Volleyball shoes

The popularity of volleyball, not only as a spectacular sports show, but also as an active hobby for people far from big sport, is only growing every year. And if professional volleyball players do not have problems with the choice of special shoes, then it is sometimes difficult for amateur players to decide which sneakers should be worn for a match or training.

Volleyball is one of the most agile and energetic sports, so the shoes in which the player goes on the floor must be not only comfortable, but also safe from the point of view of injury risk.

Sudden changes in direction of movement, jumping from a place and risky landings are best done in the right shoes, designed with all the features of the game in mind.

The main difference between volleyball and cross-country or universal sneakers lies in their highly specialized nature. This allows us to consider them the same full-fledged element of sportswear, like shorts with a T-shirt, which athletes put on before a match.

The sole of these sneakers is made of materials that make the shoe "sharpened" for the highest jump and excellent shock absorption during the landing process. Manufacturers usually use rubber for these purposes, as well as carbon or unfilled rubber.

In addition, the use of silicone and sneakers in the creation of sneakers is also aimed at increasing the safety of operation. It allows you to reduce the load on the knee joints of the athlete, as well as on the spine and ankle.To provide better protection for both the volleyball player and the shoe itself, its inner side can be reinforced with a foam rubber drapery.

When making ordinary sneakers, their creators strive to give them a spectacular appearance, often using familiar, expensive-looking materials - natural leather or at least its high-quality imitation.

In the case of volleyball shoes, this cannot be beneficial. The fact is that with active movement during episodes of the game or during training, a person's sweating increases, which poses a completely different task for the developers of sports shoes. The sneaker must "breathe", so the optimal solution is the use of such textures that resemble a thin mesh.

The most common upper is made of durable nylon. In this case, leather and other familiar materials can be used as decorative elements. Leather inserts also help increase the elasticity of the upper.

There are special requirements for the durability of volleyball shoes. According to professional athletes, one of the main advantages of the right sneakers is their "indestructibility".

Given the harsh conditions in which these shoes are used, which are subjected to bending, stretching, folding and twisting during the game, designers must be guided not only by the image component when developing new models, but also to work closely with engineers. This is the only way to ensure that even after the longest game or training session, the athlete's shoes take their original shape for as long as possible.

When it comes to sneakers for volleyball practice, it should be understood that even the so-called amateur models can be considered professional - too high requirements are imposed on this type of sports shoes.

Whoever the sneakers are designed for: for a young novice player, for a fragile graceful girl or for an athlete's heroic build, in any case, they will be a clear example of a combination of design ideas and the most modern technological solutions.

In the right volleyball shoe, every nuance matters. For example, a colored sole or a bright gamut of the upper part of a shoe is not only a visual "trick", but also a way to distract the opponent's attention from the ball, making him react to multicolored flickering on the floor.

• Firstly, it is traumatic and fraught with dislocations or even fractures in case of an unsuccessful landing.
• And secondly, given the peculiarities of the sole, designed for the highest jump possible, such a hybrid of sneakers and sneakers would look extremely strange.

High modifications are another matter. They are more suitable for beginner volleyball players, as they additionally protect the leg from possible injuries. At the same time, one must not forget that high-top sneakers limit freedom of movement, significantly reducing the opportunity for sharp maneuvers and deceiving feints. Professional athletes and amateurs who are serious about volleyball as a hobby prefer mid-height sneakers.

Any professional or semi-professional sports shoes are created by specialized divisions of serious brands. Volleyball shoes are no exception in this context. This segment of the ammunition market for athletes is almost equally divided between the two "giants" - the companies Asics and Mizuno.

Other world famous brands of sportswear and footwear (the same Nike, Adidas and Reebok, for example) are also engaged in the development and production of volleyball shoes, but these two logos are most often flaunt on the footwear of volleyball players.

The vast majority of products in this category, both in Russian-language online stores and on foreign online trading platforms, are produced by either Mizuno or Asics.

For example, the assortment of volleyball shoes on the websites Kinash.ru and ProBall.ru consists entirely of the products of these two companies.

