Otomix is a well-known brand within the sports of Wrestling, MMA, Bodybuilding, and Powerlifting and was one of the first shoe brands geared towards these areas. Established in 1988, they generally manufacture fitness apparel such as shoes and martial arts gear.
The Otomix Stingray is perhaps one of their more popular offerings when it comes to Powerlifting, so it felt only right to do a review on them.
The Otomix Stingray is an excellent Powerlifting Shoe choice for those looking for a more general-purpose option. It is suitably comfortable to wear throughout your entire workout and works well in the vast majority of lifts.
It has a particularly standout performance when it comes to the Deadlift as it has a very thin sole with excellent grip and traction.
Overall, the Otomix Stingray comes highly recommended for Powerlifters and Bodybuilders alike, as well as other strength based sports.
Otomix Stingray General Review
Quick Stats
The following stats are based on a US size 10:
- Weight 350g
- Length 284mm
- Toe Width 105mm
- Heel Width 67mm
- Sole Height 21mm
Looks
Those familiar with the look of Wrestling Shoes will recognize the overall look of the Otomix Stingray.
I do quite like the look of the Stingrays, for the most part, they’re pretty simplistic in their design with not too many flashy features.
That said though, they do offer a variety of color schemes and some of these can get particularly wild for my tastes.
Of course, the wide range of choices should cover pretty much the entire spectrum of lifter’s tastes, from boring people such as myself to those who like bright camo designs, there’s a color scheme for all.
The outsole has quite a unique design, featuring the Otomix logo and the grip pattern is a lot less geometric than what you’ll see on most powerlifting or wrestling shoes.
I’m not a particular fan of the camo designs that feature, but the Otomix Stingray does offer some more simple designs that suit my tastes a little better. The black with red trim is a personal favorite as well as the white option.
Rating – 7/10
Fit
The Otomix Stingray fit very well out of the box and sticking with your usual shoe size should do the job.
The upper is very flexible and padded so it should conform to the vast majority of foot shapes and sizes without issue.
Like many high topped shoes though, I found these to be a little laborious to take off and put back on but no more so than other similar shoes.
Overall, the majority of people should have no issues with the fit of the Otomix Stingray.
Rating – 8/10
Comfort
The Otomix Stingray is perhaps one of the more comfortable powerlifting shoes I’ve come across.
The upper material is very thick and padded and, as a result, the Otomix Stingray reminds me of snow boots or winter boots due to how chunky they are!
One thing that I did notice though was that the padding wasn’t a consistent thickness across the whole shoe. This was particularly noticeable around the tongue.
The insole also featured a thin gel-like layer under the heel. In terms of comfort, this was great and very supportive, however not the best when it comes to heavy lifting.
Comfort is one of the standout areas for the Otomix Stingray. I would have no reservations wearing these for long periods and would say this makes them great for everyday training at the gym.
Rating – 9/10
Straps and Lacing
The Otomix Stingray does not feature any straps to speak of. This is not a major issue but I do prefer my powerlifting shoes to feature some form of strap support.
Beyond this, the Otomix Stingray features a solid lacing system.
The eyelets do not feature any sort of insert support until the final three eyelets where a metal insert is present. However, the material used feels robust enough that there should not be any long term issues with wear and tear.
Because the material is so well padded, it can make getting the right tightness a little difficult so worth bearing in mind if you really like to tighten up your shoes to the extreme.
Overall, there’s nothing really striking or fantastic about the lacing of the Otomix Stingray. Equally, they do a good enough job in this department to not cause any major issues.
Rating – 6/10
Grip/Traction
The Otomix Stingray scored a solid 0.71 in the Powerlifting Perfection Grip Test, which is about average for powerlifting shoes.
In real terms, I found no problems with grip when wearing the Otomix Stingray throughout my workout. They do a perfectly good job in this department and should not cause any issues if this is something you would be concerned about.
Rating – 7/10
Otomix Stingray for Squats
Overall, the Stingray performs perfectly well in the Squat.
The shoe is very low profile and flat so there was very little sole to speak of. This allows for a much stronger base to push from, given there’s not really any material below you to compress.
That said, the Otomix Stingray does feature a soft gel in the heel of the insole, which is great for comfort, not so ideal for lifting.
Truthfully, the gel layer is so thin and compressible that it squeezes down to nothing even under the lightest of weight, so it wasn’t as problematic as wearing a running shoe for example.
Basically, unless you’re right up there with the most elite Powerlifters, I wouldn’t pay any mind to this, as it shouldn’t cause any major issues to your squat. Worth noting though, of course!
