I am using the Flows. Living here in Montana I needed a warmer shoe. I have as of yet used them for any type of the strength events. It is hard to say how they will hold up to the abuse and use of any of the strongman events.
I myself have visited their website and the KSO Treks look like they would work better for strength events. Since they have the more aggressive tread, they might be more useful. There is only one way to find out and that is to get a pair and tell us how they work.
I use the normal KOS. The trecks are more for cold weather and rock climbing, I think your feet would swet like hell in them. I do every thing in my norm KOS’s deads, squats, presses and even prowler pulls.
I wore out a pair of classics. Can’t remember if I’ve had them 2 years, or 3 years.
Yesterday I received a pair of KSO’s, but haven’t tried them out yet.
I loved the classics, but do a lot of outdoor sandbag, etc training in an area with lots of weeds, grass, small rocks, etc. Would always end up with something in my shoe, so I went with the KSO’s to try and prevent that.
So if you aren’t in an environment where you have to worry about stuff getting in your shoes, I’d go with the classic to save a few bucks.
Rarely, when pulling a sled uphill, my heel would come up out of the classic, but would go right back in when i put my foot back down. I might have gone with the Sprint because of this, if I didn’t need the protection of keeping things out of the shoe.
Hope that helps some.
Hey JX, so is her problem with you lifting in bare feet a hygiene thing (would wearing socks/washing feet first up appease her?) or is it a “safety issue” (in which case how will a pair of runners protect your toes from a dropped plate)?
Barefoot is still the best since it gives the body the best proprieception feedback between your body and whatever material you are lifting off of. All fitness centers have an issue with barefoot as somehow they feel that if you drop a 45 on your foot the 2mm of fabric in between will help in some way…LOL 
Still,
if you do have solid form barefoot would be best, followed by anything with a solid sole. While the high top
chuck’s really cannot get tight enough around the ankle (compared to wrapping) to provide proper support.
[quote]killerDIRK wrote:
Barefoot is still the best since it gives the body the best proprieception feedback between your body and whatever material you are lifting off of. [/quote]
If barefoot squatting is so wonderful, why do you hardly (minus Pegg) see anyone squatting any real weight in Vibrams or barefoot?
I’ve been deadlifting barefoot for over a year now, and due to new management at my gym I’ve been forced to purchase a pair of Chucks. Squatting feels fine in them, but deadlifting just seemed so off. I felt like my entire form had gone to hell even though I was still sitting back on my heels and held a tight arch in my back. Is this simply just me having to adjust to the shoes having gone barefoot so long?
[quote]JaseHxC wrote:
I’ve been deadlifting barefoot for over a year now, and due to new management at my gym I’ve been forced to purchase a pair of Chucks. Squatting feels fine in them, but deadlifting just seemed so off. I felt like my entire form had gone to hell even though I was still sitting back on my heels and held a tight arch in my back. Is this simply just me having to adjust to the shoes having gone barefoot so long? [/quote]
Why not buy a pair of deadlift slippers from Titan? They’re like $6+ shipping, and they’re competition legal shoes.
[quote]TigerPower wrote:
[quote]JaseHxC wrote:
I’ve been deadlifting barefoot for over a year now, and due to new management at my gym I’ve been forced to purchase a pair of Chucks. Squatting feels fine in them, but deadlifting just seemed so off. I felt like my entire form had gone to hell even though I was still sitting back on my heels and held a tight arch in my back. Is this simply just me having to adjust to the shoes having gone barefoot so long? [/quote]
Why not buy a pair of deadlift slippers from Titan? They’re like $6+ shipping, and they’re competition legal shoes. [/quote]
I asked the manager, slippers won’t provide any protection either facepalm
[quote]JaseHxC wrote:
[quote]TigerPower wrote:
[quote]JaseHxC wrote:
I’ve been deadlifting barefoot for over a year now, and due to new management at my gym I’ve been forced to purchase a pair of Chucks. Squatting feels fine in them, but deadlifting just seemed so off. I felt like my entire form had gone to hell even though I was still sitting back on my heels and held a tight arch in my back. Is this simply just me having to adjust to the shoes having gone barefoot so long? [/quote]
Why not buy a pair of deadlift slippers from Titan? They’re like $6+ shipping, and they’re competition legal shoes. [/quote]
I asked the manager, slippers won’t provide any protection either facepalm
[/quote]
Consider wrestling shoes
You guys sure do care a lot about shoes for a bunch of dudes.
I second that motion…wrestling shoes are excellent for deadlifting and pretty much anything you might do in the gym. And they will not raise the ire of even the most idiotic gym owner/manager. Try it.
I’m partial to Asics matflex. Very comfy, durable, and not terribly expensive compared to other brands.
Vibram Five Fingers.
KSO style. They look goofy but they’re my favorite “shoes” ever.
More expensive than a simple pair of Chucks, though, and if I had to quantify the difference it isn’t that great as far as lifting goes, but the Vibrams are definitely more comfortable.
[quote]Ghost22 wrote:
Vibram Five Fingers.
KSO style. They look goofy but they’re my favorite “shoes” ever.
More expensive than a simple pair of Chucks, though, and if I had to quantify the difference it isn’t that great as far as lifting goes, but the Vibrams are definitely more comfortable. [/quote]
Perhaps he doesn’t want to look stupid though?
am i th eonly one who likes chucks beaucse not only i used them in the gym, but also as my regular street footwear…
Wal-Mart slip-on canvas boat shoes.
$8.