%20(2).jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,960&ssl=1 "13 Greatest Weightlifting Sneakers for Peak Efficiency | 2025 Picks")
Good footwear stays snug whilst you’re energy coaching, however the finest weightlifting footwear can really enhance your kind and preserve you secure throughout your exercises. Identical to trainers, these pairs have specialised options (like a stiff, sturdy base and a cosy match) to encourage correct physique alignment throughout your workouts. In the end, they may help you’re feeling extra grounded and assured whilst you practice.
We spoke to non-public trainers and foot well being consultants to get extra information on tips on how to decide the pair that’s best for you. Then, we examined a number of the hottest weightlifting footwear to see in the event that they actually stay as much as the hype. Our favorites are agency, steady, and supportive, so you’ll be able to focus in your reps—not your steps.
Our high picks
- Greatest General, Flat: Puma Fuse 3.0
- Greatest General, Lifted: Adidas Powerlift 5 Weightlifting Sneakers
- Runner-Up: Nobull Outwork
- Greatest Price range: Converse All Star ’70s Excessive High Sneakers
- Greatest for Newbies: On Cloudpulse
- Most Comfy: Lululemon Strongfeel Coaching Shoe
- Greatest for Stability: Reebok Nano X5
- Greatest Squat Sneakers: Core Weightlifting Sneakers
- Greatest Cross-Trainers: Nike Metcon 9
FAQs about weightlifting footwear
What are the advantages of weightlifting-specific footwear?
Footwear made particularly for energy coaching is a worthy buy for any common gym-goer. That’s as a result of weightlifting footwear are designed to be steady and supportive, so you’ll be able to firmly plant your ft and generate the ability you have to transfer heavy weights, Jared Gremillion, DPM, a podiatric surgeon at Holston Medical Group in Bristol, Tennessee, tells SELF.
Weightlifting footwear are totally different from many trainers, which frequently have a curved rocker sole. These bottoms are designed for ahead motion, however they’ll throw off your stability whereas lifting. In different phrases, it’s not a terrific thought to put on working sneakers once you’ll be specializing in energy coaching—as an alternative, go for one of many flatter pairs beneath.
Are footwear essential for weightlifting?
Whereas it’s not unusual to see somebody doing squats and deadlifts of their naked ft, Dr. Gremillion advises towards it. “It’s such a person factor,” he says. “[But going shoeless] isn’t really useful by any means. No surgeon would ever advocate that.” It is because, whereas barefoot lifting might show you how to really feel extra linked to the bottom, it additionally places you at better threat of damage: Should you raise heavy, the surplus load on the muscle groups and bones in your ft may enhance your threat for stress fractures—or, you might drop a weight in your unprotected toes (ouch).
Your ft want some quantity of construction so as to be a very good basis once you’re lifting, Janine Hatch, PT, DPT, a bodily therapist with the Hartford Healthcare Rehabilitation Community in Connecticut, tells SELF. With out it, you’ll be able to develop plantar fasciitis (which is characterised by stabbing heel ache) from the additional load that weightlifting places in your ft, she explains, including that your entire decrease half is vulnerable to straining once you skip correct footwear. “Sporting a supportive sneaker helps preserve the integrity of the midfoot posture and supporting ligaments in your ft, knees, and hips,” Dr. Hatch says.
What must you search for in a weightlifting shoe?
Stability is essential: Sneakers created from sturdy supplies with a stiff, extensive sole will show you how to really feel grounded whereas energy coaching, Dr. Gremillion says.
On that observe, you don’t desire a ton of cushioning underfoot, as a result of an excessive amount of padding can throw off your kind and stability, Tiffany Thompson, an NASM-certified private coach and Future app coach, tells SELF. We love a very good, foam-laden sneaker (and your shoe can have some cushioning in the event you plan to make use of it for cross-training), however a tougher sole is the higher alternative for once you’re lifting.
On the subject of heel drop—or the distinction in top between the heel and midfoot—it’s actually as much as you, Dr. Gremillion says. A zero-drop (a.okay.a. flat) shoe lets you push via your heels, serving to you progress weights up with extra pressure, which is helpful for workouts like deadlifts. However, an elevated heel will increase your ankle’s vary of movement, which may help you preserve your posture and get deeper into sure lifts, like again squats, Thompson explains.
