I love wearing barefoot minimalist shoes for their extraordinary benefits for my feet. However, I needed to know the best barefoot minimalist shoes for my favorite indoor sporting activities like squash.
The best minimalist shoes for squash have rubber outsoles that don’t leave marks behind on the court. Squash requires that players move freely around the court, so the right shoes should also be flexible enough to allow unrestricted motion.
In this article, we’ll be sharing all you need to know about choosing the right minimalist shoes for squash, including:
- What is a typical squash shoe?
- Reasons for wearing squash shoes
- Features of a typical squash shoe
- Best minimalist shoes for squash
- Considerations for using minimalist shoes for squash
Best Barefoot Minimalist Shoes for Squash
When choosing a barefoot minimalist shoe for squash, consider those that meet the game’s footwear requirements. They should have similar features to a typical squash shoe while maintaining your regular barefoot minimalist shoes’ freedom and flexibility.
Here are the best barefoot minimalist shoes for squash and other indoor sports.
Senmotic Sportivo
The Sportivo series from Senmotic specifically serve minimalist shoe lovers for indoor games.
They have ultra-thin soles that can withstand the abrasion of movement on an indoor court while providing sufficient grip so you don’t slip.
The perforated sides and tongue on the shoes allow comfortable airflow—no more sweaty and smelly feet.
The shoes have enough wiggle room for your toes, so they’re not squished together uncomfortably.
The secure lace-up system keeps your shoes secured on your feet throughout the game.
The best part is that the soles are designed to be non-marking, so even when you slide across the court, you won’t be leaving any marks behind.This feature makes them ideal for squash and other indoor sports.
Like your typical squash shoes, you’ll have to restrict their usage to within the court. This way, you preserve your soles from damage and keep the court clean.
Vivobarefoot
If you are looking for a vegan Indoor sports shoe, Vivobarefoot’s Geo Racer Line has some vegan options for you.
Vivobarefoot makes top quality minimalist shoes for men, women, and kids. They have shoes adapted for walking, running, and of course, court games. The first thing that distinguishes these shoes from typical squash shoes is that they barely have any soles. That’s what places them into the minimalist barefoot category.
They don’t provide as much cushion as a typical squash shoe. However, if you have some experience with barefoot shoes, you might enjoy your game with them. They give users the barefoot feeling and maintain the feet’s natural alignment. They are also wide toed, so there’s no unnecessary pressure on your toes.
The ultra-thin sole on the Vivobarefoot Geo Racer shoes for men and women, made from rubber, works well on a squash court without leaving skid marks.
What’s more, it also has a top mesh made with recycled polyester. This upper is quite flexible and breathable, allowing you to make those swift movements while staying cool.
What Is a Typical Squash Shoe?
The typical squash shoe looks a lot like your ordinary trainers. However, what sets them apart is their soft rubber soles. The soles of squash shoes consist of pure gum and synthetic rubber blend. They’re flexible to allow players to move freely across the court.
The soles should be non-marking. That means that the shoes will leave no marks on the court as players run and slide from one end of the court to the other.
Squash and other indoor sports players usually need shoes with more traction to keep them from slipping on the tiled or wooden floors.
Due to the fragile nature of these shoes, they’re not suited for use outdoors. Either way, squash players are not meant to wear their playing shoes outside. Wearing the boots out can bring dirt onto the court, making the floors slippery and might result in a nasty accident.
Squash players need flexible shoes, especially around the ankles. The game involves lots of ankle movement, and shoes that are too tight at the ankles can obstruct blood flow.
Simultaneously, you don’t want too loose shoes, or they might fall off while playing. Typical squash shoes come with a top lacing that allows players to adjust the shoes to suit their feet.
Each squash game is an intense workout, so it’s not unusual to see players sweating. Some shoes might feature an open mesh top layer that allows free airflow to keep your feet cool while you play.
Reasons for Wearing Squash Shoes
Right after getting your squash rackets, a pair of squash shoes are typically the next item on your shopping list.
So, why do we need special shoes for squash?
Protection
A squash game generally involves lots of quick movements. There are also lots of fast starts, stops, and turns. These movements put your feet and joints under intense pressure.
A good pair of squash shoes’ design helps take down the tension on your feet. Less pressure means you can move freely without fear of injury.
