Best cheap handball shoes of 2026: real quality for under €80
You don't need to spend €150 to play well. These are the handball shoes that have surprised me most under €80 in 2026: analysed, tested and filtered by value for money.
This article contains affiliate links; if you buy through them, Liftados may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The first thing I tell any player who starts training with me is this: the shoe is the most important equipment you have. Not the ball, not the kit, not the wrist protection. The shoe. And for many years I have repeated that same thing while watching players who spent €12 on generic supermarket sports shoes and then wondered why their ankle hurt halfway through the week.
The good news is that in 2026 you don't need to spend €150 to have real-quality handball shoes. The market has evolved, brands have democratised part of their technology, and there are still options under €80 that I would recommend without hesitation to a beginner or intermediate player. The important thing here is one thing: this guide is updated as of 24 June 2026. If a model has gone out of price range, it leaves the list. If it is still within range and keeps its level, it stays.
Updated today
I have reviewed this guide with live prices from the Liftados catalogue.
That means only shoes that are genuinely still under €80 today appear here. If you are looking for a recommendation more tailored to your position, you also have the Liftados recommender and the full catalogue with updated prices.
Direct verdict: The best cheap handball shoe in 2026 is the Puma Eliminate Nitro 4 at €78 — premium-range NITRO technology at an entry-level price. If your budget doesn't reach €80, the Asics Gel-Rocket 12 at €69 is the most reliable alternative for any position.
Note on sizes and prices: The prices shown in this guide are the starting price in standard sizes. It is common for large sizes (46+) or very small ones to have limited availability or a different price. Click on each model's page to see the updated price for your size.
Quick comparison: the best cheap handball shoes in 2026
The best handball shoe under €80: Puma Eliminate Nitro 4
If I can give you only one name for this price segment, it is this one: Puma Eliminate Nitro 4. €78.23, 8.9 out of 10 in our rating, and a shoe that competes directly with models costing €30 or €40 more.
What does the Eliminate Nitro 4 have that other shoes in its range don't? NITRO foam is the core of Puma's premium range, and here they have put it in a reasonably priced model. The balance between weight (315 g, which is a little more than the ultralight models but reasonable for mixed positions) and cushioning is excellent. For pivots, centre backs and goalkeepers who don't want to go over €80, it is hard to find anything better right now.
The only drawback I see: it is designed mainly for area play and contact positions. If you play wing and need a lot of speed, you will probably prefer something lighter.
The best Adidas option under €80: Stabil Sonic
The Adidas Stabil Sonic is interesting for one specific reason: it carries the Stabil name. That is not marketing. Adidas' Stabil line is one of the most recognisable in world handball. This version now starts at €79.95, doesn't have the BOOST of the high range, but does keep a serious grip base and a lateral stability structure that makes it useful for centre backs and backs.
8.4/10. For players who want the Stabil name without paying the price of the Next Gen, it is a reasonable entry into the ecosystem. Especially recommended for players in mixed positions (centre back, back) who train 3 days a week.
The Nike Zoom Hyperspeed Court SE has earned a place here because it still starts at €71.40 and offers something almost nobody gives at that price: a lively feel in the forefoot thanks to Air Zoom. It isn't the most handball-specific, but it is one of the most pleasant for wings, light backs and players who want a fast, comfortable shoe that is easy to buy.
Lowest price found at Decathlon · 2 stores compared
Its weak point is lateral stability compared with the more serious Adidas, Asics or Puma models for inside positions. But if your game lives more off the quick break, the first step and feeling the court, it is a more interesting buy than many people think.
The Asics Gel-Rocket 12 at €69.95 is the most balanced option in this analysis for beginners. It works for wings, it works for centre backs, it works for backs. It isn't outstanding in anything, but it doesn't fail in anything serious either. And when someone is starting out in handball, that absence of surprises is also worth money.
Lowest price found at Forum Sport · 2 stores compared
Where it falls short is in specific lateral grip and in cushioning if you train a lot. But for a beginner-to-intermediate player looking for a versatile, durable shoe, the Gel-Rocket 12 remains a very sensible buy.
The Asics Gel-Tactic 13 starts at €64.95 and fills a very specific gap: players who want neither a shoe that is too soft nor too light, but a somewhat more structured base. If you weigh more, if you are coming back from sprains or if you simply like to feel more hold around the ankle and midfoot, the Tactic 13 makes more sense than the Rocket 12.
