Can you help me pick the best shoes for lifting heavy

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Replies

  • christylynnrn
    christylynnrn Posts: 32 Member
    I used to have the same problem of my feet going numb, either all of my foot or the outer half, whenever I wore Nikes. Only Nike shoes did it, no matter how tight or loose the laces were, no matter what I was doing. The only thing that fixed it was changing shoe brands. Some shoes are made differently and just don't fit certain foot types. Switched shoes, problem gone. On the weight lifting note, unfortunately my gym won't allow barefoot or socks, so looking to invest in Chucks very soon, had luck with them in the past. Flat and hard is definitely the way to go :)
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    and where- oh please where are you all getting chucks for 40 bucks?

    Pretty sure mine came from Kohl's

    Also Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Converse-Chuck-Taylor-Black-Canvas/dp/B002VGTRUK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390394978&sr=8-2&keywords=chuck+taylor+converse
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    and where- oh please where are you all getting chucks for 40 bucks?

    Pretty sure mine came from Kohl's

    Also Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Converse-Chuck-Taylor-Black-Canvas/dp/B002VGTRUK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1390394978&sr=8-2&keywords=chuck+taylor+converse

    werd.

    must have just been the store I was in raping people over the shoes. I was completely shocked.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    I have been lifting heavy off and on for 2 years now but never had the correct shoes. I have Nikes, plixar (sp) and lunar3's. Not the best for lifting. My feet actually go numb alot when i lift and during cardio. I need everyones opinion on what type works well for you?

    Thank you :)

    I like my five fingers, particularly on deadlifts. Those things really let your toes dig in to the floor.
  • RachelRuns9
    RachelRuns9 Posts: 585 Member
    my fav barefoot shoes for running & lifting are Vivo Barefoot, b/c they have the widest toe box I've encountered yet.
  • tabithajoyy
    tabithajoyy Posts: 680 Member
    I used to have the same problem of my feet going numb, either all of my foot or the outer half, whenever I wore Nikes. Only Nike shoes did it, no matter how tight or loose the laces were, no matter what I was doing. The only thing that fixed it was changing shoe brands. Some shoes are made differently and just don't fit certain foot types. Switched shoes, problem gone. On the weight lifting note, unfortunately my gym won't allow barefoot or socks, so looking to invest in Chucks very soon, had luck with them in the past. Flat and hard is definitely the way to go :)

    OHHHH, ok! Well looks like ima have to give up my nikes. I love them for just everyday wear but not for working out. I like them most in the summer bc i run every so often and i use the chip in them.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Barefoot or I use wrestling shoes which are as flat as Chuck's.

    They're isn't a pair of Chuck's that are wide enough for my big feet.
  • TwoPointZero
    TwoPointZero Posts: 187 Member
    For squats and deads, the flattest thing you can find: bare feet, chucks, vans, or whatever.
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    For deadlift, Merrell trail runners with the vibram sole but chucks or a similar shoe will work as effectively. For squat and bench an olympic shoe with a heel but they aren't cheap.
  • sewerchick93
    sewerchick93 Posts: 1,438 Member
    I wear either chucks or new balance minimus
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    rebook and adidas make dedicated lifting shoes. which as many have said, are basically just flat. most people probably wont get much extra benefit out of them. i've always been just fine with cross trainners.

    but i'd recommend rebook over any other brand. they have a lifting shoe you put into the oven so it gets a custom fit.

    you might just need new shoes
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    For deadlift, Merrell trail runners with the vibram sole but chucks or a similar shoe will work as effectively. For squat and bench an olympic shoe with a heel but they aren't cheap.

    not sure how a shoe is going to benefit your bench press much, especially anything in the heal.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    For deadlift, Merrell trail runners with the vibram sole but chucks or a similar shoe will work as effectively. For squat and bench an olympic shoe with a heel but they aren't cheap.

    not sure how a shoe is going to benefit your bench press much, especially anything in the heal.

