What to look for when shopping for the best tennis shoes for women
Two of the most important factors to consider when shopping for tennis shoes is comfort and also if the shoe gives plenty of space for your toes.
“You want to get a tennis shoe that has a wider toe box that allows the toes to spread out to improve foot stability,” Bondi says. “If the shoe is too loose, then the foot is going to slide around too much and cause blistering and jamming of the toes.”
Patton echoes this sentiment, and mentions that you want to consider what type of surface you’ll play tennis on as that can help dictate what type of traction you need.
“If you play on a relatively smooth surface, you will want a shoe with more grip on the tread,” Patton says. “Conversely, a more rough surface goes better with a smoother shoe bottom.”
At the end of the day, keep comfort and the above features in mind, but also follow your instinct one what tennis shoes feel best.
“Perhaps no shoe will feel perfect, but a blend of good qualities is nice,” Patton adds. “You know your feet! Don’t ignore red flags, such as whether the side of the shoe rubs your toe, doesn’t give any room for the toes to slide forward or constricts your foot.”
How often should you replace your tennis shoes?
“Shoes degrade naturally,” Patton explains. “The PU [polyurethane] material becomes less springy over time.”
He notes that if you play less frequently, such as a maximum of twice a week, you should be get at least six months of wear out of your tennis shoes before needing to replace them. Conversely, if you play very competitively for hours at a time — say three or more times a week — he mentions that a pair might only last you a month.
Bondi agrees. “According to the USTA, the midsole of the tennis shoe starts to wear down between 45 to 60 hours, at which point the shoes should be replaced,” she says. “If you play tennis for an hour or more at a time, that means you could look at replacing your shoes pretty often, and less if you’re more of a casual player.”
Bondi mentions there are also other factors that can shorten the lifespan of shoes, including the court surface, style of play and weight of the player.
“The singles, hard court, or more aggressive player is going to wear down a shoe quicker than other court and player types,” says Bondi.
So, ready to find your perfect match? With the help of our experts, we compiled the best tennis shoes for women you can buy. Shop them ahead.
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