14 Best Deadlifting Shoes 2019 | A Thorough Buyer Guide (Reviews)

Alright, gentleman:

The mission today is to find the best deadlifting shoes of our generation. Sometimes it feels like a heck of a job to settle for the absolute best deadlifting shoes especially due to the availability of a wide range of exceptionally crafted shoes from numerous brands.

However, our mandate is to ensure that we provide some relief as you focus on your exercising routine in regards to the selection process.

In this regard, without fear of prejudice, we will briefly review some of the best deadlifting shoes that you can find on the market today.

Furthermore, we will briefly guide you on how to select excellent deadlifting shoes from a plethora of shoemakers. We’ve also considered answering the top FAQs in regards to buying deadlifting shoes.

In the end, our goal is to ensure that you can settle for the best pair putting into consideration the most important aspects such as durability, comfort, and pricing.

Let’s get to doing this:

1.    Converse Mens Chuck Taylor All Star High Top

Chucks have been my all-time favorites and probably the first choice to many other people when it comes to selecting sporty shoes for the outdoors. Chuck Taylors have withstood the test of time having been introduced in the early 1900s.

 In fact, Converse Chuck Taylor’s are not only durable and comfortable for deadlifting but also for the other two lifts that make up the three big lifts. In this regard, investing in a pair of chucks gives you a chance to look nice and at the same time work your bench press, squats, and deadlifting comfortably at no extra cost.

Converse Chuck Taylor’s are extremely lightweight, have a flat sole with no padding and won’t break your bank. These are some of the reasons as to why you should consider a pair of Chuck Ts for weightlifting. The advantages that come with these exceptional shoes outweigh the disadvantages. For instance, you must have heard people say that the best deadlifting shoes you can have are your socks.

Luckily, Chuck Taylor’s are arguably the closest that you can get to that bare feet feeling. Since chucks don’t have padding like running shoes, then you are sure that no energy is lost through the padding when weightlifting which means you can push your limits in regards to the weight you can lift.

2.    adidas Performance Men's Powerlift.3 Cross-Trainer Shoe

The Adidas power lift line of shoes is a well-known brand especially for athletes and professional weightlifters. In their third generation now, the name alone says it all. These shoes are specifically made for weightlifting which means that they would come in handy in regards to deadlifting, squats and a bench press among others. It’s however in deadlifting that they perform the best mainly because of the three most recognizable and exceptional features.

Although there are numerous reasons as to why you should have a pair, their inexpensive nature, the single strap design and the lower heel stand out as some of the most important features that weightlifting enthusiasts would admire. Furthermore, the fact that it’s pretty easy to spot deadlifting champions with a pair of the Adidas power lift 3 cross trainers makes it even easier to fall in love with them.

3.    Vibram Men's KSO EVO Cross Training Shoe

The Vibram men’s KSO EVO cross-training shoes popularly known as the five fingers KSO EVO are arguably the most versatile in the Vibram five fingers line. They are unique trainers that can be used for various activities including running, jogging basketball, and deadlifting. These shoes ooze quality and have some unique features that make them ideal shoes for weightlifting.

Even when paying homage to these extraordinary looking shoes, remembers that they make it very difficult for us to squeeze them into a specific category. You can be assured of a great deal of ground feel and protection. Also, be assured of flexibility and an excellent grip. The shoes can also be classified as minimalistic meaning a lot of work has been put into the essential features. Since the shoes are affordable, it makes it even more appealing to professionals and amateurs alike.

4.    Inov-8 Bare-XF 210 Unisex Cross-Training Shoe

Although the Inov 8 B is designed to work better off the road generally, they also come out as some of the best designs for weightlifting and other indoor activities. The best thing about this company is that their designs are mainly functional and at most times created with the purpose of the shoes in mind rather than trying to appeal to a wide range of audiences. In this regard, that’s why it has been a leading manufacturer of training shoes in the last couple of years.

The Inov 8 Bare does not come differently in regards to exceptional features and the attention to detail. These shoes are created explicitly for barefoot training which automatically sounds good for deadlifting. The flat sole ensures that you get the desired grip, the flexibility and lightweight nature of the shoes allow you to push extra in regards to deadlifting. The excellent support and protection from the shoes also provide for comfort consequently increasing your performance.

