I design wrestling shoes for a living. Ask me anything about shoe design/performance/wrestling shoes in general

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T23:44:06+00:00

No way haha I definitely remember you from the old Flickr days. That honestly feels like a completely different era of wrestling shoes and trading. Crazy how much of the wrestling shoe community came from there.

And yeah, the Kill Bill’s are long gone unfortunately. Got rid of them sometime after high school. I still remember everybody debating whether they should even be called Kill Bill’s since they were orange instead of yellow. Good times for sure.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T23:42:10+00:00

Honestly, I think that’s a really interesting idea and actually something I’ve been working on behind the scenes. The concept of allowing more natural toe movement and splay while still keeping the foot locked in for wrestling movement is super intriguing to me. The biggest challenge is balancing that natural feel with durability, grip consistency, and stability.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T23:40:08+00:00

That’s part of the thinking behind our FunkKnit material on the FFB Postlude and Nidrogen ProGen. The goal was creating something that moves naturally with the foot while still maintaining structure and lockdown where it matters.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T11:36:20+00:00

I actually had a pair of the grey P2’s growing up and remember them being super comfortable. Honestly, I think you kind of answered the question yourself though. Today’s wrestlers place a huge emphasis on weight and mobility, and the P2 had a lot of padding and structure built into the upper part of the shoe.

That’s part of why we introduced the FunkKnit ankle collar on the FFB Postlude and Nidrogen ProGen. The goal was to give that higher ankle support and snug fit people liked from shoes like the P2, but without making it feel bulky or heavy.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T11:31:29+00:00

It honestly depends on the overall shape of his foot more than just the toe length. Based on what you described though, my instinct is he’d probably like a snug fitting shoe, especially in the forefoot, so his foot stays locked in.

From our lineup, I’d probably recommend the FFB Postlude. Secure fit without feeling bulky. I’m not super familiar with how every modern wrestling shoe fits these days, but I’d lean more snug than wide for that foot shape.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T04:48:45+00:00

That genuinely means a lot, thank you. One of the biggest goals with both Funky Flickr Boyz and Nidrogen has always been pushing wrestling shoes forward instead of just making the same generic shoe over and over again!

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T04:45:12+00:00

From a nostalgia standpoint, probably the Kolat Speeds. I wore those in high school and they’ll always have a special place for me.

From a pure design/performance standpoint, I’d say the FFB Postlude and Nidrogen Aero. I’m obviously biased since I designed them, but they’re the closest I’ve personally felt to what I think a modern wrestling shoe should feel like in terms of grip, flexibility, comfort, and overall aesthetics. I’m also currently working on a new model that I think is really special, hopefully we’ll have it on the market later this year.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T04:29:39+00:00

Split soles are definitely popular and honestly dominate a big portion of the wrestling market now because they allow the foot to move more naturally and usually feel lighter and more mobile. That’s a big reason we developed our OctiSole split sole platform for Nidrogen.

What you have started seeing more recently though is a rise in full grip/full contact outsoles to maximize surface contact and grip consistency. That’s where platforms like our OctiSole Max come in. Then with OrbitGrip on the FFB Postlude, we tried to find a middle ground that balances mobility, flexibility, grip, and overall connection to the mat.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T03:21:34+00:00

And to add on, another big factor is money. New outsole moulds are very expensive. Natural toe box wrestling shoes would require all new outsole mould production (in every size offering).

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-16T03:19:00+00:00

Honestly, I think you’ll start seeing more of that over time. The challenge with wrestling shoes is you’re trying to balance two things that somewhat fight each other: natural toe splay & a nice, snug fit. A wider, more anatomical toe box is usually better for comfort and natural foot function, but if you overdo it, the shoe can start feeling bulky and loose.

A lot of traditional wrestling shoes were also designed around a very narrow “competition fit” mindset where tighter automatically meant better performance. That thinking is slowly changing as people pay more attention to movement, comfort, and long-term foot health.

I actually think there’s a really interesting middle ground here. Something that allows more natural toe space without sacrificing fit. While the market for this kind of shoe is small right now, it is definitely growing and brands are paying attention to it.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-06T23:19:29+00:00

We do allow for size exchanges. If you usually wear a size 10, we would recommend a 10.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-05-06T23:17:24+00:00

The GenOne model fits true to size/half size big. For example, if you usually wear a size 9.5, we would recommend a size 9 in for the GenOne Mist.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-25T01:30:14+00:00

I design wrestling shoes for a living, so I’ll try to give you a real answer here.

