Shoes That Make You Jump High

Every year new athletic footwear geared to make you jump higher appears in stores, attracting teenagers with dreams of playing basketball for the NBA. Some, like the Jumpsoles, you slip right over your athletic shoes, while others are like any standard high-top basketball shoes but with built-in springs in the sole. To get the most out of any model, you must also engage in a fitness program specially designed to improve your jump height.

  1. Jumpsoles

    • Jumpsoles, also known as platform shoes, are an old classic, which, used correctly, will make you jump higher. Because this slip-on shoe has thick padding under the front of your foot but not under the heel, it will ensure that you stay on the balls of your feet for as long as you wear them. The padding, which can be up to 3 inches thick, forces you to use your calf muscles more, thus giving them a better workout. In order to jump high, you must have strong, agile calf muscles and Achilles' tendons. Other reasons Jumpsoles will make you jump higher include the extra weight they add to your feet, further strengthening the muscles and bones in your lower legs, and the balancing act they force you to participate in while wearing them. Use Jumpsoles only when doing jump exercises and never while playing actual basketball games.

    Concept 1s

    • A company called Athletic Propulsion Labs makes the new Concept 1 basketball shoes, which costs $300 as of September, 2010. APL promises that athletes wearing the shoe will increase their vertical leap by up to 3 1/2 inches because of the embedded springlike "Load n' Launch" gizmo in the forefoot. No scientific data supports these claims. Sports Illustrated writer Chris Ballard recruited three basketball players at the Berkeley YMCA to try out the shoes with him and found that they "sort of" work. "If your only goal is to get about an inch higher on your dunk attempts, and you've got $300 to burn, then these shoes are worth a try," reports Ballard. At the very least, they will get your leg workouts jump-started -- literally.

    Top Standard Shoes

    • While Jumpsoles and expensive new brands may help you jump higher, focusing on strengthening your entire lower body and doing jumping drills will have the biggest effect on your jump height. Purchase a good pair of standard basketball shoes to use while doing drills and while playing basketball games. Air Jordans and Reebok's The Question ranked the highest to help you jump higher in basketball, according to the website iDigiBuzz.