Best Shoes For Competitive Shooting

All of the shooting sports in which I compete involve dynamic movement.  USPSA, 3-Gun, and even Steel Challenge (the stage Outer Limits) require competitors to be quick on their feet to be competitive.  So it stands to reason that some thought should be put into selecting shoes that will not only optimize performance but also enhance safety while playing our favorite shooting sports.

When selecting shoes for competitive shooting, the key capability to look for is a shoe that gives you good stability and “bite” on a variety of surfaces – wet grass, gravel, loose dirt, mud, and perhaps even snow (I live in Ohio…#thestruggleisreal).  Of course, you don’t want to sacrifice mobility for the sake of stability.  Neither do you want to sacrifice comfort or even aesthetic/style.  What to choose?

There are several brands of shoes which are worthy of consideration.  But I have direct experience with two brands which make models which I’ve found to be ideal for competitive shooting – Salomon and Boombah.

SALOMON SPEEDCROSS

One of the more popular and perhaps premium-priced options is the Salomon Speedcross line of shoes which has been used by practical/action shooters for several years.  Currently, Salomon has both the Speedcross 4 and Speedcross 5 lines, with several style variant models of each.  Functionally speaking, I don’t see a significant difference between the Speedcross 4 and the newer Speedcross 5 line – they seem to offer a very similar tread pattern and depth, as well as the nifty Salomon Quicklace® system.  They also come in at the same retail price of $130.00, so it’s largely a question of color and style differences between the models within these lines.  Ultimately, it’s the tread you’re looking for in these shoes:

This year I opted for the $160.00 Spreedcross 4 GTX which have all the benefits fo the Speedcross 4 line, with the added feature of GORE-TEX® to make them waterproof.  I highly recommend you have at least one pair of waterproof shoes – particular if you’re going to a major match.  Shooting with soaked shoes is no fun.

These shoes are super light-weight, very durable (I normally get two years out of a pair), and all-day comfortable.  They are pricey – but based on their features and their durability I don’t mind paying the price.  And those fancy laces they have sure are nice – they’re actually made of Kevlar so they’re extremely durable (I’ve never broken the laces) and they don’t ever come untied or loosen.

BOOMBAH

Another brand to consider that is growing in popularity is Boombah and their Hellcat line of shoes (sold directly by Boombah on their website).  They offer a tread pattern and depth nearly identical to Salomon’s Speedcross shoes but are half the price.  They also come in some neat colors and patterns, like the below pair that have a patriotic US Flag theme:

They only offer traditional laces, but they are hard to beat for the price.  They also don’t seem to offer any models made with GORE-TEX®for waterproofness.  But for the price, you can always buy a 2nd pair as a back up for a major match in case one pair gets soaked.  I picked up a couple of pairs because…why not for the price?  I’ve been extremely impressed with them.  Boombah is US based (the shoes are manufactured in the Dominican Republic) and seem to be just as durable and comfortable as shoes from Salomon.

There are of course other brands of shoes which manufacture models worthy of consideration in the practical shooting sports – these are but two examples I have personal experience using.  Reading online reviews/threads will yield conflicting reports.  Some, for example, will report Salomon Speedcross shoes to be uncomfortable and not long-lasting, while others will report just the opposite.  The right shoe for YOUR foot can be a tricky thing to find – you may have to kiss a few frogs before you find your Price.