The Best Basketball Referee Shoes

The best basketball referee shoes for you depends on what you want in an on-court referee shoe. Pick which comment sounds most like you, and we'll tell you which are the best. See where the NEW Smitty Court Maxx 1 and New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 land in the ranks.

"Comfort is Most Important to Me"

The top basketball referee shoes combining comfort and weight are:

1. New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080
   
2. Ascis GT-1000 11
   

3. Smitty Court Maxx 1
   

"A Professional Look is a Must for Me."

If a professional look is about either all-black shoes and/or having traditional patent leather, both 3n2 styles, cover those 2 criteria. If you don't like patent leather, Smitty looks most like a traditional basketball referee shoe. The leather is a rich black with a white S on the heel. Shoes with mesh, Asics and New Balance won't have the darker black.

The top professional looking basketball referee shoes are:

1. 3n2 Patent Leather
   
2. Smitty Court Maxx 1 (#1 if you don't like patent leather)
   
   

3. Asics GT-1000 11
   

"I Have a Wider Foot. Most Officiating Shoes are Too Narrow for Me."

Fortunately, you have options. 3n2 Reaction Patent Leathers have 2E (wide) options. Smitty's Basketball Referee Shoe has a "friendly" D width. I am between a D and 2E shoes, so narrow D's don't work for me. The Smitty shoe fit me best.

The top basketball referee shoes for wider feet are:

1. 3n2 Patent Leather (D and 2E width options)
   
   
2. Smitty Court Maxx 1 (Friendly D)
   
3. New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 (Typical non-narrow NB sizing with mesh that stretches)
   

"I HAVE SMALL FEET. MOST REFEREE SHOES AVAILABLE DON'T FIT ME."

3n2 Reaction Patent Leather are the only shoes available in size 6-7.5 (men's) or 7.5-9 (women's).

"The Shoes I want should Last Multiple Seasons. I Don't Like Getting a New Pair Each Season."

The hands-down winner here are the Smitty basketball referee shoes. All the features, from the midsole down to the sole are extremely durable and made out of quality materials - including genuine leather.

The Top Basketball Referee Shoes in Durability are:

1. Smitty Court Maxx 1
   
2. New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080
   
3. Ascis GT-1000 11
   

Summary

So, which are the best basketball referee shoes? Only the 3n2 and Smitty brands are made specifically for basketball referees.

If you must have a specific quality, you have your best choice basketball referee choice above. If you are looking for the best all-around, it is the Smitty Court Maxx 1.