It might be tempting to grab an old pair of basketball shoes you already have to help save you a bit of money before going to any CrossFit training. However, this isn’t a good idea. Basketball shoes might sound like the movements in the game are comparable to CrossFit, but they don’t give you the coverage, support, and balance you need. Basketball shoes are made to be heavier and bulkier, and many are high-tops, which won’t give you the flexibility you’ll need to move well during CrossFit. You won’t find basketball shoes nearly as comfortable if you use them to do CrossFit in, and you might wind up injuring yourself because they restrict your movement.
In comparison, good CrossFit shoes will give you a nice, flat sole and allow your foot to move evenly over the floor, balancing you out and supporting you during heavy lists. Basketball shoes do not have flat soles, and that’s going to cause a problem for effective movement in CrossFit. Even though basketball shoes do cushion you when you jump, they won’t work well to balance you out or support you through all the elements and movements required in CrossFit, so it’s better to stay away from them and purchase a decent pair of CrossFit shoes.