Powerlifts are solid shoes, but I wouldn't put them as a halfway point between weightlifting shoes and trainers! I think there always should be a clear distinction between the two defined by their construction traits. At the end of the day, they [Adidas Powerlifts] are weightlifting shoes, and any time we have a heel that's raised to that extent, then they don't truly fall into the cross-trainer category!
Even if you have a good mobility at some point ankle and foot strength might limit the amount of weight you can squat. It can be solved with proper lifting shoes which provide stability. Same as using straps for deadlift, dont let the grip limit your gainz I use lifting shoes that do not have elevated heels, it helps me progress through plateau
I train with vivo barefoot shoes and it made my ankle mobility really really good but im gonna try squat shoes for the first time this week for hacksquat and Legpress im really hyped
@@ClassicTor if you use elevated heels and never use them before, i recommend try with lighter weight because there will be a change of mechanics. It hurt my knees the first time i tried my max on it
I just bought Adidas powerlift shoes. I was hoping for more stability with squats or other compound exercises but I noticed with squats that I lean too much forward vs just on socks. So I'll send them back.
A heel wedge will shift your center of balance and change biomechanics. This is normal! It’s not surprising that you feel forward when first trying weightlifting shoes as you just changed your foot’s position. IMO, squatting with an elevated heel versus not will require a few weeks to dial in. A wedge will generally cause an initial feeling of being forward due to the positive ankle position, however, it’s like with any skill that needs to be practiced - so this forward feeling will be mitigated with more exposure. Honestly, I would say give it a few more sessions, then if you hate them send them back. Focus on allowing the knees to track more during your descent and pay attention to your torso/pelvis position while working to maintain a mid foot bar position. Add a tempo to dial this in and to play with squatting with a wedge!
@@thatfitfriend yeah maybe it's just that. But since I'm doing only DL, BP, Squats, overhead press and barbell row then the shoes are maybe not worth it only for the squats and stick with socks.
@@Niels1986111 totally fair! Just wanted to share that it’s normal for them to feel different. We just changed a major aspect with the kinetic chain. If we manipulate foot position, then everything else will reciprocate and shift! Stoked you tried them out though and gave yourself some different exposures with squat styles!
For sure - what exactly are you looking for? As in, is it needed? How much is enough? A little more context would help me direct you to the proper resources
I do all my lifting in socks, but once my feet stop growing (I’m 16) I want to get squat shoes since I have long legs and find it annoying I can only get to parallel on squats (6’2.5). Do you have tips for ankle mobility or any hip mobility exercises? I’ve been squatting for about a year, and my mobility has improved just from doing ankle and hip warm up exercises before my squats but I don’t know what to do on my rest days to further improve my mobility. Anyways, appreciate the channel and the fact that your videos are actually very informative and not just fluff bs info. (Also I found one of your videos of the hovr rise 1s and bought them for baseball and overall running/ cutting and I love them)
Hey man! First, thank you so much. Second, great question. In your case, I wouldn't necessarily worry about your feet growing and getting squat shoes. You can find some pretty affordable pairs on Amazon, the Powerlifts are like ~$50 - and even if you outgrow them quickly, I still think it could still be worth it! If you don't want to go that route, then you can use plates and so forth under the heels to create a similar foot positioning that lifters would give. Since you're an athlete and you have specific performance goals, then getting into positions is not something I would wait for based on shoes either. For example, if you need assistance creating more knee flexion in a squat pattern and elevated heels help, then utilize them and continue to mobility tasks on the side. Basically, I wouldn't necessarily "wait" for an ideal time to utilize a lifting shoe if you want them to tackle sport-specific tasks and achieve better positioning in things like squats. Now, this doesn't mean I would stop doing mobility work, but for the sake of performance, that would be my rec. On your off days, I would recommend doing some holds at depth with an anterior (front) load. Spend time getting comfortable in positions that are difficult for you to get into and manage loads + stability aspects accordingly. Let me know if you have any questions! I might film and put together a video on this topic!
@@JM-bl3ih You can only improve ankle mobility so much. Some people's proportions and leverages are not in favor of squatting and these people benefit from weightlifting shoes a lot.
@@JM-bl3ihthey’re not a crutch though, for someone like me I can reach the bottom range of motion, but I can’t do it with the degree of knees over toes that I want, if I go too low then I get butt wink and lose my brace. The elevated heel lets me reach the bottom position, atg in my case in a stable powerful position where more load is placed on my quads (my strong point) and less on the hips. While I agree he should stretch with an increased focus on ankle and hip mobility/flexibility, he may not have the proportions to be able to squat deep comfortably. Also I want more quad focus out of my squats which are what elevated heels allow me to achieve, also I am currently working on my hip/quad strength ratio for a stronger squat.
