HI-TEC Mens Squash Shoes Review: Old-school indoor trainers that still get the job done

I’ve been using these HI-TEC Men’s Squash Shoes (size 10 UK, white) for a few weeks now, mainly for indoor badminton and a bit of casual squash. I went for them because I wanted something simple, cheap enough, and with that classic gum sole you don’t have to worry about on indoor courts. No fancy tech, just something that grips and doesn’t wreck my feet after an hour.

First thing: these are very much an old-school design. Flat sole, basic leather/suede upper, no big air bubbles or weird plastic bits sticking out. If you’re used to modern running shoes with loads of cushioning and arch support, you’ll immediately feel the difference. On court though, that flat profile actually makes sense. You’re closer to the ground, you can stop and change direction without feeling like you’re rolling over the edge of the shoe.

In real use, they feel like what they are: simple indoor sports shoes that focus on grip and stability, not comfort over long distances. After about 90 minutes of badminton, my feet feel worked but not wrecked. I wouldn’t go walking around town in them all day, but for a session on court they’re fine. The weight is reasonable too – light enough that you don’t really think about them once you’re playing.

They’re not perfect. There’s not much arch support, the style is very plain 80s gym vibe, and the materials feel more “solid budget” than premium. But for the price, and given how many people still buy them, I get why they’re popular. If you just want a no-nonsense indoor shoe that grips well and doesn’t cost a fortune, these are worth a look. If you want super plush cushioning or trendy looks, you’ll probably be disappointed.

For me, the biggest argument in favor of these HI-TEC squash shoes is value. You’re not paying premium-brand prices, but you still get a shoe that’s properly designed for indoor court sports and has been around for decades. That long history doesn’t automatically mean they’re perfect, but it does suggest they’ve hit a sweet spot that works for a lot of people. The Amazon rating (around 4.5/5 with thousands of reviews) lines up with my experience: not flawless, but very solid for the money.

Compared to more modern indoor shoes from big brands, you usually pay noticeably more for extra tech: gel, air, fancy foams, side supports, etc. If you’re a competitive player training several times a week, that might be worth it. But if you’re like me – playing squash or badminton once or twice a week, maybe using them in the gym occasionally – these HI-TECs get the job done without draining your wallet. You get decent grip, reasonable comfort, and acceptable durability at a price that feels fair.

The main compromises for the price are clear: basic arch support, plain looks, and materials that are good but not premium. Also, the slight mismatch between the advertised “all leather/suede” and the actual mix with synthetics is a bit annoying. But when I look at what I paid and what I’m getting out of them each week, I’m not complaining. They behave like a tool: you put them on, they work, you don’t baby them.

If you’re tight on budget or just don’t want to overspend on shoes for a hobby sport, these are a pretty solid deal. If you already have foot issues, need strong arch support, or want something you can also wear casually because it looks cool, you might be better off saving up for a more advanced model. For straightforward indoor sports use, though, I think the price-to-performance ratio is hard to argue with.

Design-wise, these HI-TEC squash shoes are very simple: low-top, flat sole, mostly white with a gum outsole. If you remember old PE shoes from school, that’s the general look. There’s no flashy logo placement, no bright colors, no modern styling. You either like that retro, plain look, or you find it boring. Personally, for indoor sports, I don’t need them to look cool, but I definitely wouldn’t wear them as casual street shoes – they scream “sports hall” more than “everyday trainer”.

The shape is fairly roomy in the forefoot. I have slightly wide feet and there was enough space around the toes without feeling sloppy. People with very narrow feet might find they need to lace them a bit tighter, but for average to wide feet, the fit is pretty forgiving. The heel is held in place by a TPU heel counter, which you don’t really see but you feel it – the heel area feels stable and doesn’t collapse when you plant your foot hard.

Functionally, the flat sole and low profile are the main design points for squash and badminton. Unlike running shoes, there’s no big heel lift or curved rocker. On court, that helps a lot with side-to-side movements and sudden stops. You feel stable, and your foot doesn’t tilt as much when you push off in weird angles. The downside is that walking on hard floors for a long time can feel a bit harsh compared to modern cushioned trainers – but that’s the trade-off for better court feel.

