5 Best Weightlifting Shoes in 2024

The Romaleos 4 was arguably the firmest that we’ve tried, so underfoot wobbliness easily became a thing of the past. This shoe has not one but two straps that kept our feet securely mounted on the footbed even as they splayed with the weight that we were lifting. Finally, this shoe’s elevation is as lifting-friendly as advertised. Given all these amazing benefits, we are left with no other choice but to consider the Nike Romaleos 4 as the best shoe for weightlifting.

After bringing it to the lab, we were able to confirm the underfoot firmness that we experienced. Compared to the average (75.0), this shoe has a really high HA durometer score of 97.0. That’s a staggering 29% more hardness! And this platform surely kept us quite stable even as our cleans and jerks become a little more aggressive.

We also enjoyed the two-strap design so much, especially that these straps face the opposite directions. Wearing this shoe just felt like our feet were being bear hugged, making them stay firmly still. 

The Nike Romaleos 4 was advertised to have a drop of 19.05 mm. We were glad when the caliper showed that the marketing spiel is more or less accurate. The actual drop is 20.5 mm, which was a big help in maintaining a good upright posture during lifts.

We are just not happy with the fact that the upper material is not the most durable. We subjected the toebox to 12 seconds of drilling during our Dremel test, resulting in an unfortunate hole.

We are happy that the Savaleos from Nike is more than just a lifter. Aside from the usual outstanding containment that we reasonably expect from lifting shoes, this Nike trainer also brings in an unusual but very much welcome lightness and breathability, making it the best trainer for beginers in our arsenal.

Upon wearing this lifter, we were already impressed by how stiff the heel counter and base felt. There was no chance that our feet would ever fall off the footbed. When we did our manual assessments in the lab, we got confirmation. Our twists, squeezes, and bends were no match for both the heel counter and the base, and the shoe got a 5 out of 5 for both counter stiffness and torsional rigidity. 

Weighing only 14.82 ounces or 420 grams, this trainer is indeed a lot lighter than the average which weighs 18.73 ounces or 531 grams. Because of the shoe’s lightness, we were able to easily perform exercises like box jumps and jumping ropes.

The upper also delivered a pleasant surprise. We felt a bit airy while wearing the Savaleos, and given that it is still a lifting shoe, this airiness was indeed a big deal. After going through our breathability test, this shoe got a 3 out of 5, making it better at expelling heat and letting in air than the average shoe, which got only a 2.

It’s just sad that the durability of the upper might not be able to keep up with us. Twelve seconds of Dremel drilling in the lab already resulted in considerable damage.

If you are an advanced lifter, then we are 100% sure that you are going to love the Reebok Legacy Lifter III. This shoe is the best that we can offer to anyone who is already on top of their weightlifting game. Besides its immense durability, we are in awe of the amount of stability that it was able to deliver. We also loved how the shoe’s perfectly elevated heel helped with our form during squats and lifts.

In the lab, we subjected the toebox to our merciless Dremel. But the drilling came out to be just a joke for it! The ‘merciless assault’ (or so we thought) barely left a mark on the toebox! Hence, the perfect that we gave this shoe for toebox durability was pretty much well-deserved.

In terms of stability, we think that nothing can beat the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 at this point. Both the shoe overall structure and heel counter were immensely resistant to our manual twisting and squeezing. Both parts got a perfect 5 from us for their amazing rigidity.

Based on caliper measurements, the heel stack is higher than average (28.3 mm) at 33.0 mm. We were so in love with this because it helped us maintain a good posture when lifting and squatting. The elevated heel helped with ankle mobility as well.

If there is one thing that we want to change, it would be the airiness of this shoe. We have to admit, this one was quite a toasty one. It only got a 2 out of 5 in our breathability tests.

In our lifting sessions, Adidas The Total stands out as a reliable choice, ensuring safe and efficient lifts. Through rigorous lab tests, we found that its zero-raised heel and exceptional ground feedback make it particularly well-suited for deadlifts compared to other weightlifting shoes we've tried. With its spacious toebox and grippy outsole, we felt stable and coordinated while executing the "king of lifts" with proper form.

The low, firm, and leveled stack of The Total contributes to effortless and smooth deadlifts, enhancing sensitivity to the surface. Our measurements reveal a below-average 12.5 mm stack height with zero heel drop, accompanied by a 44.4% firmer-than-average durometer reading. We gained more control to nail the technique and activate the right muscle groups to perform deadlifts efficiently. With a strap that holds our foot firmly, we remained planted to the ground for better balance.

The shoe's vast platform facilitates natural toe splay and offers reliable traction across various surfaces, further enhancing stability. The toebox measures wider than average, especially in the 86.5 mm big toe area, and tapers subtly. These elements aid in lifting with the correct form, avoiding slips that may cause back injuries. 

However, ventilation is lacking, as indicated by our breathability tests, which yielded a low 2/5 score.

The Adidas Powerlift 5 offered so much for its price, and it was still cheaper than the $147 average for weightlifting shoes at $120 a pair! It felt so light, quite supportive at the heel, and offered one of the thickest outsoles ever.

Compared to the average (18.7 oz or 531g), the Adidas Powerlift 5 is 3.7 oz or 105g lighter. This is a huge deal, especially for novice lifters who are just getting used to wearing specialized shoes like this one.

The heel counter is truly dependable. We felt its secure clutch the moment we put it on. After giving it a good squeeze in the lab, we had no other choice but to give it a perfect 5 for its amazing stiffness.

Using a caliper, we learned that the outsole is actually 5.0 mm thick, making it one of the thickest weightlifting outsoles we’ve ever seen (average is only 3.9 mm). Given that the outsole is generally as durable as others, its thickness is a guarantee for it to last longer simply because there is a lot more material to ‘burn.’ 

It’s just too regrettable that the toebox isn’t as spacious. At its widest part, the caliper measured it to be only 95.2 mm when the average is 98.9 mm, or a difference of 3.7 mm! That’s huge!