5.    ASICS Men's JB Elite V2.0 Wrestling Shoe

The ASICS Men’s JB Elite V2.0 Wrestling shoes are excellent shoes made for the professional wrestler but can also be used for other sports such as weightlifting. In this regard, you can consider the number of exceptional features that come with the JB elites.

To begin with, you want something that’s durable, and the elites offer just that at a fraction of the cost that’s always associated with professional gear. When we talk about breathability and comfort, we can’t completely ignore the elites. What’s more, they are flexible and have an exceptional design that would be preferred by barefoot lifting fanatics.

6.    SABO Deadlift Shoes

SABO Deadlift Shoes are specifically created for deadlifting meaning you would obviously have a lot of expectations from these shoes. Not to disappoint, you can expect average performance on various weightlifting but excellence when it comes to sumo deadlifts.

The Sabos perform in four main areas which are durability, aesthetics, comfort, and traction. With an excellent flat sole, barefoot lifters would be happy with these shoes. The sole is very close to the ground giving you that barefoot feeling. Although traction isn’t the best, it’s incredible and competes with other professional shoes out there made for weightlifting.

When it comes to construction, some people believe that the Sabos are only playing catch-up as compared to other excellent shoes in the market. In their defense, they offer lightweight shoes, therefore, compromising on the materials used for construction. Nevertheless, if you have a couple of pairs, these wouldn’t be a big problem.

If Aesthetics is one of the main reasons as to why you visit the gym, why not have good looking shoes during a deadlifting competition? The Sabos come with a selection of colors and designs for everyone. In fact, they are written deadlifting on the side just to silence the doubters.

7.    Inov-8 Men's Fastlift 325 Cross-Trainer Shoe

The Inov-8 Men’s Fast Lift 325 Cross Trainer Shoe is a top-tier dead lifting shoe familiar to most weightlifting enthusiasts. Some of the most notable features of the shoe include lightweight, external heel cage for better stability, flexibility and made from synthetic fabric.

The Inov 8 is arguably one of the lightest shoes in the industry right now thanks to the manufacturer's brilliant idea of using lightweight materials. Apart from being light, the shoe is comfortable thanks to the heel cage explicitly designed to increase the stability of the shoe which in turn allows for deeper squats.

Since the Inov 8 is made of synthetic fabric and therefore you should expect the overall pricing of the shoe to be favorable since these materials are inexpensive. Moreover, this means that barefoot lifting enthusiasts would be glad to find something that is close to actual barefoot lifting. The heel cage allows for better stability consequently pushing more weight.

This is a good shoe for performance, praising and comfort.

8.    Reebok Men's Crossfit Lifter 2.0 Training Shoe

When seeking the best deadlifting shoes, it’s tough to ignore the Rebook men’s CrossFit lifter 2.0 training shoe. Some professionals have described it as one of the best-designed work out shoe on the market today. To some extent, it takes the day when it comes to weightlifting, performance and comfort.

As the name suggests, it is made for CrossFit level training. In this regard, it should perform better in exceptionally high-intensity workouts. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t go deadlifting with it. Some quality features in these reeboks would complement the art of deadlifting.

The fact that it comes with an extra padded tongue for comfort, a sleek design, toe box with excellent room and constructed from breathable material makes it an excellent choice for deadlifting. Furthermore, the manufacturers incorporated 3D Fuse frame technology. One of the advantages of this technology is that you don’t need to wear the shoe for long to feel comfortable in it, it just gets it right off the bat.

9.    adidas Men's Adipower Weightlift Shoes

Ranked among the top deadlifting shoes of 2018, the Adidas men’s Adipower weight lift shoes come with excellent aesthetics, superb construction, stability, unique feel and exceptional stability. You can be sure of stability, foothold and comfort as the shoes are designed explicitly for heavy weightlifting.

The Adipower shoes come with anti-slip rubber sole, texture linings and a leather coated upper which offers exceptional comfort and durability.

Some of the other features that you would admire from the Adidas Adipower shoes include adjustable straps and lightweight overlays. Furthermore, the shoes come with an excellent heel lift of 20.1 mm. As you would expect, all these unique features come with a price. In this regard, the Adipower will set you back a little extra as compared to your regular trainers, but it’s worth it.

