Discover the Best Weightlifting Shoes to Boost Stability and Performance

Weightlifting Shoes for Gym Women min

Whether you are a competitive weightlifter or enjoy lifting weights for fitness and health, what you wear on your feet matters; while you could work out in a pair of running shoes, that’s not what they were designed for. Running shoes have shock-absorbing soles to protect your feet from impact. After all, when you run, your feet hit the floor with force roughly equal to eight times your bodyweight. As such, running shoes are made to be soft and springy. But if you wear running shoes for weightlifting and strength training, they’re likely to compress and distort, destabilizing your support base.

When you’re under a heavy barbell, the last thing you want is wobbly feet! Weightlifting shoes are supportive and have little cushioning. This ensures the heels and soles don’t compress under load. As a result, you’ll feel much more stable.

Casual gym-goers can use running shoes. However, serious lifters will benefit from specialized lifting shoes. They can make a significant difference. Not sure how to choose the best women’s weightlifting shoes? Here are seven of the best!

Inov-8 (innovate—get it?!) makes stylish, functional shoes for a range of sports, including weightlifting. The Fast Lift 360 is very popular among crossfitters, weightlifters, and powerlifters. It’s a light, flexible shoe made for women’s feet. The Fastlift 360 is an excellent shoe for all standards of lifters, from novices to elites.

Best Weightlifting Shoes
Image Source: Amazon.com

Pros

  • Velcro mid-foot strap for a secure fit and increased stability
  • Fabric upper with reinforced stress points
  • External heel cage for security and fit
  • Raised, solid heel
  • Wide, comfortable toe-box
  • Sticky, grippy, non-marking rubber sole
  • Available in five designs/color
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Image Source: Amazon.com

Cons

  • A little undersized; consider getting a larger size
  • Quite expensive
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These minimalist athletic shoes are not typical weightlifting, but they’re ideally suited for most gym workouts. With no cushioning, the soles won’t compress or distort under heavyweights, and they’re so light and flexible you will probably forget you are wearing them! However, if you want a shoe for Olympic lifting or heavy barbell squats, these are probably not your shoes.

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Image Source: Amazon.com

Pros

  • Completely flat
  • A natural fit with toe contours
  • Breathable upper
  • Machine washable
  • Grippy, lugged Vibram sole
  • Nine colors/designs
  • Flexible and light
  • “Barefoot” feel
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Image Source: Amazon.com

Cons

  • Not a dedicated weightlifting shoe
  • Toe separators may take some getting used to

What People Said About it: I love my Vibram Women’s V-Train Cross-Trainer Shoe! They are perfect for my gym workouts. The soles won’t compress with no cushioning, so they are great for weightlifting. They are also really lightweight and breathable, which keeps my feet cool and comfortable. I highly recommend these shoes to anyone looking for a minimalist athletic shoe.

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Reebok Women’s Legacy Lifter

Reebok makes excellent sport and athletic shoes, and these Legacy Lifters continue the trend. They’re strong, hardwearing, flexible, comfortable, and supportive—everything you need in a weightlifting shoe. Plus, with their solid, raised heel, you’ll find you can squat deeper more quickly than with flatter weightlifting shoes.
Reebok
Image Source: Amazon.com

Pros

  • Raised solid heel
  • Wide Velcro metatarsal strap for a secure, stable fit
  • Breathable mesh upper
  • Non-marking rubber sole
  • Excellent arch support
  • Available in seven colors/designs

Cons

  • A little heavier than some of the other shoes on review

These shoes are not pure weightlifting shoes. Instead, they’re cross-trainers you can wear for weightlifting. While this is a slight distinction, if you want to do cardio and other types of exercise and lift weights, these are the shoes for you. Think of these shoes as great all-rounders rather than specialist weightlifting shoes.

PUMA
Image Source: Amazon.com

Pros

  • Firm raised heel
  • Leather/synthetic upper
  • Non-slip sole
  • Stable and supportive
  • Good for CrossFit and similar cross-training workouts
  • Available in five colors/designs
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Image Source: Amazon.com

Cons

  • Not a dedicated weightlifting shoe
  • Quite narrow
What People Said About it: I’ve been looking for a good pair of cross-trainers to lift in, and I think I’ve found them. The PUMA Women’s Tazon 6 WN’s FM Cross-Trainer Shoe is perfect for my needs. They are comfortable and provide good stability when lifting weights. I would recommend these shoes to anyone looking for a good pair of cross-trainers.
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If you are serious about weightlifting, these are the shoes you want. Adidas Adipower weightlifting shoes have a solid raised heel for maximum stability during squats and Olympic lifts. The understated, minimalist design won’t detract from your workouts. These hardwearing shoes are very popular with competitive weightlifters and crossfitters.

Adidas
Image Source: Amazon.com

Pros

  • Raised heel for deeper squats
  • Non-slip sole
  • Breathable woven textile upper with reinforced stress points
  • Midfoot strap for increased stability and a better fit
  • Available in three colors/designs
  • Heel loop to make them easier to pull on
  • Very supportive insoles
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Image Source: Amazon.com

Cons

  • Quite narrow
  • Expensive
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Image Source: Amazon.com

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While Do-Win might not be a mainstream sports brand, they’re well known in weightlifting circles.

