We Found the Best Weightlifting Shoes After 65 Hours of Squats, Lunges, and More

Best Overall

Reebok Nano X4

View on Amazon $150 at Zappos View on Reebok.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 5-16, men’s 4-14 | Closure: Laces | Upper Materials: Knit | Cushioning: Foam | Weight: 12 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who They’re For

Best for people looking for a shoe that provides excellent stability and support, especially for lower body exercises. 

Why We Love Them

Reebok's Nano X4 Training Shoes helped us hit a few squat PRs thanks to their stability, support, and lightweight, breathable design. The unisex shoe's heel gradually increases in height toward the back from mid-foot, so it feels like you're standing on a very slight wedge—which helps you get lower in your squats, lunges, and deadlifts. The elevation isn’t too steep, so it’s great for lifting but won’t feel uncomfortable when walking to and from the gym, says Umo Callins, CPT, a fitness coach based in Oklahoma City with 180Physique Nutrition and Fitness.

When we tested these shoes, we especially loved their solid base and flat sole, which helped even out the pressure we put on our feet without putting excess pressure on specific areas, like our heel, ball, or toes. This is important for movements like deadlifts and squats, where you want your feet to feel anchored to the floor to push off and lift heavier.

In addition to feeling especially supportive during lower body exercises, we found this shoe to be very light and breathable thanks to the air vents around the toe box. 

Potential Flaws

• The ankle tab is stiff and pressed into our ankles when our socks weren’t tall enough. We tried to flex it down, but it doesn't seem to soften—though it's only a minor nuisance depending on your movements.
• We found that the shoes don't excel for high-mobility movement patterns like sports or lateral movements.

Best for Stability

adidas The Total Shoes

$120 at Amazon $120 at Zappos $120 at Adidas.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 5-17, men’s 4-16 | Closure: Laces and Velcro strap | Upper Materials: Textile | Cushioning: None | Weight: 11 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who They’re For

Best for avid weightlifters looking for a specialized shoe with a flat sole that doesn’t have to work for other types of workouts. 

Why We Love Them

Adidas' The Total Shoes felt very supportive during lifts, thanks to the added Velcro strap over the laces that ensures a secure fit. Their zero heel-to-toe drop and lack of cushion helped us drive into the ground and feel planted while doing squats and deadlifts, which also helped us maintain better form. While testing, we felt less wobbly, and both our feet and ankles felt supported.

These shoes also grip very well and we felt very confident and stable in our footing. We also loved that these unisex shoes held up well during regular use and wear, and we didn't notice an odor or sweat build-up. Overall, we found them very supportive and stable for traditional weightlifting workouts.

Potential Flaws

• These shoes aren't very flexible, and we could feel the stiff sole during lunges.
• They lack cushion, so they're not ideal for cross-training or anything other than weightlifting.

Best With Elevated Heel

NOBULL Lifter Shoe

$149 at Nobullproject.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 5-11, men’s 7-16 | Closure: Laces and Velcro strap | Upper Materials: Canvas | Cushioning: Foam | Weight: 13.7 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 17.5 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.7/5

Who They’re For

Best for more experienced weightlifters looking to improve their squat performance or those with limited ankle mobility who could use an elevated heel. 

Why We Love Them

NOBULL makes some of the most anatomical weightlifting shoes, and the Canvas Lifter is an excellent choice for improving your squat form. Their elevated heel is great because it keeps your heels up, which allows your ankles to stretch a bit further, giving you better mobility so you can squat deeper. During tests, we found these to be really great at helping keep our feet planted on the ground.

We also love that NOBULL's Canvas Lifters are sturdy yet relatively flexible, and they don't feel too restrictive. The canvas construction is very durable, too—these shoes are resistant to wear and the material doesn't lend to scuffs the way other shoes do. We noticed that they felt more comfortable over time as our feet got used to them, and they even helped improve our form during lifts.

Also available in men's sizes at NOBULL.

Potential Flaws

• While we felt more fatigued initially, this decreased with use, so just note that these shoes may require some breaking in.
• Beginner weightlifters may need time adjusting to the elevated heel design. 

