Shoes?

kaorinchan
kaorinchan Posts: 37 Member
edited January 2016 in Social Groups
The most recommendations I see are for chucks but my feet are too wide to fit my chucks after my last pregnancy, apparently my pregnancy turned me into a duck.. Anyway- what's your next recommendation that maybe won't break the bank! I looked for this in the summary and FAQ but could've missed it

Replies

  • Fittreelol
    Fittreelol Posts: 2,535 Member
    Are men's chucks too narrow as well?
  • kaorinchan
    kaorinchan Posts: 37 Member
    Yes :(
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    i wear an $8 pair of airwalks that i found in some hell-hole of a place like walmart. idk if that would work for you though as my feet are long and skinny like a marshwiggle's.

    my understanding is that you can get by with any flat, rigid-soled shoe. you want to be able to feel as if the entire sole of your foot is in strong contact with the ground, toes included. and you want an absence of cushioning as that absorbs (i.e. wastes) force and could be destabilizing.

    other things to watch out for are slippy soles. you're supposed to brace your feet hard against the ground for some lifts, and a slip at a bad moment could potentially be a bad thing. coming out of the hole on a squat, for instance, or while using leg drive for your bench.

    many people lift barefoot, if that's an option for you. i've also seriously considered lifting in my hiking/bad-weather boots :)
  • Fittreelol
    Fittreelol Posts: 2,535 Member
    Boo. I have some men's chucks because the women's are too narrow for me and I find them quite roomy so you might have some issues. As Canadianlbs said any flat rigid-soled shoe would work. Examples of these are: chuck style shoes (maybe a storebrand somewhere would work?), skateboard shoes, driving shoes, and wrestling shoes. Good luck!
  • krokador
    krokador Posts: 1,794 Member
    If you have the money for them, the crossfit Nanos 3+ have rather roomy toe areas while serving some sort of hybrid between flat shoes and a hard sole. I love mine (I got the 4.0 but I seem to remember the larger toebox started at 3 and I tried those on at one point, too). I have really wide out pinkie toes because I have refused to get anything that squished them for the most part (that's how your feet are SUPPOSED to be, anyway!). I can't wear women's shoes but meh, I don't tend to like the colors, anyway xP

    As a reference, my lil sis who has gained a lot of weight, and barely fits into her own shoes anymore because of that, tried my nano's on and thought they were super comfy and was going to buy herself a pair to work in until I told her they were workout shoes and the sole would not be good for a long time standing. You can prolly get the 4.0s at a discount at any sports store by now.
  • kaorinchan
    kaorinchan Posts: 37 Member
    Thanks ladies! I'm going to look for these next week! Hopefully stores will have my size so I can try them on. I found some Adidas sambas that seem flat with little cush at DSW, may try those if I can't find any of the suggestions! Thanks again
  • DeadsAndDoritos
    DeadsAndDoritos Posts: 267 Member
    edited January 2016
    Double post
  • Llamapants86
    Llamapants86 Posts: 1,221 Member
    Honestly, I just use my cheap flat dress shoes after they get too beat up to wear at work. It looks a little funny, but they have grip, keep me from stepping on something sharp in my basement and give me a flat and solid base.
  • DDHFree
    DDHFree Posts: 502 Member
    Does anyone think there's a strong case for squat shoes with a slight lift at the heel? I am only in my 2nd week so I am really focused on form. I feel like I could squat better if the heels had a lift but of course I'm not certain. I have invested in everything that I need for my program; however, shoes are the last thing that I still feel I need to purchase. Just not sure if I should go for a pair Chuck Taylor or get a squat shoe.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    i sometimes squat in my runners because they do have a slight slope. in theory it's a big no-no, but i have a cranky left ankle and that changes things. i'd rather have the slightly mushy footprint than deal with the things that my spine and my pelvis do when that ankle just won't flex and the weight ends up in front of me on only one side. i'm not into tearing the tendon to force that heel down, either.

    you could experiment first with putting the gym's smallest plates under your heels, just to see how it feels. the 2.5's are only about half an inch thick.
  • andylllI
    andylllI Posts: 379 Member
    Marsh wiggle! :D CS Lewis.

    I work out in socks. Or bare feet. At home. Any neutral shoe will do. I have lifted in chucks and Nike frees. But my feet are narrow. I would maybe check online retailers for wide sizes - any cross fit shoe should do or any running shoe with a neutral bed (no heel lift). There are also people that lift in aqua socks. Does your gym have rules?
  • krokador
    krokador Posts: 1,794 Member
    DDHFree wrote: »
    Does anyone think there's a strong case for squat shoes with a slight lift at the heel? I am only in my 2nd week so I am really focused on form. I feel like I could squat better if the heels had a lift but of course I'm not certain. I have invested in everything that I need for my program; however, shoes are the last thing that I still feel I need to purchase. Just not sure if I should go for a pair Chuck Taylor or get a squat shoe.

