The best weightlifting shoes
Whether you’re a weights room regular or have just started lifting in the gym, we’ll help you find the perfect shoes for your workouts
Just like using the correct equipment for your training style, you need to ensure that you’re wearing the correct footwear for your workout. Battered old trainers won’t suffice when you’re lifting heavy weights, and there’s no better return on investment than buying the best weightlifting shoes you can afford. In this article, we’ll feature the best shoes for powerlifting, deadlifting and squatting in your local training space, and arm you with the know-how you need to make an informed purchasing decision.
Before you rush out and purchase the priciest weightlifting shoes you can find, however, take a moment to consider your training style. This will help you identify what type of shoe you need. Do you almost exclusively train with barbells – working through bench presses, deadlifts and squats, for example – or do you exercise at a higher intensity, like in CrossFit? Perhaps you mix your weight training with exercise classes, in which plyometric movements and bodyweight exercises will be more common. Read on and we’ll discuss all the aspects you need to consider to help you make the best choice.
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How to choose the best weightlifting shoe for you
Can’t I just wear trainers?
Technically, yes. Realistically? Not so much. While a soft, cushioned pair of trainers are fine for light treadmill work, mobility and warm-ups, they don’t provide enough foot or ankle support for lifting weights or moving safely under heavy loads – and it’s really not worth risking an injury which could put you out of action for weeks at a time. If you want to build up to seriously heavy lifts, your feet need to be locked in and supported, without any unintended lateral movement.
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What type of shoe do I need?
If you spent a lot of time shifting heavy barbells – some call this powerlifting – a pair of dedicated weightlifting shoes are a worthwhile investment. Weightlifting shoes are designed to “lock” your foot into a safe and stable position with minimal cushioning. Typically, they combine a higher heel and a solid base in the shoe made of wood, plastic or composite material, which helps you to maintain proper form and posture during a heavy lift. Unlike spongy trainers and softer CrossFit shoes, this added support provides a more stable surface when you’re grinding out reps, and lowers your risk of injury.
Alternatively, if you prefer a mixture of higher-intensity exercise, CrossFit or exercise classes alongside your weights programme, you’ll want to opt for more of an all-round gym shoe. These still give much better support than bog-standard trainers, but also provide the cushioning and flexibility you need to broaden your exercise repertoire across a wider range of strength, conditioning and cardio-focused elements.
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How much should I spend?
With even standard gym shoes routinely costing over £100 it’s no surprise that dedicated weightlifting shoes edge closer to £200. That may seem a huge expense but, if you’re training three to five times a week, it’s a justifiable outlay for something that’s going to improve your workouts and potentially help you avoid injury.
If you’re working to a tighter budget, then it pays to shop around for deals. Brands such as Nike, Reebok and Adidas tend to release new iterations of their shoes on a yearly basis, so if you want to grab something on the cheap, look for the previous years’ models.
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The best weightlifting shoes to buy in 2023
1. Nike Romaleos 4: Best weightlifting shoe
Price: £180 | Buy now from Nike
Don’t let the price put you off: Nike’s Romaleos family has been the flagship weightlifting shoe for some time now, proudly worn by anyone from powerlifting newbies to Olympic athletes.
The Nike Romaleos 4 is the most stable and breathable weightlifting shoe from Nike yet. It has a supportive midsole and a wide, flat outsole to help your feet stay stable during the challenging phases of a lift, while two wide straps over the laces help lock your foot into position. Meanwhile, the rubber tread helps you maintain traction.
If you can afford to pay the premium and you want a shoe that’s purely focused on lifting, this is our top choice.
Key details – Drop: 20mm; Weight: 575g; Sizes available: UK 2-14
2. Adidas Adipower: Best weightlifting shoe for compound lifts
Price: £140 | Buy now from Sportsshoes
If you don’t want to fork out the best part of £200 for a pair of weightlifting shoes, the Adipower weightlifting shoes are a smart buy.
Designed to support your foot during compound lifts – bench pressing, squatting and deadlifting – the Adipower shoes hug your feet to prevent any movement and use a TPU midsole for additional stability.
There’s some eco kudos here, too: the Adipower shoe is made with recycled materials, with the shoes containing at least 50% recycled content.
Key details – Heel height: 20mm; Weight: 460g; Sizes available: UK 3.5-13.5
3. Reebok Nano X2: Best all-round gym shoe for beginners
Price: £110 | Buy men’s | women’s from Reebok
As the only brand with the potential to topple Nike from the top spot, functional training experts Reebok created the versatile Nano X2 to withstand any workout.
Made with Reebok’s Flexweave tech, the Nano X2’s material is comfortable, breathable and soft – it’s arguably one of the comfiest shoes on this list. Likewise, the foam is responsive and flexible enough to make it suitable for a broad range of exercises, without compromising on lateral stiffness.
Key details – Drop: 4mm; Weight: 408g; Sizes available: Men’s UK 5-12, women’s UK 2.5-7.5
4. Nike Metcon 7: Best all-round gym shoe
Price: £115 | Buy men’s | women’s from Nike
Metcon is the flagship line for Nike’s training arm (as Pegasus is for Nike Running), and it’s a firm favourite for CrossFit athletes and regular gym goers. Indeed, the Metcon 7 is a shoe you’ll regularly see on your trips to the gym: it has one of the most recognisable silhouettes of any gym shoe on the market.
Thankfully, the Metcon 7 is more than just an eye-catching design, and its combination of a wide sole, supportive heel and effective cushioning make for a shoe that can transfer effortlessly from the treadmill to the deadlift and beyond.
This really is a shoe that’s ready for any workout, at any time, in any environment. While previous models weren’t ideal for treadmill use, the all-new React foam broadens the Metcon’s repertoire without compromising its solidity during lifts.
Key details – Drop: 4mm; Weight: 283g; Sizes available: Men’s UK 3.5-14, women’s UK 2.5-9.5
5. Puma Fuse: Best affordable gym shoe for men
Price: £80 | Buy now from Puma
If you don’t want to break the bank but still want an affordable gym shoe for weightlifting and training, then the Puma Fuse is a great choice.
With a 4mm drop, a wide toe box and a heel clip for added support, it offers a lot of bang for your buck. What’s more, the brand’s signature PumaGrip material provides traction during heavy lifts, while a mesh upper lets your feet breathe easily.
Key specs – Drop: 4mm; Weight: 368g; Sizes available: UK 6-11
6. Nike Air Zoom SuperRep 3: Best gym shoes for high intensity training
Price: £114.95 | Buy men’s | Buy women’s from Nike
If you like to balance your weight training with high intensity exercise, this could be the shoe for you. Nike’s Air Zoom SuperRep 3 lies at the opposite end of the spectrum to the pure weightlifting shoes here – it’s a next-gen trainer designed specifically for high-intensity classes.
Lighter and bouncier than most gym shoes, the SuperRep is light on your feet and features a plate that connects the front and back of the sole for additional support.
The Superrep offers support and stability during high-intensity exercises that keep you moving fast. Ideal for plyometric work and for HIIT workouts which have you pushing the needle, they look after your feet during lunges, steps and jumps.
Key specs – Drop: Not stated; Weight: 368g; Sizes available: Men’s (UK 5.5-14), Women’s (2.5-9.5)
