Squatting with bare feet

[Ninja]

So this morning i forgot to take my gym shoes to the gym. Yes funny

Anyway thought f*** it ill go for it anyway

It was leg day and i did all my squatting and legs press etc bare foot.

So not such a good idea for leg press, and yes i know its not osh approved lol

But for squats i found i felt instantly comfortable and my posture was spot on, depth was so good i hit the safety rails (set low) twice which i never do. Back felt good and didnt have usual problem of struggling with strength at the bottom of the movement. Also was able to go 10kg heavier than usual for same reps.

Has anyone else had the same experience or regularly squats barefoot?

And yes i have been through many flat bottomed lifting shoes without results like this

[shane]

sweet might have to try it next time do legs

[student]

depth was so good i hit the safety rails (set low) twice which i never do.

yeah high heels make you heaps taller . lol

would try it out but i think i would instantly be told to put my shoes back on by some pt

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

a nice alternative to going barefoot is some thin & flat sole non-cushioned stuff like chuck taylors. less chance of catching some dodgy foot disease off the floor too 8)

[teamfatboy]

When you say "flat bottomed lifting shoes", do you mean chucks, as compared to e.g. running shoes, cross-trainers or lifting shoes with a heel, or something like the Metal squat shoes I use ?

In those, there's maybe 2-3mm of sole, same thickness from toe to heel, nearest thing to barefoot - and far better grip :nod:

It's interesting, not sure what would account for the difference - unless you've an ankle mobility issue 'cos whatever you normally wear impinges on that ?

[Ninja]

TFB, i use pumas similar to these with a very flat bottom:

Please aware me about metal squat shoes and where in nz you got them?

Grip i wasnt to worried about since i was squatting but i can see grip would be an issue for leg press, lunges, etc

Yea could be a mobility or flexibility issue, ive never really taken notice of my ankles?

[tomsammce]

Yep I used to squat barefoot all the time.

I got a pair of new balance minimus... They are equal to my barefoot squatting so I use those for squats and deads now. Good shoes.

[Ninja]

Tom where they this one?

http://www.shopnewbalance.co.nz/newbalance/product/MR00RB

Would be keen to try these

[tomsammce]

Yeah brah, I got the red ones.

[timeoutmode]

Yeah brah, I got the red ones.

i've been wanting to get me one of those. how's the quality ? and feel when you wear them? thanks

[icecream]

I was going to suggest the minimus as well soooo light.

I squatted in socks once but now they are permanently dirty

[Terrymundo]

I feel way more stable when i squat bare feet. In shoes, the thicker the sole the more instable I feel. Under the weight the sole gets pressed out and it feels likes your on a patty of jelly and get alot of movement. This results in alot movement in the knees as they try to correct movement in the ankle and foot. But i still squat in shoes in hopes it increases my overal squat stablity so when i swap to barefoot my lifts are much stronger.

[tomsammce]

Yeah brah, I got the red ones.

i've been wanting to get me one of those. how's the quality ? and feel when you wear them? thanks

They are good bro better than Nike frees imo, i had a pair of those before, i gymmed in them and ran in them as i do these. they prob just dont look as cool. squatting, deadliting, olympic lifting in these is great

they feel good yeah, harder than the nike frees and u can feel this if your running distances on hard surfaces gets big, but i only use them for runs of about 3km if im doing a 10km run ill wear my asics landreths. Quality is good as i said i do abit of running in mine on the road and they arent ripping or wearing out overly fast.

good shoes, id buy another pair if they got misplaced or nicked.

[teamfatboy]

TFB, i use pumas similar to these with a very flat bottom.

Please aware me about metal squat shoes and where in nz you got them?

Grip i wasnt to worried about since i was squatting but i can see grip would be an issue for leg press, lunges, etc

Yea could be a mobility or flexibility issue, ive never really taken notice of my ankles?

I've got some of those Pumas, never tried them in the gym, the Metals are flatter still. I got my Metals from OldBull at Powerhouse, but this is them.

I had gone from gym-rat squatting in leather New Balance Cross-trainers (squishy, raised heel) to hi-top Chucks (flat throughout, not as squishy) to the Metals and now I wouldn't go back.

I mentioned the grip 'cos I tend to squat quite wide, and the last thing I want is to have one foot skate out :doh:

[Ninja]

Ok thanks guys will save up and get a better pair of shoes so i dont stink the gym out with my socks :pfft:

[severe]

I never understood the health and safety rule on shoes (unless for hygiene). A 20kg plate dropped on your foot will not feel any less painful with 2mm of mesh-fabric cushioning the blow, than barefoot.

But looking at the mutants that go to the gym I go to, perhaps it is hygiene. Athletes foot doing leg presses would be :naughty:

[potoroo]

I squat and deadlift barefeet because I find I can lift heavier, can't afford expensive thin sole shoe, I'll somehow manage to break them well before their due date anyway.

[nato.P]

Another barefoot alternative is Vibram 5 Finger shoes, pretty much like working out with no shoes on and are awsome for building calves

[nemesis]

I never understood the health and safety rule on shoes (unless for hygiene). A 20kg plate dropped on your foot will not feel any less painful with 2mm of mesh-fabric cushioning the blow, than barefoot.

But looking at the mutants that go to the gym I go to, perhaps it is hygiene. Athletes foot doing leg presses would be :naughty:

Yeah I've always thought this. Must be just a gym owners thing to avoid possible blood clean ups instead of actual safety.

[I Declare War]

I never understood the health and safety rule on shoes (unless for hygiene). A 20kg plate dropped on your foot will not feel any less painful with 2mm of mesh-fabric cushioning the blow, than barefoot.

But looking at the mutants that go to the gym I go to, perhaps it is hygiene. Athletes foot doing leg presses would be :naughty:

Yeah I've always thought this. Must be just a gym owners thing to avoid possible blood clean ups instead of actual safety.

I've got a mean set of John Bulls that I wear when I'm not doing legs, they're steel capped... get a bit careless with the plates sometimes lol dropped a few on them... they just bounce off:

Those New Balance shoes that tommsamce uses look pretty cool! Might get me some... or maybe some of these: lol just kidding they look a bit gay

[tomsammce]

Are they those barefoot running shoes?

[Gym rat]

I have seen people squat in bare feet at the gym that I go to including the gym that I work at might have to try it sometime :shifty:

[I Declare War]

Are they those barefoot running shoes?

Yep

http://www.fivefingers.co.nz/Sizing.html

[muscle99]

The delicacy of squatting barefoot is usually only found at home gyms - really great for driving from the heels !

[DrDarkMatter]

I use Vibram 5 fingers I love them!!!!!!!!!!