weightlifting shoes

**anabolic** · 27-09-2011 09:11 PM

I was thinking about getting some weightlifting shoes. I completely dropped back squats from my routine about a year ago in order to focus on front squats. My form also went pretty crap when I went atg. But I tried back squats again today with my heels on some 2.5kg plates and they felt so comfortable! Back was very straight throughout.

Question is do you think they are a good idea? I've seen HTTK say on a couple of occasions that they shorten the achilles tendon. As well as others mentioning stuff about knee health. Do you think these are valid concerns?

And if they are a good idea, do you have any recommendations for good shoes? I can't exactly go into my local JD sports to try some on!

**Elvis** · 27-09-2011 09:18 PM

You probably want to have a look at this thread... Shoes

**dope540** · 27-09-2011 09:21 PM

i love my do-wins. use them for fronts and back squats and all standing pressing. finding a store to try them on is tricky though

**danihero** · 29-09-2011 03:44 AM

I've read a lot of mixed reviews about the Rogue and MuscleDriver Do-wins (apparently all do-wins are actually coming from the same company - see the wlshoe review). As to whether you really need oly shoes or how high you need, are you performing high bar or low bar squats? I've found that I need a higher heel for high bar and I lift better with no heel in the low bar position. Likewise, my front squats feel better with a small heel.

**Mart001** · 30-09-2011 01:24 PM

my Nike bridges were picked up from the NIKE outlet in freeport, braintree for £15, as they had trouble selling them. try something like this.

i should imaging you'll adapt to the shoes, the heels are only slight.

**JFLStrongman** · 30-09-2011 01:47 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by anabolic

I was thinking about getting some weightlifting shoes. I completely dropped back squats from my routine about a year ago in order to focus on front squats. My form also went pretty crap when I went atg. But I tried back squats again today with my heels on some 2.5kg plates and they felt so comfortable! Back was very straight throughout.

Question is do you think they are a good idea? I've seen HTTK say on a couple of occasions that they shorten the achilles tendon. As well as others mentioning stuff about knee health. Do you think these are valid concerns?

And if they are a good idea, do you have any recommendations for good shoes? I can't exactly go into my local JD sports to try some on!

Very effective, i love mine i would definetely say start cheap i got some Do-Wins but it depends on how much your willling to spend the Adidas ones tend to be for narrow footed but the nike ones are the best ones apparently but you can only get the top ones from the states (if i had the money i would). The chances they will ever shorten your achilles tendon is less likely than you waking up after a nights sleep as you spend probably on average ~12 hours a day with your feet in a plantar flexed position so that is complete crap as far as im concerned. With regards to the knee anyone that has got patella femoral pain a ~15 degree (im not sure on exact i read it last year) heal raise has been shown very effective in rehab and for the taller athlete ollie shoes are advised.

A good shoe would be running shoes particularly Asics, NB, etc anything that gives you a good supported arch. I always wear Asics but thats my preference and they are worth paying the extra for they last ages unlike Nike, Adidas, etc i find.

**Big Lench** · 30-10-2011 09:23 PM

Im possibly looking to get some shoes in the near future too. Are there any high street stores that stock them that anyone knows of so you could try them on? what with all the discussions on sizing differences i don't want to go to the trouble of ordering them online only to have to send them back for a different size.

The adidas power lifts look ok, mainly because the have a 0.6" heel which is closest to the 0.5" heel that rippetoe suggests for his style of back squats even if it is made from EVA which is slightly more compressible than wood or some of the other composite heels. but i cant find anywher ethat sells them in the uk (if theyre still being produced).

Theres a few other pairs about like the adidas power perfect IIs and various do-wins but theyre all £80+ish and have the bigger standard 0.75" heels. the 0.75" heels will likely be ok but i need to try a pair on first to see.

Also i dont have the best knees currently (from basketball and a few form issues) so will the more knees forward position provided by the heel be a problem?

**MJ.23** · 30-10-2011 09:25 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Big Lench

Im possibly looking to get some shoes in the near future too. Are there any high street stores that stock them that anyone knows of so you could try them on? what with all the discussions on sizing differences i don't want to go to the trouble of ordering them online only to have to send them back for a different size.

The adidas power lifts look ok, mainly because the have a 0.6" heel which is closest to the 0.5" heel that rippetoe suggests for his style of back squats even if it is made from EVA which is slightly more compressible than wood or some of the other composite heels. but i cant find anywher ethat sells them in the uk (if theyre still being produced).

Theres a few other pairs about like the adidas power perfect IIs and various do-wins but theyre all £80+ish and have the bigger standard 0.75" heels. the 0.75" heels will likely be ok but i need to try a pair on first to see.

Also i dont have the best knees currently (from basketball and a few form issues) so will the more knees forward position provided by the heel be a problem?

To test if a heel is for you; you could always try placing some small weight plates under your heels and doing it that way. If it feels better then you could well benefit from wearing some good lifting shoes.

**Big Lench** · 30-10-2011 10:37 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by MJ.23

To test if a heel is for you; you could always try placing some small weight plates under your heels and doing it that way. If it feels better then you could well benefit from wearing some good lifting shoes.

Yeah i was going to have a go at that when i was squatting tomorrow. Might have a go in some dress shoes or work boots which i have that both have a bit of a heel, or as you say just put some small plates under my heels, just with light weights as a test as none of them are ideal lol.