And that is why it matters what you wear on your feet when you’re lifting weights, more so when performing compound exercises like Deadlifts or Olympic lifts.

In this article, we explore the workout shoe market to bring you the top 5 weightlifting shoes available right now. 

What To Look For in a Weightlifting Shoe

Grip

Look for a shoe that provides a lot of floor gripability in the sole. You don’t want any lateral movement of the shoe when you’re lifting heavy as this could cause injury and impaired performance.

Balanced Cushioning

You need a balance between comfort and support in your weightlifting shoe. Too much cushioning will compromise the secure, solid base that the shoe is meant to provide. You should especially avoid excess cushioning in the heel.

Heel Height

Some weight lifting shoes have elevated heels that are designed to provide better bodily alignment when squatting. The amount of heel height really comes down to a matter of personal preference. However the ideal weightlifting shoe height is between 0.5 and 1.2 inches.

5 Best Weightlifting Shoes

Adidas Men’s Powerlift 3.1 CrossTrainer

The Adidas Men’s Powerlift 3.1 Crosstrainer excels in its provision of a wide sole to ensure maximum grip. The provision of a midfoot strap ensures that you are securely locked in to make for a very rigid, secure shoe. There is also extra ankle support and reinforcement through the midfoot area. The high density die cut wedge allows for an ergonomically advanced design and fit. 

The Adidas Men’s Powerlift 3.1 Crosstrainer is a very breathable, comfortable shoe. It features an air mesh tongue, collar and lining. Finally, the Adiwear outsole provides a high level of style and durability.

Nike Metcon 5

There are two big weightlifting exercises by which you can judge a shoe; the squat and the deadlift. When put to the test on those two compound moves, the Nike Metcon 5 for weightlifting comes through with flying colors. An ongoing challenge with weightlifting shoes has been that squats require a higher heel than deadlifts. The Nike Metcon 5 solves this dilemma with a brilliant but simple innovation – removable heel inserts!

The Metcon 5 has reworked the outer design over its previous version to provide greater grip on the floor. This is another extremely breathable shoe. It is a great choice both for pure weightlifters and those who train crossfit style.

Inov-8 Men’s Fastlift 325 CrossTrainer

Inov-8 claims that the Fastlift 325 is the lightest dedicated weightlifting that exists. Combining features of general fitness and weightlifting shoes, it is designed for CrossFit trainers who mix up such weightlifting moves as snatches with dynamic moves like box jumps. The body of the shoe is a mix of mesh and synthetic material. This makes it both breathable and light. 

The Inov-8 Fastlift 325 has a Meta-Flex sole, which provides a solid groove in the sole from side to side. This enhances flexibility for plyometric exercises. However, the shoe is a little light on providing a super firm hold on the floor. This means that it is not the ideal choice if you are a dedicated heavy weight lifter. 

The Fastlift 325 has a raised heel by way of TPU plastic tubes. A single metatarsal strap across the midfoot ensures solid lockdown. 

Adidas Men’s Leisttung.16 II CrossTrainer

The Adidas Men’s Leisttung.16 II CrossTrainer is a strong, secure and visually appealing cross training shoe. The wide platform ensures a secure hold on the floor while the heel lift puts you in a better ergonomic position for squatting, with the heel being one inch higher than the heel. The micro-adjusting Boa closure keeps your feet and ankles securely locked in. This shoe has a synthetic woven upper and a TPU heel. 

NoBull Men’s Training Shoe

The NoBull Men’s Training Shoe is a no frills piece of kit for serious weightlifters. This shoe provides you with an excellent mix of light weight, breathability, secure hold and flexibility. The upper of this shoe is made in a one piece trademarked Superfabric. High carbon lateral and medial guards ensure durability and strength for those one rep max workouts. 

The NoBull Men’s Training Shoe has been created for use in both an outdoor and an indoor training environment. That means you can go directly from squats to a run around the block with no footwear change!

Weightlifting shoes

A weightlifting shoe is more than a gym fashion accessory. It is rather, an essential requirement for anyone who is serious about what they do in the gym. For pure weightlifters our top shoe is the Adidas Men’s Powerlift 3.1, whereas for Crossfitters our recommended shoe is the Inov-8 Fastlift 325 CrossTrainer.

