Are you doing all star or sideline? You would want very different shoes depending on what kind of surface you're using them on. What level tumbler are you? Are you a flyer?

Rebel shoes last the best imo, my daughter is a base and has had some ankle issues in the past but after switching to their renegade high tops she's been problem free!

I’ve had the nfinity fearless shoes for about 3 years now, I got them used from my coach after she found out I couldn’t afford shoes at the time. She had them before me for also about 3 years if not more, still work like a charm tho admittedly they look like they’ve survived a war… I never had any issues with them, tho now I got the Kaepa Seemless, the quality is great but I don’t really like the look, but Kaepa has different shoes that might be to your liking.

Before you go for new shoes, my daughter had an issue with that part of her foot, and it was because she wasn't stretching her feet enough.

Try a sports physio therapist before you shell out some $$$ for new shoes.

What position are you?

Cheerleading shoes. I recommend something that supports the ankles;

Nfinities or Rebel Athletics shoes. I use the Rebel evolution shoes and the Nfinity Beasts but those are more expensive than the regular Nfinity vengeance. You can't go wrong with anything from Nfinity, Varsity is a brand a lot of Hs cheerleaders use.

In short brands I recommend:

Varsity Nfinity Rebel Athletics

Idk if you tried out yet but regular tennis shoes are fine. I wouldn’t spend a ton of money on shoes because your team might have a specific pair of shoes they want you to have if you make the team.

Champion is another brand to check out

I wrote an article about a week ago listing the top 5 cheer shoes of 2023

Best Cheer Shoes of 2023

Hope that helps. Good luck at tryouts!

Nfinity shoes are my go to, my whole cheer team uses them. They're a bit dearer but definitely worth it.

I'm also amazed that your shoes lasted so long!!

11 YEARS? i've never heard of cheer shoes lasting that long. i like the nfinity flyte, they're really light weight and it's easy for your bases to get a good grip since the material is so thin.

as long as you take care of your nfinity's (don't wear them outside), they shouldn't break down really fast.

nfinity vengeance are my go-to

The adidas triple cheer shoes are great - I think they’re a good kid between something flexible like nfinities but they have more use outside of cheer, durable enough to wear to the gym

I have varsity Aeros, pretty lightweight, I like them.

check facebook marketplace! That’s where I got my backup pair of cheer shoes, and they were nowhere near as expensive as the retail price. 

hey doll!! if you don’t want to spend the full price please look on the groups on Facebook, people are always selling black cheer shoes for cheaper (unused & still in the box) Xx

I'd go to Omni cheer. They have a GK for $62 and a chasse for 45. Since you aren't tumbling, these should be totally fine.

I got a pair of Rebel shoes for my daughter off of poshmark for $25. They're out there! Just look around for lightly used shoes! The quality is worth it.

TriXstar shoes are an affordable option. They're an Australian brand that ship to multiple countries. They're quite long-lasting, and a lot of teams seem to be choosing them over the Night Flytes these days.

I wear the New Balance. They’re comfortable for standing and have synthetic uppers that wipe clean easily and can be polished in a snap. They’re not super stylish, but you’ll be working the bases, not a Paris runway. Any kind of cloth or mesh upper like the Allbirds have is going to get dusty the first time you do a game and you’ll never get them black again.

I wear Nike Metcons. I also work out and play pickleball in them. Comfy for me with a good amount of support.

I'd go with the NB. My current base shoes are the NB from 2 generations ago. I've called closer to 1,000 games in them, have never replaced the insoles. Legit the most comfortable pair of shoes I own (all shoes not just ump shoes).

Hokas.

Bottom of feet was the only thing not recovering after long weekends.

Hokas fixed that. A bit pricey but there’s a reason you see them everywhere. I’d pay another $100 for what they did for me.

Listen, im a 42 year old Dad so take my suggestions with a grain of salt because we Dads are required to sign a contract with them to promote it….

I will never not buy New Balance shoes again.

I liked ASICS as they fit better for my wide foot. And it had to be split sole.

Adidas and Nikes always ran narrow for me. Best you can do is order online from Amazon for easy returns to try different ones on. Went to Academy to get some for my son and they only had 2 different styles to pick from.

Durability - Matflex

Grip - Aggressor

Feel - EX-EO

Looks - Spartan Combat Yianni’s

Overall Performance - black Nike SpeedSweep, and here’s why: if you step onto the mat wearing those, you have already mentally broken your opponent. They’ve got you pegged as a complete psychopath who would rather be out there barefoot. Nothing they do can weaken you mentally since you’ve demonstrated that you have the temperament of a brick.

Correct Answer: you’re all idiots if you’re getting into heated arguments over shoes. I don’t understand the new focus on shoes amongst my wrestlers. They are basically a fashion accessory… they’re all basically the same when it comes to performance. I have over a dozen pairs that I’ve received for free. Some I like better than others, but when it comes down to whether or not they make any difference in a match the answer is absolutely not.

Go for Kivaj-KB22 if you are looking for something new, lightweight.

Anything from Nike, ASICS, or Adidas is more than good enough. It just comes down to personal preference and fit after that. I personally prefer Adidas because I like the feel and the look, and they run killer sales from time to time. Just on looks though, I think the ASICS neon yellow split elite is on top right now, followed by a well done Ex-Eo colorway.

Anything from the wrestling only brands is going to be over priced and lacking in quality assurance/control.

I have a whole team of flyers. But we are a public Title 1 middle school. Sometimes you just get what you get.

It’s good if people know how to stunt in multiple positions and don’t build their identity at cheer on being in a single position. Teams are always a puzzle piece depending on the athletes you get that year so IMO it’s better to get the athletes used to stunting in multiple positions early on so they become adaptable and well rounded for the future. If athletes know what the other positions are doing it’s also easier to work together and save stunts.

You can always simplify the stunt until the girl you’re having learn a new position gets comfortable in that position. Or is there anyway the girls on your team know someone who might be interested in joining the team?

If the girl that’s currently a backspot can’t make it work as a main base, you can always go down to 3 groups for performances. You could also see if you can get more groups by doing two-base stunts or if you have 4 girls left over see if you can have two shoulder sits instead of one stunt and then you’d have 3 stunts and 2 shoulder sits. Otherwise they can also do choreo with poms if you’re a sideline team or dance/tumble if you’re a competitive team while the 3 stunt groups stunt.

If you can stomach the price, the Tatiana knee pads are the slippy-slidiest ones I’ve ever tried - and I’ve heard similar from others who have tried them.

Otherwise I find Queen to be a good balance of slidey but also stable when needed.

I like Queen kneepads too.

You can also try wearing leg warmers over the knee pads, always looks nice and slides. I like the pole tribe ones on Amazon

How are BeesKnees?

I like my queen grippy kneepads! it slides well on the floor and you can also do leg holds with it

Fission 9 has a super durable outsole

I played a lot with the Fission 9 outdoors. I am a center, 6'8" and 220lbs. I dont get why people say the shoe has minimal cushioning. It was more than enough for me. Its not low to the ground either, and the traction is still solid with dust.

Overall Performance: wxy v5 Longevity (how long the performance will be on top shape): fission Durabilty: fission Comfort: wxy v5

The Fission 9 are going to last much, much longer, both the uppers and the sole are more durable, its a huge difference for the uppers. My Fission 9 have some marks now after over a year of outdoor use. My WXY have marks after a couple months of INDOOR use. Still great shoes.

Just keep in mind that the Fission 9 are a bit Higher to the ground than the WXY. But they have insane grip.

Wade fission