I am looking for suggestions on picking good shoes for leg day. I’ve been lifting for a couple years now and found that most running shoes are horrible choices, I need something flat and less cushioned but really flexible.
If they are really cushioned, I can’t properly drive through my heels on squats and deadlift. My glorious Saucony Cohesion 13 shoes are some of the best shoes I’ve ever had for running, walking, working on hard concrete but they are terrible for lifting.
I’m not looking to buy anything specialized but I’m curious what style shoe you all have found most helpful.
Also I have fairly wide flat feet, if that matters.
I forgot to mention I went for a pair of Nike Metcon 7. Splendid shoes. To me they were a bit small in size, but once you get this figured out - you have a wonderful versatile and durable pair of lifters shoes. They actually withstand a four plate squat with preserved stability - and that says something. Much pleased with my choice (still, a year after much wear and tear). Highly recommended.
I like any flat footed shoes, chucks or skater shoes - really no difference.
If looking for something you can also use for stuff BESIDES squatting though, I really like my NoBull Trainers… most comfortable shoes for walking and lifting I’ve ever owned.
Also a huge fan of Airwalks depending on the style. The sidewall goes up a little higher around the foot and feels secure when “spreading the floor.”
90% of the time I lift in these (below). $10 bucks at Walmart. Usually last about a year then I grab another pair. Just easy to toss on in the garage and get the job done.
Squat shoes do make a difference. I rolled my ankle on a block stepping off a deadlift platform and it did not heal because I was aggravating every week when I lifted. Until I bought squat shoes. I wore them on squat and deadlift day and around the house because of the relief they gave me. When the ankle healed, I went back wrestling shoes for deadlifting. The squat shoes do make you feel more planted. My only experience is with Nordic Lifting shoes and am on my second pair.
I’m feeling goofy on my squats lately, so I’m paying closer attention to my stance and the bar. I haven’t tried going back to a totally flat sole, but it might be worth a couple sessions. I’d always had a narrower stance, so this makes sense.
My only concern with lifting in flat shoes, is the arch of the foot. I really need a sturdy sole with a well built pronation support for stability. But I guess this depends on the individual foot arch. Considering the majority of people have a tendency for pronation a decent support would be advisable for stability and to preserve a neutral angle in the knee joint.
That said, I have yet to hear about any injury to the arch while squatting.
I lifted for years in chucks… I found these Reeboks about 6 months ago. They’re like Chucks, but with a wider toe box. I couldn’t be happier with them.
The shoes you recommended came in and right out of the box I could see that there is a night and day difference from my old wrestling shoes. Not sure if I should have gone with a 1/2 size bigger with a wide foot, pretty comfortable now without break-in.
