Salsa dancing requires lots of practice, and it is a good idea to choose shoes that are comfortable and durable for all those hours you will be spending spinning and turning. This article will help you select the best salsa shoes under $100 that are durable, comfortable, and fashionable.
Why Do You Need Salsa Dancing Shoes?
Salsa dancing is fun, energetic, and requires you to have proper footwear. You could wear your regular shoes, but your performance will suffer. You will be thinking, “well, why can’t I spin like that person.”
That was me. I didn’t know why I was so lousy at spinning and turning until I switched from everyday shoes to salsa dancing shoes when I was going for a practice.
Once you find a pair of dancing shoes that suit you the best, you will be thinking, why haven’t I done this sooner. A pair of good salsa dancing shoes will give you confidence, improve your moves, and your dancing style will be smoother, and everything will fall into place.
Things You Need To Look For In Salsa Dance Shoes
A very common question is how dance shoes differ from regular shoes. Simply put, dance shoes are made for dancing.
Salsa dance shoes must be a perfect fit
All dance shoes are very lightweight and flexible, which is very important when you are dancing salsa because it is easier to spin. Dance shoes have non-slip suede soles and metal shank in the arch for support.
Proper heel height and style
It is essential for women that dance shoes are stylish and yet comfortable. Later in this article, I will mention dance shoes that meet both criteria.
The basic dance shoe style includes pumps or sandals with a slim heel between 1 and 3 inches in height. Open-toe shoes are meant for Latin dances such as Salsa, Bachata, Tango, and Rumba.
Open-toe shoes are essential for salsa dance because you need to point your toes and connect your feet. Open-toe shoes will allow you to have precise footwork.
Sufficient support
Your dance shoes need to provide enough support because you will be on your feet for a very long time. If your shoes don’t give enough support, your feet will suffer, and you will not enjoy dancing as much as you hoped.
A good pair of salsa dance shoes have lots of padding with an extra cushion across your foot. It will help reduce the pressure on your foot. Also, arches and heels should offer enough stability to feel balanced on the dance floor.
My legs were always shaky when I was wearing regular “party” shoes, but as soon as I switched to salsa dance shoes, I didn’t have that issue anymore.
These shoes provide enough support while looking gorgeous and stylish so that you can wear them, even at a wedding party or to a club. Although I love how high heel shoes look, I never liked to wear them because they are not comfortable and make my feet hurt for a couple of days later. I am sure many ladies can relate with me on this. I never experienced this issue with dance shoes because they are made for comfort and extended support.
10 Best Salsa Dance Shoes That Are Under $100
These gorgeous shoes are very comfortable and easy to dance in. They vary in colors and heel height. I prefer 5 CM (2 inches) because they are easier for dancing but if you want more height, then go for 7 cm (2.75 inches). The heel ranges between 5-10 cm (2-4 inches).
The sole of the shoes is suede, which is perfect for effortless spins and turns. The soft, breathable lining and sweat absorption suede insole is great for fit sweats when wearing high heels. These dance shoes have helped me with this issue tremendously. My fit starts sweating as soon as I would put on high heels, but it hasn’t happened with this pair.
SWDZM dance shoes are inexpensive, durable, stylish, comfortable, and perfect for your dance lessons or salsa social events.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Stylish and elegant
- Sweat absorption suede insole
- Protects your feet during dance
- Soft and breathable lining
Cons:
- Indoor dance shoes only because they are made of silk material
- Black color stain on the arch
2. HIPPOSEUS Women Rhinestones Ballroom Dance Shoes Latin Salsa Bachata Performance Dance Shoes Suede Sole, Model 373
You will stand out from the crowd with these dance shoes because they are an attention grabber. Shining rhinestones will grab everyone’s attention on the dance floor and will make your whole outfit stand out.
Besides looking gorgeous, these shoes are made of quality material and are incredibly comfortable. These shoes are made of high-quality satin, sweat absorption suede insole, soft, breathable lining, anti-rust buckle with the thick and durable suede outsole.