10.    Reebok Men's Crossfit Nano 6.0 Cross-trainer Shoe

If you are a fan of the Nano series, then you already know that these shoes are high on the top regarding ranking. In fact, the Nano 7.0 is the only likely competitors in this line of shoes. However, these shoes don’t stack up well against the competition. Although not at the top, they still offer something for the dedicated weightlifter.

Some of the most incredible features that might make you want to consider the Rebook men’s CrossFit nano 6.0 cross-trainer shoes include Kevlar rope protection, good looks, and construction. When it comes to the performance, you can easily compare them to the 5.0, their predecessor.

11.    Nike Romaleos II Power Lifting Shoes

Introduced back in 2008, the Nike Romaleos is a line of powerful weightlifting shoes made for power. The name Romaleos which is a Greek word for power, says it all. The Nike Romaleos are often recommended as Olympic weightlifting shoes and truth be told, they never disappoint.

 If you have used the Adidas Adipower shoes for weightlifting, then the performance and virtually everything is similar with the Nike Romaleos. In this regard, it will boil down to brand preference in a situation where you need to choose between the Nikes and the Adidas.

Some of the most outstanding features of the Nike Romaleos include the aesthetic appeal, comfort, and a good weight. It’s tough to find something negative in regards to the Nike Romaleos. You can’t beat something explicitly created for weightlifting like the Nike Romaleos on the world stage in the 2008 Olympics. Moreover, they tend to be favorites in regards to most professional weightlifters which again give you a hint on how good the Nike Romaleos are.

12.    Reebok Men's R CrossFit Lifter 2.0 Training Shoe

If lightweight construction, stability, and speed are some of your most important features when looking for a deadlifting shoe, then the Rebook men’s R CrossFit lifter 2.0 training shoe are the ones for you. I think Rebook had enthusiastic CrossFitters in mind when they were designing these shoes. Most of the features complement the efforts of a hard-working CrossFit enthusiast.

The fact that Reebok went out of their way to contact powerlifting champions such as Mark Bell during the research for the shoe, it means they were really serious on offering CrossFit enthusiasts with the best level of comfort and performance that deadlifting shoes can offer. Luckily, they were able to come up with the Reebok men’s R CrossFit lifter 2.0 training shoe which is one of the best deadlifting shoes on the market today in regards to pricing, performance, construction material and stability.

13.    Nike Romaleos 2 Power Lifting Shoes

The Nike Romaleos 2 powerlifting shoes are some of the most common weightlifting shoes that are seen in high-level competitions such as the Olympics. You will often see weightlifting champions wearing them during competitions because they are among the best deadlifting shoes on the market today. The shoes come with a lot of competitive features such as quality design, excellent weight, comfort and aesthetic appeal.

The Nike Romaleos 2 powerlifting shoes are not only sleek but also comfortable and slimmer than your average weightlifting shoes. Furthermore, these shoes are very stable, and they are even able to resist any bends from awkward positions. Anyone looking for an excellent deadlifting shoe is going to want to choose the Nike Romaleos 2 power lifting shoes.

14.    Adidas Men's Leistung 16 Weightlifting Shoes

Being one of the latest products from Adidas and having been produced for the 2016 Rio Olympics, you can expect all the new technologies incorporated in these new shoes. You can also look forward to having a little bit of more flexibility with these shoes as well as comfort. As mentioned earlier, a lot of new technology has been incorporated in this shoe.

The construction is excellent thanks to the use of the new material as compared to their predecessors. Moreover, the shoe boasts of an excellent heel design which improves stability and the BOA lacing system which unlike the traditional lacing system makes things a little tighter and faster.

Deadlifting Shoes Buyers Guide

Whether you are looking for your first pair or looking to replace your old deadlifting shoes, you will be amazed by the numerous models and brands out there. From the big brands to the smaller but still effective ones, you are always spoiled for choice. So how do you ensure that you don’t lose focus? Here is a guide to finding and buying the best deadlifting shoes on the market today.

Do you need deadlifting shoes, to begin with? Here are some of the benefits of using deadlifting shoes.

Why you need deadlifting shoes?

First of all, you need to have a pair of deadlifting shoes even before purchasing the perfect one. It doesn’t matter what kind of shoe you have, but at least you should have one specifically made for deadlifting if you’re not doing it barefoot. The reason behind this is because the more time you spend weightlifting with the wrong shoes, the more your body wears out which might even lead to permanent damage to your body and serious health issues.

