Are you looking for the best shoes for lifting weights and running ? If so, you’re at the right place!
One of the best investments you can make is to purchase a proper pair of weightlifting shoes. But picking out a pair can be difficult. You might not know what to look for and the amount of options can be overwhelming.
I have done all the hard work for you and compiled a list of the best weightlifting shoes for 2019! Let’s start off with the best weightlifting shoe for 2019, the Adidas Men’s Adipower Weightlifting shoes.
After we go through the list of the best weightlifting shoes, I will discuss why you should even buy weightlifting shoes and what you should be looking for in a good weightlifting shoe. I will also discuss a big weightlifting secret that will help you tremendously.
Table could not be displayed.1. Adidas Men’s Adipower Weightlifting Shoes
This is without a doubt the best weightlifting shoes for 2019. The original red Adidas Adipower (show in the right) was released in the spring of 2012, just in time for the Olympics tournament. The Adidas Adipower is a proper Olympic weightlifting shoe.
It has a revolutionary 3/4 inch support structure in the heel and a solid strap in the instep. Fun fact— these shoes were the first to utilize the TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) heel technology. This heel design is important as it makes the shoe lighter, stronger, and longer lasting, as compared to the previous model (the Adidas AdiStars) which was made out of wood. The heel provides a very stable and strong foundation.
Squatting in these shoes is an absolute pleasure. There is zero wobble and the shoe grips the ground perfectly. And most importantly, they allow you to squat deeper due to the raised heel.
Another major improvement found in this shoe is its construction. The body is made from a PU coated rubber to increase durability, ventilation, and flexibility. This material is very stiff and breaking into them might take some time. Lastly, the strap count was reduced from three (Adistar) to one.
I have used both the Adistars and the Adipowers and I personally prefer a single, solid strap. It is more aesthetically pleasing.
2. Reebok Men’s Lifter PR Cross-trainer Shoe
Now, for the second best shoe for lifting weights and running for 2019.
As suggested by the name, this shoe was designed for one thing— smashing personal records. Like the Adidas Adipower, this shoe comes with a TPU heel (POWERBAX TPU) but lacks the stability provided from the Adipower. Don’t get me wrong, the Reebok lifter is very secure, but the Adipower is on another level.
What you get instead is one of the most comfortable fits of any weightlifting shoe. The U-FORM technology provides a custom-fit that molds to the shape of your feet.
The air-mesh tongue and anti-friction lining limit moisture from building up during intense workouts. The ankle cut is lower than the Adipower and allows for much wider range of movement for the ankles.
The Reebok Lifter is a bit cheaper than the Adidas Adipower (click here to check price on amazon.com), but the one thing it does not sacrifice on is comfort. As far as construction goes, this shoe is on par with the Adipower. It comes equipped with double rubber out-soles and dual hook-and-loop closure.
The double strap closure locks down your feet for a very secure fit. There is a non-restrictive nature to this shoe that I absolutely love. I also admire the design and style of this shoe. If you are on a budget, this shoe is perfect for you. The only real cons I find with this shoe is that it has a long break in time, fits slightly larger than normal, and the Velcro strap seemed to ruin the laces.
Here’s the bottom line: If you are a serious lifter and want optimal stability, go with the Adidas Adipower. If you are not as serious and want to give up a little stability for unparalleled comfort and style, go with with Reebok Lifter.
3. Inov-8 Men’s Fastlift 335 Weight-Lifting Shoe
When writing this list I placed a high priority on affordability. If it wasn’t for that, this shoe would surely rank number 1. The Inov-8 Men’s Fastlift 335 is one of my favorite shoes for lifting weight and running.
It is a shoe that delivers extremely well in specs and design. The most impressive thing is its weight. Inov claims that this is the lightest weightlifting shoe at 335 grams (as referenced by the name).
The platform heel provides outstanding support for the heel and outside edge of the foot. This platform is extremely sturdy and does not compress at all under heavy weight. Another amazing aspect is the traction this shoe provides.
After testing this shoe for a few days I felt that my feet were cemented into the ground. But the best thing I noticed was its flexibility and how normal it made walking feel. As a matter of fact, this shoe is marketed for cross-fit. The fact that a weightlifting shoe can feel so secure and flexible enough to use for cross-fit is absolutely exceptional. And this is what you are paying a high price for.
