Post: #1

I know foot wear is important when lifting, what do you guys use when doing exercises like deadlifting/squating.

Post: #2

Otomix - excellent for that sort of thing. for anything calf related go Dunlop Volleys, the rubber is really grippy which helps for raises on the leg press and you only have part of your foot on the platform.

Post: #3

So Like this?


http://www.amazon.com/adidas-Pretereo-2-...rds=otomix

Post: #4

I haven't used those look much the same.

http://otomix.stores.yahoo.net/ultrain.html

these are the ones I have, last pair survived 4 years of training and I only threw them out because they got WAY too putrid smell wise. but the tread is a good compound that gives good flex but hardly wears down (and I used them on morning cardio).

Post: #5

Chucks or any shoe with a flat sole. Some dudes just take off the shoes and lift in their socks. Each and every person has their preference or what feels right to them. I suggest trial and error to find what works for you because what may work for us wont necessarily work for you.

Post: #6

(10-22-2014 01:59 AM)PrimeTime32 Wrote:  Chucks or any shoe with a flat sole. Some dudes just take off the shoes and lift in their socks. Each and every person has their preference or what feels right to them. I suggest trial and error to find what works for you because what may work for us wont necessarily work for you.

agreed, personally I hate lifting without orthotics any time I do or shoes without support (like chucks) my ankles would be aching for days.

Post: #7

Vibram five fingers for everything but front squats and olympic lifts. For those I wear, well, olympic weightlifting shoes because I want some heel lift.

The most important thing is to wear a shoe with an incompressible sole. Whether or not you want some heel in your shoe and how much depends on what lifts you want to do, your flexibility, your skeletal structure, etc.

Post: #8

I wear flat canvas shoes. Pretty much like the shoes you see in old kung fu flicks.

Post: #9

I prefer barefoot; unfortunately, most gyms won't allow that. Go with some Vibrams or very lightweight shoes as an alternative.

I read a great article on the importance of barefoot training recently by a guy who trains pro football players, but I can't seem to find it.

I'm Here.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #10

(10-22-2014 03:44 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  I prefer barefoot; unfortunately, most gyms won't allow that. Go with some Vibrams or very lightweight shoes as an alternative.

I read a great article on the importance of barefoot training recently by a guy who trains pro football players, but I can't seem to find it.

I second that. Barefoot rules.
As BB said, use Vibrams or something lightweight.
Personally I can't use fivefingers because my toes are pretty crooked so it's a hassle to get them on.

I know a few people who had longtime unexplainable neck or back problems.
They started with barefoot walking/running and the pain dissappeared.
Avoiding as much as possible to walk with shoes was the solution.

Shoes can be good, but they can also be bad.

Going for a run on the beach or on the grass in barefoot is awesome.

Post: #11

Olympic weightlifting shoes for squats (all variations) and bench, Barefoot shoes (not Vibram, other brands) for deadlift and everything else including conditioning and running.

Post: #12

(10-22-2014 03:44 AM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  I prefer barefoot; unfortunately, most gyms won't allow that. Go with some Vibrams or very lightweight shoes as an alternative.

I read a great article on the importance of barefoot training recently by a guy who trains pro football players, but I can't seem to find it.

Here's the article I was referring to: http://articles.elitefts.com/training-ar...-training/

His bio, for the sake of those tempted to write the concept off as hippy shite:

Martin Rooney is an internationally recognized athletic performance specialist, author and physical therapist. He is the creator of the Training for Warriors system and presents for training organizations, major universities and professional teams worldwide. Martin has been a consultant to athletes from the NFL, UFC, MLB, NBA, WNBA, and has also trained numerous Olympians including one gold, four silver medalists. Martin has also developed one of the nation's leading NFL Combine training programs which has produced 21 official 4.3 second 40's at the actual Combine and 127 athletes Martin has trained have been drafted to the NFL. Once a champion Division I track and field athlete and member of the United States Bobsled team, Martin is currently a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a black belt in Kodokan Judo. Martin is the Chief Operating Officer of the Parisi Speed School which currently has over 60 franchises in 28 states across the country.

