The 3 Best Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes [In 2024] | Hoops Addict (2024)

A shoe that fits is a shoe that performs that’s why basketball shoes come in a variety of shapes and sizes to cater to every type of feet. Whether you have wide or narrow feet, it is imperative to choose a shoe that helps you perform at your peak. If you don’t, then your game could suffer a lot. This list is targeted for players with narrow feet and to help you focus on how to select the best narrow men’s basketball shoes.

If you want to get back to playing basketball, get our top pick for the best narrow men's basketball shoe here.

Our Favorite for the Best Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes

Nike PG3 Basketball Shoes

As far as narrow shoes go, we feel that Nike has its best with the PG shoes. The PG1 was awfully narrow and short, and some had to get a full size up to get a pleasant fit. However, if you do find your comfort zone, it would only be smooth sailing from there.

Since the PG1s are already pretty much out of stock and the PG4 getting the short end of the stick as far as reviews go, the favorite for the best narrow men's basketball shoes is the PG3.

What Makes It Unique:

• Impeccable traction that grips with the best of them on any surfaces
• Has a soft midsole than previous models with a top-loaded oval Zoom Unit on the forefoot
• Contoured and cushioned heavily so you won’t have any issues with heel slips

Like the PG1, the PG3 shoes do start a little snug since the signature line is designed to produce narrow width shoes. Paul George has been known to wear a shoe size too small for years. PG prefers a snug fit, so that explains the design of the models that bear his name.

Performance-wise, the PG3 is an overall solid shoe. Many who wore the shoe say it requires a little break-in time for everything to work, from the fit to the traction. The materials are average, although it still works. Once you get past that break-in part, it is easily one of the best basketball shoes for narrow feet.

Why Choose The Nike PG3 Basketball Shoes:

• With the release of the PG4, you can obtain the PG3 via a generous discount compared to its suggested retail price.
• Since it is designed for narrow feet, the lockdown is superior to most shoes.
• The traction pattern, which features small, round suction cups, grips the floor unlike any other.

We specifically featured the PG3 here, but as mentioned, the whole Paul George line from PG1, 2, and 2.5 are all recommended narrow mens basketball shoes. The 2.5 was released in December 2018, so the problem, really, is tracking down the shoe. The PG3 was released on Sept. 2019, which makes it more viable to obtain than its predecessors.

Our Runner Up for the Best Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes

Another brand that produces several shoes for narrow feet is Under Armour, and in this section, we’ll take a look at the HOVR Havoc Low.

Under Armour HOVR Havoc Low

Unless you’re a dyed-in-the-wool sneakerhead, you may never heard of the HOVR Havoc Low. If that’s the case, we think you are badly missing out on a solid shoe without an apparent weakness. We think it’s in the top three low top shoes created since the Kobe 8 and it’s specifically designed for narrow footers.

What Makes It Unique:

• It has excellent traction that defies common sense. It can handle the dirtiest to the cleanest floors without having to wipe the outsole.
• Comes in 15 colorways that range from bright (Taxi Yellow) to dark (Black/Lime Light)
• Since it is a snug fit, it has a superb lockdown.

The Under Armour HOVR Havoc Low is probably the lowest of the low tops since the Kobe 8. That may not sit well for everybody, but if you want court feel with a little bit of everything (and then some), the Under Armour HOVR Havoc Low is not a bad choice at all.

Why Choose The Under Armour HOVR Havoc Low:

• Excellent ankle protection for a low top
• The knit material gives it more durability.
• A well-rounded shoe that performs adequately on all the essential parts.

Our Value Pick for the Best Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes

Most Kobe shoes are also made for narrow feet, but none like its budget model from the Mentality line– the Mamba Rage.

Nike Kobe Mamba Rage

Generally speaking, basketball players with narrow feet are also light and the Mamba Rage is specifically designed for that. In many ways, it is similar to the Mamba Instinct with the only distinct difference being the material used for the upper.

What Makes It Unique:

• Uses Flyweave technology that ensures breathability and durability
• The Lunarlon midsole, while not super-premium, provides adequate support and impact protection.
• Some female basketball players recommend the Mamba Rage as one of the best women’s basketball shoes for narrow feet.

The Mamba Rage is not perfect. Many who purchased have experienced pinching on the sides of the foot. A little break-in time may solve the issue, but for those that want to play in the Rage right away, you may need to go half a size up.

Why Choose The Nike Kobe Mamba Rage Basketball Shoes:

• The traction is one of the best, especially in indoor courts.
• Comes in 16 colorways including cool names such as Komodo, Scorpion, and Grinch
• Lightweight and weigh just as much as the PG 3.

