Footwear question

[Suzannejreid]

Hey folks, I hope this is the right place to post this but I'm looking into footwear for training as it's the basic foundation I guess. A year ago when I started lifting weights I was just using my regular gym trainers which are running shoes - I know!! Anyway, needless to say I did feel the strain on my lower legs due to lack of stability and felt they were inherently wrong so I switched to just regular streetwear trainers. Now I'd like to treat myself to a decent pair of workout shoes for lifting and have read great reviews about Adidas Powerlift as a good option for non-pros like myself. My main question though comes from what to do about cardio? Does everyone carry 2 pairs of trainers around with them at the gym - one for lifting and one for running - or are the Powerlift trainers ok for running? I suspect they aren't suitable for fast paced cardio given that the sole is not completely flexible but I'm torn now. I'd like a good all round pair of trainers that I can lift and/or do cardio in. FYI when I talk about cardio I'm thinking about incline walking, running, some HIIT plyometrics etc.

So what do you use/advise?

Thanks!

[KoolDJVader]

While the Powerlifts aren't as rigid as real Olympic weightlifting shoes like the AdiPower, I wouldn't do any intense cardio with them.

You can try shoes like the Reebok Crossfit Nanos or Nike Metcons if you want one all purpose shoes. While they are more of a "jack of trades, master of none" type shoes, I've used the Reebok Crossfit Nanos for lifting and jumping rope. Actually the Nanos are my favorite shoes to do power cleans in and while I prefer weightlifting shoes for squats, they weren't terrible for them (no worse than Chucks).

[Bench905]

You will absolutely hate doing any cardio in Powerlifts. They are super clunky, hard soled shoes. I owned the Powerlift 2.0.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Nanos. For 90% of working out, I wear Nanos. Metcons (1.0 and 2.0) did not agree with me...too shallow...felt like the tongue was trying to squish down the top of my foot. I even tried sizing a full size up in Metcons.

[Suzannejreid]

Yeah the more I read the more I keep coming across the Nano's as a good all rounder - thanks for the tips guys

[gym62richard]

I agree with the previous answers, the Nano's have a good reputation. I tried the Adipower's for a while, I found them too stiff, even on the major compound lifts.
I currently use a pair of Inov-8 F-light 250's, a pretty minimalist shoe, I bought this shoe because it has an 8mm, 3/8 inch heel to toe drop, I find this helps when squatting. They have plenty of grip and I feel really planted to the floor on the big lifts, but they're also very comfortable when running on the treadmill.

[bethebest]

You will absolutely hate doing any cardio in Powerlifts. They are super clunky, hard soled shoes. I owned the Powerlift 2.0.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Nanos. For 90% of working out, I wear Nanos. Metcons (1.0 and 2.0) did not agree with me...too shallow...felt like the tongue was trying to squish down the top of my foot. I even tried sizing a full size up in Metcons.

What shoes do you wear for squats and deadlifts?

[Bench905]

What shoes do you wear for squats and deadlifts?

I wear a 12 in everything. Except Metcons...12s were way too tight everywhere, 13 (they don't make 12.5) were too tight across the top of my foot. I have given up on Metcons - tried 1s and 2s.

[bethebest]

I wear a 12 in everything. Except Metcons...12s were way too tight everywhere, 13 (they don't make 12.5) were too tight across the top of my foot. I have given up on Metcons - tried 1s and 2s.

What i meant was do you deadlift and squat in Nanos or do you have specific shoes for those lifts?

[Bench905]

What i meant was do you deadlift and squat in Nanos or do you have specific shoes for those lifts?

Oops. Squat in Romaleos (sometimes Nanos if I'm lazy), deadlift in nanos. I have a pair of Crossfit Lite TR too, the ones that are Chuck copies. Mine ran big, so I barely ever wear them...usually only in the winter (since I wear a little thicker socks). I'm totally fine with doing everything in Nanos.

[drrickso]

My main question though comes from what to do about cardio? Does everyone carry 2 pairs of trainers around with them at the gym - one for lifting and one for running - or are the Powerlift trainers ok for running?

So what do you use/advise?

I have a few different pairs of shoes that I cycle between:
Cardio: Brooks Adrenaline for running, or any casual sneakers for airdyne/rower
Deadlift: barefoot or Otomix stingrays
Squat/Clean: Adipowers
Everything else: Otomix or casual sneakers

I'll usually pair cardio with my non compound lift days, so often times I leave my running sneakers on for the duration (if Im at a public gym)

If I happen to do cardio on the same day as compound lifting, I'll wear my casual sneakers for the cardio, and just bring my adipowers for lifting (again public gym)... if it's deadlifts, those are the days I go barefoot.

Otomix as much as they are comfortable, look like they are stuck in the 80s so I wear those in the home gym only... especially since I dont have parachute pants that match them

[FoolsErrand]

Damn, multiple pairs? I just wear a pair of wrestling shoes.

[Domicron]

i just wear my Vibrams because i don't lift barefoot since moving the setup down to the basement.

i'm thinking about maybe picking up an older pair of Nanos or something, how do the older versions compare to the newer?

[bethebest]

Oops. Squat in Romaleos (sometimes Nanos if I'm lazy), deadlift in nanos. I have a pair of Crossfit Lite TR too, the ones that are Chuck copies. Mine ran big, so I barely ever wear them...usually only in the winter (since I wear a little thicker socks). I'm totally fine with doing everything in Nanos.

Thanks for the reply. I'm looking to invest in lifting shoes but would prefer to get a pair I can both squat and deadlift in. Saw positive stuff about the Romaleos, Adipowers, and Reebok lifters but hadn't thought about the Nanos.

[chadsalt]

I'm not big into 'do it all' anything. Swiss army knives, all terrain tires, etc they do it all but none of it well. If you can afford multiple pairs then get multiple pairs. I've got a pair of Nanos I like pretty well for 'all around', wouldn't run in them but rowers and elipticals would be fine. Been wearing primarily Otomix for lifting the past 20 years, this last pair was a POS though. Had them about 3 years, they sent them to me missing an insole, then sent me a used insole, now the side has ripped out. No more Otomix for me, sitting here as I type in a pair of new Romaleos.

[Suzannejreid]

So shortly after reading your feedback and a bunch of other reviews I went for the Nano 6.0 - I didn't like the designs of any I found so went ahead and made my own on the Reebok website! Effing awesome to have a pair of custom made gym shoes <3

Have to say these shoes feel great to wear - really lightweight and solid at the same time. Haven't used them in the gym yet because I just got them yesterday and today is rest day.

Anyway - because I'm so happy with them just had to share! Can't wait till Mondays' workout!