Tai Chi Shoes - What Is Best to Wear for Practice?

Unlike a lot of martial arts, Tai Chi, one of the many forms of Kung Fu, is typically practiced with shoes. So what are the best shoes for Tai Chi?

As a general rule, some of the best shoes for Tai Chi are rubber sole Kung Fu Tai Chi shoes, Osdream canvas Kung Fu shoes, traditional Beijing cloth shoes, and Dogeek Kung Fu shoes.

Don’t worry – Below, I go into a lot more detail on those with direct links to Amazon, so you can see the current prices.

Since the right shoes will positively impact your enjoyment of Tai Chi, in this article, we’ll find out what to look for in selecting shoes for Tai Chi practice. But we’ll also look at which shoes are the best and where to buy them.

And we’ll explore whether you need to wear socks with the shoes and if you can practice barefoot.

Let the fun begin.

Join us today at 2.30pm for Tai Chi in Shefford Community Hall. There’s no need to book, just turn up wearing flat soled shoes and loose, comfortable clothing. pic.twitter.com/dzVpjrHBdh

— Ian Deavin (@sheffordtaichi) December 5, 2022

What kind of shoes do you need for Tai Chi?

Now, your favorite sports shoes or athletic shoes may serve for a few days of Tai Chi class, but they are not ideal. You may wonder, what’s the big deal in getting the right footwear?

The fact is that next to comfortable clothing, choosing the right pair of shoes affects how well you’ll perform and the wrong shoe could cause you injury.

You need the kind of shoes that are comfortable, lightweight, flat-soled, and flexible so that your movements are almost effortless. You need shoes that will serve you for a long time. Because of how Tai Chi is sometimes trained, getting outdoor shoes that are also good for indoor training is ideal.

The first things we will look at are the key criteria for choosing the best shoes for you.

1. Flexible and Strong

Tai Chi involves a lot of footwork, precise moves, and coordination. You want flat shoes made with flexible material so that you can easily move and pivot, yet strong enough that you have a good grip and can easily maintain your balance. Its flatness makes for better contact with the floor.

2. The Sole of the Shoe

You want a shoe with a flat sole and enough space so that you can easily move even if you have wide feet. Avoid shoes with raised heels. Tai Chi shoes have soles that can be made of cotton, rubber, or hard plastic.

Rubber soles provide the best flexibility and adjustability. They support you when you have to exert more pressure on your forefoot and even when you have to execute a ‘turn and heel kick’. Rubber soles are ideal for outdoor classes.

A shoe that has a cotton sole would be great if you practice on a wooden floor or carpet. They are very comfortable. Hard plastic soles do not offer adequate grip. You want a shoe with a thin sole as this impacts the weight and the level of contact with the floor.

3. Breathability

Ideally, you want shoes made with breathable material that keeps the heat out. This way, you experience a great level of comfort as you practice. The last thing you need is for your feet to be sweating so much that you can’t concentrate on your practice.

Now, there are canvas and leather shoes that keep the heat out. But the leather variants often cost a pretty penny because extra steps have to be taken to make them breathable.

4. Weight

A lightweight shoe makes it a breeze for you to move and pivot as you like. Heavy shoes are never ideal for martial arts. And it goes without saying that you want shoes with a comfortable fit.

Best Tai Chi shoes by price range

The price range for these shoes is highly reasonable, $18 to $49, as of the time of writing. By the way, you can also use these shoes for Qi gong and other martial arts.

Let’s check them out.

Leather Tai Chi Shoes

This pair of soft leather shoes is fashionable footwear that is breathable and comfy.

It’s a tad pricey compared to canvas, but it is worth the price. Its rubber sole is specially designed for a better grip. It’s listed as “men’s” but will work equally well for men and women’s sizes. You can get it in black, white, and red.