Dr. Gremillion provides that footwear with raised heels could also be helpful in the event you’re engaged on enhancing your kind, as they may help preserve your backbone straight and your abs engaged. Most pairs are between 18 and 20 millimeters tall underneath the heel, though yow will discover decrease and better choices (attempting on a number of totally different pairs may help you discover your most popular top).
Should you like a cosy match, take into account a pair that has each conventional laces and an adjustable midsole strap—that mixture ought to preserve your ft from shifting mid-rep. Have sweaty ft? Search for a shoe with mesh panels and perforations, which permit for higher breathability with out sacrificing construction. In the end, the shoe you select ought to make you’re feeling snug and assured, and never distract you out of your lifts, Dr. Gremillion says.
Who examined these footwear?
We faucet consultants and on a regular basis gym-goers to check new weightlifting and fitness center footwear every year as a part of SELF’s Sneaker Awards—you’ll discover some earlier winners beneath. And Christa Sgobba, CPT, an ACE-certified private coach and SELF’s director of health and meals, tries out new fashions and writes shoe evaluations year-round as a part of her job. She’s worn a lot of our high picks extensively, evaluating them for match, really feel, and performance.
Store one of the best weightlifting footwear
We’ve chosen one of the best weightlifting footwear for everybody from strength-training freshmen to skilled execs. Learn on to search out your new go-to pair.
Greatest General, Flat: Puma Fuse 3.0
Professionals
- Very steady
- Versatile
- Safe match
- Beneath $130
- Nice for heavy lifting
Cons
- Too stiff for HIIT and different fast-paced, dynamic exercises
- Runs a half-size small
Meet the newest SELF Sneaker Award winner for weightlifting: Puma’s Fuse 3.0 has a agency, steady base that helped our testers really feel grounded and a versatile sole that moved with them throughout lunges. “I don’t have to consider them after I’m lifting or fear about readjusting between units,” one tester mentioned. “The flat backside helps me keep steady and actually push via the bottom for my greater lifts, particularly deadlifts, the place you positively don’t need any wobble.”
They added that, regardless of the shoe’s firmness, their ft didn’t ache or really feel drained by the top of their session. As soon as they pulled the diagonal laces taught, our tester additionally observed that their foot stayed put contained in the shoe, with zero heel slippage. So far as we’re involved, on the subject of a flat weightlifting shoe, the Fuse 3.0 is nearly as good because it will get (and it’s fairly cute too).
Sizes: US 5.5 to 11 | Heel-to-toe drop: 4 millimeters | Weight: N/A | Supplies: Artificial cloth, artificial supplies, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), rubber
Greatest General, Lifted: Adidas Powerlift 5 Weightlifting Sneakers
Professionals
- Grippy but light-weight
- Prevents foot shifting
- A number of fastening factors
Cons
- Beneath $150
- Could run small, in response to some Adidas reviewers
This Adidas powerlifting shoe is surprisingly light-weight, thanks partially to the breathable mesh panels on its higher. It’s designed to suit securely, with a set of laces and a midsole strap working collectively to carry your foot in place. And the rubber outsole is additional grippy—as a result of the very last thing you have to be fascinated with is slipping when you’ve gotten a barbell in your again.
Sizes: US 5 to fifteen | Heel-to-toe drop: 16 millimeters | Weight: 15.38 ounces | Supplies: Artificial cloth, canvas, rubber
Runner-Up: Nobull Outwork
Professionals
- Extraordinarily sturdy exterior
- Stabilizing really feel
- Beneath $150
- One-year guarantee
Cons
- Not notably breathable
Nobull comes extremely really useful by Thompson and fellow Future coach Lauren Powell, PhD, CSCS. This best-seller from the model is constructed for stability, with a minimal heel raise and a rubber outsole for additional grip. Its sturdy higher is abrasion-resistant and protecting, so your ft will keep secure (and your footwear will final some time).
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Heel-to-toe drop: 4 millimeters | Weight: 11 ounces | Supplies: Artificial cloth, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, rubber
Greatest Price range: Converse All Star Excessive High Sneakers
Professionals
- Beneath $70
- Tons of colours to select from
- Trendy
Cons
- Not as sturdy as different choices on this listing, per Nordstrom reviewers
Along with its retro enchantment (and good worth level), the Chuck Taylor Excessive High has endured as a go-to fitness center shoe for its minimal cushioning and flat sole, Dr. Gremillion says. The low heel will show you how to really feel extra linked to the ground and preserve your stability. One factor to notice: These footwear are on the slender aspect, in response to reviewers, however Converse presents extensive sizing in choose colours.
