Franklin ACV Pro Pickleball Shoes – my new favorite court footwear

Franklin has been a household brand in American sports since they created the first-ever baseball batting glove in 1984. They were also one of the first big sports brands to see the value in pickleball, launching paddles in 2017.

They still make paddles and great pickleball bags, but they’re most known in the sport for their X-40 ball, which has long been one of the most popular and best pickleball balls.

I got my hands on Franklin’s first pickleball shoe – the ACV Pro – and it did not disappoint. This is no rebranded tennis shoe – these were built specifically for pickleball play. Franklin enlisted the former head of design and creative director of Converse and Reebok, Bryan Cioffi, to create the ACV Pros.

Right out of the box, you can tell a lot of work went into these shoes. The craftsmanship and design are pure Franklin – no frills, nothing flashy, just well-built and superior-feeling footwear. The soles especially stand out as high quality, with intense grip.

Once I put them on my feet, I knew I was in for some great pickleball. If you value traction, comfort, durability, and breathability, and you don’t want to spend over $150, this is what you’ve been waiting for.

These are my new favorite court shoes for a few reasons. I’m going to start with the thing you’ll notice first: they’re really lightweight yet strong and durable. The design is on point.

After playing heavy sessions in them, the next thing I noticed was that my feet have never been drier when playing pickleball. They cracked the code on breathability. The upper mesh is light and airy, and there’s even a vent in the insole and sole of the shoe itself to let air in.

They’ve balanced that light and breathable feel with great stability. These shoes lock your foot into place so there’s no sliding around. The shoes come up to the perfect height on your ankle so your ankles feel supported but they also don't ride up too high to rub and irritate the back of your leg.

They have a serious grip on the court, so when you need to take off for a shorter shot, you do not lack traction. This improved my game as it made me so much faster to react. They’re also not heavy and so you do not feel bogged down. I feel light on the court with these.

At just $130, the Franklin AVC Pros are a win. They’re $30 cheaper than the SQAIRZ XRZ, the only other pickleball-specific shoe I’ve seen. This is an easy recommend for all players, no matter your level. For me, these are the shoes of the year.

If you’ve been playing in tennis shoes, you’ll love the different feel of a pickleball shoe. Franklin put in a lot of tech based on the specifics of pickleball play.

There’s a wider toe box to allow your metatarsals to spread naturally. The flex grooves at the forefoot and the “multi-directional deep groove” herringbone tread pattern on the sole allow you to pivot and change direction quickly, protecting your foot over repeated lateral movements.

Franklin’s Aero-Step insert has a built-in air vent, as does the sole of the shoe, to keep air flowing throughout. I felt this big time as my feet barely ever sweat when I wear them.

The toe is reinforced with the same herringbone-tread rubber as the sole for extra protection when dragged against the court. There’s extra padding in the heel and a molded sock liner to cushion your foot. There’s also a “lace-to-strobel webbing system” that works to lock your foot in place, like a wrap or tie around your foot, and I definitely felt this. It gave my foot more security and stability when I played.

These are purposely made with a roomier feel to allow your foot more room to move and breathe. It’s recommended to order a half-size down from what you normally wear for a better fit.

These are comfortable shoes. They’re roomy yet they hold your feet tight. The only reason it’s not a 10 is the thinner insert which doesn’t support your arch as much as some people might need, though you can always add your own insert.

Franklin has cracked the code when it comes to sweaty feet. My feet are able to breathe better in these than any other shoe I’ve played pickleball in. They’re simply amazing. I ended up with little to no sweat, even after hours-long, intense sessions.

Around the ankles the support is incredible. I’m just docking it one point due to the arch support I mentioned above (the insole is a bit thin).

There’s no drag with these lightweight shoes. You can move as quickly as you like, with great strength and flexibility in the sole and toe to keep you agile.

The shoe all around is made from very durable materials with lots of reinforcements. So far I haven’t seen any wear and I think these are going to last a long time.

This is a no brainer. At $130, these are some of the best-value pickleball shoes on the market right now. You’re getting a premium shoe made just for pickleball players, designed by sports footwear experts, and built to last a long time, at a cheaper price than most of its competitors. Trust me, you won’t regret getting these.