I'm Here.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #13

Many pains and aches that people have start from the feet up.
If you watch someones feet in slow motion while they are running, you can see many different mechanisms taking place.
Theres many, many muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments in the foot, and they should be exercised.
When people wear big shoes all the time, it prevents this.
Often times people get the big fancy shoes with cushions, all this advanced shit in the shoe because they have pain in their knees, hips, back etc.
This is just a band aid over the problem. They have some sort of muscular imbalance in their body, either stemming from their feet/ankles from always wearing shoes, or in the back / hips from sitting and having inactive muscles.
Like other people have said, use bare feet or thin shoes without cushioning over the heel.
Doing muay thai, we always do exercise and mobility for the feet and ankles.
This helps greatly with squat depth, running, and deadlift technique.
If you just google ankle mobility and strengthening the feet, you will find exercises.
When people go barefoot then get injured, often times it is not because barefoot is bad, but because their feet and ankles were too weak/inflexible from years of inactivity and they started too quickly.

Post: #14

Squat/Press: Weightlifting shoes. I've been using Adidas Adipower for several years, just ordered another pair tonight. The gold standard.

Bench: Chucks or low rise tennis shoes. Largely irrelevant for this particular lift.

DL: Barefoot or deadlift slippers (since I recently switched to Sumo).

Post: #15

I've become a big fan of barefoot (or just socks). Fortunately its pretty much encouraged in my crossfit gym.

Post: #16

Low top Converse. Need flat shoes for squats and deadlifts.

Post: #17

(10-22-2014 05:23 AM)StrikeBack Wrote:  Olympic weightlifting shoes for squats (all variations) and bench, Barefoot shoes (not Vibram, other brands) for deadlift and everything else including conditioning and running.

I'm a big fan of the barefoot thing and rock these for the gym:
http://www.vivobarefoot.com/au/mens/stea...yal%20Blue

There are a couple of differing opinions on this thread, can anyone outline the main benefits of going with a dedicated weightlifting shoe for some lifts?

Post: #18

I wear Nike Romaleos 2 for nearly all my lifts. I definitely wear them when doing squats or overhead press. I was even wearing them while doing conventional deadlifts (you get more quad activation). I was not having much luck in them with sumos though so I think I may go barefoot. Bench press I wear whatever.

Post: #19

Adidas boxing boots

Post: #20

I wear these very thin-soled, flat sneaker-type shoes I got from Zara of all places. I plan to buy weightlifting shoes (Nike Romaleos) soon though.

Post: #21

flat-soled canvass shoes, cheap ones from H&M. I was wearing basketball sneakers and these helped me experience less pain with Squat, deadlift, etc.

Post: #22

I've had both the Romaleos and the Adipowers, and IMHO the Adipowers are superior. The Romaleos are stout, but extremely heavy and somewhat clunky. I ended up selling them in favor of the Adipowers, which I've just purchased a new pair of the SLICK black ones (I've had the reds for almost two years now with no complaints). The adipowers are relatively light, sleek, fit tight like a glove and provide rock solid support for maximizing kinetic chain work, particularly on the squat.

FWIW - I strongly endorse getting cedar shoe trees for your lifters, as well ; you can get them at a fair price @ Nordstrom Rack, or Costco on occasion for VERY cheap ($5/pair). They keep any odors out, suck out moisture and help the shoe keep it's form. I learned the hard way with my initial pair of weightlifting shoes (Rogues) while fouling them up over the course of a year before upgrading and taking better precautionary care of my gear.

Post: #23

I just ware Nike Air Force 1's High

Post: #24

In high school and for a few years after, I used to always wear my wrestling shoes while working out. Very lightweight.

I'm Here.

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #25

As said, flat soled (and solid sole) shoes for any lift that requires stability or legs:
-Squats, DL, Lunges, Heavy bench/overhead press, etc.

The problem with malleable soled shoes is that they are like morphine for your feet...it makes it very difficult for your body to find a sense of stability during an exercise.

Bad shoes will make it much more difficult to use proper form when lifting, especially if you are just learning an exercise.

You can, to an extent, analogize lifting with spongy running shoes to lifting with tiny yoga balls glued to your feet. Because the shape of the shoe deforms under increased load (when you deadlift the barbell), the shoe may push on your feet unevenly such that your form suffers. Just as you can feel a yoga ball deform when you step on it, the shoe deforms during the exercise and makes it harder to feel out the correct form when you're lifting on a "deforming floor".

I use the spongy nike running shoes for Bi/Tri/Back/Abs/Cardio days, and these ultra-snug flat-soled Pumas (they were intended to be a driving shoe...) a couple years ago for Quads, Calfs, Hams, LB, Chest. They have taken lots of leg day abuse, every week, for the past two years. But the outer material has stretched enough (no longer snug) to justify getting a replacement pair. The new ones seem to have a slightly narrower tread, but not significantly different.

Just ordered 'em today.

Link:
http://us.puma.com/en_US/pd/speed-cat-sd...05#start=1