You saw Rocky boxing while wearing a pair of Chuck Taylors and wonder if you can do the same. Maybe you plan to practice your footwork and shadowboxing wearing your worn-in pair of Converse.
But are Converse shoes good for boxing?
Converse are good training shoes if you are on a budget due to their durability. Their flat soles and thin canvas also mimic the feel of boxing shoes. However, Converse shoes are not ideal for sparring and fights because they are heavier and thicker than boxing shoes.
As you may already know, boxing shoes are lightweight, but they do not last a long time, so wearing a pair of Chucks can save you more money in the long run.
In this post, let’s explore whether Converse shoes are good for boxing or not.
Are Converse Shoes Good For Boxing?
Before we begin, it’s important to note that there are no substitutes for boxing shoes for boxing. Not only are boxing shoes lightweight, but they allow you to pivot very well.
Unfortunately, boxing shoes are not very durable. Basically, boxing shoes are just leather socks with outer soles, without much support for your feet.
If you are training regularly, you will go through boxing shoes very fast. In fact, you may go through 4 to 6 pairs of boxing shoes before you even go through a pair of gloves.
So if you keep training with your boxing shoes, it can become very expensive as you have to keep replacing your boxing shoes frequently.
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star High
- Similar to boxing shoes, Converse has flat soles.
- Excellent grip and traction for training on different surfaces.
- The thin uppers of Converse shoes emulate the feel of boxing shoes.
- Converse are heavier and are not as lightweight as boxing shoes
- They lack secure heel counters and forefoot support
Ideally, you should want to preserve your boxing shoes by only wearing them for sparring in the ring. That way, you increase their lifespan and make them last as long as possible.
One alternative is wearing Converse sneakers for training.
While they may not be the best for sparring, Converse Chuck Taylors are good enough for boxing training. Due to their flat soles, excellent grip, and thin canvas, Converse shoes are good to practice footwork and shadowboxing if you are on a budget.
As long as you give your Chucks enough time to break in and conform to the shape of your feet, they are good for training. Let’s explore each aspect of Converse shoes for boxing.
1. Converse have flat soles, similar to boxing shoes
The first reason why Converse shoes can serve as boxing shoes is due to their flat soles. Wearing flat sole shoes allow you to feel like you are standing directly on the ground.
You may notice that non-boxing shoes (and sometimes even some boxing shoes) have a raised heel which can prevent you from sitting down for maximum power on your punches.
Converse shoes, while they have higher soles than boxing shoes, have flat soles which make you feel like you’re pushing off a hard surface instead of a cushioned surface.
2. Excellent grip and traction for dusty gym floors
Another reason why Converse shoes are good for boxing training is due to their excellent traction. Thanks to their non-slip gum rubber soles, they can grip most surfaces very well.
Not everyone has the luxury to practice in a nice boxing gym. Sometimes, you may need to train on dusty gym floors or the outdoors. In some cases, you may need to train on concrete.
Converse shoes serve well as boxing training shoes because of their slip-resistant soles, which work well on almost any surface.
On days that you are working on your physique, whether you are doing burpees, lateral drills, and plyometric drills, Chuck Taylors are more than enough for the job.
You can also wear Converse shoes for individual training and shadowboxing. Thanks to their ability to grip the ground, your feet won’t slide when transferring power.
3. Their thin uppers emulate the feel of boxing shoes
Boxing can definitely put force on your ankles depending on your fighting style.
One of the great aspects of boxing shoes is their high flexible uppers which provide plenty of freedom while offering enough support for the ankles.
As you already know, ankle injuries are common in sports where you’re jumping around, changing angles often, and constantly putting force on your ankles from all directions.
Ideally, your shoes should allow you to feel mobile, while providing ankle support for safety.
Converse shoes are flexible enough at the top, allowing you to pivot so you can throw power punches or execute typical fighting footwork maneuvers.
4. Sadly, Converse are not as lightweight as boxing shoes
As the saying goes in boxing, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
When you are boxing, you need lightweight shoes to stay light on your feet. Unfortunately, Converse shoes are not as lightweight as boxing shoes.
Their thicker midsoles, which add a lot of height, contribute to their weight and may not provide you with the best feathery feel to stay light on your feet.
5. They lack secure heel counters and forefoot support
Some of the best boxing shoes are equipped with hard-heel counters. Basically, the back part of the shoes supporting your heel should be rock solid and tough.
They are made of hard plastic and are meant to keep your feet stable and locked in the shoes. Sadly, Converse shoes do not provide secure heel counters due to their thin canvas.
The other important thing that you are going to find inside expensive boxing shoes is support along the forefoot, which offers lateral (side-to-side) stability.
Basically, the tough material along the forefoot of boxing shoes allows you to move side-to-side effectively, without your feet slipping inside the shoes.
Converse shoes do not have this feature since their upper is made of thin canvas. As a result, your feet may rub inside as you move laterally, which may lead to blisters.
If you plan to train boxing while wearing Converse shoes, be sure to wear thick socks.
Final Words
Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star High
- Similar to boxing shoes, Converse have flat soles.
- Excellent grip and traction for training on different surfaces.
- The thin uppers of Converse shoes emulate the feel of boxing shoes.
- Converse are heavier and are not as lightweight as boxing shoes
- They lack secure heel counters and forefoot support
Now you know whether Converse shoes are good for boxing or not.
If you are on a budget, Converse shoes are good enough for boxing training because they are durable. This includes jump roping, bag drills, footwork, and shadowboxing. However, you should always wear boxing shoes for fights and sparring sessions.
By wearing a different pair of shoes for boxing and a different pair for training, you can train effectively while saving money in the process.
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