Background: I have been using your basic chuck taylor or going barefoot for squats, cleans and overhead presses. I plan on starting oly lifting hopefully soon. Currently I am doing Jim Wendler’s 5/3/1 and have been setting some good PRs.
First Impressions: WOW! This shoe looks freakin solid! By the look of these I can tell they are a well built shoe. When I opened the box I found the so called “competition” sole. This sole looked like it could give loads of support. The sole that came in the shoe was the training sole which was very flat and gave little to no support, kind of a dissapointment. I got the basic all black color.
Feel: I have yet to lift in these, but I did some bodyweight squats and I felt very upright and I felt I had greater range of motion. Walking around is rather weird because they are pretty heavy, they feel like heavy boots. Putting the shoe on, the “cupped” heel felt amazing, my heel felt rather stuck. The two straps on the shoe offer a great amount of extra support and make the shoe fit like a glove.
Size/width: I bought the same size I wear in air max 90s and they fit perfectly, I have a little room for movement/growth considering my feet grow randomly. My feet are pretty narrow with little to no arch, the romaleos felt great width wise and the “competition” sole gives great support unlike the training sole.
Problems: The only issues I have with the shoe are the soles are not labeled and the training sole makes the shoe a little loose. The other issue is the price, they are expensive but this shoe is a great example of “you get what you pay for”. If you have the extra money, get them because they sell out quick, I got mine from rogue fitness, came in 4 days.
I give them a 9.8 out of 10 because the whole insole thing is odd and annoying but not a deal breaker.
I will add my thoughts after the 1st couple of weeks using them, also in a month I will gladly write a follow up review.
If anyone has questions I will gladly try my best to help.
Sam