What Do Weightlifting Shoes Do?

Having been a recreational weight lifter for over 15 years I can tell you that nothing you take to the gym is more important than the right footwear. This is even more important when using barbells and dumbbells to train. The basic power movements that are done in the gym are all dependent on leg drive, which is in turn dependent on deriving power from the feet.

You certainly would not attempt to perform a record bench press while wearing a batting glove. Yet you see trainees lifting weights while wearing running shoes, sneakers, and all other types of incorrect footwear. You need a solid base from which to start your power transfer and shoes with soft soles will rob you of both power and stability. With proper shoes your feet and legs are not shifting with the shoe, as they would in soft soled shoes, and you can better create consistent and reliable results in your lifts.

Which weightlifting shoes are tops in the field?

Essentially these shoes can be classified into two types: The flat shoes with a hard sole, and the lifted shoes with the slightly elevated heel. Depending on which muscles you want to work and the types of lifts you're doing, different shoes work for different sets of weight lifters. If you're doing squats, you'd really benefit from getting a raised heel, since it'll make you push up and back during the squat, enabling to you to exercise more muscles. With the help of the shoes, your squats will be performed with perfect form, also giving you better shaped thighs as your quadriceps are worked more effectively.

What Goes Into the Best Weightlifting Shoes?

That is a good question. Take one look in a typical gym and people are wearing Converse, combat boots, you name it to their workouts. In recent years, however, people have been investing in shoes specific to weight training for the gym. Quality weightlifting shoes give you a firm base from which to commence the various lifts. This is accomplished because of the rubber based composition of the soles of the shoes which provides solidity to the lifter. In addition, the snug fit around the feet via the use of straps generates a firmness around the entire area. Make sure you get the most high quality shoes possible, with no inexpensive materials used in its construction.

Keep in mind, however, that that quad emphasis won't work quite as well with leg presses and other exercises of that sort. In this case a flatter sole would be more appropriate. Rather than purchasing two pairs of weightlifting shoes for my workouts, I will bring along a cheap pair of wrestling type shoes to use while performing leg presses.

As you can see, it almost sounds like you would need two pairs of shoes in the gym, one set for Olympic type lifts and another for more basic exercises. The hybrid changes all that. These shoes are usually made with just a slightly raised heel and work great for all styles of lifting.

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Article by an accredited fitness instructor and weightlifter. To gain more information on the best performing weightlifting shoes as well as the most economical models, visit our website at Weightlifting Shoes