Pendlay 15PFUSSIL weightlifting shoes are named after USA weightlifting coach Glen Pendlay, which gives you an idea of these shoes’ pedigree.

These traditionally-styled leather shoes should provide many years of faithful service to severe lifters.

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Image Source: Amazon.com

Pros

  • 100% leather uppers
  • Breathable mesh panels
  • Raised, solid heel
  • Non-slip, non-marking sole
  • Wide toe box
  • Excellent arch support
  • Duel metatarsal straps for support and a customizable fit
  • Very well priced
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Image Source: Amazon.com

Cons

  • Only available in one color/design
  • Not widely available
Why People Liked it: I’ve been lifting weights for over a decade and have tried my fair share of weightlifting shoes. Do-Win Pendlay 15PFUSSIL shoes are easily the best weightlifting shoes I’ve ever tried. They’re incredibly stable and provide great support, which is exactly what you need when you’re lifting heavyweights.
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Chuck Taylor All-Star Hi Sneakers (AKA Chucks) might not be what you think of for weightlifting shoes, but many lifters swear by them.

Very popular for powerlifting, Chucks are entirely flat, don’t compress much, and provide lots of ankle support.

They’re not for everyone, but plenty of elite powerlifters won’t wear anything else.

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Image Source: Amazon.com

Pros

  • Breathable uppers with air vents
  • High ankle support
  • Completely flat
  • Widely available
  • Fashionable and practical
  • Available in a range of colors and designs
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Image Source: Amazon.com

Cons

  • Not made specifically for weightlifting
  • Not a lot of lateral support

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Buyers Guide

Not sure what to look for in a pair of weightlifting shoes? Don’t worry; we’re here to help!

Features

Weightlifting shoes often have features not found in regular athletic shoes. Features to look for that could enhance your workout and performance include:

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Image Source: Footy.com
  • A flat, non-slip, non-marking sole
  • A wide toe box for extra comfort
  • Breathable upper
  • Mid-foot metatarsal straps for a better fit and more support
  • Reinforced stress points in the uppers
  • Solid, raised heel for deeper squats, better ankle mobility, and more excellent stability
  • Supportive arch
  • Minimal cushioning
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Image Source: Running Shoes Guru

Raised heel or flat

If you want to squat hard and heavy, a raised heel will help. With your heels slightly elevated, you should find you can squat more profoundly and more comfortably. But a raised heel is less useful for deadlifts and can even be detrimental.

If you want a shoe for Olympic lifting, including squats, go for a raised heel. But if you are more into deadlifts and other types of general strength training, flatter heels could be the best choice.

Adidas
Image Source: Footwear News

Fit

Shoe fit can vary from manufacturer and even model to model. However, some weightlifting shoes are “true to fit,” and you can buy your normal size. But others run small, and you may need to go up a size or two for a perfect fit. Weightlifting shoes are often a little narrow, too.

Read the reviews and see how your shoes measure up. Then, if you can, try before you buy or, if that’s not possible, buy a few sizes and send back the ones you don’t want. Poorly fitting shoes will be uncomfortable and could detract from your workout.

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Image Source: Garage Gym Reviews

Price

Weightlifting shoes can be expensive. However, you don’t need to break the bank to get a good pair of workout shoes. Price is not always indicative of quality or functionality, and there are plenty of lesser-known manufacturers making good weightlifting shoes.

Buying last year’s style could also save you money. Also, remember that weightlifting shoes tend to be very long-lasting. Think of your purchase as an investment. Make your shoes last even longer by only wearing them in the gym.

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Image Source: Verywell Fit

Purpose

Some shoes are strictly for weightlifting, i.e., the Olympic lifts and squats. They’re not suitable for anything else. In contrast, other shoes are all-rounders, and you can use them for almost any gym-based workout.

Decide what you need your shoes for and buy the best shoes.

Best Weightlifting Shoes
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Bottom Line

A lot of exercisers are amazed at how much difference weightlifting shoes make. Instead of wobbling during squats, cleans, overhead presses, etc., they report feeling “nailed down” and super-stable.

This increases confidence, makes for a safer, more productive workout, and usually means heavier weights and more reps. On the downside, most weightlifting shoes are exactly that—shoes for weightlifting.

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Image Source: Medium

With zero cushioning and solid, raised heels, you won’t want to run in weightlifting shoes and may not want to walk far. They also tend to be stiffer and heavier than regular workout shoes and can take some getting used to.

This can mean swapping shoes partway through your workout or wearing different shoes on different days for many exercisers. But the advantages of wearing weightlifting shoes generally outweigh any drawbacks. Weightlifting shoes also tend to be very hardwearing.

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Image Source: Historias De Cracks

You’ll only be wearing them in the gym, so they’ll probably outlast your regular workout shoes. If you want to take your weightlifting workouts to another level, specialist shoes will help. But if you want shoes that you can use for cardio and lifting weights, cross-trainers or minimalist athletic shoes are probably your best choice.

 

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