Best Grip

TYR L-1 Lifter

$200 $160 at Amazon View on Tyr.com View on Swim2000.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 6.5-15.5, men’s 4.5-14 | Closure: Laces and Velcro straps | Upper Materials: Polyester | Cushioning: Not listed | Weight: 17 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 21 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.4/5

Who They’re For

Best for experienced lifters looking for a shoe with an elevated heel to squat in.

Why We Love Them

TYR's L-1 Lifters have great grip and allow you to make contact with the ground with every part of your foot, which is super important for maintaining proper form when squatting. While these have an elevated heel similar to that of NOBULL's Canvas Lifters, we actually felt these shoes helped us maintain a better grip on the ground during lifts. We like that they also made us feel stable and supported on multiple surfaces in the gym. These shoes feature two adjustable Velcro straps at the midfoot, which really helped keep our feet secure during lifts.

Our feet and ankles felt very stable and supported thanks to the flat, grippy sole—and we almost felt locked into the ground. We also found that the heel height helped with knee flexion, giving us better mobility for deeper squats.

The elevated heel also helps with stability, which was apparent during squats. According to Callins, the 21-millimeter heel-to-toe drop allows for greater freedom of movement, which can lead to more force—and the more grip you have, the more force you can produce in lifting without slipping.

Potential Flaws

• Beginner weightlifters may need time adjusting to the elevated heel design. 
• Strapping them on requires a bit of effort. On our first attempt, we found that the cushioning along the ankle folded down when we tried to slip our foot in, and it crammed up between the ankle and shoe.

Best Barefoot

Vivobarefoot Women's Primus Lite III

$160 at Amazon View on Vivobarefoot.com $170 at Backcountry.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 4.5-15, men’s 7-15 | Closure: Laces | Upper Materials: Polyester, polyurethane | Cushioning: Foam | Weight: 6.4 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5

Who They’re For

Best for experienced lifters looking for a minimal-style shoe and a barely-there feel. 

Why We Love Them

Barefoot-style weightlifting shoes are a solid choice for experienced weightlifters who have proper form and lift heavy every day. We like Vivobarefoot's Primus Lite III Shoes because they help us feel grounded, stable, and confident enough to progress the weights we lift week after week safely. The thin midsole and durable outsole offer a close-to-ground feel and grippy traction—which is especially helpful for exercises that require you to push off the floor, like barbell squats.

We also love that these shoes feature lightweight foam cushioning that makes it easy for us to move around between sets. Plus, the puncture-resistant sole protects your feet from sharp objects and debris without sacrificing the barefoot feel.

Also available in men's sizes at Amazon and Vivobarefoot.

Potential Flaws

• Since these are barefoot shoes, they don't have any cushioning and may not offer enough support for beginners.
• We noticed that the laces tend to come undone when walking around, but not during workouts.

Most Breathable

Under Armour SlipSpeed Training Shoes

$189 at Amazon $120 at Dicks Sporting Goods $90 at Underarmour.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 5-14.5, men’s 3.5-13 | Closure: BOA Fit System (a patented closure system that allows you to adjust the fit of the shoes with the turn of a dial) | Upper Materials: Not listed | Cushioning: Foam | Weight: 10.8 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 2 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.3/5

Who They’re For

Best for exercisers with sweaty feet who need a well-ventilated shoe. 

Why We Love Them

Under Armour's Unisex UA SlipSpeed Training Shoes are well-ventilated and kept our feet cool and comfortable throughout 15 lifting sessions. We didn't notice any odor or moisture getting in the way. We also appreciated the superb traction on these, as the shoes gripped the gym floor really well, which made us feel extra stable and confident while lifting.

These Under Armour shoes are also very versatile. They have some cushioning that makes them more comfortable for cardio workouts than other weightlifting shoes we tested. Callins recommends these UA shoes for cross-training workouts that involve sprinting and running. 