Best CZcams video yet. Looking for a light shoe with a more natural fell. I really do not want to go bare foot ,but a more ergonomic feel. Any suggestions.
Thank you so much! Check out the Haze Trainers! I just put up a review on them, they’re great for tackling a variety of tasks and delivering a lightweight/mobile construction
I recently found out I have terrible ankle mobility after one of my siblings was almost sitting on the ground while their feet were still flat. I tried doing that and I either fell back on my butt or had to lift my heel off the ground.
Great video. I've been binging your videos for two nights now and reading articles on your blog. Can you recommend any trainers or lifters that have enough depth that custom orthotics can fit in them in place of the insoles? I wear orthotics to correct some alignment deficiencies in my legs and struggle to find shoes in general that fit my orthotics and feet.
@@thatfitfriend I ended up with the Legacy Lifter. My orthotics did not actually fit but there was just enough support that I can wear the shoes or the lifts and then change back. I tried the Roms and the orthotic didn't fit and they did not have enough support. Thanks again!
It depends. Also, the deadlift and snatch do not have the same starting position. There are times when it’s appropriate for weightlifters to pull with lifters especially for replicating clean pull mechanics, but there’s always a sport specific context needed. For the snatch, you’ll train with lifters on, but you may not deadlift with them, too. Oly coaches will typically approach this slightly different and take a skill-focused approach with specificity of gear use!
Great vid. I would add that doing DLs and squats bare foot allow the athlete to excerpt more force off the ground. Having a sole between your feet and the ground will absorb some of that force, even stiffer soles.
Yup! They can be awesome tools for assisting with mechanics in this context, especially if you have mobility constraints and/or you’re trying to drive a quad bias. IMO, lifters for accessories can be awesome to run for particular blocks, but don’t forget to also build mechanics with a lower heel elevation/drop to expose ankles to diff ranges of motion + stimuli.
Nope! All contextual based on your preferences, anthropometrics, and goals. For example, if you can perform and maintain positions you’re after when going barefoot, then proceed! Generally, in the deadlift we’ll want a “barefoot” esque/flatter heel to toe drop footwear to limit ROM (I actually have a video coming out soon discussing this) and for squats it’s all about hip/torso angles. If you have the ankle mobility, then no issues at all training barefoot. It’s only useful to consider elevating the heel if your barefoot lifting limits performance potential!
well, we have about 10 muscle in the bottom of the feet that stabilize the feet. wearing a stability shoe is like wearing a neck brace. what happens if wear a neck brace every day for years? ya, the neck muscles will weaken. what about wearing stability shoes? same thing. after wearing stability shoes all the time for years, you will need stability to hold ur feet because the feet are too weak to support themselves. for me, it’s best to go barefoot, or wear minimalist shoes. i guess near-minimalist shoes are ok if i rotate with going barefoot.
You also need to factor in that if you dont own a gym and go to a commercial gym, going barefoot can be stupid because of the amount of bacteria and other people that use that gym. Maybe vivo barefoot to mimic barefoot?
@@PhiyackYuhI mean you can take off your shoes but still have socks on 😂 I don’t see why you would pull the dogs out in the middle of the gym to get slightly better grip on the ground
Thank you very much for this, keep up the great work and very informative and helpful content!
Thank you!!
Nice! I’m a fan of Adidas Powerlifts for a lot of my training. They’re half-way between training shoes and traditional lifters in my opinion.
Powerlifts are solid shoes, but I wouldn't put them as a halfway point between weightlifting shoes and trainers! I think there always should be a clear distinction between the two defined by their construction traits. At the end of the day, they [Adidas Powerlifts] are weightlifting shoes, and any time we have a heel that's raised to that extent, then they don't truly fall into the cross-trainer category!
You are a good talker make someone to buy anything and your store 🤘🏾😁
Even if you have a good mobility at some point ankle and foot strength might limit the amount of weight you can squat. It can be solved with proper lifting shoes which provide stability. Same as using straps for deadlift, dont let the grip limit your gainz
I use lifting shoes that do not have elevated heels, it helps me progress through plateau
Bingo. Using the right tools for the job. Folks let their ego dictate training choices like far too often, imo!
I train with vivo barefoot shoes and it made my ankle mobility really really good but im gonna try squat shoes for the first time this week for hacksquat and Legpress im really hyped
@@ClassicTor sick! Should give you some awesome data. Keep me posted. Love hearing about how others rotate based on performance!
