Top 5 Weightlifting Shoes for Gym Junkiez

Veteran Gym Junkiez say the best weightlifting shoe you can own is a sock, because it’s the closest thing to being barefoot. Being barefoot forces you to use every inch of your foot, allowing you to feel and grip the ground in a way you can’t with shoes. I agree 150%. HOWEVER ladies and gentleman, you all know as well as I do that gym floors are dirty as hell!

I am a man’s man but I do not want to get foot fungus or anything else that would prevent me from being able to lift in the future.  I’m sure you ladies would agree with that sentiment as well.  So, I say get a pair of shoes that simulate the feeling of being barefoot.

There are two types of shoes that can help you achieve this feeling. A flat -thin soled shoe or an inclined hard soled shoe. Which you chose depends on the type of lifts you do and your personal preference.

By now you are probably asking yourself …. What are the best shoes for weightlifting? How do you know which ones to buy? Well, I am going to make it easy for you. I will even give you one of the most trusted places to buy them from online, that wont break the bank!

Below is a list of my Top 5 weightlifting shoes. Whether man or woman, you cannot go wrong with any shoe listed below!

1. Vibram Five Fingers

Vibram FiveFingers are a type of minimalist shoe  originally marketed as a more natural alternative for different outdoors activities (sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and as a camp or after-hike shoe), but quickly gained popularity in the fitness community for running and weightlifting. The footwear is meant to replicate being barefoot and has thin, flexible soles that are contoured to the shape of the human foot, including visible individual sections for the toes. These shoes are excellent for squatting and deadlifting! The only downside to these shoes are they take some time to get use to and if you do not clean them regularly, the smell will burn your nose hairs.

2. Otomix Stingray

Otomix has been manufacturing shoes since 1988. Performance workout shoes for specialized extreme sports and Martial Arts now brings its heritage of mat sports experience to the world of Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, and Weightlifting with the introduction of the Stingray Escape shoe. These ultra light shoes provide superior support and stability with an unlimited range of motion. The Otomix Stingray Escape is feather light with ultimate traction, which we all need for hitting the gym. . All designs are original and authentic They come in multiple color rays and are very stylish for both men and women.

3. Nike Romaleo 2.0

The Nike Romaleos 2.0 are among the highest-quality shoes on this list; serious lifters should give the flagship Nike weightlifting shoes a close look. The coolest thing about the Romaleos is their authentic Olympic credibility. Built for the 2008 Games in Beijing, these Nike Olympic lifting shoes are widely worn among professional weightlifters, and for good reason. They facilitate significant improvements in all your core exercises.

The Romaleos are not the heaviest or the lightest shoes, but they are strong as an ox and provide a dignifying level of breathability to keep your hardworking feet fungus-free. The snug heel is comfortable for most wearers, even for those with wide feet. And they look good.

4. Adidas Performance AdiPower

Before there was a market for weightlifting shoes, there was Adidas. Adidas was making weightlifting shoes before it was cool, and remains the bestselling brand in this niche, despite a variety of new entries. Take the Performance adiPower, which is as good a weightlighting shoe as any out there and the nicest one made by the brand. You may have seen them on the feet of actual Olympic lifters in the summer games.

The adiPower has everything you would ever need in a long-term Weightlifting trainer and is the only real rival to the Romaleo Nike weightlifting shoes. If you do intense Olympic lifting – and don’t have very wide feet – they’re among the best shoes for weightlifting available today.

5. Chuck Taylors

Converse are the old-school undisputed top shoe of choice amongst may pro powerlifters, and strength trainers. They have withstood the test of time because they are cheap, versatile, and extremely durable. They’re made of an all canvas upper with about an inch thick rubber sole. This gives them a sock like fit, especially because you can lace them as a high top, allowing for ankle compression and support. They also won’t break your bank. Depending on the style, Chuck T’s can be found anywhere from $30 – $50.  Bottom line…when it comes time to drive your feet into the ground and lift some heavy-ass weight, do it in a pair of Chucks.

What are your top 5 choices for workout shoes. Are they different from listed above. Leave comments!