Any weight lifter will understand the importance of weightlifting shoes over everyday shoes, however, if you’re just starting out, you may be wondering: what difference does it make? Are they worth the price? In an article I recently questioned that myself, in my opinion in comparison to the other lifting equipment available, squat shoes won’t necessarily increase your lift numbers but they can put you in a better position to feel more comfortable, hit a lower depth, and theoretically in the long term have a better squat and therefore SQUAT MORE WEIGHT!
If you already know the answer to these things, you can skip this section and move on to find lifting shoes that are right for you.
Best Weightlifting Shoes Review Table
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Weightlifting Shoes Buying Guide
Running Shoes vs. Weightlifting Shoes
Running shoes are designed to maximize balance and speed by being flexible and having an in-built cushion which allows force to be absorbed, however, this is the opposite of what we want during weightlifting.
First of all, instead of absorbing the force, we want the shoe to be able to utilize that downwards force in order to help us lift weights. In turn, you will be able to lift heavier weights simply by wearing weightlifting shoes, since the cushion effect is minimized.
Secondly, weightlifting shoes are more stable than other types of shoes and this can actually reduce injuries as well as enhance performance.
Lastly, there’s another defining factor of weightlifting shoes which make it beneficial over other shoes, and that is it’s raised heel. Imagine yourself doing squats with weightlifting shoes: they will aid with ankle dorsiflexion (increasing your ankle’s range of motion), allowing you to squat greater depths whilst staying upright with your torso (required for better control and raising heavy weights).
Now that you understand how weightlifting shoes work, let’s have a look at the top options in 2017.
Things to Look Out For When Buying Weightlifting Shoes
- The heel height should ideally be around 0.75 to 1 inch.
- Larger shoe width improves stability, but will also increase shoe weight and clunkiness
- Durability: If you weightlift often, then it’s best to choose a shoe that will last years without losing stability.
- Materials: This also ties in with durability, but also, higher quality materials can improve upwards motion in which you use to lift weights
Best Weightlifting Shoes Reviews
Adidas Adipowers [usr 4.5]
These are the gold standard shoes for weightlifting, used by numerous athletes at the Olympics for good reason.
The soles of the shoes are completely flat, allowing for maximum stability during weightlifting. If you’ve ever had knee pain or injuries, then these are designed to minimize them. You’ll notice a significant improvement for sure.
With the raised heel, you’ll find that it puts a lot less strain on your lower back, as well as allowing you to squat greater depths.
I’ve had many students tell me how massive of a difference it makes on their hamstrings when doing squats, as opposed to other shoes which don’t allow you to hit the proper depth. Other shoes won’t engage your hamstrings nearly as much as these.
In terms of durability, the Adipowers are made from some of the finest materials and can probably last you a decade. They’re the top tier shoe in terms of durability on the market.
The upper part of the shoe is tight enough so your feet are stable during lifting, but at the same time, they’re flexible enough to ensure comfort and breathability, which is rare in shoes.
There’s almost no disadvantages to the Adidas Adipowers apart from the pricing and discomfort when walking around. Moving around the gym in these things can be a pain, but that’s just a minor drawback which can be overlooked. If you’re doing crossfit, then have a look at the Innov-8.
Recommendation: If you’re serious about weightlifting, then you can’t do better than the Adidas Adipowers. These are pretty much the best weightlifting shoes available right now.
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2. Nike Romaleos 2 [usr 4.5]
The Nike Romaleos 2 are the alternative to the Adipowers if you’re a serious weight lifter. They’re very similar to the Adidas in terms of quality, but there’s 3 distinct differences: the weight, the width and aesthetic appeal.
The Adidas feels significantly lighter and more nimble than the Nike Romaleos, however, in exchange, it has a narrower base resulting in the Romaleos being a bit more stable. You won’t notice a difference in base unless you’re a hardcore weightlifter and lift really heavy weights. In this case, if you’re using the Adidas, you MIGHT feel a slight roll to the sides of the shoes during these really heavy lifts (which isn’t too big of a deal).
In terms of style, I like the Adidas better since the Romaleos look clunky (and really is clunky), but it’s all up to personal preference.
Overall, choose the Romaleos 2 over the Adidas if you don’t mind spending a couple more bucks and prefer stability over speed and lightness. Another great option, probably the second best weightlifting shoes at the moment.
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3. VS Athletics Weightlifting Shoe [usr 3.5]
These are rated third on our list, since they are the best budget-friendly shoe on the market for Olympic lifting. These shoes offer all the advantages of the Adidas Adipowers, but they are a notch down in overall quality. The pricing being 5 notches down makes it a worthy investment for most people though.
The two biggest differences between the VS Athletics and the Adipowers (apart from its aesthetic appeal) is the heel height and the durability.
The heel height for the VS Athletics is roughly an inch and the material isn’t high quality, but it will be sufficient for most powerlifters out there. In terms of durability, these can last up to 5 years or even more, however, if you powerlift often (3-5 times a week), you might start noticing it’s stability declines after about a year.
Recommendation: Buy these if you’re a beginner, not too serious about Olympic lifting or if you’re on a tight budget. Best budget weightlifting shoes!
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4. Inov-8 FastLift 335 [usr 4]
The value of these shoes range from $90-150 depending on its size and color. They are the middle grounds in terms of budget, but the reason we included these is because they are good for both weightlifting and crossfit training.
The Innov-8 Fastlift is a lightweight shoe which is very comfortable to walk around in compared to other weightlifting shoes like the Adidas Adipowers, however, it is a notch below the Adipowers in terms of stability during lifts.
The straps might be a bit flimsy, but apart from that, the Innov-8 is quite durable and will certainly last you for years.
Recommendation: Buy these if you’re also into cross fit activities.
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Best Weighlifting Shoes Conclusion
Overall, these 4 are the best weightlifting shoes out there. Get the Adidas Adipowers or the Nike Romaleos if you care about quality more than budget. If not, the VS Athletics is great for beginners and people on a budget, whilst the Inov-8 are the most comfortable shoes for both weightlifting and crossfit.
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