For those who love a bit higher heel, these shoes are perfect. The heel height is 3.54 inches, which is around 10 cm.
Hipposeous dance shoes are elegant and look very luxurious. They come in different sizes for you to choose from. However, these are indoor shoes only. Please do not wear them outdoors because they are made of satin, so they are susceptible to dirt.
Pros:
- Elegant
- Comfortable
- High-quality material
- flexible for spinning
- anti-rust buckle
- sweat-absorbent material
- variety of colors to choose from
Cons:
- Indoor shoes only
- Only one heel height available
3. Pierides Women’s Suede Sole Rhinestone Ballroom Dance Shoes Latin Salsa Performance Dance Shoes
Pierides dance shoes are also attention grabbers as soon as you walk into the room. Like all other dance shoes I mentioned before, they also come in various colors and heel heights.
These shoes are made of the leather sole and are handcrafted with high-quality material. You will not regret choosing these dance shoes to be your fateful companion during salsa dance lessons or salsa parties because they do not disappoint.
These shoes are flexible, lightweight, comfortable, and perfectly suitable for ladies who dance salsa socially or for fun.
When you are dancing and close your heels, please note, it may rub the rhinestones together and make a slight noise.
Pros:
- Heel height varies
- Variety of colors
- Stunning and easy to match with different outfits
- Leather sole for extra comfort
- High-quality hand made material
Cons:
- Be careful to measure your feet for the accurate shoe size
- Rhinestones may rub against each other
4. CLEECLI Women’s Ballroom Dance Shoes Latin Salsa Practice Dancing Shoes 2.5″ 3″ Heel ZB04
Cleecli is the perfect shoe for someone who is taking dance lessons or practicing on their own. It comes in two colors (black and beige), which are easy to match with almost any outfit. You can style your outfit up or down, depending on how you feel that night.
Moreover, the heel height is not too enormous, so it will be easy for you to quickly move around the floor as you are learning new steps.
Since I don’t have a consistent partner for salsa lessons, I am not sure who I will be dancing with or being much taller than that person. These shoes solve that problem because the heel is not too big, and I don’t have to worry about being much taller than my dance partner.
These shoes are great for outdoor practice too! During summer, I had a few dance lessons outdoors where the surface wasn’t perfect, but these shoes didn’t disappoint. I was able to spin and turn with no issues while the shoes stayed intact.
Pros:
- Perfect for the practice
- Easy to match with different outfits
- Comfortable
- Perfect heel height
Cons:
- Not ideal for dressing up for a night out
5. HIPPOSEUS Women Latin Dance Shoes Ballroom Tango Dance Shoes
These are other beautiful shoes from the Hipposeous line. Although not so shiny, they also bring attention because of their unique appearance. The bow and its unique design give a wow effect to these shoes.
The bow will not untie while you are dancing, so don’t worry, just dance the whole night away, haha. This style of dance shoes is made with synthetic glitter leather and velveteen, and the outsole is suede.
It is essential to measure your feet before ordering these shoes to get the right size. I know how disappointing it is to get much-waited dream shoes just to find out that they don’t fit.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Stylish
- Extremely flexible during spins and turns
- Heel height is perfect for practicing
Cons:
- Be cautious of the shoe size
6. HIPPOSEUS Latin Dance Shoes for Women Salsa Performance Dancing Shoes High Heel, Model YC-L298
These elegant and feminine dance shoes made of synthetic suede with lace mesh are also from the Hipposeous line. They never disappoint. Their style is extraordinary, stylish, excellent quality materials, and very comfortable.
These shoes’ outsole is suede and is super lightweight and flexible, making you feel great and comfortable.
Please note that these shoes are not for walking or dancing outdoors. To ensure their longevity and durability, wear them indoors only.
These shoes come in three colors (black, red, and beige), while heel height varies from 6-8.5 cm.
