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Benefits of Weight Lifting Shoes
Just like in any other sport, weight trainers need to use the right kind of shoes to be able to give their best performance. Wearing appropriate shoes also helps prevent injuries that a lifter may sustain while lifting weights and doing weight lifting exercises. Weight lifting shoes are designed and built to efficiently aid the transmission of power between the ground and the weight you are lifting. They also allow you to stay balanced and work out with better safety.
In weight lifting, you need perfect balance and support to gain maximum control in every set of exercise you perform – even if you are just doing dead lifts. You cannot possibly wear shoes, such as running shoes, which actually absorb and dissipate force your body generates against the floor that could otherwise have been used to moving the weight at hand. Weight lifting shoes should thus have non-compressible soles. On top of this, they need to fit your feet snugly and be able to provide an adequate amount of support.
To sum it up, the right weight lifting shoes are essential for better stability, greater strength, improved technique, and overall safety.
Some shoes are ideal for performing squats while there are weight lifting shoes that are designed for dead lifts. But shoe companies are now offering and continuing to design all-around shoes that weight trainers can use for almost any type of weight training exercise.
In any case, your good old Chuck Taylors can actually serve you well in the gym until you are ready to invest in a more high-end pair. These old-school shoes have been found to meet the requirements you need in weight training. They have been used for the purpose for decades, until today, and are strongly recommended by experienced trainers.
A Brief History
Until the 70’s, weight lifters mostly used Chuck Taylors, combat boots, and leather patent shoes. The laces are tied down with precision up to the toes for a snug fit and adjustable straps are placed across the metatarsal area to provide lateral stability. It wasn’t until Adidas in Germany and Kahru in Finland introduced a new line of high-topped weight lifting shoes that lifters gained access to specially designed footwear.
Later on, top brands like Nike, Puma, Reebok, and foreign brands began experimenting on shoes to be used in competitive weight lifting. Their products focused on flat soles and no heel lifts essentially similar to wrestling footwear. These types of shoes are, however, not as suitable for squats as they are for dead lifts. More flexible footwear is needed for this specific area.
Shopping for Weight Lifting Shoes
Weight trainers are now offered various options when it comes to footwear. You may opt for advanced, high-end footwear or a pair of trusty Chuck Taylors but it goes without saying that you need proper footwear for weight lifting purposes. Some of the better choices include leather or suede Do-Win weight lifting shoes, Adidas AdiStar, Risto Sports Olympic Lifting Shoes, Adidas Samba, Vibram Five Fingers, and VS Athletics.