Potential Flaws

• During tests, the shoe's heel felt loose, and we noticed some slippage in the heel when jumping and lunging.
• The BOA click-and-turn lace system (which replaces traditional laces) took us a few tries to get comfortable with. Because of this, we also struggled to get the shoes tight enough.

Best Budget

Under Armour Commit 4 Training Shoes

$80 $76 at Amazon $76 at Zappos $80 at Underarmour.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 5.5-12, men’s 7-15 | Closure: Laces | Upper Materials: Polyester | Cushioning: Not listed | Weight: 9.66 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 8 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5

Who They’re For

Best for beginner to intermediate lifters who want a stable, grippy shoe at a relatively affordable price.

Why We Love Them

Under Armour's UA Commit 4 Training Shoes are noticeably stiff all around, but the mesh fabric across the forefoot gives enough flexibility for us to do lunges, squats, and jumps without any issue or discomfort. During testing, the shoe excelled in all areas where we had to rely on foot placement and stability to maintain our form throughout the moves. We felt confident increasing our weights during lunges, squats, deadlifts, and cleans because the shoes would keep our feet and form in place.

We found these shoes to be particularly good for deadlifts as they kept our feet flat on the ground, and the design of the shoe helped us focus on our mind-muscle connection. The grip is excellent, and the stability of the shoe also allowed us to add extra plates to our squats without fear of losing balance. 

Also available in men's sizes at Amazon and Under Armour.

Potential Flaws

• They have a narrow construction, so they may not be suitable for people with wide feet.
• Experienced lifters may prefer a shoe with more performance features, like an elevated heel.

Best for Cross-Training

Nike Women's Metcon 9

$137 at Nordstrom $84 at Dicks Sporting Goods $106 at Nike.com

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 5-15, men’s 4.5-13.5 | Closure: Laces with hook-and-loop tab | Upper Materials: Mesh | Cushioning: Foam | Weight: 12.4 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 4 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.9/5

Who They’re For

Best for exercisers who need one shoe for a variety of workouts, from lifting to cardio.

Why We Love Them

If your exercise routine is varied, you may consider buying one shoe to cover it all—and Nike's Metcon 9 Training Shoe is a solid choice. The shoe features soft foam cushioning that delivers lightweight responsiveness for quick cardio bursts, as well as a wide and flat heel (with a larger, built-in plate) for stability during strength training. We also love the rubber overlay that wraps the entire shoe to add durability.

On the upper, you'll find a hook-and-loop tab that keeps laces secure, which we noticed helps to add lateral stability and prevent tripping. We also appreciate that the breathable mesh upper is lightweight, hugging our feet and offering a locked-in feel. Plus, the medium-thick midsole provides good arch support.

Also available in men's sizes at Amazon, Nike, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

Potential Flaws

• We found that these run a bit short, length-wise. So if you're in between sizes, consider going a half size up and tightening the laces a little extra. 

Best for Beginners

Converse Chuck Taylor

$70 at Amazon $65 at Zappos $65 at Nordstrom

Key Specs

Sizes: Women’s 5-18, men’s 3-16 | Closure: Laces | Upper Materials: Canvas | Cushioning: Foam | Weight: 13 ounces | Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5

Who They’re For

Best for beginner to advanced lifters who don't need much arch support.

Why We Love Them

Converse's Chuck Taylor All Star Shoes are a classic for a reason. While this iconic sneaker is a stylish fashion staple, it's also a great option for strength training because of its stability, versatility, and comfort. The reliable shoe is made from a thick canvas upper that's machine-washable. When testing, we found that the flat, firm midsole provides ample stability, while the high-top fit and strong laces offer exceptional ankle support.

We also love how the durable rubber outsole helps us feel like we're gripping the floor during workouts, which allows for better control when dealing with heavy weights. The two eyelets along each side of the shoe enhance air circulation, which we appreciate during sweaty sessions. And with dozens of colors to choose from and unisex sizing, you may even want more than one pair.

Potential Flaws

• These shoes have minimal arch support, so they may not be a great choice for those with plantar fasciitis who need more support.
• The high-top style may take some effort to lace on and off.