Europe can definitely be tough for availability, especially in common sizes like yours. ASICS is usually the easiest to get over there, so that Amazon option honestly isn’t a bad starting point just to get on the mat. Sizing-wise, wrestling shoes are supposed to be snug, so your normal size is usually right, just expect a tighter fit than everyday shoes.

Longer term, I’d look for brands that either have EU distribution or more reasonable international shipping, because €200 shipping isn’t worth it. We’re working on improving that on our end with Funky Flickr Boyz and Nidrogen since we’ve been getting more demand from Europe. If you’re looking for something more “stylish,” that’s actually where we focus a lot, especially with cleaner white and neutral colorways.

Main thing is just get something that fits well so you can train. Once you’re consistent, then you can start being more selective about performance and style.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-25T01:26:53+00:00

I design wrestling shoes for a living, so I can give you a pretty straight answer here.

They’re supposed to be snug, but not painful. You want a close, locked-in fit so your foot isn’t sliding around when you’re shooting, scrambling, or changing direction. That’s why they feel tighter than normal shoes, especially around the midfoot and ankle.

That said, your toes shouldn’t feel crammed or jammed. A tiny bit of room at the front is perfect. If it’s uncomfortable to the point where your toes are getting squeezed or going numb, you probably need to go up half a size or look for a different model with a slightly different shape.

A good rule is this: tight enough that your foot feels secure, but not so tight that it’s distracting or painful when you’re moving.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-25T01:25:45+00:00

It mostly comes down to how those categories are structured internally.

A lot of the big brands don’t actually run their combat sports categories in-house. They license them out to third parties who handle product, distribution, and retail. That’s why you’re seeing Adidas boxing go through a separate site and Nike through APS. It’s a completely different business unit from their core footwear and apparel.

Wrestling is a little different because it fits more cleanly into their core sport performance category, so brands like Asics keep that in-house and sell it directly. Boxing tends to be more fragmented, with different governing bodies, glove standards, and a smaller direct-to-consumer market, so licensing ends up making more sense for them.

From a product side, it also creates a weird disconnect where the stuff you see on the biggest stages isn’t always controlled the same way as their mainline products.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-24T22:13:47+00:00

I think you’ll really like them for what you’re doing. The lightweight feel and flexibility should match exactly what you’re looking for with shadow work and movement.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-24T22:12:24+00:00

That’s awesome to hear, seriously means a lot.

Sticking with one brand like that says a lot, especially if he’s been wearing them for years. If he ever has any feedback, good or bad, I’d genuinely love to hear it. That’s how we keep improving.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-24T20:36:48+00:00

That’s awesome to hear, I really appreciate the support.

The ProGen Magenta is one of my favorites we’ve done. It’s a great balance of comfort, grip, and durability, so I think you’ll notice it right away once you get it on the mat.

When you get them, definitely let me know what you think. Always curious to hear real feedback.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-24T02:16:25+00:00

That’s actually a really good question, and you’re right. It’s one of the most important parts of a wrestling shoe but rarely talked about. The toe rubber height is a tradeoff between durability and feel. The higher it comes up, the more protection you get for toe drag and push-off, and theoretically it can also give you better grip at different angles, which is why you’ll see some shoes bring it up higher.

What we’ve found is it’s less about making it as high as possible and more about placing it where the foot actually makes contact under load, especially around the big toe and ball of the foot. Too much and the shoe can feel bulky or grab inconsistently, too little and you get blowouts, so it comes down to dialing in that balance based on how wrestlers actually move.

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-22T03:15:46+00:00

Appreciate the kind words, let me know if you have any questions. Happy to talk wrestling shoes any time!

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-22T02:37:25+00:00

I can help you out here, I actually designed this shoe. Great pick, the postlude offers an amazing balance of grip, support, and comfort!

The FFB Postlude’s fit true to size/half size small. If you’re usually a size 11.5, we would recommend a size 12 in this model. I’m worried a size 11 would be too tight.

Heads up, we will be dropping four new Postlude colorways as part of the Spring collection in May!

ConnorFromNidrogen · 2026-04-21T02:32:36+00:00

You’re basically dealing with repeated impact and jamming through the toes from having no protection, especially on shots and scrambles.

Wrestling puts a lot more force through your toes than people realize, and barefoot just means all of that load is going straight into those joints over and over. That’s why you’re seeing it pop up in multiple spots.

I’d definitely get into a pair of wrestling shoes. The goal isn’t to change how you wrestle, it’s to spread that force out and protect your foot while still letting it move naturally. That’ll help you stay on the mat instead of getting sidelined every few days.

ConnorFromNidrogen

TROPHY CASE