YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE BEST WEIGHTLIFTING SHOES
REVIEW: BEST WEIGHTLIFTING SHOES FOR DEADLIFTS & SQUATS IN 2018
Are you planning to take your weightlifting game to the next level? Then these shoes can help. Weightlifting shoes or lifters can help you in terms of stability and mobility. Having the right pair can not only give you the comfort but the support you need to conquer this strength sport.
Top 5 Weightlifting Shoes Trainers Recommend
1 – The Adidas Powerlift 3 Weightlifting Shoes for Men & Women
Adidas are one of the main manufacturers of weightlifting shoes, and these brightly colored, eye-catching shoes are one of their workhorse pairs. Powerlift 3 has been completely revamped in terms of style compared to the powerlift 2; however, this version is still made of lightweight synthetic leather, and offer good support and durability. They have a lace closure and a Velcro strap to ensure tightness, and an open forefoot that offers breathability and good flexion. The midsole wedge is light but offers good stability. The outsole is made from a durable, anti-slip rubber, and this offers maximum grip, ensuring that you are able to keep your feet firmly in place even during some of the harder lifts.
PROS:
- It only weighs 15oz which makes it the best choice for beginners
- 6” elevation in the heel helps hit depth when doing squats
CONS:
- Limited colors
- The soles are softer compared to Adipower and Nike Romaleos, thus giving you a feeling of a little instability whenever the sides compress
- They are sized to fit snug, so it may be worth ordering a half a size larger than you normally do
The Verdict:
These are a good starter set of weightlifting shoes. The 0.6” elevation of the heels are perfect for squatting and benching. If you are looking for your first pair of weightlifting shoes and you’re still on the experimentation stage, then this is a great choice for you- they are affordably priced for a reliable brand, plus they look good too.
2 – Adidas Power Perfect II Multisport Squat Shoes
Adidas makes shoes at a range of price points. The Adidas Power Perfect II is a multisport shoe that is aimed at people who do weightlifting and CrossFit. These shoes are incredibly well made and offer unparalleled stability. They are a snug fit, and they offer not just a good angle for squatting, but also lots of support for the ankle as well. When these are tightly laced up, the ankles will feel like they are clamped securely, and the tibia will be straight and planted. This means that you are forced to stand with optimal foot positioning, and you will get lots of support for your squat. These shoes are not ideal for deadlifting, however, because the angle of the heel and the nature of the ankle support greatly limits the amount of heel drive that you can get. For squats, however, they are perfect, and you will not struggle with strict presses either.
The tightness of the shoe means that you would struggle to walk around in these for long. They are not the kind of shoe that you would walk to the gym in – although as an indoor-only, multisport shoe you would not necessarily expect that to be the case.
PROS
- Really hard heels that can handle more than 200 kgs of weights
- Flat soles that gives little to no flexion
- They fit true to size
CONS
- Not so comfortable to walk around with because of its form. Power Perfect II doesn’t flex so you need to wear a different pair before you do liftings.
- It only comes in one color.
The Verdict
As a mid-range weightlifting shoe, Power Perfect II is a great investment and perfect for amateur weightlifters. The quality is superb. You’ll be getting almost just the same as other higher priced weightlifting shoes. If you love red, white and black and you’re looking for something that will give you stronger support when doing squats, then this is the perfect shoe for you.
3 – More Mile Super Lift 3 – Powerlifting Shoes
These are a budget pair of weightlifting shoes that are popular with Olympic Weightlifters and with others who primarily do barbell lifting. These shoes are quite inexpensive, but they are well reviewed and generally well made, with a breathable upper and padded tongue. The heel is very stiff, offering good stability. The forefoot has molded rubber, that helps provide good grip while doing some of the more athletic lifts. They are quite plain looking compared to other shoes, but they are well-made and they offer good support and appropriate flexion. The shoe sizing, according to a general sampling of users, tends to run slightly smaller than stated, so it may be worth purchasing half a size larger than you would in other brands, although weightlifting shoes are meant to fit snug.
PROS
- They are very sturdy and well made for the price.