The first automatic benefit of using deadlifting shoes is the fact that you get to lift more weight. When you talk about more weight, we don’t necessarily mean double what you are pushing now. Nevertheless, by using flat sole or special barefoot deadlifting shoes, you can drive extra weight by a significant margin. The science behind this is pretty simple.

When you use your regular running shoes, a lot of energy is lost in the thick padding that is typical of the running shoes consequently leading to less weight lifted. On the other hand, deadlifting shoes are specifically created to come as close as possible to the barefoot feeling as possible. In fact, most professional weightlifting enthusiasts believe that the best deadlifting shoes are bare feet. The closer your feet are to the ground, the better the athlete can control the force consequently lifting more weight.

Another significant benefit of using deadlifting shoes is that they maintain your form and give you stability. It is obvious that you need stability and form if you are going to be performing professionally for a long time. Most manufacturers already know that you need your confidence during a weightlifting session and they do their best to ensure that they offer nothing short of that.

What are the most important features that you should look for when buying deadlifting shoes? Apart from personal preference and budget limitations, here are some of the main things that you should consider before purchasing deadlifting shoes.

The height of the heel

This is one of the most important features that you need to consider before purchasing a pair of weightlifting shoes. The reason behind this is because the height of the heel directly affects your stability, form, and energy used. In this regard, you want to find an excellent height that gives you stability, form and at the same time use the least energy.

As a rule of thumb, a 0.7 inches heel should be able to keep you stable and offer the support needed when squatting. However, it sometimes depends on your height.

The type of the sole.

When it comes to soles, there are two main areas that you need to consider which are the size of the sole regarding thickness and shape. If you are looking for a performance shoe, then you will be looking for very thin and flat soles.

A thin sole works to the advantage of the weightlifter in the sense that it allows him to have a huge surface area of his feet in contact with the ground giving him a chance to get the right amount of force required to lift the weight. It is also believed that the height which the weight is required to be lifted significantly reduces when the sole is thin and flat. Moreover, you are likely to be unstable when you have different options.

The material used to make the sole is also important, and that’s why you will find that most high-quality soles are made of hard material. Initially, the soles used to be made of wood to reduce the resistance between your feet and the floor. While we are on soles, you also want your insole to be excellently made in a way that they can offer excellent arch support during your entire training period.

Straps

Strapping is obviously important because the moment that you have loose shoes during a weightlifting session, then that’s the beginning of your fall. It’s also a great thing to avoid sliding and throwing your body off balance during a weightlifting session.

Traditionally, straps and laces were used for strapping although new technologies are emerging by the day. However, the most important thing is to ensure that you have your feet in place during a weightlifting session and you have a tight grip before lifting. Your shoes should feel supportive and snug fitting for good performance.

The material

Although the material used for construction might not highly affect your performance directly, it does affect your comfort during a weightlifting session as well as the durability of the shoes. Apart from the sole, there usually are two main materials used to construct shoes which are fabric and leather. Both materials have their advantages and disadvantages, but it comes down to personal preference and the way you intend to use the shoes.

The leather is always preferred over fabric because it feels comfortable and lasts longer than fabric. However, on the other hand, fabric is seen as a suitable material for people who like to enjoy the breathability that the material comes with.  The fabric also helps with the overall pricing of the shoe, as it’s cheaper. On the other hand, leather might seem a bit expensive, but it is also firm which means that it protects the shoe even under some harsh conditions.

Pricing and aesthetics

The price and look of shoes don’t necessarily affect the performance of an athlete, and that’s why they are coming in last. However, they are also important factors to consider when choosing an ideal deadlifting shoe. If budget isn’t an issue, then you should go for high-end brands as they will most likely have quality shoes to maintain their image.

If your budget is limited, do not go for the lowest priced shoes as most of the times, they are poorly constructed and might be made from low-quality materials. However, you can consider some budget shoes that have been carefully built by specialists who compromised on the least significant areas.

When it comes to aesthetics, it’s entirely dependent on personal preference. However, it doesn’t mean that since you are looking for a performance shoe, you should get stuck with an ugly looking pair.