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When you’re lifting weights (especially heavier weights), safety is everything. Setting yourself up with a good foundation for strength training starts with learning the basics, like how to nail the perfect form while lifting. Another key part of that foundation is having the best weightlifting shoes for your training.
One thing people may forget when starting out is that not every workout shoe is an ideal pair of shoes for lifting weights. The best shoes for weightlifting are specially designed to not only protect your body when you lift weights, but also help you lift better.
“[Weightlifting shoes] allow for better weight distribution and transfer when weightlifting,” says Sarah Louise Rector, a fitness trainer and founder of The SLR Life. “An actual weightlifting shoe is great as it’s designed to provide a heel lift to allow you to get deeper into your bend and provide more execution to lift heavy weights.”
Good shoes for weightlifting will also have key features such as a firm but semi-flexible sole and a snug upper — perhaps even with an added strap, as some of our picks for the best weightlifting shoes show. Ample arch support is also key, as is just the right amount of cushion to power your lift without messing with your stability.
To help you find the best shoes for lifting weights, we consulted customer reviews along with Rector’s firsthand recommendations so you can shop with confidence. Check out the full list of winners below.
Colorways: 5 options for men; 5 options for women
Materials: breathable textile insole, dual-density foam midsole, rubber outsole
Additional features: rubber rope wrap on sides, lace-lock system on tongue
Nike Top Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers say: “My first dedicated workout shoe, and it makes a ton of difference in my stability when I lift. My feet and body feel so stable and the shoe is super comfortable and stylish at the same time. They really put some features in this shoe to help in the gym. I’m a fan now.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $150
Related: Best Nike Gym Socks
Colorways: 3 options
Materials: Velcro strap, canvas upper, rubber outsole
Additional features: Made with recycled materials; midsole wedge for greater stability
Adidas Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.7/5 stars
What reviewers say: “Excellent powerlifting shoes. These shoes are great for deadlifts, and squats. Super stable and comfortable. I’m super impressed with them.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $130
Colorways: 6 options
Materials: textile upper and lining, all-surface rubber outsole
Additional features: Midfoot strap improves stability
Amazon’s Choice
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What reviewers say: “I’m a cross fitter and a weightlifting coach so I use these very frequently and I must say I love these lifters.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $163
Colorways: 16 options
Materials: Woven textile upper, all-surface rubber outsole
Additional features: Tons of colors, unique heel feature for stability while lifting and bounce while running
Amazon’s Choice
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What reviewers say: “This is the best shoe for training. I love it for running, box jumps, lifting and everything else. It’s hard to find a training shoe that works for everything. I will be buying in more colors.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $98
Colorways: 14 options for men; 20 options for women
Materials: Indestructible SuperFabric, carbon rubber outsole
Additional features: Wide toe box, water-repellent coating
What reviewers say: “First pair of NoBull shoes, and I understand the hype. Most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn, will never wear any other workout shoe. Glad I joined the NoBull family!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $129
Colorways: 13 options
Materials: Canvas upper, rubber outsole
Additional features: OrthoLite cushioning, available in wide
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Converse Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What reviewers say: “I bought these shoes specifically for lifting weights and they’ve been great so far. Lightweight on top while offering a solid flat base to set up and push off of. Very happy with their performance!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $60
Related: Celebrities Love Converse
Colorways: 3 options
Materials: Velcro straps, textile upper, rubber outsole
Additional features: Adjustable midfoot straps, heel lift
Nike Top Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers say: “Best lifting shoes I’ve ever worn. It’s more stable and a bit heavier also secure on the ankle.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $200
Colorways: 8 options for men; 8 options for women
Materials: Breathable mesh upper, rubber outsole with sidewall wraps
Additional features: heel clip, stylish street-to-gym design
Amazon’s Choice
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
What reviewers say: “Comfortable, lightweight, and great for lifting! I love the wide-toe box and flat surface for my squats and lunges!! True to size. I would buy a second pair and would love to see more colors!!!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $55
Colorways: 6 options for men; 5 options for women
Materials: Mesh upper, rubber outsole
Additional Features: Zero-drop, barefoot feel, Rope-Tec technology
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What reviewers say: “These shoes are the best for leg day! As long as you don’t have to wear them all day they are amazing in the gym!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $100
Colorways: 5 options
Materials: Canvas, rubber
Additional features: Slimmed-down design; flat, semi-stiff sole
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Vans Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
What reviewers say: “So durable! I’ve been wearing these for 1.5 years now and still are in good shape.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $70
Colorways: 3 options
Materials: suede and mesh upper, leather, nylon webbing
Additional features: 0.75-inch heel-to-toe drop, midfoot straps
What reviewers say: “These shoes are incredibly stable and a great addition to my lifting routine. I feel much more stable and balanced in these than any other shoes I’ve tried to lift in.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $130
What to Look for in the Best Weightlifting Shoes
Here are the key features to be on the hunt for when buying weightlifting shoes.
- Heel height and elevation: Weightlifting shoes can be entirely flat like a Converse All Star, for example, or have an elevated heel, which you’ll find with the Reebok Legacy. The choice is personal preference as well as what kind of weightlifting you enjoy doing. Powerlifters tend to enjoy the extra “oomph” the heel lift gives their reps.
- Materials: Breathability is important in all your workout shoes, and the same goes for weightlifting shoes. Most styles offer mesh or other textile uppers for nice ventilation as well as a wide toe box to really feel grounded during every movement.
