• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Hopper Wise

Best Product Reviews & Comparissons

  • Product Reviews
    • Automotive
    • Baby
    • Electronics
    • Garden
    • Home And Kitchen
    • Sport Outdoor
    • Pets
  • Contact

Best Weightlifting Shoes Review 2018

May 16, 2018 By Bella Rise

weight lifting shoes photo
Photo by The Loyal Brand

Whether you’re a casual CrossFit athlete, a serious CrossFit competitor, an avid weightlifter, or an Olympic lifter, the right model can make a big difference in your performance.

Weightlifting footwear give your feet enough support to stabilize your feet during heavy lifts, such as back squats, overhead squats, push press, deadlifts, cleans, jerks, and snatches.

Top Rated Weightlifting Footwear

[toc heading_levels=”3″]

Reebok CrossFit Lifter Plus

Reebok crossfit lifterWhy are Lifter Plus so important for your strength training?

If you’re doing Olympic lifts, they can help you land firmly on the mat, giving you more opportunity to successfully complete the lift. In power lifting, they keep your feet planted so they’re not moving around during the lift.

Since signing a sponsorship deal with CrossFit a few years ago, Reebok has worked hard to perfect the sneakers used by athletes.

The Reebok is a great example of this. They offer great heel stability and come with instructions to heat and form to your own feet.

Reebok also offers many options to customize your own shoes with colors and design. The Reebok CrossFit Lifters start at $149.

Features:

Style

The Reebok CrossFit Lifter Plus is definitely the most stylish lifting shoe to date. Like other Reebok models, the CrossFit Lifter Plus is available in a variety of colors.

The women have some brighter colors to choose from. The men’s are fairly neutral. Right now, there is no option to customize these with your own colors, but since the customer can customize the older Reebok models, the Lifter Plus may be on its way to being customized.

Fit

Reebok uses the U-Form technology so the shoe has the best possible fit on your feet. You actually microwave the shoe for a short period of time and then wear them so they mold to your feet.

They should be very snug, so the Reebok Lifter Plus sets itself apart by having two Velcro straps across the top, adding extra stability to your feet and ankles for your lifts.

Its recommended to get a half size smaller than your normal footwear, although I didn’t have that problem with my lifters. If you can find a Reebok store, its a good idea to try it on before you order them.

CrossFit Activities

When CrossFit athletes purchase footwear, they typically get them for lifting: back squats, cleans, snatches, and general Olympic lifting. The Lifter Plus has a strong advantage over the rest of it on the market in that they are light enough and flexible enough to wear during a WOD.

Generally, they have been far too clunky to wear for anything but lifting, but many athletes report that these are fine for double unders, box jumps, and burpees. They dont beat the Nanos, but if the WOD prominently features lifting, with some other moves included, these should give you an advantage in the lifts.

When youre trying to gain strength and set new PRs in your squats, presses, and Oly lifts, nothing beats a good weightlifting shoe.

Reebok recognizes this but also understand the needs of the typical CrossFit athlete. How many models can we carry with us to the box? The Reebok CrossFit Lifter Plus gives us the best of both worlds. The stability is comparable or better than many sneakers. But the added lightweight flexibility make it the most versatile lifting shoe around.

Nike Romaleos 2

Nike Romaleos 2Nike has worked hard to help Olympic athletes achieve great lifts. The Nike Romaleos 2 offer durability and engineered safety for the serious lifter.

The heel is designed to hold maximum weight, so the lifter can feel safe and secure during heavy lifts.

Nike has joined the weightlifting shoe cohort and their latest, greatest shoe is the Nike Romaleos 2.

This shoe is lightweight, with two different insoles you can wear (a softer one for training, a firmer one for competition). They have two big straps that secure your feet in place during your lifts.

They also feature flexible upper material that moves with your feet during lifts. Your feet stay in place due to the hard sole and thick straps, but can move just enough to give you a little flexibility.

These are more durable than Nikes first model.

Features:

Style

The Nike Romaleos 2 come in a variety of bright, vivid colors that so many CrossFit athletes love.

The most popular is the neon yellow, but they also come in red, white, and black with the big, bold Nike symbol on the side. The straps are more durable than the earlier versions of the shoe and these are more lightweight than many lifting shoes on the market right now.

Fit

When ordering these sneakers, athletes should order a half-size to a full-size smaller than their normal shoe.

This will ensure that your feet are snug inside the shoe and don’t experience too much movement during the lifts. The straps are a little long compared to other, but they seem to be more durable in this style than in the first iteration of the Romaleo.

Crossfit Activities

While they should mainly be worn for Olympic lifting and strength work, some athletes wear their Romaleos 2 for pistols as well, to keep their heels driving into the ground for the one-legged squat.

They may also be a good choice for a WOD that includes a lot of wall balls. The Romaleos 2 are lighter in weight than the traditional weight lifting shoe, so they can be worn for some CrossFit activities, but should be avoided during running and jumping activities.

Sometimes, its best to just stick with what those are meant for.

That being said, many CrossFit athletes report PRs while wearing their Nike Romaleos 2. The sturdy heel stabilizes the food, helping the ahtlete to focus on good form throughout the lift.

