Zero Drop Running Shoes

This guide rounds up zero drop shoes that are suitable for volleyball. We look for shoes that have good grips, and roomy toe box for lateral and sudden movements.

Unfortunately, Indoor court use is one of the areas where zero drop has not make any serious in roads. Hence, the models available are not plentiful but we try our best to highlight suitable models.

The best zero drop volleyball shoes are the Vivobarehoot motus shoes. They provide the best sole grip that is needed for volleyball players to make fast and lateral movements.  These zero drop shoes are also much lighter than your usual volleyball shoes However, they will need to get some used for first time users of zero drop shoes.

1. Vivobarefoot Motus Shoe (for women)

The Vivobarefoot motus shoe was developed specifically for indoor sports use like basketball and volleyball. It greatest strength is the grip that is needed for volleyball players to make quick lateral moves.

However, do note that there is no strong cushioning that traditional volleyball shoes have. This might cause you pain at the beginning but that is to reveal how bad your current form is.

What happens is then you will start to adjust your form to land, jump and move better. Over time, your natural form will improve and you will start to move better and faster, without your cushioned shoe.

That is the benefit and experience of using zero drop shoes for volleyball.

What I like:

• Grip: The strongest point for this shoe is its grip. It has a special hex sole that gives this shoe more grip than any other zero drop shoes. That will give any volleyball players enough grip to make sudden turns, abrupt stops etc. 

• Durable: The quality of Vivobarefoot shoe is high in general so expect these to last 9 to 12 months, with active use in the volleyball court.

• Comfortable: These can be wear outside of volleyball practice. You can use them for everyday walking.

• Light weight: If you compare this against traditional volleyball, this shoe is much much lighter. If compared against other zero drop shoes, the weight is comparable.

• Stylish: These look good enough to be worn as casual footwear. Some, however might find them to be too longish.

What can be improved:

• Velcro: There isn’t any use for the velcro so removing it will be less irritating to users.

Sizing for this shoe is true sizing so no adjustments is needed.

2. Steelement volleyball shoes (for women)

Steelement might not be as famous among minimalist shoe lovers but they have build a nice sport shoe with this model.

It combines functionality and design to create a shoe that is usable for volleyball.

What I like:

• Grip: There is better grip at the sole relative to other zero drop shoes. However, it is not as strong as the motus model featured above.

• Toe protection: There is extra protection at the toe layer to protect any possible collision.

• Wide design: This shoe has a wide design and roomy toe box for those who need a wider shoe.

• Light weight: The shoes are lighter than any volleyball shoes

• Stylish: The shoe uses a simple but elegant design that removes the impression of zero drop shoes being ugly or clown shoes.

What can be improved:

• Heel rub: Some reviewers have reflected that the heel is a bit too tight and causes blisters. I am not sure that is because of the shoe design or they have picked the wrong sizes.

Sizing wise, you will need to order half a size up than your usual. If not, the heel rub might occurred.

3. Altra XT 1.5 (for men)

The Altra XT 1.5 is marketed as a HIIT shoe but it is actually great for court uses, whether is it tennis, basketball or volleyball.

This shoe has great stability and lateral support, which is the crucial thing needed for volleyball as well as other kinds of ball games. The sole grip is also surprising good, although not to be the level of a actual volleyball shoe.

What I liked:

• Grip and stability: Since these shoes are built for HIIT, which have a lot of lateral movements, they have enough grip and support for volleyball as well.

• Wide toe box: There is an extra room in this shoe to fit even the widest feet. 

• Comfortable: They are comfortable enough to be worn for daily usage.

• Design: They are good enough to be worn to work or non volleyball places. 

What can be improved:

• Breaking in: You will need a few days to break into these shoes. In particular, the material at the tongue area will rub badly against your feet until they become soft.  I suggest wearing thicker socks during this period to avoid any blisters

For sizing, they are true to size so no adjustments is needed.

Guide to buying volleyball shoes

Here is what you should pay attention to when buying zero drop volleyball shoes.

• Grip and support: The most important criteria is to pick a shoe that can support your lateral movements. Unfortunately, most zero drop shoes are for running purposes and therefore cannot provide such support or stability. The models highlighted here have met this criteria, with the Vivobarefoot motus having the most powerful grip.

• Toe box: Due to all the stop and start movements, you toes will need more room to avoid them being squeezed. Luckily, most zero drop shoes have generous toe box design.

• Design: If you are thinking about wearing these shoes beyond your volleyball practices, choose a design that can also be worn casually. Monotone colors and clean lines will work well here.

Conclusion

Picking up a zero drop shoe for volleyball is tough. To date, there is no official shoe that has been formally marketed as a volleyball or even tennis shoe.

As such, I had to comb through all possible forums and reviews to identify zero drop shoes that have been working well as indoor court shoes. The 3 models reviewed here represented the best options for volleyball players who want to use zero drop shoes for better form.