When the weather gets nicer, volleyball players around the world move from the wood and plastic indoor courts to the sand or grass outdoors. Grass volleyball is rapidly growing, especially anywhere without easy access to the coast. Beach volleyball is best played barefoot, but grass is a different story.
Some athletes will try barefoot, but most won’t continue that for long. The best grass volleyball shoes let you move in the grass as effectively as you do indoor. Traction is king outdoors, but lockdown, stability, and support are still key features. There is not a single shoe designed for playing volleyball on grass. What we’re left with is compromise.
Let's explore some of the best options available, considering the trade-offs each presents.
Understanding the Options
When choosing shoes for grass volleyball, players often consider three main types:
- Volleyball/Basketball shoes
- Turf cleats
- Trail runners
Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to playing on grass.
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Volleyball/Basketball Shoes
Volleyball/Basketball shoes are obviously great for all of the movements required to play grass volleyball, but they really only work in well-maintained, dry grass. A little bit of rain or a dirt patch and they can be completely useless.
You can also check out our list of the best volleyball shoes, our list of the best volleyball gifts, and our list of the best Nike volleyball shoes.
Turf Cleats
Turf cleats are meant for playing some other sport, usually baseball, on turf. They are more or less a compromise between the other two. Better stability and lockdown than trail runners, but not as good as volleyball shoes. Better traction than volleyball shoes, but not as good as trail runners.
One problem that comes with turf cleats is the lack of options available. Most major brands only offer one or two turf cleats, or might not have any at all. Additionally, one of the main reasons to use them is the traction, and some models have very small treads only meant for short turfs. This doesn’t translate as well to the real grass.
Featured Turf Cleat: Dart Turf
The traction on the Dart Turf is excellent. I’ve used it in dry grass, dewy evening grass, and in the mud and pouring rain. The treads grip well, but not so firmly that it’s unsafe (cleats are a major ACL risk, which is one of the reasons they’re usually prohibited from grass volleyball). The rest of the features of this shoe are not extraordinary.
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The lateral stability is good and is mostly provided by a wide-enough outsole and a sturdy upper material. Compared to trail runners, the lockdown and lateral stability are both a big improvement. Possibly the best feature of the Dart Turf is the price. The lockdown on these is not great. The laces work well enough to prevent any toe sliding, but the heel feels insecure.
There isn’t much of a heel counter, so the laces are the only thing holding your heel down. I’ve never had them fall off my foot completely, but I do feel my heel starting to come out of them occasionally. There are no extra eyelets to tie a runner’s heel lock. The other cons correlate to the budget-friendly price tag. The midsole foam isn’t great so there isn’t much cushioning (adequate for grass though).
At a $40-$75 price tag, you get possibly the best option for anything but the most perfect grass and weather conditions. Boombahs are growing in popularity among grass volleyball players, and it’s clear why. I would definitely recommend giving them a try.
Trail Runners
Trail runners generally have the best traction, but I find the lack of lateral stability and sufficient lockdown meant for jumping and changing directions to be a problem. They aren’t necessarily the best grass volleyball shoes, but they are the most popular choice, and they do work. Trail runners have some design insufficiencies for grass volleyball, but they are the most popular choice. There are so many to pick from and a lot of it comes down to personal preference.
Hoka One One makes some great options with plenty of cushioning, Salomon’s Speedcross line seems built to play in ankle-deep mud, and Nike’s React Pegasus Trail line is a familiar option for a lot of players. You can find even more options on our best trail runners for hiking page. But to be the best trail runner for grass volleyball, the shoe will need to have all of the things that make trail runners great, while minimizing their weaknesses.
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Featured Trail Runner: Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 8
The Nike Air Zoom Terra Kiger 8 is both the longest sneaker name I’ve ever seen and the best trail running shoe for grass volleyball. The Terra Kiger line has been underrated for grass volleyball for years now, as it is a more aggressive design than most other trail runners. The traction on these shoes is incredible.
Large, aggressive lugs meant for hill running also work great for jumping and landing. The react foam combines with a forefoot Zoom Air unit to give a springy feel even in the grass. If the traction and cushion are so good in the Terra Kiger 8, then how is it not the undisputed best grass volleyball shoe? The answer is still that trail runners are not meant for grass volleyball in the same way that running shoes aren’t meant for volleyball.
The lateral stability is lacking, and that’s a large problem when you’re pushing off along the net in uneven dirt and grass. The lockdown is plenty for jogging through the woods, but not as great when you’re aggressively jumping and sprinting and stopping over and over. Trail runners are not the perfect grass volleyball shoe, but they are one of the best options.
Unique Hybrid: Russel Westbrook Why Not Zer0.5
Russel Westbrook’s 5th signature shoe is not known to be a super top-tier basketball shoe (find our basketball performance review here). But it has one important secret that makes it one of the best grass volleyball shoes. The main reason that the Why Not Zer0.5 is such a good choice in the grass is that it features a trail runner traction pattern with tiny circular rubber lugs.
This pattern actually also closely resembles grass tennis shoe traction patterns, and is more than adequate in well-cut, dry grass. The shoe features a solid torsional plate for plenty of support, sufficient lockdown for jumping, and is stable enough to save your ankles when moving side to side. The sneaker has a lot of materials on it, so it can be pretty warm, although it is well ventilated.
I realize this shoe isn’t super available anymore. It’s just weirdly applicable with its unique trail runner tread pattern and is worth checking out. In places with a lot of nice weather, Westbrook’s 5th signature sneaker could be the best of the best grass volleyball shoes. This shoe is the closest we’ve seen to a sneaker truly designed for grass volleyball, and it would be great to see more like it.
Let us know what you think. Did we leave anything out?
Here's a quick comparison table to summarize the strengths and weaknesses of each shoe type:
| Shoe Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Volleyball/Basketball Shoes | Excellent for volleyball movements | Poor traction on wet or uneven grass |
| Turf Cleats | Good traction and stability | Limited options, can be too aggressive |
| Trail Runners | Best traction, comfortable | Lacking lateral stability and lockdown |
| Russel Westbrook Why Not Zer0.5 | Good traction, support, and stability | Can be warm, limited availability |
Here is a video on the topic:
THE ULTIMATE VOLLEYBALL SHOE TIER LIST
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