Ordering a weighlifting shoe can be confusing. You can’t go to a brick and mortar store and try a pair on. Even if you could, you would want to get under a load and squat to really know what would work best for you. I’ve tried to identify which shoes tend to be better for narrower and wider feet, as well as the total heel rise. Heel rise can be between .5″ inches and .75″. Heel rise is largely a matter of personal preference. If you know you have limited ankle mobility, I recommend looking for a shoe with a .75″ rise.
The purpose of this article is to identify some of the less expensive and more commonly available shoe choices for your first time shoe purchase. For those of you who are committed to buying a more expensive longer lasting shoe that will afford the best mid-foot stability, I’ve identified the two most popular choices. I have included shoes that either I’ve worn myself, or that my trainees have worn. This list is by no means exhaustive!
Less Expensive ($50-$150)
Adidas
Adidas Powerlift 2.0 and 3.0
Narrow to Medium Feet
Sole becomes compressible under heavier loads
Good entry level shoe
Available directly from Adidas, and through resellers
.6” total heel rise
MaxBarbell
Wei-Rui Warrior and Wei-Rui VX3
Medium to Wide Feet
Sizes run small on some models
Sometimes popular sizes are sold out
Available from MaxBarbell
.75” total heel rise
VS Athletics
Weightlifting Shoe II
Medium to Wide Feet
Sizing – website suggests that wider feet may need a larger size but reviewers say they fit true to size
Available through VS Athletics and resellers.
.75″ total heel rise
Rogue Do-Win
Medium to Wide Feet
Available through Rogue Fitness and resellers
Earlier models have a .5” rise and are can sometimes be found on eBay
Current model has a .75” rise
Inov-8 Fastlift line
Medium to Wide Feet
Moderately flexible forefoot – some lifters prefer a stiffer shoe
Available in lots of colors and a big selection of women’s sizes
Available through Inov-8 and many other resellers
.75 total rise
More Expensive ($150-$200)
Adidas Adipower
Narrow to Medium Feet
.75 total rise
Extremely stable, locks you over the mid-foot
Nike Romaleo
Medium to Wide Feet
.75 total rise
Extremely stable and very durable – they last forever
Available directly from Nike, and other resellers
Small Feet
If you wear a size smaller than a women’s 5 ½
Adidas Powerlift 2.0 and 3.0
Inov-8 Fastlift
Nike Romaleos 2 and 3 – you can get these in black!
Wei-Rui Bombshell (medium to wide .75″ rise)
Large Feet
If you wear a size larger than a men’s 14
Nike Romaleos 3
Order these directly from Nike. Resellers often don’t stock sizes past a men’s 14.
.75″ total heel rise
It’s always worth checking eBay, especially if you liked an earlier model of a particular shoe.
Lastly, make sure the shoes you order are what they say they are! Beware of softer compressible soled shoes that are meant for cross-training, but marketed as weightlifting shoes.
Thanks Gwyn I will use this next time I’m looking for shoes. I bought my Reebok Lifter PR’s (size 12) recently and can say after 5 wears, they are manageable even with my super wide feet (4.75 inches wide at the toes when spread naturally). Although my feet feel cramped after the first hour at right about the knuckle on the outsides, it works because I only use them for squatting. The only other option I had found for shoes this wide were custom handmade shoes from titan support systems. I wanted to get the Rogue Dowins because people on forums said they were very wide, however Rogue didn’t seem to have any Dowins in stock except for like size 9. Not sure if they still mass produce them?
Correction: Looks like the Dowins are mass produced still, I must have been looking at the older model with the other heel size..
Thanks for the extra information on shoes for wide feet! I had heard the same as you about the Rogue Do-Win, but just recently checked their website, and it looks like they have the larger sizes in stock again.
How is the toe box supposed fit? Toe to the end? Thumbnail width from longest toe to end of shoe?
Shoes should be snug. As long as your toes aren’t curling under, if they reach the end of the shoe that’s fine. If they are a thumbnail width from the end of the longest toe to the end of the shoe, chances are that the next size down would be too small, so either is fine.
Thank you.
I wear 11.5 EEE and the Adipowers fit perfectly fine on my wider feet when wearing soccer socks. There seems to be this pervasive thinking that they only work for narrower feet (like almost every other Adidas shoe). Also, Reebok Legacy lifters are supposed to be a good option as well but I haven’t tried them myself. Any thoughts?
I recommended the Adipowers for narrow to medium feet because I’ve had a number of new lifters with wide feet come to me and ask for a shoe recommendation with a wider toe box than the Adidas Powerlift or the Adidas Adipower.
This article is specifically directed toward new lifters, in an effort to present options for their first time shoe purchase that answer some of the questions I regularly get asked.
I only reviewed shoes that I myself have worn, or that I’ve seen in action on the feet of my trainees, and am unfamiliar with the Reebok Legacy lifters.
Why no mention of Ristos? To me they’re the best out there
I have included shoes that either I’ve worn myself, or that my trainees have worn. This list is by no means exhaustive!
I just ordered the Powerlift women’s shoe directly from Adidas. They are true to size. I found them a bit stiff at first but after only two wearings, they now feel just fine. I can sense that I’m more stable when squating in these shoes and believe they are well worth the money for a novice.
I have a pair of Rogue Do-Wins and also recently purchased the Addias Powerlift 3 from rogue fitness. The Powerlift 3 I like better because of the lower heel height. Also they are not really narrow at all. The sole isn’t really any software than the do wins, so I don’t know what you are talking about when you say it’s compressible. Wish I could find a 1/2 inch heel height or even slightly lower. Have to say I really like the Powerlift 3 better than the do wins, if only the do-wins had a smaller heel height. Do-wins are better because of the metatarsal support. Maybe the power lift 3 soles are more compressible but it’s not something I’ve noticed at all.
You may not notice the compressibility of the Powerlifts. Most of the lifters who report this are squatting over 405 and pulling over 515. I’m glad the Powerlifts are not too narrow for you. I think they are a great starter shoe. However, I have had many lifters ask about a shoe for really wide feet, so for a new lifter who is on the fence about getting a shoe, it’s good to be able to recommend a shoe that is wider than the Adidas, and the shoes from Max Barbell (the Wei Rui Warriors and the VX3) fit this description quite well.