It isn't the most fun on the list, but it is one of the most useful for the amateur player who trains two or three times a week and needs a greater sense of security. In that price range, that is worth a lot.
There have been changes here too compared with a few weeks ago. The shoe that still genuinely justifies the entry step today is the Puma Varion II, which starts at €59.95. It doesn't have the sophistication of the Eliminate, nor the structure of the Tactic, nor the Stabil name. What it has is an honest proposition: lightness, quick comfort and a low price.
Lowest price found at WePlay Handball · 2 stores compared
I would recommend it above all for youth players, youth teams and people who are still deciding how involved they will be in handball. It is a logical buy when budget rules and you don't want to end up with a generic supermarket shoe.
Kempa is the brand that kits out the most handball teams in Spain. That isn't marketing: they sponsor and have sponsored dozens of Primera División Nacional clubs. And they have a shoe that fits this guide perfectly: the Kempa Wing Lite 2.0, available from €69.95 at Decathlon.
Lowest price found at Decathlon · 2 stores compared
What sets it apart in this price range is that it is designed specifically for handball from day one — it isn't a volleyball or futsal shoe that someone has decided to sell as handball. You can tell in the footbed, in the lateral stability profile and in the upper, which wraps the foot well in changes of direction. The size range (EU 36–48 unisex) is one of the widest on the market, which makes it especially interesting for women players or for large sizes, which have fewer options at this price.
It doesn't reach the technical level of the Eliminate Nitro 4 in cushioning, but for an intermediate-level outside player who trains 2-3 days a week, it is a very coherent buy.
It is rare for Mizuno to appear in a guide to cheap shoes. Its reference handball models — Wave Stealth, Wave Lightning, Wave Momentum — are all above €100. The exception is the Mizuno Cyclone Speed 5, which starts at €62.90 at WePlay Handball.
The main argument for the Cyclone Speed 5 is Mizuno's GUM8 outsole — the same compound used in its high-end models. That means a grip on parquet that is above what you would expect at this price. For players who train on very polished or slippery courts, that makes a real difference.
The clearest limitation is the size range: only available in men's sizes (EU 40–47), which rules it out for many women players. And the cushioning is basic. But if you can fit the size and play on courts with high grip demands, it is probably the best outsole you will find under €65.
Which models leave this list today
This also has to be said clearly. Models that made sense here in May, such as the Puma Solarflash III or the Puma Handball Berlin, are no longer under €80 at the current catalogue prices. That doesn't mean they are bad buys. It means they no longer fit this guide. And a price guide is only worth anything if it respects that criterion.
I have seen too many mistakes in this area not to give it a section. These are the most common traps:
Generic multi-indoor shoes: The market is full of generic indoor shoes that cost €25-35 and that technically "do" for handball. The problem is that they don't have an outsole specific to handball's demands (multidirectional grip, pivot zone, resistance to lateral slides), and their cushioning isn't calibrated for the impacts of the game. In the short term they may work, but the risk of joint injuries is significantly higher.
Volleyball or badminton shoes: Although they share the "indoor sports" category, volleyball and badminton shoes are designed for different movement patterns. Volleyball shoes prioritise vertical jumps; badminton shoes, movement in straight lines. Neither has the lateral stability profile that handball demands.
Models from past seasons at clearance prices: This is the only trap worth considering as an exception. A model from two seasons ago from a serious brand — Adidas, Puma, Asics, Mizuno — being cleared at half price can be an excellent buy. Technical footwear doesn't expire like electronics: if the technology was good in 2024, it is still good in 2026. Check the pages on Liftados for the analysis and updated prices of each model.
→ Best overall under €80:Puma Eliminate Nitro 4 (from €78.23, 8.9/10). Pivots, centre backs and goalkeepers. Sizes EU 39–47.
→ Best budget Adidas: Adidas Stabil Sonic (from €79.95, 8.4/10). Stabil DNA at a restrained price. Sizes EU 36–48.
→ Best Nike in this range:Nike Zoom Hyperspeed Court SE (from €71.40, 8.3/10). The liveliest for outside players. Sizes EU 35–46.