Photo credits:

• Anastase Maragos
• Alora Griffiths
• Victor Freitas
• Sam Sabourin

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A pre-workout refers to any supplement, typically a powdered drink mix that claims to improve exercise performance when consumed in advance. Many individuals find it hard to get and stay active. Lack of energy is a major reason. To acquire an extra lift of energy during exercise, most people take a supplement before training.

However, there are many supplements available, each of which has many ingredients. So knowing what to look for in a pre-workout supplement can be confusing. Here are six ingredients to look for in your pre-workout and their benefits.

1. Caffeine

Caffeine refers to a natural molecule that you can find in tea, coffee, and other beverages and foods. It stimulates specific brain organs to increase alertness and reduce fatigue. It’s also a common element in pre-workout supplements such as cellucor. Caffeine is efficient in improving various gym performance features and can boost the ability to generate energy quickly. This is applicable in multiple types of exercises, including weight training, sprinting, and cycling.

Caffeine can cause a short-term rise in blood pressure and increase restlessness; however it does not normally cause an unbalanced heartbeat also called an arrhythmia, unless possibly taken in extreme excess amounts. Individuals react differently to different amounts of caffeine, so it’s probably advisable to start with a small dose to check how you respond. It might also be good to limit your caffeine intake early in the day because of its anti-sleep side-effects.

2. Creatine

Creatine refers to a molecule located in your cells. It is also a common dietary supplement. Creatine is considered by the majority of sports scientists to be a supplement for increasing power and strength. It safely increases muscle strength, mass and gym performance. In case your muscles have more vigor when you workout, you can perform better and encounter greater enhancements over time. If your goal is to increase muscle strength, this could be the supplement for you.

3. Beta-alanine

Beta-alanine refers to an amino acid that assists in fighting muscle tiredness. When acid begins to build up in your body during a strenuous workout, beta-alanine helps fight the acid. Consuming beta-alanine like a supplement improves concentration in your body and can improve gym performance. Particularly, this supplement can help boost performance during forceful exercise that lasts for 1-4 minutes. Though, it might not be effective for enhancing workouts that last less than 60 seconds, for example, one set during weight-training exercise.

4. Baking Soda

Most individuals get surprised to learn that this popular household product is a sports supplement. Also recognized as sodium bicarbonate, it works as a buffering agent, which means that it assists in fighting acid build-up in your body.

When it comes to exercise, baking soda can help reduce exercise fatigue, characterized by a “burning” sensation in the muscles. The burning sensation is an indication that the production of acid increases with workout intensity.

5. Citrulline

Citrulline refers to an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. However, taking citrulline from supplements or foods can increase the levels in your body. These elevated levels can be useful for gym performance. Among the effects of citrulline is an increase in the flow of blood to body tissues. In regards to exercise, this can help provide working muscles with nutrients and oxygen to function properly.

6. BCAAs

BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) are made up of three main molecules: isoleucine, valine, and leucine. You can find these amino acids in large amounts in most protein-containing foods. Even though they are often consumed for their purported muscle-building impacts, they are not as effective as the whole proteins. The high-quality protein in whole foods offer enough BCAAs to support muscle growth and has all the body’s amino acids. However, the use of BCAA supplements has some potential benefits. For example, it can improve stamina and it can also reduce muscle pain after running and weight-lifting.

bcaa ingredients

For long-term strength training you can enhance your performance using caffeine and BCAAs. For shorter more intense activities like muscle burning, beta-alanine, baking soda, citrulline, and caffeine, can help. For optimal performance during a workout such as weight-lifting, you can try caffeine, creatine, and citrulline. Some types of training and certain sports you can use a combination of the above categories. You may need to experiment using ingredients in diverse categories to see what suits you in those cases and when in doubt always consult a Doctor and certified Nutritionist for better advice on what exactly would be beneficial for you.

About the Author:

Samantha Higgins is a professional writer with a passion for research, observation, and innovation. She is nurturing a growing family of twin boys in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She loves kayaking and reading creative non-fiction.

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