Pros:
- Elegant and feminine
- Lightweight and flexible
- Extremely comfortable
Cons:
- Not suitable for outdoors
7. SheSole Women Rhinestone Ballroom Latin Salsa Dance Shoes
There is no surprise I picked these too because they are absolutely gorgeous, and rhinestones give them that extra pop. The heel height is 6.4, which provides you with a bit of the height but not much and will not affect your balance.
The sole is made of leather containing lots of padding on the bottom that gives extra protection for your feet. Even if you are not used to wearing shoes with high heels, wearing these dance shoes will be a breeze for you. They are so comfortable you won’t even notice the heel height.
These shoes are made of high-quality material and are very inexpensive. The shoes come in black and nude colors. They are perfect for all kinds of dance parties, not just for Latin dance practices.
Pros:
- Beautiful shoes for all occasions
- Comfortable for dancing
- Fashionable heels
- High-quality material
- Leather outsole
Cons:
- It runs a bit smaller on shoe size, so be sure to measure your feet before purchasing them
8. Akanu Women’s Latin Dance Shoes Female’s Ballroom Salsa Dance Shoes
These dance shoes are made of satin, and the buckle is adjustable as per your liking. These shoes are perfect for salsa dancing because the heels are only 2.5 inches.
You will not have any issues spinning or turning because these dance shoes are incredibly comfortable, flexible, lightweight, and perfectly suitable for ladies who are just learning to dance or those who are more experienced.
Pros:
- Fashionable
- Perfectly suitable for beginners
- Comfortable
- Flexible
Cons:
- Not suitable for outdoors
9. Woman Glitter Latin Dance Shoes Silver Black Shoes for Dancing Salsa Bachata Tango Dance-Shoes Women Soft Sole Dancing Shoes
You would rock these shoes in a simple black or blue cocktail dress. They are absolutely gorgeous and outstanding. These shoes are excellent for a Latin night out. You don’t have to put too much effort into your outfit that night because these shoes are all you need from the accessories.
These dance shoes help improve posture by reducing stress in your joints.
The heel height varies from 2.4 inches to 3.9 inches. They are made of high-quality material and are very comfortable and soft.
Pros:
- Elegant
- Fashionable and can be easily paired with any outfit
- Comfortable and soft
- Reduces stress in the joint
- Improves posture
Cons:
- Not suitable for outdoors
10. Aaron Women’s Salsa Tango Latin Monk Strap Dance Shoes
Whoever knows me at least a little a bit knows that red is my favorite color, and there is no surprise I added this beautiful pair of red dance shoes to the list.
The outer material is made of cashmere, so be careful of dirt. There is only one heel height size available, which is 2.75 inches (or 7 cm). These dance shoes are lined with moisture absorbing and brushed microfiber. A thick heel allows for extra comfort.
Pros:
- Moisture absorbant
- Stunning red dance shoes
- Comfortable and soft
- Fashionable
- High-quality material
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Not suitable for outdoor dancing
My Favorite Pick
My favorite pick is Cleecli dance shoes (4th on the list). I love them because they are ideal for practice, very comfortable, and match easily with any outfit.
You can wear these shoes indoors and outdoors, so you don’t have to worry about changing your shoes before leaving for salsa dancing.
The heel height is just perfect, not too small and not too big. I would recommend these shoes to anyone who is practicing salsa regularly.
When I just started salsa lessons, I was wearing my regular street shoes. I know, what you think, how could you even make a single move. I was always wondering how these ladies can spin and turn so effortlessly while I am struggling. After the lesson, I talked to one of the ladies, and she told me it is the shoes!
And without a doubt, as soon as I ordered my first pair, I realized how much more comfortable and fun it is to dance in salsa shoes.
I might not wear these shoes to a club because I like my shoes to have that wow effect when I am going out. For that reason, I would choose Pierides or Hipposeous because they are sparkly and look stunning with even a simple black dress.
