High top boxing boots
High top boxing boots: 15 models, EU 35 to 46, upper to the calf
The essentials: 15 high top boxing boots, long lacing running up to the lower calf. Three sole families — gum, light-coloured and black rubber — all flat and lug-free. Solid colours, gradients, cracked prints, holographic stripes. EU 35 to 46 (about US men's 4 to 12.5), half sizes on two models. Free standard shipping.
🥊 Three rubbers, three uses
On a boxing boot the sole decides everything: it is flat, thin and lug-free in every case, and it is the rubber compound that changes how the shoe behaves on the floor.
| Rubber | What it gives you | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Gum | Natural rubber, low in carbon black: more grip on ring canvas, tatami and hardwood | Red and blue, black, red |
| Light | Leaves no dark streak on sealed hardwood or light flooring | Black and red, red and white, fluorescent |
| Black | Carbon-loaded: the highest abrasion resistance | Patent, gold, multicolour and the cracked prints |
📏 What « high top » actually means
The market splits upper height three ways: low at the ankle bone, mid a few centimetres above it, high up to the lower calf. This collection holds the third.
In practice the upper wraps the joint over its whole height and limits lateral range. The foot is held, the pivot still works because the sole is smooth, and the lacing runs eight to twelve pairs of eyelets depending on the model. The honest trade-off: putting them on takes around thirty seconds longer than a low cut.
For an ankle free to rotate, see the low tops; for the middle ground, the mid tops, one of which states its upper height at 18 cm.
👟 The 15 models
Solid colours. Black with a suede toe, red with white stripes, full neon green, red in a textured fabric, golden yellow.
Two or three colours. Red-and-blue or black-and-white gradient, canvas in three colourways, red and white with metallic panels, metallic gold with black mesh, canvas with three diagonal stripes in four colourways.
Prints. Patent panels in three colourways, holographic stripes that shift colour with the angle, and the multicolour cracked family: on black, on red, on orange.
🥋 Savate French boxing: what the rules say
Savate is the only striking sport where the shoe is compulsory, and the only one where it is regulated. Article 13.3.3 of the FFSBFDA refereeing rules covers footwear: smooth sole with rounded edges, so it cannot cut on a high kick, and laces protected or taped in competition. The high top is the norm in the discipline, precisely because it takes the impact on the ankle bone during low sweeping kicks.
Every sole in this collection is smooth and lug-free. For an official bout, federation approval still has to be checked with your club: it applies to one named model, not to a category.
In English boxing no height requirement is imposed. In kickboxing and K-1 the boot is the norm in training but rarely worn in the bout. In MMA, fighters compete barefoot.
🔗 Lacing a high top in three zones
A row of ten pairs of eyelets is not tightened in one pull. Pulled evenly, the lace puts all the tension on the instep and leaves the ankle floating. The method that works has three stages:
- Forefoot — light tension; the toes have to be able to spread on the push-off.
- Instep — firm tension; this is the zone that stops the foot sliding forward when you brake. Lock it with a half knot before going on.
- Upper shaft — medium tension, set by how your ankle feels. Lock with a second half knot.
Two intermediate half knots are enough to keep three separate settings on one pair.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between high top and mid top boxing shoes?
Upper height. A high top runs to the lower calf, wraps the ankle over its whole height and carries eight to twelve pairs of eyelets. A mid top clears the ankle bone by a few centimetres and leaves the Achilles tendon free. Low tops stop at the joint.
What size boxing shoes should I get?
Measure your foot in centimetres, standing, in the evening, heel against a wall. A 26 cm foot is an EU 41, around a US men's 8.5; a 28 cm foot is an EU 44, around a US men's 11. The full EU / US / UK size chart is published on the low top page. This collection runs EU 35 to 46.
Do high top boxing boots prevent ankle sprains?
They limit the ankle's lateral range, which lowers the risk of twisting on a badly started pivot. They do not replace strength work: an ankle that is held all the time asks less of its own stabilisers. The two go together.
Which shoes for savate French boxing?
The high top is the standard in the discipline. Article 13.3.3 of the FFSBFDA refereeing rules calls for a smooth sole with rounded edges and laces protected or taped in competition, since the foot strikes to the head. For an official bout, federation approval applies to one named model and is checked with your club.
Why do some boxing shoes have gum soles?
Because the rubber is natural and low in carbon black, so it keeps its original amber colour. That compound grips ring canvas, tatami and hardwood better than black rubber, which is compounded first for wear. Three models in the collection use it.
How much do boxing shoes weigh?
The market sits between 250 and 450 g (9 to 16 oz) per shoe across all heights, with 300 to 380 g the common range in training. A high top sits at the upper end of that band: the extra material above the ankle weighs something.
How do you lace high top boxing boots?
In three zones, with a locking half knot between each: light on the forefoot, firm on the instep, medium on the upper shaft depending on your ankle. A lace pulled evenly from end to end concentrates the tension in the middle and leaves the ankle floating.
How do you clean boxing shoes?
A damp cloth over upper and sole after every session, laces washed separately by hand, air-drying. Never on a radiator: direct heat stiffens the construction adhesives. Suede toes are brushed dry; printed uppers are cleaned without solvent or a stiff brush.
To go further, the complete boxing shoe guide covers the choice by discipline, from English boxing to savate and MMA.
🥊 The Esprit Boxe world
Shoes finish the kit. The rest is here: boxing gloves, hand wraps, mouthguards, shorts, t-shirts and headgear. For footwork at home: skipping ropes, punching bags and mats.