Sizes: US 5 to 13 | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 millimeters | Weight: N/A | Supplies: Canvas, foam, rubber
Greatest for Newbies: On Cloudpulse
Professionals
- Supportive but snug
- Good power return for jumps
- Cute sufficient to put on exterior the fitness center
Cons
- Not appropriate for lifting heavy weights
If you wish to add lifting to an already diverse exercise routine (say, one with cardio, plyometrics, and HIIT courses sprinkled in), On’s Cloudpulse is a superb all-around fitness center shoe. Sgobba examined a pair and located that they felt nice throughout warm-ups and extra dynamic workouts: “I’d take into account the Cloudpulses comfortable, however not likely to the purpose the place I’d name it out. Reasonably, they had been extra like, put them on, lace them up, and overlook that they’re on—which isn’t actually a foul characteristic in a shoe!”
They aren’t as flat or stiff as different sneakers on our listing, so that they’re not the best choice in the event you’re lifting heavy weights and desire a tremendous steady base, says Sgobba. However we like them for freshmen who need to take their weightlifting journey good and sluggish.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Heel-to-toe drop: 8 millimeters | Weight: 10 ounces | Supplies: Recycled polyester, EVA foam, rubber
Most Comfy: Lululemon Strongfeel Coaching Shoe
Professionals
- Feels steady
- Model presents a 30-day trial interval
- Beneath $130
- Roomy toe field
Cons
- Not tremendous breathable, in response to some Lululemon reviewers
Again in 2022, Sgobba examined and cherished Lululemon’s Strongfeel footwear. In her evaluation, she famous that the sneakers’ safe base made it simple to deal with her workouts, quite than how her ft felt. “Though I used to be primarily interested by testing these for lower-body days—the place stability is much more vital—I discovered myself reaching for these for any strength-training exercise, just because they made me really feel higher,” she wrote.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: 6 millimeters | Weight: 10.20 ounces | Supplies: Mesh, foam, rubber
Greatest for Stability: Reebok Nano X5
Professionals
- Offers a agency basis for heavier lifts
- Helps step-ups and field jumps
- Improved match from earlier variations
- Beneath $150
Cons
- Stiffer than different cross-trainers
- Not appropriate for longer or extra cardio-focused classes
Reebok’s best-selling Nano line is a longstanding favourite amongst devoted gym-goers—its earlier iteration gained a Sneaker Award final 12 months, and the lately launched X5 is one in every of Sgobba’s present favorites. “They’re fairly nice, particularly for retaining you steady and in contact with the bottom once you’re doing heavier compound decrease physique strikes like deadlifts or break up squats,” she says, including that Reebok constantly improves the Nano’s match with each replace.
“The shoe suits nearer to your foot and is a bit more streamlined,” Sgobba says. “In early variations, I typically needed to cease throughout a exercise to re-tighten so my foot didn’t slide round, however these stay locked in from the get-go.”
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: 7 millimeters | Weight: 12 ounces | Supplies: Artificial cloth, EVA foam, rubber
Greatest Squat Sneakers: Core Weightlifting Sneakers
Professionals
- Stiff and durable
- Encourages correct squatting kind
- Beneath $100
Cons
This sneaker from Core has a higher-than-average heel, which will be particularly useful for sustaining correct posture throughout again squats and different heavy lifts. Reviewers write that its stiff, stable sole is great for squatting, nevertheless it’s so sturdy that they wouldn’t need to put on it for a lot else. The Core Weightlifting shoe is certainly a extra specialised decide, ideally suited in the event you’re working towards particular squatting objectives.
Sizes: US 2.5 to fifteen.5 | Heel-to-toe drop: 22 millimeters | Weight: N/A | Supplies: Leather-based, mesh, Velcro, EVA foam
Greatest Cross-Trainers: Nike Metcon 9
Professionals
- Versatile
- Agency plate within the heel helps floor heavy lifts
- Rubber wrap for gripping ropes
Cons
- Not as sturdy as different choices on this listing
The Metcon 9, Nike’s flat cross-training shoe, includes a robust, stable plate within the heel and a mixture of agency and comfortable foam within the insole, so it’s sturdy with simply the correct quantity of give. The tongue has a strap that holds the shoe’s laces in place and out of the best way, a pleasant security measure that might additionally prevent from tripping within the weight room. All of those options make it a terrific alternative for anybody who likes to pair their lifting classes with aerobics, CrossFit, and another sooner, higher-agility cross coaching.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: N/A | Weight: N/A | Supplies: Artificial cloth, mesh, foam, TPU, rubber
Extra nice choices
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for footwear with main raise, some cool cross-trainers, or a backup pair to have in your rotation, there are many different nice weightlifting footwear to attempt. The choices beneath simply narrowly missed our high picks attributable to their costs and extra specialised designs—in the event you already know what you want or are keen to splurge a bit, you might discover your new favourite pair right here.