One thing I did notice is that the upper doesn’t have much structure on the sides. It flexes easily, which is comfortable, but if you really hammer your shoes with aggressive lunges and side pushes, you might feel your foot pushing against the upper a bit. Nothing extreme, but compared to more modern indoor shoes with more side support, you can feel the difference. In short: design is classic, functional, and a bit dated, but it still does the job if you care more about performance than style.

On the comfort side, these are decent but nothing special. If you’re coming from running shoes with thick midsoles and strong arch support, these will feel flatter and a bit more basic. The cushioning from the EVA midsole is enough to absorb the impact of jumps and lunges on an indoor court, but you definitely feel more of the floor than in a heavy cushioned trainer. For squash or badminton, that’s actually a plus – you feel more stable and connected to the ground.

The main weak point is arch support. The sole is pretty flat and there’s no built-in support structure. I have neutral to slightly flat feet, and after about 90 minutes of play, I can feel a bit of fatigue in the arches. Not real pain, but enough that I wouldn’t want to walk around in these for half a day. One of the Amazon reviewers said the same thing: comfortable overall but lacking arch support. If you already use orthotics or sport insoles, you’ll probably want to drop them in here. There’s enough room to do that without making the shoe too tight.

The fit in size 10 felt true to size for me. I usually wear 10 UK in most trainers, and these matched that. Some people go half a size up for sports shoes, especially if they use thick socks. The toebox is roomy enough that my toes never hit the front when lunging. Heel hold is good thanks to the TPU heel counter; I didn’t get any heel slip. First session, I had a tiny bit of rubbing on the side of one foot, but that went away after the second use – nothing like a brutal break-in, more like the shoe just settling to my foot.

Breathability is okay but not great. The mesh helps, but with leather and suede panels and a fairly closed design, your feet will get warm during a long session. I didn’t get blisters or soggy socks, but I wouldn’t call them super airy. In short: comfortable enough for what they’re made for – short, intense indoor sessions. If you want plush comfort and support for long walks or standing all day, this is not the right shoe. For squash, badminton, or other indoor sports a couple of times a week, they’re fine, especially if you add a better insole.

The shoes use a mix of leather, suede, mesh, and some synthetic bits. The product page says leather outer material and suede top with nylon mesh panels. In hand, that matches what I felt: leather/suede around the main upper areas and mesh panels on the sides and tongue for breathability. The mesh is fairly open, so you do get some air movement, which is handy on hot indoor courts. It’s not high-end mesh, but it doesn’t feel like it will rip instantly either.

The midsole is EVA, which is standard for this type of shoe. It’s not super soft like some running shoes, but it gives enough cushioning for jumps, lunges, and general indoor play. You can feel that the focus is more on stability than on squishy comfort. The insole is textile-covered with EVA underneath; again, very basic but functional. If you want more support, you can easily swap it for an aftermarket insole – there’s enough volume inside the shoe to do that.

The outsole is gum rubber, which is pretty much what you want for indoor courts. It gives decent grip without marking the floor. The rubber here feels on the softer side, which is good for traction but means it will wear if you use them outside on rough surfaces. I’ve only used them indoors, and after a few weeks they’re holding up well – no chunks missing, just light smoothing where I pivot a lot.

Overall, the materials feel like good budget-level stuff. Not premium, not trash either. Stitching is clean, no glue stains everywhere, and nothing felt loose out of the box. There are some synthetic overlays that pretend to be leather, which is where some reviewers got annoyed because the listing suggests all leather/suede. For me, as long as it holds up and breathes okay, I don’t really care if a panel is PU instead of real leather, but I get why some people feel misled. In terms of pure function, the material mix is fine for regular indoor sports use.

Durability-wise, these shoes feel sturdy enough for regular indoor use, especially considering the price bracket. The upper has enough stitching and reinforcement in the main stress areas, like around the toe and sides where you drag your foot during lunges. After a few weeks of 2–3 sessions per week, I don’t see any separation between the upper and the sole, and no obvious fraying in the mesh panels.

The gum rubber outsole is the part I was most curious about. So far, wear is reasonable: some smoothing where I pivot and push off hardest, but no deep cuts or missing chunks. If you use them only on proper indoor courts, I’d expect them to last a good season or more for a casual player, possibly longer if you’re not playing at a very high intensity. If you start using them outside on rough surfaces, that life expectancy will drop fast – gum rubber just isn’t made for that.