In our list for runner ups for the best narrow men’s basketball shoes, most of the budget Kobe models fit the bill, specifically the Mamba Instinct and Rage. Most of the attributes of the Instincts are present in the Rage. Again, like the previous PG models, the Instinct may not be as readily available as the Rage, so the latter makes this list.

Why You Should Invest in Quality Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes

Many consider wide feet as a trickier slope to try and tread, but we beg to disagree. The same can be said for people with narrow feet, or perhaps even more precarious in some cases. Since basketball shoes are designed to withstand specific hard movements intrinsic to the sport, it is imperative to wear the most comfortable basketball shoes that you can find.

In the case of narrow footers, wearing regular to extra width would absolutely destroy your game. It would feel like playing with snow boots. Compensating for the extra space on the forefoot and toe box while you’re playing is a recipe for disaster. It could take your concentration out of the game (which is always a bad thing), and worse, it could lead to accidents on the court.

For that reason, it is very wise for you to invest in quality narrow men’s basketball shoes.

FAQ on Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes

What is Narrow in Men Shoes?

Well, first things first, having narrow feet is statistically rare since most people have medium-width feet. People that have narrow feet can see that theirs are longer and more elongated that normal width shoes do not fit properly on them.

In shoe jargon, a D size is a regular width, and E is for wide feet. The narrow in men’s shoes is a B (which is the normal width for women’s), which means a size 10B has limited depth in the toe box and more narrow from the left side to the right side compared to a size 10D.

What’s the Difference Between Narrow and Medium Width Shoes?

As previously mentioned, narrow and medium width shoes differ in length from the left to the right side and have less depth in the toe box. The exact difference (in inches) between narrow and medium width shoes is approximately 0.2 inches across from left to right.

How to Check if You Have a Narrow or Wide Feet?

The easiest ways are to look at your feet and determine its shape. If you’re still confused, then you can try fitting on normal width shoes. If they’re too snug, you probably have wide feet, but if the shoes leave wiggle room in the toe box, then you probably have narrow feet.

If these procedures are not enough, you can use a ruler to determine if you have narrow or wide feet. First, measure the widest part of your feet (both the left and the right) and take it down. Second, subtract one-eighth (1/8th) of an inch to the larger measurement and compare them with a sizing chart. The value of the difference is your foot width.

How to Choose the Best Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes for You

Selecting the best narrow men’s basketball shoes for you boils down to personal preference and circ*mstance. Granted, it helps to know the specific models that make shoes in a snugger fit than others as what the aim of this review is.

For the best narrow men’s basketball shoes for you, take into consideration the comfort level of each shoe and how much you’re willing to pay for them. Then more specific attributes such as traction, cushioning, design, etc., follow. Obviously, the bigger your budget is, the wider your options are, which gives you more things to work with.

Wrapping Things Up: The Best Narrow Men’s Basketball Shoes

Wrapping everything up, here are the best narrow men’s basketball shoes we went over today:

Having a basketball shoe that fits can’t be emphasized enough, that’s why we are endeavoring to review the best narrow men’s basketball shoes.

In our most recommended narrow men’s basketball shoes, the Nike PG3 made the grade in flying colors. It is likely to be on sale, so if you find a pair, you can probably cop one at a much lower price tag than its suggested retail price. If you also happen to come upon the previous PG models, those are also excellent narrow men’s basketball shoes. The more underrated narrow men’s basketball shoe, in our opinion, is the Under Armour HOVR Havoc Low. It has everything you’ll ever need out of a basketball shoe but doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Many have this bias against Under Armour’s performance basketball shoes, but we hope this shoe makes them reconsider.

Last but not least, the Nike Kobe Mamba Ragemakes the cut as the value pick. The same can also be said of its predecessor, the Kobe Mamba Instinct.Budget-wise, there is no narrow shoe that performs as well with interesting colorways to boot.

With these three on the list (with extensions on the line’s previous models), we are confident that we are giving you a balanced and information-rich basis on your decision about choosing the best narrow men’s basketball shoes. Every time you step into the basketball court, whatever shoe you choose from the lineup will give you the certainty that you need.

If you found this post helpful, you might also our other basketball gear reviews here.

Check our selection of some of the best basketball shoes here:

> Best Basketball Shoes for Big Men

> Best Extra Wide Basketball Shoes

> Best Basketball Shoes for Wide Feet

> Best Kobe Shoes

> Best Basketball Shoes