Choosing the right Weightlifting shoes can be a difficult decision. You will rarely find them in a store nowadays so most of us have to rely on other people to try them out for us before we put down our money.
Luckily for you, I’ve done exactly that!
Here are my Top 5 Weightlifting Shoes for 2022.
5 – Nike Romaleos 4
The Nike Romaleos 4 is the first option on the list, expect to pay a large sum of money for these shoes.
As I mentioned in my full review of the Romaleos, they have one very glaring problem which stopped them from coming in higher on this list. They suffer very badly from heel slip issues.
Whether this will cause you any major headaches will depend on what sort of lifts you will use them for. Powerlifters will generally get by, but Olympic Weightlifters may struggle.
Of all the Weightlifting Shoes I have tried, the Romaleos 4 have one of the most stable bases, the sole flares out under the foot making it very hard to roll your foot or lose balance, it’s very hard not to feel locked into the floor in these shoes.
The shoe runs a touch on the narrow side, so depending on your foot shape this could be a good or a bad thing. It wasn’t a massive issue for me, but I do like to spread my toes when I Squat, so I did feel a little restricted.
The Nike Romaleos 4 were not made for walking, they are a very heavy shoe and pretty inflexible. Again, this could be good or bad depending on your needs, I personally prefer my Weightlifting shoes this way.
Pros
- Extremely stable and secure
- Double strap system provides great control over tightness and fit
- Very good build quality, nothing feels cheap or poorly made
Cons
- Price, they are about as expensive as a Weightlifting Shoe can be
- Issues with fit, mainly heel slip and narrow toe design
- They can feel bulky and immobile, perhaps not the best for Olympic lifts
Rating – 5.4/10
4 – Adidas Adipower 2
The Adidas Adipower 2 is a strange animal, it really goes against the norm when it comes to Weightlifting Shoes.
The stereotypical Weightlifting Shoe tends to be heavy and cumbersome, however, the Adipower 2 manages to balance reasonably good performance whilst being very light and flexible.
That flexibility does come at a price though, the Adipower 2 just isn’t as stable as it’s counterparts.
I can see what Adidas was going for with the Adipower 2, and if you’re someone who wants to get a bit more out of your Weightlifting Shoes and you are comfortable with the high price, the Adipower 2 could be the choice for you.
If like me, you are looking for a Weightlifting Shoe only for Weightlifting and Powerlifting, then you may want to consider one of the options below.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Very comfortable
- Can walk around in them easily, as you would in a normal shoe
Cons
- Very pricey
- Don’t offer as much support as similarly priced rivals
- Aren’t the most breathable
Rating – 6.0/10
3 – Adidas Powerlift 4
The Adidas Powerlift 4 is my 3rd choice. If you’re someone who cares about looks, the Powerlift 4s are one of the best looking Weightlifting Shoes I have tried. They’re also one of the cheaper options on the market currently.
Fit and comfort are generally very good. The canvas material conforms quite well to the foot, however, the shoe can suffer from breathability issues, so something to be mindful of if you sweat a lot through your feet.
One thing to note is that they have a smaller effective heel height than the rest of the options on this list at 0.6” as compared to the standard 0.75”. Does it make a massive difference? Not really, but its definitely something to be aware of.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Good looks
- Good fit overall
Cons
- Smaller effective heel height than other options
- EVA based sole isn’t as stiff as TPU
- Lacing system can cause the toe to fold in on itself
Rating – 7.2/10
2 – Adidas Power Perfect 3
In at number 2 is yet another Weightlifting Shoe by Adidas (they’ve had a lot over the years). The Power Perfect 3 is my number 1 budget pick, if money factors highly in your decision making then this is the Weightlifting Shoe for you!
A unique feature of the Power Perfect 3 is that the metatarsal strap sits a bit higher up the shoe than most other options. For me, this worked well as I definitely felt a lot more locked into the shoe.
The sole is made from EVA, which isn’t quite as stiff as the TPU material you’ll find in the premium Weightlifting Shoes. The EVA is still plenty stiff enough though and I’ve known some seriously strong Olympic lifters to use this shoe, so if its good enough for them…
For the most part, the Power Perfect 3 has all the main features that you’ll find in a premium alternative and the performance is just as good (even better than some). The effective heel height is even the standard 0.75” so there’s not a lot to knock with this shoe.
Pros
- Price, a very affordable option
- Metatarsal strap position works well for security
- great balance between performance and comfort
Cons
- EVA sole isn’t as stiff as TPU
- Runs a bit large, consider sizing down from your normal shoe size
- Not the most attractive
Rating – 8.3/10
1 – Reebok Legacy Lifter 2
My number 1 Weightlifting Shoe is the Reebok Legacy Lifter 2. there is just so much that this shoe gets right and very, very little that it gets wrong.
Similar to the Nike Romaleos 4, this shoe is built like a tank, in fact, its the heaviest shoe on this list, and, yet, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Romaleos 4 was heavier. Somehow, Reebok has made the shoe feel extremely comfortable and walkable whilst still offering immense stability and security.
Of course, nothing is perfect, and the Legacy Lifter 2 does have a few flaws. The main flaw was that it runs very large, in my normal shoe size, I had over an inch of space in front of my toe. Reebok could have also done a better job on the quality of the lacing eyelets, which honestly feel like the shoe will tear every time you’re lacing up.
Those issues aside though, everything else about the Legacy Lifter 2 is on point. Yes, it’s on the more expensive end of the spectrum but I feel its worth that extra cost.
Pros
- Excellent balance between comfort and performance
- Heel design is extremely stable
- Doesn’t feel cumbersome, despite its weight
Cons
- Runs large
- Lacing eyelets could have been better designed
- Is on the expensive side
Rating – 8.4/10
