Which shoe should I get is a popular question when people first start wrestling.
I look for three things in a shoe: weight, grip, durability. There are many other things to look for, but those are the most important things.
Weight:
The lighter the shoe, the faster the feet. Speed is paramount in wrestling and so the lighter the shoe, the less bulk, the less feet will sweat and the faster they will move.
Grip:
When on the mat, especially one that might be wet, grip is the most important thing. Some shoes go so light as to sacrifice some of the grip around the edges. Those are especially necessary when moving side to side or when on bottom. So make sure the grip goes all around the shoe. Split sole is ok, when there is no grip between the heel and the pad of the foot, as long as there is grip on the sides.
Durability:
Nothing worse than spending $50-$100 and then seeing them fall apart. For this reason one should spend at least $50 on a pair of shoes. But usually any pair that is 75-100 will be made such that it will not start falling apart mid-season.
This is also why going unknown brand is a risk, even if they have a famous wrestler attached. The popular and generally good quality shoes are Asics, Addidas, Nike, and Ruddis.
Once you identify the brand you like, find the lightest, most grippiest shoe and pick the color/style that makes you feel good. Because as Jordan Borroughs said: “When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you wrestle good.”
As for where to buy them, WrestlingMart is a great place as is the Rudis website. There are dozens of other websites but also don’t ignore Ebay if you’re on a budget. Often a barely worn shoe will be sold there for a huge discount after a wrestler buys a nice shoes and quits.
Henry-Wrestling 