When it comes to parkour, every step counts — and the right shoes can make all the difference. Knowing what makes a good parkour shoe is difficult. How do you tell a parkour shoe vs cross-training shoe vs athletic sneaker? That's why we've put together this list of the best parkour shoes available today — so you can focus less on your gear and more on your movement.

The reviews of each shoe below are based on our personal experience or the experience of community members. The overall rating does not take price into consideration, but merely the quality. For any parkour shoe, we recommend:

Tieable laces, not slip-ons
Rubber on the bottom, not foam

The overall rating does not take price into consideration, but merely the quality.

Feiyue

FE Lo 1920
https://feiyue-shoes.com/

Feiyue’s are great for someone on a budget or for children who grow out of shoes quickly. These are a lightweight, grippy shoe with minimal cushion. This makes it a good choice for improving balance skills without being a strict barefoot shoe. Kid sizes available.

Pros

Cheap, great for someone on a budget
Great for kids who grow out of shoes quickly
Malleable, great for balance training
Grippy

Cons

Minimal cushion for big impact
Shorter lifecycle, especially with outdoor training
Falls off if you don’t have Feiyues with tieable laces

Rating: 3/5

Onisuki Tiger

Ultimate 81, Mexico 66, Serrano
https://www.onitsukatiger.com/

Onisuka Tiger is two steps up from the Feiyues with a longer shelf life and more cushion for those larger drops. The durability of these make these more resistant from breaking down and are a solid choice for those who can afford a middleman parkour shoe. Kid sizes available.

We are rating the Ultimate 81.

Pros

Lightweight with excellent grip (when dry)
Low heel-to-toe drop for better ground feel
Snug, secure fit
Midrange price

Cons

Poor performance in cold/wet weather
Questionable durability
Less cushion for big impact
Only the versions with black rubber soles have good traction; the brown, white, or other colored variants do not perform as well

Rating: 3.5/5

WHITIN is a barefoot shoe great for those who want to improve natural body mechanics as a zero-drop shoe. They have a wide toe box and fit the foot really well. With a decent duration, these are a good starter barefoot shoe. Kids sizes available.

Pros

Cheap
Minimalist zero-drop barefoot shoe
Durable soles
Wide toe box promotes more natural foot mechanics
Good ground feel
Good grip

Cons

No toe protection where toes point (smaller sizes have toe protection)
Very little cushion, not great for drops
Long laces, especially for kids
Sold on Amazon

Rating: 4/5

Xero is another barefoot shoe great for those who want to improve their strength, natural body mechanics, and ankles with a zero-drop shoe while still doing parkour. These are a great shoe for those looking to get into barefoot/natural parkour focused on longevity/health & wellness training. Kid sizes available.

We are rating the Speed Force.

Pros

Minimalist zero-drop barefoot shoe
Wide toe box promotes more natural foot mechanics
Very lightweight
Decent grip
Decent price, but can vary

Cons

Grip worsens somewhat quickly, but is still decent.
Outsole wears down quickly/has thinner lugs
Virtually no cushion if your feet aren’t conditioned for it
Not beginner-friendly due to high ground sensitivity; better suited for more technical athletes

Rating: 4/5

Strike Movement

Strike Movement makes great overall parkour shoes that seem to have it all. Designed by parkour athletes, these also allow for cross-training, and even distance running, which supports the malleability of what a parkour shoe goes through.

We are rating the Haze Trainer.

Pros

Cross-training shoe
Impact-friendly
Wide toe box promotes more natural foot mechanics
One solid rubber sole piece
Great ground feel through the shoe
Great grip (when dry)
Color scheme
Good durability

Cons

Pricey
Grip has been reported to differ slightly depending on color
Grip effectiveness reduces greatly when wet

Rating: 4.5/5

Ollos

SapianX, Alpha
https://ollopk.com/

Ollos newest shoes, SapianX and Alpha, have upgraded from their older versions, nailing the near-perfect shoe. These are a great overall shoe with high performance across the board. Kid sizes available.

We are rating the Alpha.

Pros

Great grip across most surfaces
Longevity/durability
Impact-friendly

Cons

Pricey
May need occasional retying

Rating: 5/5

Stealth 2.0 — Take Flight

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Take Flight

Take Flight released their second shoe in sleek black. This is a good overall shoe with notable cushion. This may take away from the balance feeling you would get with a barefoot shoe, but you will be able to take bigger drops.

Pros

Lots of cushion
Decent grip
High durability/longevity

Cons

Pricey
Customers seeking more background on brand practices may wish to conduct independent research. Product description is for informational purposes only. Listing does not imply endorsement.

Rating: 4/5

Storror

Tech Tens
https://storror.com/en-us

We haven’t tested the new Tech Tens, so we cannot list our personal experience with these shoes. However, this is the 3rd generation of parkour shoe that Storror has released making them the successors of earlier versions. While these are pricier, you are supporting a grassroots parkour team. Storror seems to be releasing generations of shoes at a time, so these may not be on the market long-term. However, this might just mean another successor is in the works.

Parkour Shoe List

Strike Movement

Take Flight