Squats and dead lifts, what do you wear on your feet?
Squats and dead lifts, what do you wear on your feet?
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Discussion

gjf764

Original Poster:

1,338 posts

204 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
quotequote all
Not a poll, more of a rant!

I always thought it was best to do these exercises bare foot/ in socks. I've just been told off at David Lloyd (yes,I know) apparently its company policy that trainers must be worn at all times and that there is no evidence that bare foot is better.

What do the experts of PH think.

Happy82

15,078 posts

198 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
quotequote all
I usually wear trainers because my garage floor is too cold for bare feet hehe

Don't think I'd ever do it barefoot, however I'm not a serious weight lifter...in fact I only started again this week after a ten year break biggrin

cerbfan

1,198 posts

256 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
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I noticed a guy who I used to go to school with who I'm friends on FB with was advertising his site http://www.213kg.com which sells weightlifting shoes of all things. Might be worth a look but I guess you would have to be seriously into weighlifting to buy dedicated shoes for it.

Driller

8,310 posts

307 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
quotequote all
I do deadlifts and squats barefoot as recommended on this very forum by a lot of clever weight lifting chaps.

Much more effective than with trainers.

didelydoo

5,533 posts

239 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
quotequote all
I use flat soled trainers such as converse for low bar (or used to...) and weightlifting shoes for high bar- no need for bare feet if the soles of the shoes are thin enough, as con's are.

I'm also ace at squatting..... biggrinwink

Hoofy

79,986 posts

311 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
quotequote all
I do Bulgarian squats so any lack of stability is magnified (because you're on one foot!). My preferred choice of footwear is a cheap, wide-soled trainer. Why cheap? Because quality trainers have a sole made of soft, cushioning rubber whereas my £6 trainers have a plasticky sole hence a stable base!

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
quotequote all
I personally take my shoes off, I find it far more comfortable without them.

I've tried different trainers and had specialist insoles created and still find barefoot the most comfortable.

Stu R

21,634 posts

244 months

Wednesday 28th March 2012
quotequote all
Vibram 5 fingers. Like barefoot, but saves getting frostbite from the garage floor hehe

mikebradford

3,146 posts

174 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
i wear which ever trainers i have on at the time. i appreciate that scientifically their will always be a best option.
but the reality is it is only a small differance
better than when i first started and used to use a block under my heels, as i had seen others do this! and it did mean less stretching of my achilles tendon, and made it easier to go low. but we all make mistakes lol
i have over the years gained good form , and can do sets of 10 x 150kg, i weigh 13st so like to feel i have reasonably strong legs for my size. not sure what my 1 rep max is, but not really bothered

LordGrover

34,150 posts

241 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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Like most above I prefer barefoot or VFFs but resort to Converse sometimes.
Running stylee shoes are not good - the heel is both high and squishy.

Number 8

87 posts

222 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
My first recommendation would be to wear whatever you're most comfortable with. If by changing your level of comfort you compromise your form (which should be perfect), then you should stick with what "feels" right.

It also depends on how big a lifter you are. The reason why people advocate barefoot for squat and deadlifts is that if you're lifting big, some of your energy in lifting the big heavy weight will be lost in compressing your trainer sole (feet don't compress so much). Trainers also support your feet for the art of walking/running and not lifting so much.

Some say that trainers are good for lifting if you have weak or collapsed arches in your feet.

Overall, barefoot is "best" for big lifters; better footing, stance and feet position, whilst trainers are suitable for those less serious about lifting. As mentioned prevsiously, form is the utter foremost consideration, poncy gym staff worrying about people without trainers on is much less so.

Halb

53,012 posts

212 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
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I don't lift 'heavy' anymore, but I still tend to wear my old Gola shoes, they have a hard rubber sole, not much of a heel. I also have some converse as a stand by when my Golas get too worn (the sides). Saying that I do sometimes wear trainers as well for complexes.
I do intend to buy some Olympic weightlifting shoes when I get the appropriative funds.

I understand the thing about them not liking barefoot people in the gym. If I go barefoot (and I do for pistols and some other things) I try and stay put, not walk about.

Mojooo

13,291 posts

209 months

Thursday 29th March 2012
quotequote all
I dont think barefoot is necessarily better than proper shoes. But I do barefoot as I dont have better shoes.

I imagien the barefoot thing is company policy.


mikebradford

3,146 posts

174 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
cerbfan said:
I noticed a guy who I used to go to school with who I'm friends on FB with was advertising his site http://www.213kg.com which sells weightlifting shoes of all things. Might be worth a look but I guess you would have to be seriously into weighlifting to buy dedicated shoes for it.
the vids on his site are intresting, and seem to contradict the logic of barefoot squatting


SB10

558 posts

195 months

Friday 30th March 2012
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Since the weight went up, I now do barefoot or I rock some Plimsoles. Depends if I plan to do cardio later.

balders118

5,940 posts

197 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
Deadlifts are bearfoot for me, and squats I use lifting shoes. Happy with both smile

David Lloyd is a poncy gym so I'm nit surprised they have a footware only policy, join a proper gym! wink

didelydoo

5,533 posts

239 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
balders118 said:
Deadlifts are bearfoot for me, and squats I use lifting shoes. Happy with both smile

David Lloyd is a poncy gym so I'm nit surprised they have a footware only policy, join a proper gym! wink
I now use lifting shoes for squats and deads!

balders118

5,940 posts

197 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
didelydoo said:
I now use lifting shoes for squats and deads!
What's your thinking behind that?

Halb

53,012 posts

212 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
mikebradford said:
the vids on his site are intresting, and seem to contradict the logic of barefoot squatting
The fella squatting has bad technique. Whatever exercise you're doing make sure your feet stay flat on the floor (save for jumpingbiggrin). Raised heels can help those with limited range, tight calves?

didelydoo

5,533 posts

239 months

Friday 30th March 2012
quotequote all
balders118 said:
What's your thinking behind that?
Kind of forced in to it due to pain TBH as it put me in a better position to initiate the pull pain free, but I also read this http://www.elitefts.com/documents/deeper_into_dead...
Which was interesting.