cap’nsalty, any idea where i can purchase some deadlift slippers ?
That’s not a strange question. It’s an important one. The best shoes are no shoes. Period.
Barring that, I hear Chuck Taylors are good. I always lift barefoot, though, so I wouldn’t know.
-Eric
Did I ever send you that pic? I don’t recall if I did or not… (oops)
Forgive me ? 
oops…didn’t mean to post that here
Feiyue Wushu shoes. $15 on Amazon.com
The best shoes in the world. They’re flat, thin, great traction, and allow you to feel the ground.
They have black ones too. And did I mention they’re only $15 a pair???
[quote]SouthernGirl wrote:
Did I ever send you that pic? I don’t recall if I did or not… (oops)
Forgive me ? :)[/quote]
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
I never thought about shoes until I recently incorporated half-squats into my routine, effectively doubling the weight I usually lift with my ATG squats. I actually felt the sole of my Nike Airs squish, and I had the impression I was squating on jelly!
After reading around I went out to check out my local sports shops and found one that had a closing down sale. I picked up up a pair of low Lonsdale boxing boots for ?16 (about $28) and wore them yesterday for the first time. They are very stable and rigid, great for deadlifts and squats. I would have prefered them to be a bit wider at the heel, but they’re still comfortable.
BTW, Lee Priest recommends using car racing boots, as they are light and have really thin soles.
That’s my 1p worth (about $0.02).
PS: Please don’t flame me for mentioning the Australian Superman.
[quote]leon79 wrote:
Thanks, guys. I’ll definitely heed your collective advice and pick myself up some Chucks. What had started as a minor concern is now a full-blown problem. I’ll be using arch supports as well considering I have such abnormally high arches you could fit oranges underneath my bare feet.
Thanks again for the help.[/quote]
If you have high arches, maybe you shouldn’t be wearing arch supports. I wear them because I overpronate (which has messed up my knees), and unless you do so too, you may not need any arch support. Do your feet flatten out very much when you put weight on them? If not, I would leave out the supports until you feel you need them. Maybe when you reach the 400lb squat, no? 
Let us know what you buy and how it goes.
Inzer Lifting shoes work really great. I have had a pair for 5 years, both for squatting and deadlifting.
[quote]Nate Dogg wrote:
Matgic wrote:
Looking at pictures of the Westside Barbell Gang, I have noticed that most of them seem to wear Chuck Taylor’s. I assume Converse are the same thing.
Yes. Get a pair. They are perfect for weight training. I have some and love them. Otherwise, I will train barefoot for squats and deads.
[/quote]
Chuck Taylor’s begin to look funny in sizes above 12-13.
I see a lot of the really huge guys at my gym wearing wrestling shoes. Doesn’t seem that smart for me, because my wrestling shoes got worn out in about six months of constant use (use from wrestling) so the most I ever lifted in about any position with them on is 215, and they are screwed up now. So I usually go with a good pair of running shoes.
-CJ
Lifting in running shoes is one of the worst things you can do. They’re designed to help you run forward - they squish and pitch you forward when lifting.
Ottomix shoes are fantastic if you can find them at a good price, I love the Addidas Ironwork II (other oly shoes are great too), and chucks with arch support work well too depending on your goals. Don’t overlook the Safe squat shoe, either.
I deadlift in wrestling shoes, thin soles are the way to go.
-Dan
If theres muscles in the arches of your feet and you use arch inserts wouldn’t that essentially do the work for your arches and make them weaker in the process? Somewhat like a weightlifting belt takes your lower back out of a squat or DL.
[quote]chrismcl wrote:
If theres muscles in the arches of your feet and you use arch inserts wouldn’t that essentially do the work for your arches and make them weaker in the process? Somewhat like a weightlifting belt takes your lower back out of a squat or DL.[/quote]
It isn’t so much the muscles in your foot as it is the fact that your entire posture is related to your stance and balance. In some people, using an arch support that isn’t needed could lead to postural problems or back pain.
I wear my wrestling shoes. Great Support all around.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Chuck Taylor’s begin to look funny in sizes above 12-13. [/quote]
So? Get some chucks or a different pair of flat-soled shoes (adidas sambas)
[quote]vandalay15 wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Chuck Taylor’s begin to look funny in sizes above 12-13.
So? Get some chucks or a different pair of flat-soled shoes (adidas sambas)
[/quote]
OR don’t and continue wearing the same Nikes that I usually wear.
Thats great you wear nikes. I recommend a flat-soled shoe, as they’re better for squatting and deadlifting.
Old adidas wrestling shoes.
[quote]vandalay15 wrote:
Thats great you wear nikes. I recommend a flat-soled shoe, as they’re better for squatting and deadlifting. [/quote]
Who says Nike doesn’t make a flat-soled shoe?