Overall

Overall, the latest weight lifting shoe from Nike is a hit among CrossFitters.

Whereas many lifting shoes feel heavy and clunky, the Nike Romaleos 2 is lighter in weight and more flexible, while still offering a lot of stability during Olympic lifts.

The heel is a little bit higher than some sneakers, but very strong.

They are also offered in more stores than regular lifting shoes, so the athlete may want to seek them out to try them on before ordering them. With their bright colors, snug fit, and durable sole, the Nike Romaleos 2 are a must-have for the serious lifter.

VS Athletics Weightlifting Shoes

The VS Athletics Weightlifting Shoe favors function over style. It uses reinforced rubber in the heel, creating a stable foundation for your lift. Some people complain that these aren’t the prettiest shoes to look at, but if you’re looking for a reasonably priced lifting shoe, these are a great option at $94.99 on Amazon.

When first trying out new lifting shoes, start by only using the shoes for heavy lifting. Many athletes notice a big difference in their squats right away.

The stability of your feet sets up a solid foundation that can make the overall lift feel much better, giving the athlete more confidence in the lift. When starting to do Olympic lifting, athletes often feel more powerful because their feet are landing in a solid position.

VS AthleticsAfter getting comfortable with their shoes during lifts, many CrossFitters start wearing their footwear during WODs (workout of the day).

If the WOD contains some sort of lift, athletes may opt to keep the shoes on. Athletes find the shoes difficult for movements like running, box jumps, and double unders, so they’ll wear their normal trainers for those.

Some athletes even like lifting shoes for squatting movements like wall balls, as they help with overall form.

Whatever your purpose, weightlifting footwear is a useful addition to your gym bag. Make sure to read reviews, especially when it comes to sizing. Often, these shoes will run a half size bigger than normal, so check with the manufacturer before ordering.

Then get ready to set new PRs with your new shoes!

Features:

Style

The VS Athletics comes in one style black and white with a rubber sole and leather upper.

They wont be as breathable as some of the other lifting shoes on the market. They will also be a little heavier than some of the other lighter weight lifting shoes coming out from Nike, Adidas, and Reebok. These are function over style, and their strong rubber soles will help the average athlete with their lifts.

Fit

Like many other models, the athlete may want to order a half-size smaller than their normal shoe. This ensures that the shoe will keep your feet firmly in place during the lifts. The athlete can easily tighten the straps  to make them tighter during the lifts.

The straps on it are a little long and some athletes (depending on the size of their feet) trim the straps a little so they don’t go all the way to the ground.

Crossfit Activities

It will help the CrossFitters during their strength training. Their thick, strong heel will withstand the heavy loads of squats. The durable outside will help keep the foot in a good position during heavy lifts.

It shouldn't be worn during WODs, as they can be a little heavier than the normal athletic shoe. They may be good to wear during skill work in pistols (one-legged squats) and wall balls, as they help drive that heel down during these moves.

More models and brands to consider: Adidas Adipower Olympic sneakers, Do-win, Asics, Pendlay, Inov-8, Under Armour, Nike Metcon. You can get most of this models on Amazon or Rogue Fitness.

Overall

The VS Athletics Weightlifting Shoe is a great entry-level lifting shoe for a CrossFitters. The durable rubber sole will keep your feet in place during your heavy lifts.

They will help you focus on form during your squats, presses, and Olympic lifts. They are also less expensive than other Olympic lifting shoes on the market, running just under $100.

Filed Under: Sport Outdoor

About Bella Rise

My Name is Bella. I am co-owner and senior editor for hopperwise.com.

Hopper Wise is the place where we help you to pick the best possible products for you life needs. Hopper Wise Editors are spending countless hours writing, researching and reviewing products, so you can benefit.

We do everything on our power to improve and enhance life quality of everyone who come in contact with our site.

Take advantage of our research for your benefit. We update regularly, so come and visit as often as you can.

My Name is Bella. I am co-owner and senior editor for hopperwise.com.

Hopper Wise is the place where we help you to pick the best possible products for you life needs. Hopper Wise Editors are spending countless hours writing, researching and reviewing products, so you can benefit.

We do everything on our power to improve and enhance life quality of everyone who come in contact with our site.

Take advantage of our research for your benefit. We update regularly, so come and visit as often as you can.

Follow Us:

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Medium
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

#1 Top Rated Product Review Website

hopper wise logo

About Us

  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Terms Of Service
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Recent Posts

  • The Best Pre-Workout Supplement For Women Review 2018
  • Shredz For Her Review 2018
  • Vega One Buying Guide 2018
  • Benefits Of Glutamine For Women Review 2018
  • Do Amino Acids Help With Weight Loss? Our Review 2018

Popular Topics

  • Automotive
  • Career
  • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Fitness
  • Health
  • Home And Kitchen
  • Nutrition
  • Pets
  • Sport Outdoor
  • Style
  • Tools
  • Uncategorized

Follow Us On Social Media:

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Medium
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright hopperwise.com© 2019 Best Product Reviews And Comparisons – All Rights Reserved

Office Adress: 123 Justison Street Wilmington, DE 19801 Suite 502