I’m about to start Starting Strength, and I was wondering what shoes would be good for it. I would like a cheap pair, as I have very little money. I just got Chucks, but they don’t seem like they would be well-suited for a program like SS that has Squats as the main lift, at least not when your squating low with a shoulder with -ish stance. Can anyone recommend a cheap shoe that would have some heel??
Just put a a little board or some plate under your heels, if not:
Work boots work…
or
Oly shoes, but they are expensive
Use the chucks.
You don’t need a heel to squat deep. You may need some time to intentionally develop that flexibility, at which point you should just do the program with parallel squats (make sure it’s at least parallel) and work on squat depth after the real workout is over.
Squatting deep is simple and quick to acheive. You basically load up 135 (or whatever <50% of your max squat is- you want this to be frighteningly easy), and squat as deep as you can. Then hold it. Breathe in, exhale, and go deeper. Repeat this until you’ve hit the lowest you can go. Do this for four sets of four (or five, or whatever) each workout for a couple of weeks and you should be deep squatting by the end of it.
I agree. Chuck Taylors work great, and a pair of 10# plates works as well. Experiment to find out what works best for you.
[quote]fisch wrote:
I’m about to start Starting Strength, and I was wondering what shoes would be good for it.[/quote]
Mark Rippetoe has written (in his book, Strong Enough): “Squat shoes are the single most important piece of personal equipment you can own, and the only one that is really, honestly necessary.”
He’s suggested work boots or dress shoes as acceptable alternatives. Both have solid heels, although work/construction boots are generally high top which restricts ankle flexibility. He also mentions going barefoot, but warns against the dangers (splinters, dropping stuff, etc.)
However, for the recreational (non-competitive) lifter, I really believe squat shoes would be overkill.
Squat stance really has nothing to do with it. Chuck are tremendously versatile, and a great all-around shoe for lifting, cardio, or impressing the ladies with your killer kicks. Westside powerlifters brought the classic Converse All-Star’s back into the spotlight, as far as being ideal for weight training.
i thought this was a nazi thread
lol do you want it to be? 
Thanks for the replies guys. I did the first workout of SS and they worked fine for squats, so shoes are not a problem.
it would make more sense
barefoot.