How many of you go barefoot on leg training days? What’s your thoughts on training barefoot? Are the barefoot shoes a good alternative/helpful?
I’ve been wearing Bearfoot shoes (company owned by Chris Duffin, so you know a lifter is behind it) for over a year now.
This is the style I primarily wear
For leg days in particular, I wear weightlifting shoes, because I want an elevated heel for squatting, but I’ll use these for walking/rucking, along with strongman events, non-squatting exercises (they’re great for deadlifts/pulls/good mornings), and honestly any time I’m outside the house. I own 2 pairs of those lowtops, one pair of loafers, and a pair of boots.
Going with bearfoot/minimalist shoes has been huge for me. It’s awesome letting my feet settle naturally, rather than get squished into a pair of shoes.
I normally use old-school Chucks most of the time. I know some people like the ankle support of a higher model, but I prefer the flexibility it allows while providing a steady base.
Next is VIFUUR Water Sports Shoes. I know some powerlifters used to use ballet slippers, but this is slightly better. I’ve ran through snow with them, but it feels like a sock that can’t be punctured.
I do feel that for lifting, as close to barefoot is the way to go - so putting a high tech over-designed pillow on your feet might do them more harm than good.
I find it makes me focus more on “pushing the ground down” rather than “lifting the bar” which seems to lead to better form and and numbers, since it focuses your effort down, rather than up, for legs. I lift barefoot in my basement gym. I’m not going to go barefoot in a commercial gym. The men’s locker room is a petri dish.
These look cool. I might order them.
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I’m still blazing fashion trails in my vibram 5 fingers for all of my workouts at age 44. They are great for my old man workouts now and they were great when I squatted 500 in them in my 30’s. I have zero issues in my feet and ankles.
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Do any of you feel that ankle and feet work need to be done first before jumping right into barefoot/barefoot shoes training?
For close to 10 years I’ve just done air squats or, when I was a bit stronger and younger, empty bar squats to warm up. A set of 10 and then I’m on to working up in weight. Mostly just kettlebell front and overhead squats these days, occasional barbell squats.
That may change as I get older and I know plenty of people who swear by all kinds of mobility and warm-up work I’ve never found necessary.
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You could do a couple sets of high-rep calf raises - both seated and standing - as a warmup, but once you feel comfortable you can pass and do heavier calf stuff after the main workout.
But you don’t need to worry about it at all. I’m not even sure what a foot workout would look like. Toe Curls?
I have the day off, so maybe I’ll get a pedicure now. Vietnamese women will work your feet out.
This is what I squat and deadlift in. It feels weird to squat and deadlift in shoes, even something like metcons or nanos feel unstable
They also have a rubber sole so gyms that require shoes don’t have a problem with them.
I found no need to do this.
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In my 20s i trained barefoot, loved it
at 60…would not think of it nowadays
Not a fan. I like an elevated heel for squats, and I prefer a sticky sole for “spreading the floor” with deadlifts.
I’m not sure what the obsession with cavemen is, from diet through unnecessary barefoot training.
Keep in mind they had life expectancies of like 27 with skeletal remains often showing shitty wear & tear injuries, even at young ages.
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I love shoe talk!
My fetish right now is Nano 2.0 (wide toe box and outlandish colors) and the versa lift wedges. These things are awesome for sliding into my shoes and giving me an elevated heel when I want it, but easy to get rid of when I don’t.
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What changed for you?
My brother and I have set up a gym at my dad’s farm so I’m constantly barefooted for all my workouts unless I’m doing farmers walks and sprints, tyre flips, etc outside. The idea of going to a public gym and having to use shoes feels weird.
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IMO, the heavier you squat the better the case for shoes with ankle support. After feeling a slight ankle “tweak” squatting 495lbs, I switched the Chuck Taylor hightops. The ankle support was a welcome reassurance.
Age and saw someone with a foot accident in the gym
along with RT Nomads reason…squatting too heavy and wanted the ankle support
a reason why i don’t wear flip flops
This is a good point I hadn’t considered. In my low chucks I’ll do 315 for days, but my PR is only 455 for a double, so when you’re up to your levels it makes sense. OP, keep his advice in mind if you’re reaching that point.
I too am still rocking my five fingers for most of my workouts. Every now and again I’ll wear my Xeros instead. I don’t think I’d squat heavy in them though – when I was a mid 500# squatter I liked a shoe that had more support and a small heel. My ankle mobility has always sucked though.
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I tried heel elevation and it didn’t feel good to me at all. Same with Chuck Taylors. I find the vibrams much more stable for creating tension on squats.
There’s no special caveman thought process, they are just comfortable and have worked for me.
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I just “discovered” these, they’re great.
There’s a claim that wearing shoes that are the equivalent of bare feet helps with back issues; I don’t have back issues, so I can’t confirm or deny.
For you old people (I’m 62), keep in mind that falling is the bane of old folk (maybe not the people that post here), and balance begins from the feet, i.e. learning to grip with the toes. Helps with the expression of power, as exhibited by box jumps, as well, IMO.
#PeterAttiaCultMember
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