@@ClassicTor if you use elevated heels and never use them before, i recommend try with lighter weight because there will be a change of mechanics. It hurt my knees the first time i tried my max on it
@@Bumiround thanks will do!
Great Info! I love everything you do keep bringing the passion!💯
Thank you! 💪
How have you only got 31k subs. Great advice!
Thank you! We just gotta keep chipping away, my friend
@@thatfitfriend I agree. Do you mind telling me which weight training shoes add 1.5 inch of height?
@@Ricky-tr2hd as in heel height or overall stack height?
@@thatfitfriend overall stack height please?
I just bought Adidas powerlift shoes. I was hoping for more stability with squats or other compound exercises but I noticed with squats that I lean too much forward vs just on socks. So I'll send them back.
A heel wedge will shift your center of balance and change biomechanics. This is normal! It’s not surprising that you feel forward when first trying weightlifting shoes as you just changed your foot’s position.
IMO, squatting with an elevated heel versus not will require a few weeks to dial in. A wedge will generally cause an initial feeling of being forward due to the positive ankle position, however, it’s like with any skill that needs to be practiced - so this forward feeling will be mitigated with more exposure.
Honestly, I would say give it a few more sessions, then if you hate them send them back. Focus on allowing the knees to track more during your descent and pay attention to your torso/pelvis position while working to maintain a mid foot bar position. Add a tempo to dial this in and to play with squatting with a wedge!
@@thatfitfriend yeah maybe it's just that. But since I'm doing only DL, BP, Squats, overhead press and barbell row then the shoes are maybe not worth it only for the squats and stick with socks.
@@Niels1986111 totally fair! Just wanted to share that it’s normal for them to feel different. We just changed a major aspect with the kinetic chain. If we manipulate foot position, then everything else will reciprocate and shift!
Stoked you tried them out though and gave yourself some different exposures with squat styles!
Great vid! Thanks. Could you share some more info or a good resource on the link between dorsiflexion and squatting?
For sure - what exactly are you looking for? As in, is it needed? How much is enough? A little more context would help me direct you to the proper resources
If the differences are a lifted heel, and a hard outsole, can I just buy Converses (which are popular for lifting) with heel-raising inserts?
Yeah, you technically could! I would just say pay attention to if the inserts fit correctly and if they feel good overall!
Nice vid, but what you're calling pronation is just standing on steep like ankle. Pronation is a different thing
I do all my lifting in socks, but once my feet stop growing (I’m 16) I want to get squat shoes since I have long legs and find it annoying I can only get to parallel on squats (6’2.5). Do you have tips for ankle mobility or any hip mobility exercises? I’ve been squatting for about a year, and my mobility has improved just from doing ankle and hip warm up exercises before my squats but I don’t know what to do on my rest days to further improve my mobility. Anyways, appreciate the channel and the fact that your videos are actually very informative and not just fluff bs info.
(Also I found one of your videos of the hovr rise 1s and bought them for baseball and overall running/ cutting and I love them)
Hey man! First, thank you so much.
Second, great question. In your case, I wouldn't necessarily worry about your feet growing and getting squat shoes. You can find some pretty affordable pairs on Amazon, the Powerlifts are like ~$50 - and even if you outgrow them quickly, I still think it could still be worth it!
If you don't want to go that route, then you can use plates and so forth under the heels to create a similar foot positioning that lifters would give. Since you're an athlete and you have specific performance goals, then getting into positions is not something I would wait for based on shoes either.
For example, if you need assistance creating more knee flexion in a squat pattern and elevated heels help, then utilize them and continue to mobility tasks on the side. Basically, I wouldn't necessarily "wait" for an ideal time to utilize a lifting shoe if you want them to tackle sport-specific tasks and achieve better positioning in things like squats. Now, this doesn't mean I would stop doing mobility work, but for the sake of performance, that would be my rec.
On your off days, I would recommend doing some holds at depth with an anterior (front) load. Spend time getting comfortable in positions that are difficult for you to get into and manage loads + stability aspects accordingly.
Let me know if you have any questions! I might film and put together a video on this topic!
you should work on your flexibility and form instead of using squat shoes as a crutch
@@JM-bl3ih You can only improve ankle mobility so much. Some people's proportions and leverages are not in favor of squatting and these people benefit from weightlifting shoes a lot.