CONS
- They do feel slightly bulky and a little on the heavy side
- The buckles can move when tightening the shoe, so be careful not to snap them in two
- They are slightly tight but will eventually stretch with more wear
The Verdict
These shoes serve their purpose really well and are really great value for money.
4 – Under Armour Men’s Commit Weight Training Shoes
Under Armour are not a brand that you would normally expect to make weightlifting shoes, and indeed these are not traditional weightlifting shoes. They are more of a multisport shoe with a flat sole and modest cushioning. If you want something with a raised heel, then you should steer clear of these because that is not what you are getting. These are cross-training shoes that can be used indoors for basic gym and CrossFit work, with good grips and a fairly soft and flexible sole. So, why are these listed as a type of weightlifting shoe? Well, when you are lifting weights what you want is grip and stability. Some people like having the extra heel if they have limited ankle flexibility, but some people find that lifting barefoot or in flat soled shoes is fine for them. What is not good is lifting in heavily padded trainers. Standard running shoes are not suitable for lifting in because the padding will make the foot move around too much in the shoe.
Many lifters use these shoes to help them squat more comfortably while they are doing CrossFit style workouts where they want to be able to also do box jumps, burpees, or other exercises that require more ankle mobility than a standard wedged-heel shoe would provide.
PROS
- Incredibly lightweight (10oz)
- Super sleek design
- Fits like a glove
CONS
- The heels aren’t raised which wouldn’t really help you during squats
The Verdict
If you’re into some serious weightlifting and that is your only focus then these aren’t the shoes we would recommend; however, they would work well for a beginner or someone looking for a more comfortable shoe.
5 – Do-Win Weight Olympic Lifting Shoes
Do-Win are a mid-range/affordable brand of Olympic Lifting shoe that offer great support, and a generous heel. These particular weightlifting shoes are quite understated being white, grey and black, and they have a non-slip rubber sole and a 2CM heel. They offer good stability, to allow people to lift heavy weights without losing their balance. Unlike many of the other brands, these shoes run slightly larger than you might expect, so you may need to buy a smaller size than normal. Athletes with wide feet will find this particular brand to be very comfortable. These shoes are generally well reviewed, as the company has a lot of experience making shoes for weightlifters.
If you want something that can be used for snatch, clean, squats and the overhead press, then these are a good choice. The heel looks padded, but it does not compress at all so you will find that they are not suitable for doing box jumps or other plyometric exercises. These are for weightlifting workouts only. The price point is accessible and makes these shoes a good choice for someone who is starting to get serious about lifting, and wants good support, and a comfortable fit – especially if their feet are a little wider than the average. Be sure to give these shoes a look if you are getting serious about squats and Olympic lifts.
PROS
- Fair price for a weightlifting shoe offering double straps
- You can choose the height of the heel. It comes with either ½” or ¾”
CONS
- The Velcro straps and laces are long
- Some minor quality control issues. You might find one measurement not equivalent to another but it doesn’t really affect its purpose
- The wooden heel is quite uncomfortable and painful
The Verdict
Great shoes for a reasonable price. However, if you plan to do other sport with it, this is not for you. These shoes are only made for powerlifting and Olympic lifting.
SUMMARY TABLE
| Preview | Description | Pros | Cons | The Verdict | Price |
| Adidas Powerlift 3 Weightlifting Shoes | Made of lightweight synthetic leather
They have a lace closure and a Velcro strap to ensure tightness Open forefoot that offers breathability and good flexion The midsole wedge is light but offers good stability. The outsole is made from a durable, anti-slip rubber and offers maximum grip, ensuring that you are able to keep your feet firmly in place
|
It only weighs 15 oz which makes it the best choice for beginners
0.6” elevation in the heel helps hit depth when doing squats |
Limited colorways
The soles are softer compared to Adipower and Nike Romaleos thus giving you a feeling of a little instability whenever the sides compress |
These are a good starter set of weightlifting shoes. The 0.6” elevation of the heels are perfect for squatting and benching. If you are looking for your first pair of weightlifting shoes and you’re still experimenting, then this is a great choice for you- they are affordably priced for a reliable brand, plus they look good too.
|
$90 |
| Adidas Power Perfect II Multisport Shoes | A multisport shoe that is aimed at people who do weightlifting and CrossFit.
