Powerlifting shoes Advice

[New_Lifter]

Hi there,

I am new to this whole powerlifting thing, have been lifting in the gym for a few years but recently decided to train for a Novice Powerlifting comp. I currently just lift in running shoes and think it might be time to buy some lifting shoes, can anyone advise on good shoes please?

Also can i use the same shoes for my squat and deadlift? I know oly shoes have a heel and people say they aren't good for deadlifts. Guess i'm just wondering if there is a shoe that is good for both???

Please help. . .

[Northland Powah]

A decent shoe for both lifts are chucks. Or the warehouse equilivent ones.

[teamfatboy]

A decent shoe for both lifts are chucks. Or the warehouse equilivent ones.

:ditto: Good lifting shoes aren't cheap, but a pair of Chucks (high-tops) is a good start, esp the $15 ones from the Warehouse.

The reason is that unlike runners, their sole is flat, and fairly firm throughout, giving a stable base to push from.

Running shoes, and even cross-trainers, tend to be cushioned, which equals less stable, because they compress under the load... and instability's the last thing you want in a squat.

The reason people prefer really thin shoes for deadlift is to get closer to the bar, but I did my first three comps in Chucks no worries. If you must, again the cheap black canvas thins from the Warehouse would let you try the difference for not much money.

Heels - some people find that they squat better in heels than in flats, some don't. To simulate the effect of heels, use your Chucks, and put your heels on a 1.25kg plate each side, just try lifting the same using the plates, and without, and see what feels better.

Oh, and powerlifting/ weightlifting shoes (apart from some of the Reebok CrossFit cross-over shoes) tend to have a very firm sole and aren't much good for anything else, which made me check carefully before investing.

Reviews and stuff here

[Hitro]

Hey teamfatboy I've been using the fake chucks from the warehouse for a couple years now and just replace em every 6months. Seem great value.

I notice you mention to use hi-tops. Is there any particular reason for this? Been using the low cuts ones lately but if hi-tops are better for support etc then I will go that way next time.

cheers!

[teamfatboy]

Hey teamfatboy I've been using the fake chucks from the warehouse for a couple years now and just replace em every 6months. Seem great value.

I notice you mention to use hi-tops. Is there any particular reason for this? Been using the low cuts ones lately but if hi-tops are better for support etc then I will go that way next time.

cheers!

Sorry, just noticed this

I found that high-tops helped prevent me from bad habits like letting shins go forward, and helping me sit further back in the hole.  

[Hitro]

Cheers mate. Appreciate the response and makes good sense.

 

[_AJV_]

I've just started squats and DLs in Chucks. Big improvement on sneakers

[Monarchking]

Where does everyone buy their Olympic shoes from? 

[drizzt]

Depends what you're after bro, Roguefitness do a few different pairs (I bought a pair of Romaleos from them, they also do their own Do-win line, and adidas).

Iron Edge do a couple of different ones (also bought a pair of Romaleos from them - they don't ship to NZ though so you need to get someone crossing the ditch to bring them over for you, or forward them on via mail)

Athleteps.com do Romaleos exclusively, I know people who have used them successfully.

Liftinglarge.com do the Titan heeled shoes.

There is a crowd in brisbane that do a low-cost pair, can't quite recall the name off the top of my head though...

Risto do their own Risto brand of shoes (they were my first pair of weightlifting shoes).

That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[Phedder]

Just to add to Drizzt post, there's also Maxbarbell who carry a lot of the Wei-Rui shoes which are low cost but well built. http://www.maxbarbell.com/collections/weightlifting-shoes

I got my Romaleos from Athleteps.com and had great service from them, and as always LiftingLarge are very reliable. 

There is now one NZ-based company that carry one model of Do-wins, though I haven't had any experience with them or heard much about that pair of Do-wins, here they are - http://www.industrialathletic.com/shop/40-weighlifting-shoes-by-do-win.html
 

HJP is sponsored by industrual athletic so maybe if you ask him he'd possibly have some more info? Or has anyone else out there brought from them yet, fairly new company I think.

 

[Chickenlil]

Reebok Olys are great. Pretty sure you can get them at platnium sports in Auckland. I bought mine online from the states a year ago before you could get them in store. 

[Murhf]

Any thougts on these?

http://store.athleteps.com/nike-weightlifting/nike-romaleos-black-white-gray.html#.UfNK9GQpZZ0

[Phedder]

Any thougts on these?

http://store.athleteps.com/nike-weightlifting/nike-romaleos-black-white-...

Fantastic shoes! I've been using them since Jan and they were a massive upgrade from my Wei-Ruis, which I was quite fond of. They're the only shoe I know of that has double toe straps, and because they strap in opposite directions they really lock your feet in place. 

We've had some reviews of them actually;

Drizzts - http://www.gymnation.co.nz/forum/gyms-equipment/nike-romaleos-ii-review (which includes a comparison vid from Danomyte)

Riccardos - http://www.gymnation.co.nz/forum/gyms-equipment/nike-romaleos-review

 

And quite a long topic about weightlifting shoes - http://www.gymnation.co.nz/forum/gyms-equipment/weightlifting-shoes-0   Long discussion but some good info in there too.