@@JM-bl3ihthey’re not a crutch though, for someone like me I can reach the bottom range of motion, but I can’t do it with the degree of knees over toes that I want, if I go too low then I get butt wink and lose my brace. The elevated heel lets me reach the bottom position, atg in my case in a stable powerful position where more load is placed on my quads (my strong point) and less on the hips. While I agree he should stretch with an increased focus on ankle and hip mobility/flexibility, he may not have the proportions to be able to squat deep comfortably. Also I want more quad focus out of my squats which are what elevated heels allow me to achieve, also I am currently working on my hip/quad strength ratio for a stronger squat.
Best CZcams video yet. Looking for a light shoe with a more natural fell. I really do not want to go bare foot ,but a more ergonomic feel. Any suggestions.
Thank you so much!
Check out the Haze Trainers! I just put up a review on them, they’re great for tackling a variety of tasks and delivering a lightweight/mobile construction
Thanks will do.
I recently found out I have terrible ankle mobility after one of my siblings was almost sitting on the ground while their feet were still flat. I tried doing that and I either fell back on my butt or had to lift my heel off the ground.
Try using weightlifting shoes! Or elevating the heel - can def help and work as a tool to improve ankle ROM!
Great video. I've been binging your videos for two nights now and reading articles on your blog. Can you recommend any trainers or lifters that have enough depth that custom orthotics can fit in them in place of the insoles? I wear orthotics to correct some alignment deficiencies in my legs and struggle to find shoes in general that fit my orthotics and feet.
Hey! Thank you so much 💪
Look into the original Reebok Legacy Lifter and the Nike Rom 4 May also suffice for you!
@@thatfitfriend I ended up with the Legacy Lifter. My orthotics did not actually fit but there was just enough support that I can wear the shoes or the lifts and then change back. I tried the Roms and the orthotic didn't fit and they did not have enough support. Thanks again!
@@ea214 awesome! I’m stoked they ended up working out for you 💪 and of course!
Hello there whay would you recommend me adidas dropset trainer 2 or any lifting shoes for regular heavy lifting ?
Dropset Trainer 2 have been sick! Can't go wrong with them, imo.
Shouldn’t you deadlift in lifters if you plan on learning to snatch? Same starting position I imagine you’d build muscle memory that would cross over
It depends. Also, the deadlift and snatch do not have the same starting position. There are times when it’s appropriate for weightlifters to pull with lifters especially for replicating clean pull mechanics, but there’s always a sport specific context needed. For the snatch, you’ll train with lifters on, but you may not deadlift with them, too. Oly coaches will typically approach this slightly different and take a skill-focused approach with specificity of gear use!
Great vid. I would add that doing DLs and squats bare foot allow the athlete to excerpt more force off the ground. Having a sole between your feet and the ground will absorb some of that force, even stiffer soles.
True! Great addition, man!
can you wear lifters for single leg lunges and squats?
Yup! They can be awesome tools for assisting with mechanics in this context, especially if you have mobility constraints and/or you’re trying to drive a quad bias.
IMO, lifters for accessories can be awesome to run for particular blocks, but don’t forget to also build mechanics with a lower heel elevation/drop to expose ankles to diff ranges of motion + stimuli.
Jake's socked feet are easy on the eyes 1:02 1:20 :-P
Any cons to gong barefoot when doing deadlifts and squats?
Nope! All contextual based on your preferences, anthropometrics, and goals. For example, if you can perform and maintain positions you’re after when going barefoot, then proceed!
Generally, in the deadlift we’ll want a “barefoot” esque/flatter heel to toe drop footwear to limit ROM (I actually have a video coming out soon discussing this) and for squats it’s all about hip/torso angles. If you have the ankle mobility, then no issues at all training barefoot. It’s only useful to consider elevating the heel if your barefoot lifting limits performance potential!
well, we have about 10 muscle in the bottom of the feet that stabilize the feet. wearing a stability shoe is like wearing a neck brace. what happens if wear a neck brace every day for years? ya, the neck muscles will weaken. what about wearing stability shoes? same thing. after wearing stability shoes all the time for years, you will need stability to hold ur feet because the feet are too weak to support themselves. for me, it’s best to go barefoot, or wear minimalist shoes. i guess near-minimalist shoes are ok if i rotate with going barefoot.
You also need to factor in that if you dont own a gym and go to a commercial gym, going barefoot can be stupid because of the amount of bacteria and other people that use that gym. Maybe vivo barefoot to mimic barefoot?
@@PhiyackYuhI mean you can take off your shoes but still have socks on 😂 I don’t see why you would pull the dogs out in the middle of the gym to get slightly better grip on the ground