They are a snug fit, and they offer not just a good angle for squatting, but also lots of support for the ankle as well. When these are tightly laced up, the ankles will feel like they are clamped securely, and the tibia will be straight and planted. This means that you are forced to be standing with optimal foot positioning, and you will get lots of support for your squat. Not ideal for deadlifting, because the angle of the heel and the nature of the ankle support greatly limits the amount of heel drive that you can get. Perfect for squats. The tightness of the shoe means that you would struggle to walk around in these for long. They are not the kind of shoe that you would walk to the gym in – although as an indoor-only, multisport shoe you would not necessarily expect that to be the case. |
Really hard heels. It can handle more than 200 kgs of weights
Flat soles that gives little to no flexion They fit true to size |
Not so comfortable to walk around with because of its form. Power Perfect II doesn’t flex so you need to wear a different pair before you do liftings.
It only comes with one colorway. |
As a mid-range weightlifting shoes, Power Perfect II is a great investment and perfect for amateur weightlifters. The quality is superb. You’ll be getting almost just the same as other higher priced weightlifting shoes. If you love red, white and black and you’re looking for something that will give you stronger support when doing squats then this just makes it the perfect shoe for you. | $119 |
| More Mile Super Lift 3 | Budget pair of weightlifting shoes that are popular with Olympic Weightlifters and with others who primarily do barbell lifting.
Well reviewed and generally well made, with a breathable upper and padded tongue. The heel is very stiff, offering good stability. The forefoot has molded rubber, that helps to provide good grip while doing some of the more athletic lifts. Quite plain looking compared to other shoes. The shoe sizing tends to run slightly smaller than stated, so it may be worth purchasing half a size larger than you would in other brands. |
They are very sturdy for the price. It will make you feel that it would take years before it breaks down. | They do feel slightly bulky and a little on the heavy side
One thing you need to look out for are the buckles. The tend to move a bit when you tighten the shoe so be careful not to snap them in two. They are slightly tight but will eventually stretch with more wear. |
These shoes serve their purpose really well and are really of great value for money. | $40 |
| Not the traditional weightlifting shoes. They are more of a multisport shoe with a flat sole and modest cushioning.
Heels aren’t raised. Offers grip and stability making it acceptable shoes for lifting. For some people that find lifting barefoot or in flat soled shoes is fine for them, then this shoe is what you need. Many lifters use these shoes to help them squat more comfortably while they are doing CrossFit style workouts where they want to be able to also do box jumps, burpees, or other exercises that require more ankle mobility than a standard wedged-heel shoe would provide. |
Incredibly lightweight (10 oz)
Super sleek design Fits like a glove |
The heels aren’t raised which wouldn’t really help you during squats | If you’re into some serious weightlifting and that is your only focus then these aren’t the shoes we would recommend however for a beginner this is something you might want. They are really comfortable to wear, it gives you the right kind of grip and support a beginner’s needs. | $70 | |
| A mid-range/affordable brand of Olympic Lifting shoe that offer great support, and a generous heel.
They have a non-slip rubber sole and a 2CM heel. They offer good stability, to allow people to lift heavy weights without losing their balance. These shoes run slightly larger than you might expect, so you may need to buy a smaller size than normal. They are well reviewed, as the company has a lot of expertise in making shoes for weightlifters. Can be used for snatch, clean, squats and overhead presses. The heel looks padded, but it does not compress at all. These are for weightlifting workouts only. Good choice for someone who is starting to get serious about lifting, and wants good support, and a comfortable fit |
Fair price for a weightlifting shoe offering double straps
You can choose the height of the heel. It comes with either ½” or ¾”. |
The Velcro straps and laces are long
Some minor quality control issues. You might find one measurement not equivalent to another but it doesn’t really affect its purpose. The wooden heel is quite uncomfortable and painful. |
Great shoes for a reasonable price. However, if you plan to do other sports with it, this is not for you. These shoes are only made for powerlifting and Olympic lifting. | $95 |
Best Powerlifting & Weightlifting Shoes for Flat Feet