Cushioning
Most squash shoes come with an Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) shock-absorbing midsole. The sole absorbs the force of your movements by air movement through its cells.
The shock absorption feature is excellent for squash due to the amount of tension generated between your feet and the floor during the game’s fast-paced movements.
Lots of pressure placed on the heels and toes during a game might send shocks up players knees and back, making them uncomfortable.
A supportive pair of squash shoes with the right heel and arch support works to dampen the shocks and relieve pressure on the joints.
Hygiene
The squash court entertains lots of players from different backgrounds. Like most public places, the court is a breeding ground for numerous germs and microorganisms.
If you love being barefoot, the court might not be the best place to strut without shoes. Playing barefoot might expose your feet to nasty germs.
Indoor sports players also wear protective shoes to shield their feet from nasty germs on the court floor.
That’s not all.
To maintain the court players’ cleanliness, they use their squash shoes exclusively for the game. That means they don’t wear them anywhere else to keep them from dragging dirt onto the court.
It’s also for all players’ safety because dirt on the court is slippery and could cause nasty falls. The soles are also non-marking to keep the floors clean.
Traction
You’ll be making lots of high paced movements during a typical squash game, and it’s pretty easy to lose your balance and land on the floor.
A good reason to get squash shoes is the extra traction they provide. Their soles grip the floor and keep you from sliding and getting hurt.
The soles are also non-marking. These soles keep the court in pristine condition.
You might want to choose shoes with thinner soles. These shoes help you keep closer contact with the floor. They also help you maintain your balance so that you can make cleaner turns.
Features of a Typical Squash Shoe
Let’s take a look at the qualities of typical squash shoes. These features might help you tell them apart from other shoes.
Rubber Outsole
The base of squash shoes or shoes for indoor sports usually have rubber outsoles. Unlike the regular black soles of any other trainers you might own, these are incredibly flexible.
These soles give players an extra bounce and allow them to execute fast motion smoothly. They further offer a better grip to the court floor than regular trainers.
The better grip keeps players from falling while executing typical squash moves.
The soles’ design helps with weight distribution. That helps take off undue pressure from the feet, which could result in discomfort.
They generally comprise a blend of synthetic rubber and natural gum. Thanks to these materials, they’re non-marking, so they won’t leave marks on the floor if you skid. This feature is vital for keeping the court clean.
If you want to check if the trainers you own are non-marking, rub them on white paper and look for scuff marks. If there are no marks left, then your trainers are non-marking.
Lateral Support
Many squash shoes come with exterior support materials that protect your feet from injuries. Common squash injuries are on the feet during running, which could result in ankle rolling.
An essential part of the lateral support feature is the leather surface. The quality leather exterior of the shoe can adjust to your feet’s shape. It should also be flexible enough to respond to your movements.
Your shoe might also contain some rubber or plastic materials inserted into the sides and top to support your motion.
Shock Absorbency
The force produced in your feet during the range of motion in a typical squash game might not remain only in your feet. It might travel up your feet up to your knees and back. For this reason, most squash shoes come with a reliable shock-absorbing system.
Heel cups or cushioning are vital parts of most squash shoes. These ensure the maintenance of proper foot alignment. Also, they absorb some tension during the game.
There’s more.
Shoes might contain EVA midsoles. These also contribute to absorbing shock generated by your feet during motion. The movement of air through the cells of the EVA material is how it absorbs force.
Many squash shoes become much heavier with the addition of these extra cushioning materials. Generally, the more cushioning on the shoes, the heavier they are.
You might be uncomfortable tugging the weight of the shoes around the court.
Breathable and Moisture Absorbent
It’s not unusual for squash players to sweat from their feet. It’s a high-intensity game.
Players generally appreciate shoes with a breathable upper. Some boots come with latex uppers with perforated holes. These holes allow airflow and cooling.
The inner lining is smooth and seamless. It consists of moisture-wicking materials to keep your feet dry. They also prevent the build-up of foul odors.
Insoles are not left out too. They are also made to be breathable materials and contribute to the shoes cooling properties.
Secure Lace-Up System
If your squash shoes are even a little bit tight, they can cause you to be uncomfortable during games. While playing, your feet might swell up, and that makes your shoes even more intimate.
Going for oversize shoes also won’t fix your problem. The rapid movements of the game could throw your oversize shoe half-way across the court or limit your motion.