Both companies are Japanese brands and are constantly competing with each other for high-tech development and advanced solutions. So, in response to new products from Mizuno (such as the concept of improved adhesion of the sole to the flooring Sensor Point and the Mizuno Intercool technology, designed to absorb excess air inside the shoe), Asics specialists presented the Gel system, which allows volleyball players to be protected from foot injuries and other common damage.

In addition to the obvious requirements for highly specialized sports shoes, sneakers for volleyball practice have a number of features that an untrained buyer may not even know about. Let us dwell on the most important details, the knowledge of which will allow us to make the right choice.

Given the specific nature of volleyball as a highly mobile sport, it is imperative to take a responsible approach to finding the perfect pair of sneakers. The primary filter will be excellent cushioning, a resilient outsole and a secure "grip" that fixes the foot and protects it from sprains and injuries. If the model meets all these requirements, it is important to make sure that ventilation and removal of excess moisture is also at the right level. And only after that you should proceed directly to the fitting.

Just as important as the exact fit is the weight of the shoe. Real volleyball shoes simply have no right to be too heavy - otherwise, a high jump, which allows you to set a high-quality block, will not work. Experts agree that the optimal weight for a women's sneaker will be 260-310 grams. Men's models, which is understandable, should be a little more massive: experts advise paying attention to shoes weighing from 315 to 425 grams. In any case, the denser and heavier the athlete is, the more massive the shoes are recommended. Depreciation on landing directly depends on this.

The sole of the shoe is responsible for record-breaking jumps. The most popular materials for its production in recent years are rubber and two types of rubber: carbon or unfilled. The latest options for raw materials allow playing volleyball on open-air courts, while shoes with rubber soles are "sharpened" exclusively for the hall and parquet.

An important detail that directly affects the "tactical and technical characteristics" of the sneaker is the tread pattern and its structure. The soles of the pairs of shoes most demanded among volleyball players are equipped with either special air cans or helium blocks. Both of these innovations allow not only to maximize traction on the surface of the platform, but also to increase the shock absorption properties of the sneaker.

A lot of attention to detail can be a testament to the fact that volleyball shoes are the ultimate athletic shoe. Such, for example, as laces. It would seem that what could be easier - to tighten the shoes tightly? But manufacturers care not only about the foot tightly wrapped around the sneaker, but also about the reliable fixation of the lace itself. The peculiarity of high-quality volleyball shoes is that the spontaneous loosening of the lacing is completely excluded thanks to the special clamps.

For a person who first comes across the purchase of volleyball shoes, their cost may come as a pleasant surprise. The thing is that the price tags even for the most "advanced" models may well be at the level of 10-12 thousand rubles. The most budgetary versions of such shoes can be purchased for two to three thousand rubles. Moreover, such a purchase does not mean a loss in quality or a less prestigious analogue - the manufacturer will be the same.

Of course, there are also exclusive models of volleyball sneakers on the sports footwear market. Their cost can be completely different, up to several tens of thousands of rubles. In this case, you need to be aware that this is more of an image component, a kind of indicator of involvement in sports topics, and not some kind of solution that gives significant advantages over strictly playful variations of sneakers.

Despite the fact that this type of footwear has a rather narrow specialization, the price for it is quite comparable to more versatile running shoes. In addition, due to the seasonal updates of the collections of the leading brands that create volleyball shoes, models from the past "lines" are usually available at significant discounts, which allows you to save significantly, while becoming the owner of professional volleyball shoes.

Most of the Internet users who have experience in buying and using high-quality volleyball shoes leave positive reviews about them.

Many people note their reliability and "indestructibility", some complain about the insufficient, in their opinion, variety of color solutions.

Very few reviews are negative. For example, one girl noted that the sneakers fit her, it was comfortable to play in them, but at some point the upper part of the shoe began to rub, which ended up with a hole at the point of contact between the “top” of the sneaker and the thumb. This problem is most likely due to the fact that when trying on, the future owner of a pair of shoes did not guess the size and bought sneakers not according to the leg, but a little less.

Some of the reviews begin in almost the same way: a person says that he started playing volleyball spontaneously, without special equipment. As sports shoes, I used ordinary sneakers or running modifications of sneakers, which often led to injuries of varying degrees of severity. Having finally tried to wear sneakers specially designed for playing volleyball, fans of this sport describe the difference in sensations and success on the court as colossal.