Here’s the bottom line: This shoe is perfect for you if 1) you are a serious weightlifter that needs a stable and secure shoe 2) you also like to participate in cross-fit and 3) you have extra money to shell out.
4. Nordic Powerlifting Shoes
Here’s another excellent shoe for lifting weight and running . The Nordic Powerlifting is shoe created to help with your posture when performing squats, deadlines, or any leg presses.
They are specially designed to have a massive heel, with an exact height of 1.4”. This raised heel grants you the ability and the benefit for deeper squats.They are also packaged with a good quality box which would ensure they wont come damaged.
This shoe has made it easier for me to have the correct posture when doing my exercises. I purchased these to help with my squats and they have exceeded my expectation. They are made from high quality material and reinforced stitching.
Here’s the bottom line: These are a pair of highly supportive shoes. They are also quite inexpensive. I find them suitable for two groups of people— the weightlifter on a budget and the novice athlete venturing into the world lifting.
If you find yourself in any of these two groups, purchase these shoes. You won’t be disappointed! They will gives the confidence to push hard and excel in all your lifts.
5. Otomix Black Stingray Escape Weightlifting & Grappling Shoes
Here is something a little different. The Otomix Black Stingray is unlike any of the weightlifting shoes I mentioned thus far. For starters, they look more like a wrestling shoe than anything else.
They are completely flat with thin soles and are very popular among weightlifters. Some weightlifters do not prefer raised heels as they can be troublesome when loaded with excessive weights. And by excessive I mean squatting with 400+ lbs plus on your back.
If you do not have good flexibility I would suggest a raised heel. Not only do they lack raised heels, but they also lack cushioning, although they have a thin rubber sole with excellent grip. This is actually the ideal characteristics for the deadlifting.
No cushioning means no force is lost and the strong grip is important for exercises like the sumo deadlift. The high top ankle design gives support to the ankles which is also very important in deadlifts.
If you want to squat in these shoes do not lase up all the way and skip a few of the top most eyelets. This will prevent too much restriction in ankle movement.
Here’s the bottom line: These weightlifting shoes are for serious powerlifters. If you are squatting, you must make sure you have enough flexibility to drop low enough without raised heels.
The shoe design and construction is actually optimal for deadlifting, so you should see major improvements here. For all other movements, the shoe will provide excellent grip with the ground.
Why Should I Wear Weightlifting Shoes?
Why should you even wear weightlifting shoes in the first place? To explain, let’s draw an analogy to trucks. What dictates how powerful a pick up truck is? If you answered torque, you are absolutely correct.
With high torque, a pick-up truck can haul massive amounts of weight. Besides being a big buzzword in the trucking industry, torque is one of the most important and least talked about concepts in fitness. If you want to generate more power in your lifts, you must understand torque.
First let’s think about where our arms and legs meet the skeleton- the glutes/hamstrings at the hips and the traps and rotator cuff muscles at the shoulders. Think of these muscles as the powerful engines of the body.
So how do you use torque in the gym? By positioning your arms and legs into stable positions before and during a lift. For example, when you “screw” your feet into the floor before squatting you initiate a high amount of torque at the hip joints.
This motion “screws” your legs into your skeleton and transfers the work your “engines” produce into the lift. This applies to any movement where you legs come in contact with the floor.
The Broomstick Test
Perform the following experiment if you are still not convinced. First find a broomstick and a towel. The broomstick will represent the leg bone and the towel will represent the structures that join the leg bone to the hip joints.
First wrap the towel around the broom stick without twisting. As you can see, the slack allows for a lot of movement but will put strain on your muscles. Now twist the towel (mimicking torque) and recognize how a much more stable structure is created. Therefore torque creates stability, stability transfers power optimally, and more power results in higher performance in the gym.
But screwing your feet into the ground is futile if you are working with improper shoes. The weightlifting shoes I reviewed above will help you plant your feet strongly into the ground and transfer the most power possible into your movements.
What do I mean by improper shoes? Running shoes, for instance. These shoes are all about absorbing force. This is excellent for running, but not for weightlifting!
Rather than absorbing force, you need shoes that can help use all the force your body generates and transfer it into your lifts. The better planted your feet are, the more force you produce, the more you can lift.
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