Not necessarily, but they are popular. High-top (mid-ankle) shoes protect your ankle bones from painful strikes against the crank arms and pedals, which is a common issue when learning new tricks or bailing.
Cycling Shoes · BMX / Dirt Jump Shoes
Do I need high-top shoes for dirt jumping?
Related gear types
If this answer nudged you toward a different style, these guides compare specs and trade-offs.
More questions
- Can I use BMX/DJ shoes for mountain biking?
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