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  1. #1
    Putting in the work IrishLassie78's Avatar
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    Question Going barefoot for squats and deadlifts

    Has anyone tried this before? I was at the gym yesterday and was working on squats and dead lifts and this totally BUILT guy comes up to me during my rest between sets and says my form looks great and asks if I've ever tried doing squats and deadlifts barefoot. I said that I had not and he suggested I try it because it will give me a lot more glute, hamstring, and calf activation because being barefoot allows your feet to move naturally and engages more of the deeper muscle tissue in the entire back of your body. He said he always does his squats and deadlifts barefoot because of that. I figured I'd try it because I'm always open to suggestions and he looked like he knew what he was talking about. I figured if it sucked, I'd just put my shoes back on and continue on my merry way. So I tried it, and he was right. I felt the glute and hamstring engagement immediately and I definitely feel it today. It also made me more aware of slight strength imbalance I have between my left and right legs. Just curious if anyone else has ever done this and what you think about it.
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  2. #2
    Registered User tina722's Avatar
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    I go barefoot for deadlifts and love it. Shoes get 'in the way' of pushing through the ground. I have tried going barefoot for squats and did like it, but ankle flexibility make it difficult for me to go deep enough. I currently use squat shoes to help with this.
    http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=172554141
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  3. #3
    Stingin' Belle KCBiggs's Avatar
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    I always go barefoot as I can feel the floor more and so push through my heels better. Also, I agree that being barefoot is more natural and thus could allow for better form? Not sure on that, but I know it feels good in bare feet .
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    BittyBro dreahere's Avatar
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    Love squatting barefoot. Grip the floor with my monkey toes and reach depth so much easier.
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    ((( d(^_~)b ))) Romina81's Avatar
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    Occasionally I will go barefoot if I'm wearing trainers other than converse....love converse...next one is going to be light pink.
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    Viva la Vulva womanoid's Avatar
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    Barefoot or in Birks. Nearly all gyms wont allow barefoot or open toe shoes, so negative heel crunchy granola clogs it is (lol, the total opposite of squat shoes).
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    Registered User Fawnl's Avatar
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    I definitely prefer to do squats and deadlifts barefoot. I feel so much more stable with my feet right against the floor.
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  8. #8
    Da fuk is this. Echo814's Avatar
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    I can't do them barefoot due to effed up arches that collapse medially I bought a pair of Newbalance Minimums and they give me support while kind of allowing for a barefoot feel. When I lifted with them I felt a total difference
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    Putting in the work IrishLassie78's Avatar
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    Well I'm glad to see I got good advice then. I'll have to make a habit of it as long as the gym staff doesn't say anything to me. I'm assuming since this dude said he does it all the time that the staff doesn't care so I'll just do what I want until someone tells me not to
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    Registered User laylabear's Avatar
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    Barefoot feels a lot better with flat heeled shoes a close second. I've also done squats out of curiosity in my UGGs - landed rightfully on my ass.
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    Registered User Fawnl's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by IrishLassie78 View Post
    Well I'm glad to see I got good advice then. I'll have to make a habit of it as long as the gym staff doesn't say anything to me. I'm assuming since this dude said he does it all the time that the staff doesn't care so I'll just do what I want until someone tells me not to
    At our gym, we just take out shoes off, do our sets, put the shoes back on go about our routine. As long as your not wandering around with no shoes on you should be fine.
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  12. #12
    Back at square one wakechica's Avatar
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    I deadlift (and used to squat) in vibram 5 fingers. I now use oly shoes for squats but nothing beats doing in barefoot. I can't DL in running shoes, even racing flats. It's awful.

    5 fingers are great espesh if your gym is funny about people working out in socks/barefoot.

    Originally Posted by dreahere View Post
    Love squatting barefoot. Grip the floor with my monkey toes and reach depth so much easier.
    x2 for monkey toes. Can pick things up with my toes. Srs.
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  13. #13
    Hammy Hammy Hobbes thehobbes's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by dreahere View Post
    Love squatting barefoot. Grip the floor with my monkey toes and reach depth so much easier.
    x3 monkey toes!

    Yep I go barefoot too, but I do it in my home gym so no one cares if I take my shoes and socks off. If you're in a commercial gym just be careful that they don't have a rule against people running rampant with monkey toes lol.
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