Please forgive me if this seems like a stupid question…For the past few months, I have been following Wendler’s 5/3/1 program (it’s awesome btw) and I have been squatting/deadlifting/military pressing barefoot. I find this gives me better stability than my running shoes.
The gym manager, however, has a problem with this and she has repeatedly told me so. I can’t switch gyms since it’s the only one in town. So my stupid question is: if I were to buy a pair of Chuck Taylor shoes, do you guys prefer the high tops or low tops? Any difference when it comes to squatting?
I rocked the high tops, but to be completely honest, it doesnt matter. I dont care what anyone says, ankle support in a shoe like a chuck taylor, even the high tops, in negligible at best.
I feel very comfortable in my high tops squatting; they don’t have any effect on my ankle mobility. Still, isn’t barefoot deadlifting and squatting awesome?
[quote]TisDrew wrote:
I feel very comfortable in my high tops squatting; they don’t have any effect on my ankle mobility. Still, isn’t barefoot deadlifting and squatting awesome? [/quote]
[quote]TisDrew wrote:
I feel very comfortable in my high tops squatting; they don’t have any effect on my ankle mobility. Still, isn’t barefoot deadlifting and squatting awesome? [/quote]
[quote]TisDrew wrote:
I feel very comfortable in my high tops squatting; they don’t have any effect on my ankle mobility. Still, isn’t barefoot deadlifting and squatting awesome? [/quote]
Is it the same if you dont tie your shoes?
Jason[/quote]
I’ve never done that. Would what be the same?[/quote]
Squatting barefoot the same as not tying your shoes. Was a bit of a joke, as I dont bother to reach down and tie my shoes when i lift.
[quote]TisDrew wrote:
I feel very comfortable in my high tops squatting; they don’t have any effect on my ankle mobility. Still, isn’t barefoot deadlifting and squatting awesome? [/quote]
Yeah, barefoot is best. In fact, back when I was squatting and deadlifting in running shoes,knee/lower back pain used to stop me before muscle pain… This disappeared when I ditched the shoes…
If you are so worried about training barefoot. Get you a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I have been training in mine now for about the last 4-5 months and they rock. They are awesome for squats, deads, and overheads. They set you back on your heels and allow for more stability while performing core lifts.
I have experienced no ankle roll, and my knees have stopped aching when I train. This is coming from a lifter that wore Inzer squat shoes and wrestling shoes for deadlifitng.
Squatting barefoot the same as not tying your shoes. Was a bit of a joke, as I dont bother to reach down and tie my shoes when i lift.
Jason
[/quote]
Why? Too hard to reach down to tie them? I had that problem even when I was only 235lbs. Had to go with the leg-on-bench or sumo-stance-kneel method. I can’t imagine how the real big guys do it.
Hat’s off to anyone willing to maintain big boy weight.
[quote]JPeggEFS wrote:
I rocked the high tops, but to be completely honest, it doesnt matter. I dont care what anyone says, ankle support in a shoe like a chuck taylor, even the high tops, in negligible at best.
Squatting barefoot the same as not tying your shoes. Was a bit of a joke, as I dont bother to reach down and tie my shoes when i lift.
Jason
[/quote]
Why? Too hard to reach down to tie them? I had that problem even when I was only 235lbs. Had to go with the leg-on-bench or sumo-stance-kneel method. I can’t imagine how the real big guys do it.
Hat’s off to anyone willing to maintain big boy weight.
[/quote]
No, I actually have no trouble doing it, I just havent seen a need to yet. I do when I am doing jumps, or something similar, but not to squat or pull.
i wear low tops, on my second pair as i had the sides blow out on my last ones after like 3 years. Always worked great, ankle support shouldnt matter in squats if youre spreading the floor well.
Chucks are awesome for squatting, theres a ball state study that even proves this, but I hate them for deadlifting. I use skateboarding shoes like vans or elements. Is there a biomechanical reason for this? I dont care, it just feels better.
Actually, now that I think about it, my best competition raw squat was in an old pair of vans. I guess it wasnt really raw thought because I was wearing clothes.
[quote]biggjames wrote:
If you are so worried about training barefoot. Get you a pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I have been training in mine now for about the last 4-5 months and they rock. They are awesome for squats, deads, and overheads. They set you back on your heels and allow for more stability while performing core lifts.
I have experienced no ankle roll, and my knees have stopped aching when I train. This is coming from a lifter that wore Inzer squat shoes and wrestling shoes for deadlifitng.[/quote]
[quote]JPeggEFS wrote:
I rocked the high tops, but to be completely honest, it doesnt matter. I dont care what anyone says, ankle support in a shoe like a chuck taylor, even the high tops, in negligible at best.
Jason[/quote]
Agree with Jason 100%. Unless a shoe has something like hard plastic inserts, the ankle support is going to be very minimal at best.
Furthermore, the activities the OP is doing don’t require ankle support. He certainly wasn’t getting any when he was barefoot and he was doing just fine.
On the platform, many deadlift records have been broken by guys wearing deadlift slippers. They certainly didn’t seem to need ankle support.
Which type of Vibrams do you recommend? According to the website there are a few different types, and I’m curious which type you all have and/or think is the best.
I would be using them for squats/deads/overhead presses and maybe for certain Strongman events as well.