Beneath Armour UA TriBase Reign 6 Coaching Sneakers
Professionals
- Light-weight design will enchantment to followers of minimalist footwear
- Good traction
Cons
- Much less safe match than different choices on our listing
- Toe field runs slender
Contemplate the TriBase Reign 6 coaching shoe from Beneath Armour a safer various to barefoot lifting (which Dr. Gremillion doesn’t advocate). It has a stable, flat sole with diverse traction patterns that are supposed to encourage the pure movement of your ft throughout lifts. With an excellent breathable and light-weight higher, it’s additionally a very good decide in case your ft are likely to sweat.
Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: 2 millimeters | Weight: 8.64 ounces | Supplies: Polyester, rubber
TYR L-1 Lifter
Professionals
- Two adjustable straps per shoe
- Non-slip sole
- Breathable higher
Cons
- Expensive
- Runs a half-size small, in response to TYR reviewers
- Heavy
This bestseller has over 600 five-star evaluations, with consumers noting how steady and highly effective they really feel after they do squats whereas sporting them. Others appreciated how properly it match via the midfoot, due to a pair of adjustable Velcro straps and a large toe field.
The L-1 Lifter is clearly constructed for efficiency, nevertheless it additionally nails smaller, nice-to-have options similar to a breathable higher and a non-slip sole. It comes at a noticeably greater worth than different choices on our listing, so it’s not a terrific pair for freshmen or occasional lifters. However we advocate it in the event you’re a daily lifter seeking to deal with your self to some high-quality footwear.
Sizes: US 6 to fifteen.5 | Heel-to-toe drop: 21 millimeters | Weight: 17 ounces | Supplies: Leather-based, artificial cloth, TPU, rubber
Nike Romaleos 4
Professionals
- Two adjustable straps per shoe
- Out there in a variety of sizes
- Designed to resist numerous put on and tear
Cons
- Expensive
- Runs a half-size small, in response to the model
The sturdy Nike Romaleo 4 is one other splurge-worthy shoe if efficiency is top-of-mind for you. It has attained fan-favorite standing amongst devoted lifters for its wide selection of movement and exceedingly steady base. “These are by far one of the best lifters I’ve ever worn. I really feel extraordinarily steady, like I’m stepping on a platform,” one Nike reviewer wrote. Nonetheless, like different stiff, lifted choices in our roundup, it isn’t one of the best shoe for CrossFit or cardio exercises.
Sizes: US 5 to 16.5 | Heel-to-toe drop: 20 millimeters | Weight: N/A | Supplies: N/A
Reebok Legacy Lifter III
Professionals
- Nice for enhancing squats
- Odor-resistant
- A number of fastening factors
Cons
Available in the market for high-end squat footwear? With the identical excessive heel-to-toe drop because the Core pair we dubbed “finest for squats,” the Legacy Lifter III is a top-notch alternative. “I instantly PRed my again squat the primary time I wore them,” one Reebok reviewer wrote. “They make an enormous distinction in stability.”
The Legacy Lifter makes use of each a midfoot strap and a set of laces to maintain your foot from shifting. It additionally options Reebok’s well-known inside pump—once you squeeze the button on the shoe’s tongue, the pump inflates to fill the empty areas contained in the shoe and helps you get a fair nearer match.
Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Heel-to-toe drop: 22 millimeters | Weight: 22.10 ounces | Supplies: Artificial cloth, artificial supplies, TPU, rubber
Evaluate one of the best weightlifting footwear
Our consultants
- Jared Gremillion, DPM, a podiatric surgeon at Holston Medical Group in Bristol, Tennessee
- Janine Hatch, PT, DPT, a bodily therapist with the Hartford Healthcare Rehabilitation Community in Connecticut
- Lauren Powell, PhD, CSCS, a Future app coach
- Christa Sgobba, CPT, an ACE-certified private coach and SELF’s director of health and meals
- Tiffany Thompson, an NASM-certified private coach and Future app coach
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