Know your Kicks
In the parkour community we tend to be a bit nerdy about our shoes. Often those are the only things connecting our bodies to our environment so we want to make sure that we trust our kicks. Now to get nerdy…
What we look for in a shoe?
Inexpensive: Since you'll probably only have one pair to start with you'll put a lot of wear on it. Most pairs last for 3-9 months, depending on how hard you train in them.
Simple sole: the less little knobs and glued bits of rubber on the bottom of the shoe the better. Most of the shoes below have one piece, or have been tried and tested to react well to wear and tear.
Flexible: You want a sole that can flex and bend so that you can land lightly on the balls of your feet. Super thick soles (cushioned running shoes) can absorb shock but aren't great for "touch" or soft landings.
Thickness: Generally thick soles aren't great and thinner soles allow for better "touch" and greater foot strength. New practitioners especially are advised to start with thin shoes to build foot strength and good habits.
Local, stylish, versatile- that’s why it’s our current favorite.
Durability: 5/5 - Long-lasting and well worth the investment.
Grip: 5/5 - One piece sole, sticky and durable rubber that is good on a variety of surfaces- especially rails and in wet weather. Good tread pattern.
Touch: 4/5 - Flexible sole that is a bit thicker than a minimalist shoe but flexes well
Style: 4/5 - Basic options, looks clean, versatile. Limited Color palate.
Versatility: 5/5 - One of the highest performers based on the fact that you can go for a run, do big drops, and then go out on the town all without having to change your kicks. Ultimate travel shoe.
Price: 3/5 - Definitely on the higher side but sales are frequent occurrence if you aren’t picky about the color.
Onisuka Tiger - Ultimate 81
Minimalist, lots of colors, and popular.
Durability: 4/5 - Decent wear.
Grip: 4/5 - One piece sole, sticky and durable rubber that is good on a variety of surfaces. Shallow tread pattern wears smooth quickly.
Touch: 5/5 - Very flexible sole, slide drop, but closer to minimalist.
Style: 5/5 - Lots of colors and looks!
Versatility: 5/5 - Great travel shoe, works well in non-parkour situations.
Price: 5/5 - Lots of variation, but good sale options.
A low-top version of the Henry that makes for a super fast, agile, and flexible shoe.
Durability: 5/5 - Long-lasting and well worth the investment.
Grip: 5/5 - One piece sole, sticky and durable rubber that is good on a variety of surfaces- especially rails and in wet weather. Good tread pattern.
Touch: 4/5 - Flexible sole that is a bit thicker than a minimalist shoe but flexes well
Style: 4/5 - Basic options, looks clean, versatile. Limited Color palate.
Versatility: 5/5 - One of the highest performers based on the fact that you can go for a run, do big drops, and then go out on the town all without having to change your kicks. Ultimate travel shoe.
Price: 3/5 - Definitely on the higher side but sales are frequent occurrence if you aren’t picky about the color.
Onisuka Tiger - Serrano
An ever thinner and lighter version, great touch and lots of styles!
Durability: 4/5 - Decent wear.
Grip: 4/5 - One piece sole, sticky and durable rubber that is good on a variety of surfaces. Shallow tread pattern wears smooth quickly.
Touch: 5/5 - Very flexible sole, slide drop, but closer to minimalist.
Style: 5/5 - Lots of colors and looks!
Versatility: 5/5 - Great travel shoe, works well in non-parkour situations.
Price: 5/5 - Lots of variation, but good sale options.
Other Team Favorites:
Xero Shoes - For a minimalist but grippy feel. They also have a great waterproof option! Use this link to purchase and support PKGB with a commission!
Ollo Shoes - A parkour-specific shoe company that has recently come out with a great version of their new “Alpha” shoes. Use this link to get a discount and support PKGB!