Hi,
I do full front squats (calf to thigh). I have been going at it barefoot. I am not moving a great deal of weight as of yet and have just made it to bodyweight.
As a beginner, is it reccomended to keep using barefeet to maintain flexibility or is it better to invest in shoes with heel elevation? Thanks for the input.
i wear boots
Thanks! I got my answer from post above.
I go barefoot. Infact, I’ve just came home from a morning of Squats.
Barefoot allows for more surface area, which means a safer platform to squat on. Also, it allows your feet to ‘grip’ and ‘spread’ the ground, which are important parts of good form.
Well, they’re more important when you’re moving big weight.
Barefoot makes you feel more grounded and probably works more leg muscles (ankle stability, etc).
I prefer barefoot but some bastards at my gym don’t permit it 
If you can pick, go barefoot.
I agree on the point of training barefoot. It great to be able to feel the floor properly when doing any standing work.
If your gym enforces shoes.
one should actually train their feet regularly
use these exercises
Barefeet is dangerous, sweaty feet= slippage, no support at all. Also chance of dropping the weight. Its much safer, and smarter to use shoes, either some converse or weight lifting shoes. You’ll find as you move up in weight it is safer and feels better to use shoes.
I do anything that has to do with leg training barefoot and I won’t ever go back to wearing shoes. I do however wear socks, as I lift at a commercial gym.
Depends on how you want to squat; hip-break I would go with barefoot or chucks, knee-break I would go with a heel.
I squat in shoes, but i do DL and OH work (mil press, push press etc) barefooted.
thats just…silly
Another question: which one have you found better when training calves? Obviously it makes quite a big difference.
barefoot whenever possible (i wear socks)
Shoes for calves, just to protect the bottom of my foot (400 lbs standing calf raises + edge of metal platform + barefoot = cut up foot)