The Otomix Stingray feel very supportive around the foot so I felt very well planted to the floor and was able to really screw my feet in with all the grip the shoe offers.
Despite being a high-top, I didn’t feel overly restricted by the tongue and laces, which still allowed for ankle dorsiflexion and forward knee travel.
If you feel the tongue gets in the way though, it’s easy enough to loosen off the laces at the top to allow a bit less restriction in this area, tightness in the rest of the shoe remains unaffected which is good.
Overall, the Otomix Stingray is a solid option for those that prefer low bar squatting due to their flat profile and support and grip.
I would not recommend them for high bar squatting, however, and would instead opt for raised heel weightlifting shoes such as the Reebok Legacy Lifter 2, which is a personal favorite for squats.
If you’re unsure whether a low bar or high bar squat is for you, I would recommend reading my article on squat style, which will help point you in the right direction.
Rating – 7/10
Otomix Stingray for Deadlifts
The Otomix Stingray is a good option to consider for deadlifting, whether it be conventional or sumo.
I’ve spoken about grip already, and as a predominantly Sumo puller, I can’t stress enough how important it is that my shoes don’t slip out from under me.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Sumo Deadlift, your legs are typically out wide and the mechanics of the lift require a fair amount of lateral force to straighten them and thus, lift the weight.
If you’re trying to do this in socks, for example, you’re going to have a very bad time! Thankfully, the Otomix Stingray has more than enough grip to handle this lateral force.
Granted I’m not the strongest lifter out there so I’m not really able to put them through their paces like some would, however I know some very strong Powerlifters and Bodybuilders alike, who wear these and they’ve never had any issues.
Another common issue that I always look out for as a Sumo Deadlifter is ‘spill’, which is where your foot shifts or spills over the edge of the shoe, again due to all that lateral force.
This will typically occur with a shoe that doesn’t have enough support.
The overall snug feel of the Stingray coupled with the grippy rubber sole makes this a pretty non-existent issue and their solid construction keeps you locked into the shoe very well.
The final big pro for me with this shoe is, of course, the high-top design.
With the Deadlift, I like to keep my ankles pretty well locked in place, and having the material rising up around this area particularly helps with my overall stability.
Laced right, it also allows for a very slight brace against the tongue, it’s subtle but if you go looking for it you’ll definitely feel it.
My only downside on an otherwise great shoe was as I said previously, the Otomix Stingray just misses a strap or two, I feel it would just add that final finishing touch to make this shoe pretty great in this lift.
As an option more tailored to the Deadlift, I would also recommend looking into the Sabo Deadlift Shoe. As you may expect from a shoe name after the lift, it is one of the best powerlifting shoes available for deadlifting in.
I have also written a general guide to choosing the right powerlifting shoes for the deadlift, which you should check out for more advice!
Rating – 8/10
Otomix Stingray for The Bench Press
My feelings on the Bench Press performance mirror pretty closely to the Squat. The Otomix Stingray does a more than stellar job but for me, a shoe with a raised heel is always going to win out in the end.
If you’re not interested in that or are quite happy lifting your heels, I can’t see many downsides to the Otomix Stingray for all your Bench Pressing needs. As I’ve mentioned, the sole is super grippy and thin, so you can really get your toes into the ground and push!
Rating – 8/10
Otomix Stingray Price
The Otomix Stingray aren’t the most affordable option out there, however they’re still fairly reasonably priced overall.
Given their versatility and comfort, I would say they are worth paying extra. But this will largely depend on your needs.
If you’re looking for a shoe for general gym use then they’re absolutely worth the cost. However, if you’re after a powerlifting shoe for squats or deadlifts specifically, there are cheaper options available which will perform just as well.
You can check the latest prices for the Otomix Stingray on Amazon.
Rating – 7/10
Final Thoughts on the Otomix Stingray
It’s pretty clear to see why the Otomix Stingray has been such a popular choice for many lifters over the years.
For the Deadlift, in particular, there’s not a great deal to complain about, and on a more general workout level, it’s a great shoe to go about your business in the gym with, no matter what exercise you’re doing.
For the Squat and Bench Press, it isn’t my shoe of choice, I will always prefer a heeled Weightlifting Shoe.
This doesn’t make the Otomix Stingray a bad choice in either of these lifts though by any means, simply for me, I benefit from a raised heel.
If you’re looking for the perfect companion for your Deadlift or a more general-purpose powerlifting shoe to workout in, then look no further than the Otomix Stingray.