Squash shoes come with a reliable lacing system to fasten them. If your shoes fit just right and notice some discomfort during the game, you can loosen them out a bit for more room. On the other hand, securing the lace should keep it on your feet throughout the game.
Reasons for Using Minimalist Squash Shoes
Why choose minimalist barefoot shoes over regular squash trainers?
Here are some of the pressing reasons.
Minimalism
Suppose you’ve switched to minimalist barefoot shoes. Purchasing a different shoe type for each sports activity you decide to take on might fill your home with clutter.
You could choose a barefoot minimalist shoe pair that you can use for indoor sports. If you pick the right barefoot shoe, it would cater to your feet’ needs and fit into many activities you’re interested in.
Hygiene
Going barefoot is the most natural way to be. It’s excellent for the development of many appreciated feet muscles. Many also observe an improvement of arch development from going barefoot.
Unfortunately, we can’t walk barefoot everywhere. The squash court floor might not be hygienic enough for you to pace about barefoot.
In this scenario, instead of using a typical squash shoe with its limitations, barefoot minimalist footwear could serve both your feet health and protect you from nasty germs on the floor.
Protection
It’s true, a minimalist shoe doesn’t cushion the shock effect as much as a typical squash shoe, but it’s still pretty useful.
Minimalist shoes have a low heel to toe drop, unlike a typical squash shoe. Ordinary squash shoes can have a heel drop between 6 – 10 mm (0.236 – 0.394 inches). While running with this height difference, most runners generally land with a heel strike over a fore-foot or midfoot strike seen with minimalist shoes.
Furthermore, the use of minimalist shoes might help develop some feet muscles that are underused. Muscle development could improve the player’s overall resilience and feet strength.
Lightweight
All the cushioning and pads added to regular squash shoes make them pretty heavy. You might not notice it, but this extra weight might be drawing you back during your game. The lightweight minimalist shoes cut out the excess weight so you can move swiftly on the court.
The weight difference between typical squash shoes and minimalist shoes might not be all that great, but you might appreciate it when you make the switch.
Range of Motion
Barefoot minimalist shoes closely mimic being barefoot. That means that players can move about unrestricted. Toes can be lifted off the ground and replaced without hassle. They also have ample room for toe movement.
The ankles are also free enough to allow a full range of motion. You won’t have to worry about tight shoes cutting off blood flow.
Eco-Friendly
Many of the best minimalist barefoot shoes comprise eco-friendly materials. If you’re conscious about your eco-footprint, these shoes might be right for you. Vivobarefoot makes their Geo Racer shoes with recycled PET plastics, while the Geo court shoes consist of the recycled canvas.
If you are vegan and would love your shoe vegan, consider using Vivobarefoot shoes. They are vegan-friendly, so that they would fit into your lifestyle perfectly.
Considerations for Using Minimalist Shoes for Squash
So, you’re thinking of switching to minimalist barefoot shoes for squash and other indoor games. There are a few things you might want to consider.
Start Slow
If you’ve never used minimalist shoes before, they might feel a little strange. You’ll feel the floor a lot more than you would with regular trainers on. The difference in heel-toe drop could also cause a strange feeling.
These changes put more tension on certain parts of your leg and might require a little getting used to.
To reduce your chances of getting injuries, you might want to start slow. Consider cutting your regular training sessions in half and building your way up. This way, you give your feet time to adjust to the new sensation.
Transitional Shoes
If you try out the minimalist shoes and are still uncomfortable, you might want to start with transitional shoes.
These transitional shoes usually have a medium heel drop of about 4-6mm (0.157-0.236 inches). These shoes are beneficial for people who use high toe drop shoes between 8-14mm (0.315-0.551 inches) tall.
First, try these out for a few weeks to see how well you fare with them. Remember to start slow too. Over time, you could move up from transitional shoes to minimalist shoes.
Conclusion
You can enjoy a fulfilling game of squash with a pair of minimalist shoes. In this article, we’ve outlined all you need to choose the best minimalist barefoot shoes for squash so that you can go out and enjoy your game.
Here are the article’s highlights:
- What is a typical squash shoe
- Features of a typical squash shoe
- The best minimalist squash shoes for squash
- Reasons for going for minimalist squash shoes
- Considerations for using minimalist barefoot shoes for squash