The leather/suede parts of the upper are holding their shape well. They crease a bit, as expected, but they don’t feel like they’re going to crack anytime soon. The mesh areas are the potential weak point long-term, but they’re not super thin, so I’m not too worried unless you constantly drag your foot. One reviewer mentioned using them around the house and garden as well as for badminton, and they still held up, which is a good sign for casual users.

HI-TEC lists a 1-year manufacturer warranty, which is pretty standard. For a shoe that costs what these do, that’s acceptable. I wouldn’t expect them to look fresh after a year of heavy play, but I do expect them to stay functional and not fall apart. Overall, I’d call the durability good value for money: not indestructible, but definitely not flimsy. Treat them as indoor sports tools, not everyday beaters, and they should last long enough to justify the purchase.

On court, these HI-TEC squash shoes do the main job: they grip well and feel stable. The gum rubber outsole gives you enough traction to push off hard and stop quickly without sliding all over the place. At the same time, it’s not so sticky that your foot gets “stuck” and twists awkwardly – that’s something I’ve had with some ultra-grippy indoor shoes. Here, the balance feels right: controlled movements without feeling glued to the floor.

The flat sole and moderate cushioning make direction changes pretty easy. In badminton, I do a lot of quick side steps and lunges, and I never felt like the shoe was working against me. No weird rolling at the edges, no wobbly feeling when landing on one foot. For squash, the same story: you can move forward, back, and sideways quickly without thinking about your shoes. One Amazon reviewer even mentioned using them for fencing, which makes sense: sports with a lot of lunging seem to fit this shoe’s profile well.

In terms of support, it’s more about stability than structure. The TPU heel counter keeps the rear foot locked in nicely, so when you plant your heel hard, it doesn’t collapse or twist. The midfoot doesn’t have torsion bars or fancy tech, but the sole is stiff enough that it doesn’t bend in weird places. The trade-off is that you don’t get that guided motion feel some modern shoes give you, but for squash and badminton that’s not really needed and can even get in the way.

One limitation: these are clearly indoor-only shoes. The outsole is not built for outdoor use, and if you start wearing them on concrete or tarmac, you’ll chew through the gum sole pretty quickly. Also, they don’t have water resistance, so don’t even think about using them in wet conditions. But used within their intended environment – indoor courts, gyms, sports halls – the performance is pretty solid for the price. They’re not high-tech, but they’re reliable, and after a few sessions you forget you’re wearing them, which is basically what you want.

Out of the box, the presentation is pretty basic. Plain shoe box, no fancy extras, just the pair of shoes wrapped in paper. No spare laces, no bag, nothing. Honestly, that’s fine for the price range, but if you’re used to premium brands, it feels a bit bare-bones. The product listing talks about “HI-TEC SQUASH SHOES – SIZE 10” and that’s literally what you get: a very straightforward pair of white indoor trainers.

One thing to flag: there’s a bit of confusion between what’s advertised and what you sometimes receive. Some reviews mention expecting full leather/suede uppers but getting a mix of suede and PU (synthetic) panels. Mine clearly had leather and suede with mesh, but some parts definitely felt synthetic. For me, not a big deal, but if you’re very picky about “all leather”, this mismatch could annoy you. It’s something HI-TEC or the retailers should clean up in the description because it feels a bit sloppy.

Inside, you get a textile insole with EVA cushioning, nothing fancy but good enough. The insole is not super thick, and it’s clearly aimed at giving a bit of shock absorption without raising you too high off the ground. The lining is basic “cold lining” textile – no insulation, no special moisture-wicking claims, just standard fabric. Works fine, but your socks will do most of the sweat management work.

Overall, the presentation fits the price: functional and no-frills. If you like that kind of straightforward product where all the budget seems to have gone into the sole and the basic build instead of packaging and marketing, you’ll be fine with it. If you enjoy unboxing experiences and premium feel, this will feel pretty cheap and old-fashioned. Personally, for a pair of indoor sports shoes I’m going to beat up on court, I don’t really care, but it’s good to set expectations.