→ Best for starting without complications:Asics Gel-Rocket 12 (from €69.95, 8.2/10). Durable, versatile. Sizes EU 36–47.5.
→ Best pure handball brand:Kempa Wing Lite 2.0 (from €69.95, 8.1/10). Designed for handball from the start. Sizes EU 36–48.
→ Best if you need more support:Asics Gel-Tactic 13 (from €64.95, 8.0/10). More structure than the Rocket. Sizes EU 36–47.
→ Best GUM outsole under €65:Mizuno Cyclone Speed 5 (from €62.90, 7.9/10). Men only, EU 40–47. Exceptional grip for the price.
→ Best under €60:Puma Varion II (from €59.95, 7.8/10). An honest entry to handball. Sizes EU 36–48.
If you are still not sure which one suits you according to your position and weight, use the Liftados recommender: three questions and we give you a personalised selection.
Liftados AI · Recommender
Need handball shoes?
We help you find the model that suits you best based on your position, level and budget. In 2 minutes.
Yes. As of 24 June 2026 there are still several serious options under €80. The Puma Eliminate Nitro 4 starts at €78.23 and is the best in this bracket on overall score. The Adidas Stabil Sonic stays at €79.95 as the entry point to the Stabil family. And below €70 there are very useful profiles such as the Asics Gel-Rocket 12, the Asics Gel-Tactic 13 or the Puma Varion II.
What are the best cheap handball shoes for beginners?▾
For beginners on a tight budget, the best options are the Asics Gel-Rocket 12 (€69.95), the Asics Gel-Tactic 13 (€64.95) and the Puma Varion II (€59.95). The Rocket 12 is the most sensible buy, the Tactic 13 gives a little more lateral support and the Varion II is the cheapest entry with a minimum of guarantees.
Do cheap handball shoes wear out sooner?▾
It depends. High-end shoes have outsole compounds and cushioning structures designed to withstand intensive use over a full season (9-10 months with 4 training sessions a week). Low-priced shoes can perfectly well last a season if used less often (1-2 sessions a week). What you should avoid is using cheap shoes as everyday shoes: the wear happens mainly off the court, on street surfaces and asphalt.
Which brand has the best cheap handball shoes?▾
Today, Puma and Asics are the best-placed brands in the budget range. Puma has the best shoe in the bracket, the Eliminate Nitro 4, at €78.23 and keeps the Varion II as a great entry point at €59.95. Asics responds with two very reliable models under €70: Gel-Rocket 12 and Gel-Tactic 13. Adidas still has an attractive proposal with the Stabil Sonic at €79.95.
What are the best cheap handball shoes for women?▾
The Asics Gel-Rocket 12 (€69.95) and the Puma Varion II (€59.95) are available in women's sizes and keep the same price as the men's version. They are the most balanced options for women players on a tight budget. The Adidas Stabil Sonic also has an adaptable last in small sizes and stays under €80.
Are there cheap handball shoes for kids?▾
Yes. The Asics Gel-Rocket 12 Junior starts at €49.95 and the Kempa Wing line has junior versions from €44. For children's categories with two or three training sessions a week they are more than enough. The important thing is to avoid generic multi-sport shoes even if they are cheaper: without a handball-specific outsole the risk of ankle sprains rises notably.
Is it worth buying handball shoes at Decathlon?▾
It depends on the context. Decathlon's Atorka shoes (€20-35) are suitable for absolute beginners or for those who train once a week. They don't have the handball-specific outsole that Puma, Asics or Adidas offer in the €60-80 bracket. If your budget reaches €60, the Puma Solarflash III or the Asics Gel-Rocket 12 are a clearly better investment in lateral support and outsole durability.
Journalist — El Mundo Deportivo · El CorreoFormer player — First Division (Trapagaran Eskubaloia)Head coach — Basque Country Infantil Women (U14)
Journalist at El Mundo Deportivo and El Correo. Former player in the Spanish First National Division (Trapagaran Eskubaloia). Youth coach at Balonmano Muskiz and head coach of the Basque Country Infantil Women's team (U14). Co-founder of Liftados.
Plus, just for signing up we give you the guide with 10 training tasks for youth handball coaches.
You join Club Liftados and get a practical resource right away to coach with more clarity, improve your reading of the game and work better on the court.
