How to choose the right gym shoes? The best shoes for working out, crossfit and weightlifting.

In the gym I surprisingly often meet people who work out in shakywhich is completely incomprehensible to me, because it is a shoe that is completely inappropriate for any kind of exercise. That's why in this article I would like to focus on a topic that is not very well discussed here, and that is the best shoes for training.

Of course, even the right shoes will not guarantee you miraculous progress. But it can allow you to improve your training, especially by making it easier to performby facilitating the execution of a range of exercises, improving your technique or even increasing your strength performance. In addition, by choosing the right footwear you can prevent completely unnecessary accidents or injuries.

Need special shoes for the gym?

If you are a beginner exerciser, it is unnecessary for you to invest in special shoes. Even so, you should definitely not underestimate the importance of what shoes you exercise in. As I mentioned above, shoes like trainers or sandals are completely inappropriate footwear for exercise. Because they are loose, they cannot keep our ankles firm, which leads to instabilitythat could cause unpleasant injuries sooner or later.

Another unsuitable footwear for exercise are running shoes. These shoes are adapted for running and thus provide benefits completely unsuitable for exercise. The main difference between running shoes and weightlifting shoes is that running shoes shoes are cushioned, i.e. soft, whereas weightlifting shoes have a hard and firm sole. By having a compressible and soft sole, running shoes reducethe impact shock every time your foot makes contact with the ground. More specifically, they absorb the pressure exerted on your feet that could lead to injuries over time. While this is very useful for running, when exercising we need to stable contact with the floor, which is something that running shoes, by their design , completely undermine.

In fact, for every movement or exercise we perform, oure stability, which depends on our posture, which in turn is based on the stability of our feet. All the stability in the joints relies on the stability in the legs during exercise. Since our ankles are very mobile, it is important to choose exercise shoes withthat are able to keep our ankles firm and stable. First and foremost, they should be firm, both on the side and in the area of our heels. Next, they should fit well, be comfortable, and definitely not slip in any way. So when choosing, give priority to practicality and strength rather than looks and an expensive brand.

Suitable shoes for strength training

So here I would like to gradually break down the advantages and specifics of each type of shoe, which are mainly adapted for strength training.

1. Weightlifting shoes

As their name suggests, they are adapted and suitable exclusively for for exercises such as the jerk or the overhead and closely related exercises such as the squat and the overhead press. They provide us with the support and safety that is very necessary for these demanding exercises.

Weightlifting shoes are specific mainly because they have a raised and solid heel, provide sufficient toe space and have no padding. In addition, the sturdy leather skeleton and Velcro strap make your foot perfectly firm. These shoes provide a number of advantages , especially for squatting. The raised heel increases the range of motion of our ankles, which allows, especially individuals with poor ankle mobility to perform deeper squats. In other words, these shoes are able to compensate to some extent for our lack of mobility. In addition, the raised heel helps to maintain an upright chest position, nowhich puts less strain and pressure on the lower back. Last but not least, it also allows us to keep our feet in a stable position during squatting by keeping them in a neutral arched position.

The weightlifting shoes, therefore, not only allow us to perform deeper, stablemore stable and safer squats, but also to perform them in a full range of motion, i.e. more efficiently.

Buying weightlifting shoes is thus definitely a great investment that will allow you to improve the technique of performing a number of exercises. Thanks to this, you can then improve your strength performance and avoid often unnecessary and unpleasant injuries.

2. "Barefoot" shoes

The specificity of these minimalist shoes is that they perfectly preserve the shape of our feet, have a flexible sole and an anatomically shaped toe. They are therefore designed to preserve the natural contact of the feet with the floor as much as possible. In fact, they try to mimic barefoot walking as closely as possible, hence the name "barefoot" or "barefoot" shoes. Our feet are thus not restricted by anything and can move quite naturally.

These shoes help us to better perceive the position and movement of our feet, which is very important and advantageous especially in exercises such as the deadlift. When performing this exercise, it is important to push our feet into the ground as if we were about to fall. The aim is to create identical pressure on three points of our feet at the same time, namely the heel, the little toe and the big toe. This gives us, in addition to optimal stability, the confidence and strengthening of the whole body that is so necessary to perform such a demanding exercise.

In contrast, such squats in these shoes or barefoot can often be uncomfortable or even dangerous. Especially people who have problems with their backs, feet or mobility in general should avoid them. In fact, when performing squats in such shoes or barefoot, we tend to knowto lean more, which puts more stress on the lower back. In addition, hip internal rotation and the associated problems of foot pronation and external rotator contraction are increased.

"Barefoot" shoes thus bring with them a number of advantages and disadvantages. For the average exerciser who does not suffer from any back or mobility problems, allHowever, they are definitely a great investment that ensures natural foot movement during exercise. On the other hand, for powerlifters, purchasing these shoes is quite unnecessary, as such shoes are banned in powerlifting competitions.

3.

The sneakers known as "conversky" are now known by people all over the world due to their unique look. These low, fixed-heeled shoes are also very popular among powerlifters.

The main reason why they are so popular among powerlifters is the fact that they are solid shoes that can provide our ankles and heels with some support and stability. That's why they are especially suitable for exercises where the hips play a more important role rather than the ankles. Such exercises are for example deadlifts or squats with the axis placed lower on the back, the so-called "low bar". Another reason is that they have thin soles without unnecessary padding. So they are able to keep good foot contact with the floor, which, as I mentioned above, is great for stability and strengthening the whole body.

However, "converskis" do not have a raised heel, which means that, like "barefoot" shoes, they are unable to compensate for the lack of ankle mobility. I wouldn't recommend them for weightlifting, i.e. for exercises such as the overhand or the jerk.

4. CrossFit shoes

Since it is a complex sport, with a lot of static and dynamic disciplines, shoes designed for CrossFit must be very complex. Thus, a great CrossFit shoe should have several specific features needed for both weightlifting and running.

First and foremost, they should have a hard heel, a reinforced inner side, and a solid platform. This will give us the stable and solid stance that is needed for exercises such as deadlifts, squats, and repositioning. Another important feature is lightness. Since CrossFit competes on time, a lightweight design is necessary for sufficient momentum and speed. The last feature is the heel elevation. However, too much elevation could be more of aso I would recommend a lower than standard elevation.

Which shoes do we recommend?

In terms of weightlifting shoes, I would recommend, for example, the Reebok Lifter shoes, which have excellent reviews. This model has a great design that offers you exactly what you expect from a weightlifting shoe. With a Velcro strap that makes your foot perfectly firm, the anti-friction liningand a double rubber sole, these shoes guarantee you perfect stability and safety. As an alternative to these, I would then see the Adidas Powerlift shoes, which are in a similar price range and offer the same benefits.

For "Barefoot" shoes, you have a choice of options such as toe shoes or sock shoes (skinners). Both of these options provide perfect foot contact with the floor, plus their design preserves the shape of your feet for the most natural movement. Of the toe shoes, I would recommend Vibram Fivefingers, for example. On this page, then, you can find a plethora of great types and variations of sock shoes.

Of the "converse" shoes , a very popular model is the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, which has a great design with a solid, rubber sole. I often see this model in top powerlifters and strongmen.

For CrossFit, the Reebok Crossfit Nano is a great choice. They have a low cut, hardened heel, anti-friction lining and rubber sole, or all the benefits that such shoes are supposed to provide. Moreover, this model is made of breathable material, so it is very lightweight and thus absolutely ideal for CrossFit.

And that's it for now. We hope you enjoyed today's guide to choosing the best gym shoes and if you have any questions, definitely feel free to ask in the comments.

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