Do I Need Weightlifting Shoes?

Yes, they look good. Whether they work or not is another story, though.

2 min

By Ignacio Heredia
September 1, 2022

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Whether you’ve just started going to the gym or you’ve been going for a while, you probably have a clear idea about some basic things like you need a proper exercise routine: be consistent, a good diet with correct supplementation and comfortable clothes to be able to train comfortably. What about shoes, though?

The type of shoe we use in our training is very important when it comes to improving our performance in the gym and avoiding possible injuries. When we are lifting weights, our bodies need stability, as all our muscles are under pressure, and running shoes, which many of us wear, have very cushioned soles and provide little stability.

Keep in mind that the force we generate to lift weights starts in our feet and legs, so the better grip and adhesion we have to the ground, the more support we will have to push the weight vertically.

A good idea is to opt for weightlifting shoes, also known as weightlifting shoes. And no, you don’t have to be a weightlifter or lift heavy weights to wear these shoes. Weightlifting shoes have a very firm and stable base to push on when performing many basic exercises such as squats.

The Perfect Squat

With this type of footwear improves the execution of the squats since we gain verticality and better distribute the load as we can see in this study published in The Journal of Strenght and Conditioning Research . This same study also concludes that weightlifting shoes also allow us to work the quadriceps better and reduce pressure on the lower back.

Do I Need Weightlifting Shoes?

After reading all this information, you may be wondering, do I need weightlifting shoes?

Well, this depends on the type of exercises you are going to perform. If you practice crossfit on a regular basis, but without reaching competition levels, you can opt for training shoes or shoes designed specifically for crossfit. This type of shoe has a flat, non-cushioned sole, so they will give you more stability, and because they are not as hard as weightlifting shoes, they end up being more versatile.

On the other hand, if you spend most of your time at the gym doing squats, bench press or powerlifting exercises, your choice should be clear: weightlifting shoes. These shoes, by having a slightly higher heel and a harder sole, will make you feel much more stable and do those extra reps we are all looking for. In fact, there is a study from the Journal of Strenght and Conditioning Research , which compared various types of footwear on squatters and concluded that weighlifting shoes allow for a safer and more effective squat.

What Should a Weightlifting Shoe Look Like?

If you are already decided and want to get a good pair of weightlifting shoes, there are four things to keep in mind:

Hard sole: unlike many other types of athletic shoes, weightlifting shoes or weightlifting shoes are not flexible at all. They are a hard shoes.

Flat sole: a flat, unrelieved sole will guarantee you the stability you need when lifting weights.

Heel: weightlifting shoes are elevated in the heel area, providing you with a good position for exercises such as squats.

Velcro: although it is not essential, most models have Velcro in the lacing area to provide stability.

Learn more about this topic at foodspring:

How to do squats correctly: squats step by step

Sources for this article

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