottom of these shoes is also patterned which makes for extra grip. This obviously has its uses as the shoe has been purposely designed to make sure that you don’t slip. The beauty of these shoes is that they’re made by Adidas. Anyone that’s trained TKD will agree, Adidas makes good Taekwondo products. Therefore, you may be more willing to spend a little extra on these shoes as the highest quality is assured.

GINGPAI Taekwondo Shoes

Gingpai are another brand that specialize in martial arts clothing, especially for Taekwondo. These shoes have air holes for your toes which is important during hard training. After you’ve warmed up, it is easy to become too warm and uncomfortable, so having breathable holes allows your feet to cool down.

What’s nice about the Gingpai shoes is the design. These aren’t as plain as other basic Taekwondo shoes and are available in orange and purple. They also have an elastic tongue which makes them extra flexible for your feet. As a result, these are a no-nonsense pair of TKD shoes that are a solid option.

Adidas Unisex Low-Top Adi-Kick Shoes

These are a similar design to the Adidas SM II Low Cut Taekwondo Shoes and have the same lace design. It’s not just the top of the shoe that is practical though, as the sole is also fitted with pivot points. Unlike most TKD shoes, this pair is made with a white front and black back – so it looks a bit different when training. It isn’t too loud an ostentatious, but it is a nice change from plain white.

Like all other Taekwondo shoes, these are suitable for both men and women.

Mooto Korea Taekwondo Shoes

Mooto are a Korean brand and the quality put into this design says a lot. With an arch under the heel, the shoe has been specifically designed to remove shock from this section, meaning you’re less likely to get injured. This is a nice change from a classic Taekwondo shoe which does not really have any design or originality to it.

In short, these shoes do cost a bit more than others. However, there’s a lot of effort and quality which has been put into the design. As a result, these shoes are of high quality. If you’re serious about your TKD training, take a look at these as they are much more suited towards kicking than other products.

Dilwe Taekwondo Shoes

If you’re on a budget, then Dilwe have you covered. Dilwe shoes cost under $15 which is a real bargain! Unlike most shoes on this list, these also use a velcro strap which can be handy if you’re worried about having to keep tying your shoe laces whilst training. Even if they come off, they are quick and easy to put back on.

A cool feature about these shoes is that they also come with a cloth bag and have a soft sole which is a nice bonus.

Wonzone Taekwondo Foot Protector Shoes

These are foot protectors so they don’t have a sole. Imagine an MMA glove for the foot. Effectively, that’s what these are. If ever you’ve seen a TKD competition, then you’ll see people wearing these since shoes are not allowed.

They’re also supported by a combination of velcro and elastic on the bottom of the foot. This is ideal for those who want to protect their feet whilst throwing kicks, yet don’t want to wear shoes. Especially if your feet sweat or you’re just not a fan of training with shoes then these are a good fit. The only negative is that there is no heel padding for hook kicks, although this type of movement rarely results in an injury in any case.

Star Korea Taekwondo Kumgang Plus Shoes

Once again, Star Korea are a Korean brand so you know you’re in safe hands when it comes to Taekwondo equipment. Star Korea shoes have a shock proof heel and are lightweight and highly comfortable. Whilst you won’t be throwing too many heel kicks, it is the heel that takes a lot of force when landing or being pushed backward. Therefore it makes a lot of sense to reinforce this area the most on a Taekwondo shoe.

One of the benefits of these shoes is the color. Most on this list are white and all kind of look similar. However, the Star Korea shoes are bright orange. If you want to stand out from the crowd and have practical shoes at the same time, then these shoes are an ideal choice.

Can you train Taekwondo with bare feet?

Most Taekwondo practitioners actually train whilst barefooted. This dates back to early traditions and arguably gives you a greater ‘feel’ of the floor, compared to if you’re wearing shoes. However, there are arguably two key benefits of wearing Taekwondo shoes. Firstly, they will give you extra grip on the floor. This is safe if you’ve been sweating after a hard training session. Therefore, you’re less likely to slip or fall over.

Secondly, wearing Taekwondo shoes is also more hygienic. In a perfect world, the floors of all Taekwondo gyms would be clean and safe to train on. However, this isn’t always the case. By wearing Taekwondo shoes, you’re guaranteeing that your feet won’t get dirty or pick up any germs due to being protected by the shoes themselves.