18
Nov 2019
When to Wear Weightlifting Shoes
Tian Tao’s Antas
Do You Even Lift?
Since I became a member of the CrossFit Magnitude coaching staff, a number of gym patrons have expressed the fact that, while they own weightlifting shoes, they chose not to wear them for workouts which the shoes would be appropriate for. A commonly cited reason for this sentiment is a sense of inadequacy regarding their own abilities, in other words, they have the shoes, but they don’t feel like “real lifters.” I strongly believe that once you walk through the doors of CrossFit Magnitude, you are a “real lifter,” whether you can hang clean a 15lb training bar or you can strict press 225lbs. What makes you a “real lifter” is your conscious commitment toward personal physical betterment, which occurs every single time you come to the gym to workout.
She Lifts So Does She
(Source: The Barbell Spin) (Source: Sergio Pedemonte @yourhousefitness)
What are Weightlifting Shoes?
Source: Roguefitness.com, Nike Romaleos 3XD
Weightlifting shoes are stiff, flat, thick shoes with a raised, usually plastic or wooden heel. The width and construction of the shoe provides extra stability while executing a variety of lifts and prevents lateral movement with planted feet or during the planting of the feet while performing the snatch and clean and jerk. The raised heel slightly changes the angle of the ankle, which for most people will help them reach depth in the bottom of a squat or catch in the snatch and clean while staying balanced. Especially in the case of the Olympic lifts, footwork is a critical building block of the movement, so what you wear on your feet to execute these movements should be a deliberate consideration. Weightlifting shoes should not be conceptualized as a band-aid for poor technique or mobility. We should always be striving to improve our technique and mobility regardless of the shoes we chose to lift in.
When Should You Wear Weightlifting Shoes?
There is no specific level of experience or amount of weight a lifter should be aiming for before deciding to purchase their first pair of weightlifting shoes. Just like ice skates are for a hockey player or cleats are for a soccer player, weightlifting shoes are the tools of the sport. A PeeWee skater still wears skates, and a novice weightlifter should still wear lifters. Weightlifting shoes are most frequently utilized to execute lifts which require an extremely high level of stability, balance, and depth. This includes, but is not limited to: snatches and all snatch variations, overhead squats, front squats, back squats (high and low bar), all variations of jerks, and all variations of cleans. During the lifelong pursuit of fitness, personal footwear preferences for all of the above lifts and beyond will most likely develop, and weightlifting shoes may not be for everyone, but I highly encourage the lifters of CrossFit Magnitude to add this tool to their toolbox so as to not miss out on a hugely valuable resource in the weightlifting world.
Facebook
Instagram
