Weightlifting Shoes for Flat Feet

Adidas Power Perfect shoes are a strong, stable platform, with a midsole featuring a die-cut wedge and extra heel support. There is a strap on the instep, making the shoes more stable so you can do your heaviest Olympic or other routines in safety and confidence. Adidas used their durable Adiwear on the outsole, along with a synthetic upper and mesh in the front foot area to let you move freely.

The heel has extra support padding. The strap uses hooks and loops for closure. Reviewers were quite positive, stating the shoe is breathable and provides comfort. The shoes use what is called derby construction. This means the material is in quarters. The eyelets for the laces are centered right in the center of the foot. The traditional design, also used in dress shoes, gives you a lot of lateral stability.

Air mesh in the collar adds to how breathable this shoe is. You have three color options. These are lifting specific shoes, not suited to other forms of exercise or for wearing outside the gym.

Years of a careful redesign, based on feedback from lifters who use the shoes, have led to an optimal shoe that anyone, at any fitness level, can strap them on and start boosting their lifting skills. The heel, made from hard plastic, is three-quarters of an inch high. This is the standard height for Olympic lifting.

The shoes have leather uppers, with mesh on the sides, keeping them durable and helping resist stains. The wide profile is a favored feature, making the shoes comfortable and useful for those with wider than average feet. Two straps across the middle top area of the shoe keep your feet locked down to avoid injury.

The shoes use a single sole, a signature Do-Win look that everyone will recognize. These shoes are iconic in the lifting world, while also being ideal for routine use at the gym.

The shoe is surprisingly lightweight. It has a flexible feel, so feet won't feel pinched while you lift as much weight as you like in them. Powerlifters especially expect a lot from their shoes, and the Romaleos 2 can take your worst, set after set.

The uppers are synthetic, with two hook and loop style straps. Your foot will not move or slide around in these shoes. Nike added elastic to the area where your foot's tendons flex with the shoe. This increases comfort and helps you with getting a full range of motion. A wedge in the heel is contoured so it is anatomically friendly and keeps your heel in place perfectly.

A unique touch is the two insoles you get when you buy the Romaleos. There is a soft, flexible one for training as well as a stiff competition insole. Competitive weightlifters need that stiffness for an extra boost and superior stability when they do their routines.

The hard rubber sole is thin enough to function as a lifting shoe, with extra heel and ankle support. There are two straps, along with extra lateral support from wings that hold the eyelets and laces in place. The outsole is tough, but will not mark floors.

The shoe is especially suited for doing squats. That is because of the lifted heel. A technology called flex grooves in the front of the shoe allows your feet to move as they would in less substantial shoes. The flex grooves, common in running shoes, are the horizontal scorings you see running across the outsole at the very front of the shoe.

The shoes are only for lifting. Though they let you move, they are much too stiff for cardio or other pursuits. The heel lift is standard 3/4 of an inch. Reviewers noted the shoes have great support in the arch. They are firm but will go easy on your feet, not causing pain or constriction.

Construction is all synthetic leather. You get a midsole wedge, die-cut like other quality shoes, to keep you from coming off the ground. This helps you drive your toes and front feet down into the floor for extra power.

The fit is snug with a single strap in the middle of your foot. The shoes are unisex and come in several colors. Reviews are largely positive. These shoes are good for lifting, extra heavy or otherwise. They are best suited to lifting and should not be worn for CrossFit or other activities where you have to move quickly.

The shoes are made of 100% synthetic materials. This gives it strength, breathability, and some stain resistance. The upper is made not to rip. You get laces and a single lateral strap for stabilizing your foot inside the shoes.

The mesh lining also allows you to breathe, keeping sweat and odors down. The collar and tongue both have padding, so the tongue won't push in or leave indentations on your feet even when you work out heavily. The outsole, which gives the FastLift its name, has extra gripping properties to give you traction on the gym floor.

You get some added benefit, for lifting, with extra heel material. Inov-8 is an interesting small company, based in England, that has been in business since 2003. All of their gear focuses on moving naturally with the human body. These are comfortable shoes that will allow you to move while keeping you perfectly stable.

Nordic Lifting focuses exclusively on lifting equipment. The company offers wrist and ankle straps, compression gear, and a few other shoes in their catalog. Stitching is reinforced, so these shoes will never come apart at the seams even when you throw your worst at them. The shoes have a strap and Olympic height heel lift, as you would expect, for extra squat assistance.

Although great for Olympic squat artists, the Nordic Lifting shoe can help anyone who regularly lifts free weights or machine weight stacks. The soles have nonslip properties, keeping you ultra stable, and the shoes hold tight to your feet to keep them from moving while they act as your lifting platform.

Because they correct your posture, and because of the lifted heel, shoes like these can actually let you lift more weight. It isn't anything magical in the shoes; they are just designed to make you as efficient as possible. Nordic Lifting makes a product you can rely on, one that will reward you with consistent use.

The material is suede, which is not as breathable as most mesh or synthetics. Otomix did provide vent holes. The shoe is exceptionally light and allows for your entire range of motion. The sole is extra grippy, with good traction. It's what quality wrestlers need on the mat, and it will benefit you during lifting by stabilizing you and helping you improve posture.

The soles are flat like most lifters expect from their shoes. It lets you use your feet and toes, not any padding, to push down into the floor during the active part of a squat or deadlift. This means you are doing all the work and will get your maximum strength benefits in every workout.

Otomix attaches its soles with both glue and stitching. They will keep the shoe's whole, and keep you protected, for a long time if you use the shoes consistently. You may have to work at keeping the suede clean, but the Stingray will never let you down.

The uppers are mesh, letting air circulate so your feet stay cool and sweat is kept at a minimum. Your feet will stay comfortable and secure while you do your routine. The tongue, too, is mesh, making it strong, lightweight, and easy on the tops of your feet.

The toe of the shoe is leather-not synthetic, but full grain. It adds extra protection to your toe area, and also allows movement and adds durability. The back opening, where your foot goes in, is cut low so you are able to move freely during wear. The shoes are stable and stiff enough to give you a lifting platform but offer enough flexibility for cross training.

You also get an inner lining that guards against friction. Your feet will not chafe, redden, or become irritated when you wear these shoes.

The uppers are synthetic, woven into a pattern that will keep the shoe strong and in one piece for a long time. There's no strap, but Adidas used their patented Boa Closure system. It's a disc-shaped device that you can use to tighten the laces beyond what you could by hand. The Boa makes for a tight fit but won't constrict your feet.

The very front bottom of the shoe, the forefoot, is flat and has excellent movement. It is sturdy and gives you a good lifting foundation, but not as stiff as a powerlifting shoe would be. You get decent protection and a full range of motion.

The chassis, or heart of the shoe's design, was designed and fabricated specifically for lifting. Plastic polymers injected into the material give strength to the whole shoe, so you can be confident the shoes will deliver performance and help you achieve your best.