- Support: Support is everything when it comes to the best weightlifting shoes. The last thing you want is to feel wobbly on your feet during a one rep max test or on a complex lift like a clean and jerk. If you opt for a high-top style, you’ll also find added ankle support, and some styles even feature a velcro strap or two at the midfoot for those who really want to feel locked in place.
- Outsole and grip: Outsoles made with wood, rubber, or a durable compressed plastic called TPU (aka thermoplastic polyurethane). The goal is to create a sturdy base for your feet and lifts. This material also provides a firm grip on the floor during exercise — an essential thing to prevent injuries during Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, or CrossFit.
- Cushion: You won’t find max cushioning in weightlifting shoes, but that’s for good reason. The lack of cushion in these shoes ensures you stay grounded and stable on the floor, which helps you perform your lifts properly and are able to be better aware of the muscles in your feet and lower legs that are responsible for helping you execute these lifts.
The Best Weightlifting Shoes for Different Foot Conditions
- Flat feet: The best weightlifting shoes for flat feet will have an elevated heel to aid in lift during for explosive lifts, while also lightly cushioning feet. Support and cushioning help you avoid unnecessary pressure on your plantar fascia and soles of your feet, so look for weightlifting shoes that aren’t too flat and borrow features from arch support shoes.
- Plantar fasciitis or heel spurs: Much like someone with flat feet, anyone with plantar fasciitis — inflammation of the plantar fascia tendon at the bottom of the foot — or heel spurs will need to look for weightlifting shoes with decent cushion and support. While searching for shoes for plantar fasciitis and shoes for heel spurs, look for features such as external heel counter for stability, arch support, and a heel-to-toe drop that isn’t totally flat.
- Ankle pain or weakness: Adjustable straps are a great choice for weightlifting shoes if you have ankle pain or weakness, as they will help prevent wiggling and keep your foot secure. High-top shoes, such as Vans or NoBull options, may also be a good choice for ankle support to prevent rolling.
- Knee pain: To find the best shoes for knee pain, you’ll need to know the source of the issue first. Whether it’s flat feet, lack of cushion, or overtraining, weightlifting shoes for knee pain will likely feature cushioning and arch support to protect your tendons, while encouraging good alignment with heel counters and straps that prevent movements that could impact your gait and increase knee pain.
- Back pain: As with knee pain, understanding the source of your back pain will help you choose the best shoes for the problem. The best shoes for back pain often have a bit of a heel lift and solid arch support. But experts say, when it comes to back pain, just making sure you have a pair of comfortable shoes for women or comfortable shoes for men that don’t cause aches is the most important thing.
- Bunions: Weightlifting shoes with a flexible upper made with breathable textiles like mesh will be crucial for anyone who needs shoes for bunions. You want to avoid shoes that rub or are too stiff, which can increase inflammation. Opting for wide widths can help, too.
- Neuropathy: Diabetics may experience neuropathy — burning, stinging, numbness, or generally odd sensations in the feet — which can make choosing shoes for neuropathy difficult. Wide shoes will help avoid chafing or rubbing, as blisters or other wounds can be hard to heal in these cases, and wide toe boxes and soft materials inside the shoes are also good features to find.
- Wide feet: Look for weightlifting shoes that come in various widths, and for those that aren’t available in wide, check out what reviewers have to say about their experience with comfortability. You may also want shoes for wide feet that have an upper made with flexible materials so that your toes don’t feel crammed.
Can You Use Running Shoes for Weightlifting?
The short answer is no, and that’s because wearing running shoes to weight train is an injury risk as well as an ineffective way to complete your workout. And while some cross-training shoes for men and cross-training shoes for women can be used for hybrid-style workouts like HIIT classes, where you may have short bouts of running on a treadmill with weightlifting or resistance training, these shoes are created with that balance in mind.
Your running shoes are designed for bounce, cushion, and energy return, which means the base of the shoes are not stable because they are meant to propel your foot off the ground and limit strain on your joints as you pound the pavement. “Most regular [running or fitness] sneakers have a lot of cushion to them, so they don’t provide the stronger support you need when lifting weights,” Rector explains. Good shoes for weightlifting, on the other hand, are meant to make you feel grounded to the floor. They have stiff, typically flat soles that are focused on keeping you stable and supported to push through your full foot to complete lifts.
How We Chose the Best Weightlifting Shoes
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.
We’ve compiled this list of the best weightlifting shoes based on expert recommendations, user reviews and product testing. We also consulted experts about which weightlifting shoes were best for people with common foot conditions, such as plantar fasciitis or bunions. Customer reviews and footwear market research also informed our final selections of flat shoes for weightlifting, barefoot shoes for weightlifting, shoes for weightlifting and running, and more. The bottom line is you can feel good knowing that this list includes the best of the best weightlifting shoes, no matter what lift is on deck next. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Expert
Sarah Louise Rector is an LA-based fitness trainer, model, dancer, and founder of The SLR Life. With a fitness career that started in 2016 teaching at boutique studios, Rector continued to grow her client base with The SLR Life classes at local pop-ups, events, and virtual classes. Her methodology combines yoga, strength, and cardio classes for a comprehensive training program that’s fun and effective.
Meet the Author
Alyssa Sparacino is a content strategist, editor, and writer with a focus on fitness, health, and wellness with more than a decade of experience in digital media. She most recently held the role of editorial director at Shape. Her writing has been published in outlets including Shape, Health, What to Expect, Men’s Journal, Travel & Leisure, and more. Sparacino holds a personal training certification with the American Council on Exercise. Her extensive knowledge and experience covering the fitness and health industries informed this list of the best weightlifting shoes.