    I'd say you should work on making sure you can hit depth and have proper ankle mobility to squat without them before you go for the raised heel shoes. They're meant as an aid, not a crutch. Not addressing the issue of tight ankles will bite you in the buttocks later on. Also, you don't really wanna try to deadlift in squat shoes. It messes with your leverages. The closer to the ground your feet are, the better, IMO.
  • kaorinchan
    kaorinchan Posts: 37 Member
    Yep, must wear shoes. I'm planning to see what stores have in stock on Friday before ordering any online. I like the instant gratification lol.
    andylllI wrote: »
    Marsh wiggle! :D CS Lewis.

    I work out in socks. Or bare feet. At home. Any neutral shoe will do. I have lifted in chucks and Nike frees. But my feet are narrow. I would maybe check online retailers for wide sizes - any cross fit shoe should do or any running shoe with a neutral bed (no heel lift). There are also people that lift in aqua socks. Does your gym have rules?

  • fanncy0626
    fanncy0626 Posts: 7,152 Member
    I go barefoot at home!
  • Ariadnula
    Ariadnula Posts: 435 Member
    I would try barefoot, but our gym has a big sign up right in front of the rack saying that 'proper training shoes must be worn'. I see people ignoring it, but i'm too rule-abiding!
  • DawnEmbers
    DawnEmbers Posts: 2,451 Member
    I like squats and deadlifts in socks, but so far the nike cross bionic aren't too bad. There isn't a whole lot to them, no lift or padding. Plus they were on sale.

    The only signs I've seen at the gym are the ones saying people should put away the weights when they are done and not everyone follows that rule even. But I also was one to walk around the art building in college in just socks when doing long studio sessions for painting or drawing. I don't wear shoes at home either and I'd go without at work on occasion if I'd get away with it.
  • krokador
    krokador Posts: 1,794 Member
    Now I wonder if I could go lift in my grandma's comfy knitted slippers. It's not like they would slip on the rubber floor xD
  • Ariadnula
    Ariadnula Posts: 435 Member
    It's a strange rule. They don't want dirty feet or socks? Or they're worried you might drop things in your toes? My gym shoes aren't going to make much difference if I drop even a 5kg plate on my foot - ouch!

    My gym shoes are pretty flat, but I do keep meaning to buy some converse or something better. The weight specific shoes are all quite expensive.
  • krokador
    krokador Posts: 1,794 Member
    Ariadnula wrote: »
    It's a strange rule. They don't want dirty feet or socks? Or they're worried you might drop things in your toes? My gym shoes aren't going to make much difference if I drop even a 5kg plate on my foot - ouch!

    Dirty/smelly feet could be one thing, liability is another one. (Some people are dumb and are going to try to do box jumps barefoot...). I can vouch for my shoes not protecting me much when I drop things on my toes, but for having done burpees and fallen off a pull-up bar wrong while barefoot: shoes do have some protective capabilities :/
  • pandacember
    pandacember Posts: 2 Member
    Hello fellow large-of-foot lifter! I've had great luck with these. I'm a 8.5WW and I initially bought a 7, which was too short and too narrow.

    I then bought 4 pairs of a size 7.5 because they're discontinued and I wanted to stock up. The 7.5 fits snuggly but not uncomfortably, and I'm a happy camper.

    ...Did I mention they're on clearance for $2.50 a pair?
  • Deena_Bean
    Deena_Bean Posts: 906 Member
    I wear socks. That is all. (I have my lifting stuffs in my basement, so no need for such frivolous things as shoes) :D
  • Deena_Bean
    Deena_Bean Posts: 906 Member
    Hello fellow large-of-foot lifter! I've had great luck with these. I'm a 8.5WW and I initially bought a 7, which was too short and too narrow.

    I then bought 4 pairs of a size 7.5 because they're discontinued and I wanted to stock up. The 7.5 fits snuggly but not uncomfortably, and I'm a happy camper.

    ...Did I mention they're on clearance for $2.50 a pair?

    I feel like I have to buy these because they're nearly giving them away.
  • pandacember
    pandacember Posts: 2 Member
    Deena_Bean wrote: »
    I feel like I have to buy these because they're nearly giving them away.
    That's why I stocked up. :smile:
    They were recommended as a wide-width lifting shoe but once I saw the price I went a little bananas.
  • kaorinchan
    kaorinchan Posts: 37 Member
    Ah! Thank you! I wish they had my size! I'm all around big haha- size 10 wide