In this Perfly badminton shoes review, I’m looking at the Perfly BS 530.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t started this review project when I played with them, so I didn’t take any clear pictures of them.
I’d like to give you a reference point before we dive into the review. When I got this shoe, it was the most expensive shoe I could find in stock at the Decathlon near me, but at around $40, it’s still a budget shoe. I’ve since noticed that they’ve started selling a few slightly pricier models, so the Perfly BS 530 now appears to be a mid-range badminton shoe within the Perfly-Decathlon world.
That being said, my intention was to get some decent non-marking shoes for badminton that weren’t too expensive and wouldn’t destroy my body, while I was sampling the sport and figuring out if I wanted to continue playing long-term.
I got them half a size bigger than I’d normally get but they fitted my feet just fine, so they seem to follow a similar sizing convention to other brands of badminton shoes.
With these notes out of the way, let’s jump into the review of the Perfly BS 530 badminton shoes.
Table of Contents
The review: my experience with Perfly BS 530
One area where this shoe really stands out is its looks.
This pair looks simple with the all-black and brown-ish rubber-like color underneath. Simple, yes, but better and cleaner than the mess of colors we often see on other badminton shoes.
Looks aside, let’s start with one of the important metrics for many when it comes to budget shoes: durability.
Durability
Decathlon recommends the BS530 model for intermediate players with 2-3 sessions per week but some players report that the shoe didn’t last long when playing daily (go under the ’reviews’ section in that link if you’re curious).
It doesn’t change anything for me as it wasn’t recommended for daily use, but it’s worth considering if you’re looking to stretch your budget shoes to the limit.
My experience playing 4-5 hours per week for about six months with this shoe was just fine. I had no problems or clear tears beyond what I’d expect from normal usage. I did see a basic tear on the surface of my non-racket foot near where the big toe connects with the foot, which is to be expected when lunging. It’s the signature badminton shoe tear.
It was a surface-level tear and in line with what I’d expect considering how much I’ve used the shoes. I should also note that Perfly BS530 was reinforced in that area as it should be.
Since this signature badminton mark happens on all shoes and is often visible after the first few sessions, I find a good and quick metric to compare the durability between shoes at a surface level.
I played with a standard low-range running shoe once or twice on an outdoor court before getting my badminton shoes, and they were ripped open in that same area after the first game.
Looking back, all in all, I’m pleasantly surprised with how much shoe I got for the money in terms of durability.
Fit and toe protection
There’s not much to say in this area.
The shoe’s fit around my feet was decent without being amazing and the toe protection at the front of the shoe, on the inside, was basic but at least it had some. In fact, my experience was that most things with this shoe were decent considering the price without being noteworthy.
The outsole
Underneath the Perfly BS530, we have a combination that appears similar to the Hexa grip we know from older Yonex models, along with a triangular-styled grip.
It provides a reasonable grip for the price but nowhere near what you’ll experience on high-end models from Yonex or Victor for example. The outsole at the bottom of the shoe was non-marking of course.
Cushioning and shock absorption
When you’re deliberately buying a budget shoe, you know that everything can’t be top-notch. It’s all about finding a pair of shoes that prioritize the same as you and cut corners in areas that you’re okay with.
For this pair, it felt like the cushioning and shock absorption area were far down on the list of priorities. It wasn’t horrible for a budget shoe but it felt like the bare minimum, even compared to the Yonex Precision 1 I tried in the same price range.
This seems to be the area where the traditional badminton brands may have an advantage as their technology has been in development for a long time. Meaning, that it might be relatively easy and affordable for them to put a decent midsole in, I’m guessing.
If you’re upgrading to a high-end shoe after this, you’ll notice a major difference. But it’s hard to expect much for $40.
Finally, the company claims it’s lightweight (click ‘technical specifications’). It weighs 560g which is 53% more than the older protective and bulky Yonex Eclipsion Z2 at 366g (which has just been replaced with the Z3 model).
Perhaps the marketers were comparing the BS530 to hiking boots. In that case, I bet it’s lightweight.
Which badminton players are best suited for the Perfly BS 530?
Who this shoe is suited for
This shoe is well-suited for someone who is sampling badminton and isn’t sure whether they’ll want to stick with the sport but don’t want to go all out on their budget.
Who this shoe isn’t suited for
If you’re an older player or are generally concerned about injuries, I’d be hesitant to get these shoes as they don’t have that much cushioning which may be tiring on your knees.
Instead, consider the Yonex Eclipsion Z3 if your budget allows.
Perfly BS 530 Verdict
Summary
If you only look at the stars, the Perfly BS 530 might seem like a shoe to avoid. It’s a budget shoe, so it isn’t meant to score high on performance metrics but overall it offers pretty good value for money.
My experience has been that it isn’t prioritizing cushioning, shock absorption, or toe protection but it has been durable instead.
Takeaways
- It’s a decent budget shoe that does what it says it will, without being spectacular. To me, it felt stronger in durability than cushioning and protection
2 comments
I concur with your findings, tried the bs530 and bs560 lite at my local decathlon store, both shoes had significantly less cushioning than comparably priced Asics/ lining/ yonex shoes.
I have come across many players that were complaining about durability of their low to mid yonex shoes, more particularly, the gum- rubber sole peeling off, what is your opinion on durability of yonex, i was considering a pair of shb 57 but don’t want something that will rip in a few months.
Hey Zuka, I’ve only played with three models of Yonex badminton shoes, so I can’t speak for all of them.
I haven’t tried the SHB57 yet but two of the pairs I played with were high-end models that seem to cost about 25% more than the SHB57 (it was the SHB65z3 and Eclipsion Z3). I had a terrific experience with both and I had no problem with durability.
Another model I tried was the Yonex Precision 1, which seems to cost about half the price of the SHB57. In my experience, that model wasn’t any good and broke shortly after I began playing with it.
So my experience has been very different between their high-end and budget shoes. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on the SHB57 if you choose to get it.