Barefoot Vibrams or Chuck Taylors.

Cheapo Champions, and they are perfect.

http://www.target.com/p/women-s-c9-by-champion-impact-athletic-shoe-black-teal/-/A-14662345#prodSlot=_1_4

I'm guessing that the flatter sole of the chucks or zero sole if barefoot helps you push better?

I lift in my garage, so I need to wear something because I often find tiny screws, nails, etc on the ground and worry that I'll step on something. I've just been wearing my regular sneakers. When my husband lifts in there at the same time I am, I noticed that he takes his shoes off when he squats and DLs. I asked him and he said "helps me grip better," but he didn't say I should do it. He is definitely moving a lot more weight than me and wears his "yard shoes" CROCS :bigsmile: whenever he is out there and they offer zero support.

I do have a pair of old chuck taylors, I will try them out tomorrow.

Thanks for asking this question!

Used to do it with my regular shoes but found I had really bad balance on my heels and no "grip" to the floor so I went and bought some Nike Free - they were the cheapest decently "flat" shoes I could find here. While I like them they're still not the best, and there is still a good amount of grip I'm missing from using them as i've notices when I video my squats it looks like my heel raises from the floor even though my weight is distributed there. They're also a size too big so not awesome to do any sort of running or jumping xD

I tried lifting in my socks once (did a few deadlifts only because I only had my running shoes that day and ugh!) but got chewed on by the gym staff. They have a must-wear-shoes policy I guess

I'd really love to get my hands on some of the reebok nano's when I have a chance (read: probably next xmas when I get gift money! lol) but they're really hard to find over here to try on and I'm really skeezy about buying shoes online because I have a hard time finding ANYTHING that fits even in stores, lol.

Funnily enough, everyone here says Chucks - everyone everywhere does - and I'm not even sure I've ever seen ANYONE up here wear those, nor have I noticed them in stores. We Canadians... *shakes head*

For the converse wearing people, I have a quick question.

I have cray flat fleet (like walk in the sand, can't see an arch flat) so most of the time my Converse have an insert in them for day to day life. Should I take that out when I'm lifting because it will mess with my form, or can I leave it in? My feet don't hurt unless I'm doing insane amounts of walking without them, so a forty-five minute to hour stronglifts routine shouldn't be a problem.

@bangbang If your insoles are cushioned I would take them out. Otherwise it should be fine.

Thank you!

So, is it better to lift with no shoes on than in running shoes?

I can afford to go buy new chicks now, but I'll keep that in mind

If you lift at home, try it in your socks.
Some gyms get angry if you take off your shoes.
One of my gyms, I saw a dude kick off his sneaks all the time for deads. Another, I wouldnt have dared take off my shoes it was so yucky
And at a 3rd gym, I did kick off my shoes to lift.

Wore my chucks today for workout B. Ithey really did make a difference. I felt better connected to the ground, if that makes sense. During DL. And, zero wobble in my squats. Each rep felt stable and solid. Will continue wearing them!

I lift in my bare feet, but I lift at home. I wore my regular sneakers when I went to the gym. I've been thinking of getting some Chuck's.

I lift in Converse low tops. I've been tempted to get proper lifting shoes, but I don't feel like I'm serious enough to get them and I don't really want to shell out the cash for them lol

Chucks, becaue they feel perfect

at home lifter so barefoot

If I was at a gym I would ask about sock feet or get chucks, just cause I like them

If I get to the point where I am really getting heavy..I will invest in "proper lifting shoes"..until then I like looking at my toes.