<p><strong><a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/g19556347/best-running-shoes-for-men/” target=”_blank”><strong>Best Running Shoes for Men</strong></a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a19537250/best-crossfit-shoes/” target=”_blank”>Best CrossFit Shoes</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g25797535/best-workout-clothes-men/” target=”_blank”>Best Workout Clothes for Men</a> | <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g19809484/best-cross-training-shoes-for-men-reviews/” target=”_blank”>Best Cross Training Shoes</a></strong></p><p>”Very generally speaking, weightlifting shoes are made with more restrictive material such as leather but are known for their thick, solid base of the shoe,” says <em>Men’s Health</em> Advisory Board member <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/author/221416/david-otey/” target=”_blank”>David Otey</a>, C.S.C.S., an NYC-based strength coach.</p><p>The right weightlifting shoes will heel elevation to help the lifter access more efficient range of motion for loading in the various Olympic lifts. </p><p>Ultimately, their goal is to help you create more force while maintaining safe alignment. </p><p>And science backs it up. One <a href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22201687″ target=”_blank”>2012 study</a> found that when lifters performed a one rep max barbell back squat, they were more likely to maintain proper form and reduce lower back strain while wearing weightlifting shoes versus <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/g26328412/best-basketball-shoes/” target=”_blank”>basketball sneakers</a>. Another <a href=”https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27096286″ target=”_blank”>more recent study</a> similarly found that compared to more general athletic shoes, weightlifting shoes reduced ankle movement and helped lifters maintain an upright torso during squats.</p><p>”Weightlifting shoes are important for generating more force on heavy moves such as deadlifts, lunges, and squats. The goal is to have the shoe help you generate more force through a harder sole surface with manual cushioning,” says <a href=”https://ridgedavis.com/”><u>Ridge Davis</u></a>, CPT, owner of <a href=”https://ridgedavis.com/ridgid-fitness/”><u>Ridgid Fitness</u></a> in Los Angeles. “They also provide ankle stability so the knees and hips don’t compensate. General exercise <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/a19545684/best-sneakers-men/” target=”_blank”>sneakers</a> and running shoes tend to have too much cushion and absorb a fair amount of force needed for weightlifting.” </p><p>But most people lifting weights in the gym aren’t doing Olympic lifts, are they? If you’re looking for a stable, durable shoe to stand up to dynamic <a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a25424850/best-hiit-exercises-workout/” target=”_blank”>HIIT workouts</a>, outdoor training or even CrossFit classes, what you really need is a strength trainer. </p><p>Which is why we’ve included our top picks for strength trainers in this article, too.</p><p>Strength training shoes—often branded ‘<a href=”https://www.menshealth.com/style/g19809484/best-cross-training-shoes-for-men-reviews/” target=”_blank”>cross-trainers</a>’—are designed to be versatile in their performance, unlike weightlifting shoes. They don’t feature significant heel elevation, meaning they’ll be more reactive for explosive movements, but can still provide enough stability for heavy lifts. This is the type of trainer you’ll benefit from if you aren’t as specific in your training routine, and want to be able to transition from plyometrics to lifts in the same session without sacrificing support or bounce.</p><p>So, if you’re interested in upping your weightlifting or strength training shoe game, you came to the right place. Here are 12 of the best weightlifting shoes and strength trainers of 2023, according to trainers.</p>” />
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Fitness and Commerce Editor
Talene Appleton is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where she covers fitness, nutrition, health, and wellness. She was previously the Associate Editor of General Surgery News, and a nutrition writer for The Food Institute. Talene is a retired professional dancer, and loves to spend her free time cooking elaborate meals for her friends and family.
Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., is the fitness director of Men’s Health and a certified trainer with more than 10 years of training experience. He’s logged training time with NFL athletes and track athletes and his current training regimen includes weight training, HIIT conditioning, and yoga. Before joining Men’s Health in 2017, he served as a sports columnist and tech columnist for the New York Daily News.
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