    You don't press through the heels on bench?? I don't' know if I would want shoes- but I can see the lift/height being helpful.
  • DrMAvDPhD
    DrMAvDPhD Posts: 2,097 Member
    Vibrams or other minimalist shoes. I use Vibrams.
  • juliewatkin
    juliewatkin Posts: 764 Member
    For deadlift, Merrell trail runners with the vibram sole but chucks or a similar shoe will work as effectively. For squat and bench an olympic shoe with a heel but they aren't cheap.

    not sure how a shoe is going to benefit your bench press much, especially anything in the heal.

    The advantage of an olympic shoe is that the sole tends to be wider allowing greater contact with the floor and stability. I find it aids in leg drive. In addition, if you compete, many federations require you to have your entire foot contacting the floor. With a heel, you can bring your legs farther back, forcing a higher arch while maintaining complete contact with the floor. A higher arch means a reduced range of motion. If you don't compete, there's no real reason to invest in them. Like I noted, they aren't cheap.
  • endlesswonderr
    endlesswonderr Posts: 91 Member
    ohh I was unaware that flat shoes were best for lifting.. hmm I suppose I now have an excuse to whip out my old chucks!
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Least expensive to most expensive
    Barefoot
    Socks
    Chucks
    New Balance Minimums
    Vibrums
    Power lifting shoes

    roughly- I mean the chucks/vibrams/minimalist shoes all run you from 70-150. but you get the idea.
    You can get knockoff chucks from Walmart for under 20. That's what I use if I don't feel like going barefoot.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    For deadlift, Merrell trail runners with the vibram sole but chucks or a similar shoe will work as effectively. For squat and bench an olympic shoe with a heel but they aren't cheap.

    not sure how a shoe is going to benefit your bench press much, especially anything in the heal.
    Well, I'm guessing you don't know how to bench press.
  • NHLeah
    NHLeah Posts: 48 Member
    I use these for weight training and cardio kickboxing.

    http://www.amazon.com/ZEMGEAR-WELLNESS-UNISEX-BAREFOOT-ACTIVITIES/dp/B005HGPW5K/ref=sr_1_1?s=shoes&ie=UTF8&qid=1390608329&sr=1-1&keywords=ninja+shoes
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member

    You don't press through the heels on bench?? I don't' know if I would want shoes- but I can see the lift/height being helpful.

    no
    The advantage of an olympic shoe is that the sole tends to be wider allowing greater contact with the floor and stability. I find it aids in leg drive. In addition, if you compete, many federations require you to have your entire foot contacting the floor. With a heel, you can bring your legs farther back, forcing a higher arch while maintaining complete contact with the floor. A higher arch means a reduced range of motion. If you don't compete, there's no real reason to invest in them. Like I noted, they aren't cheap.

    ok good answer. I learned that an arch in your back is good form for bench, i can't really do that if i'm trying to push my heels into the ground while lying on the bench. i'm more on the balls of my feet to neutral

    i see a lot of guys with thier feet completely off the ground during bench. not sure what the point of that is either
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member

    You don't press through the heels on bench?? I don't' know if I would want shoes- but I can see the lift/height being helpful.

    no
    The advantage of an olympic shoe is that the sole tends to be wider allowing greater contact with the floor and stability. I find it aids in leg drive. In addition, if you compete, many federations require you to have your entire foot contacting the floor. With a heel, you can bring your legs farther back, forcing a higher arch while maintaining complete contact with the floor. A higher arch means a reduced range of motion. If you don't compete, there's no real reason to invest in them. Like I noted, they aren't cheap.

    ok good answer. I learned that an arch in your back is good form for bench, i can't really do that if i'm trying to push my heels into the ground while lying on the bench. i'm more on the balls of my feet to neutral

    i see a lot of guys with thier feet completely off the ground during bench. not sure what the point of that is either

    full body = arch and push through the ground
    isolation chest= flat on the bench- no push through.

    My friend had the same issue- no pushing through the heels- he was on his toes- his arch is okay.

    but it's more than possible to be flat footed- just lift your toes up- you'll find it's not so hard to push through your heels with the arch.

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