T Nation

Best Shoes For Stupid Feet

Powerlifting
#1

I’m looking into getting some new shoes here pretty soon, only for lifting. I’ve been wearing a pair of chucks for about six months now and they’re real supportive and everything, but they’re VERY uncomfortable for me.

I forget what it’s called, but I have that whole deal where my feet kind of turn inward and I walk on the outer soles of my feet. I have MASSIVE callouses on the balls of my feet and on the outer corner of my feet underneath the little toe. Sometimes the callous will get too big and after a heavy lifting session I’ll find some dead skin in my shoe (just learned about those damn pumis stone things).

I was lookin’ for any advice you guys could give on foot wear or added support for the shoes I have now. I was thinking of going to Big 5 or something and gettin’ like a $30 pair of Spalding basketball shoes or something like that. Any advice?

#2

[quote]AssClown wrote:
I’m looking into getting some new shoes here pretty soon, only for lifting. I’ve been wearing a pair of chucks for about six months now and they’re real supportive and everything, but they’re VERY uncomfortable for me.

I forget what it’s called, but I have that whole deal where my feet kind of turn inward and I walk on the outer soles of my feet. I have MASSIVE callouses on the balls of my feet and on the outer corner of my feet underneath the little toe. Sometimes the callous will get too big and after a heavy lifting session I’ll find some dead skin in my shoe (just learned about those damn pumis stone things).

I was lookin’ for any advice you guys could give on foot wear or added support for the shoes I have now. I was thinking of going to Big 5 or something and gettin’ like a $30 pair of Spalding basketball shoes or something like that. Any advice?[/quote]

A lot people like Nike Free

#3

[quote]AssClown wrote:
I’m looking into getting some new shoes here pretty soon, only for lifting. I’ve been wearing a pair of chucks for about six months now and they’re real supportive and everything, but they’re VERY uncomfortable for me.

I forget what it’s called, but I have that whole deal where my feet kind of turn inward and I walk on the outer soles of my feet. I have MASSIVE callouses on the balls of my feet and on the outer corner of my feet underneath the little toe. Sometimes the callous will get too big and after a heavy lifting session I’ll find some dead skin in my shoe (just learned about those damn pumis stone things).

I was lookin’ for any advice you guys could give on foot wear or added support for the shoes I have now. I was thinking of going to Big 5 or something and gettin’ like a $30 pair of Spalding basketball shoes or something like that. Any advice?[/quote]
mmmm
may be proper lifting shoe instead of the spaldings

http://www.titansupport.com/products/shoes/shoes.htm
http://www.inzernet.com/detail.asp?product_id=PILLAR_SHOE
http://www.inzernet.com/detail.asp?product_id=PWRSHOE
http://www.weightliftingshoes.ca/
http://www.vsathletics.com/product.php?xProd=1301&xSec=1
http://www.bestforminc.com/powerlifting.cfm

#4

I have inherited bad feet from my dad, same problem as you, i’m guessing you also can’t stand for long periods of time with out a good amount of discomfort. Howevere, i wear chucks in the gym/competition (PL) and all other times I wear running/walking shoes made by Brooks called “the Beast.” most comfortable shoes ever and really help to control the pronation of the foot.

For sandles I wear Birkenstocks which have really good arch support. I also rock barefoot around the house so I don’t have to rely on my shoes. There was an article here a while back that talked about basketball players who trained sans shoes had LESS ankle injuries because their ankle had to get stronger where as other players were relying on shoes and braces and thus got weak ankles.

#5

[quote]CantStop wrote:
AssClown wrote:
I’m looking into getting some new shoes here pretty soon, only for lifting. I’ve been wearing a pair of chucks for about six months now and they’re real supportive and everything, but they’re VERY uncomfortable for me.

I forget what it’s called, but I have that whole deal where my feet kind of turn inward and I walk on the outer soles of my feet. I have MASSIVE callouses on the balls of my feet and on the outer corner of my feet underneath the little toe. Sometimes the callous will get too big and after a heavy lifting session I’ll find some dead skin in my shoe (just learned about those damn pumis stone things).

I was lookin’ for any advice you guys could give on foot wear or added support for the shoes I have now. I was thinking of going to Big 5 or something and gettin’ like a $30 pair of Spalding basketball shoes or something like that. Any advice?

A lot people like Nike Free
[/quote]

I heard they don’t have a lot of support, but they’re really comfortable. The thing I’m looking for more than anything though are shoes with a lot of support because my feet take a beating

#6

[quote]SamuraiWannaBe wrote:
I have inherited bad feet from my dad, same problem as you, i’m guessing you also can’t stand for long periods of time with out a good amount of discomfort. Howevere, i wear chucks in the gym/competition (PL) and all other times I wear running/walking shoes made by Brooks called “the Beast.” most comfortable shoes ever and really help to control the pronation of the foot.

For sandles I wear Birkenstocks which have really good arch support. I also rock barefoot around the house so I don’t have to rely on my shoes. There was an article here a while back that talked about basketball players who trained sans shoes had LESS ankle injuries because their ankle had to get stronger where as other players were relying on shoes and braces and thus got weak ankles.[/quote]

Yeah I was thinking about rocking it barefoot while training, just scrapping the idea of artificial support and trying to make my feet strengthen themselves. One problem that I do have is that my ankles roll a little bit making it hard to do lunges and almost impossible right now to do Bulgarians.

I’m doing a lot of lunges right now and I’m building some good balance and since I train in my back yard I think I’m just gonna go Jesus style and lunge barefoot on grass to help strengthen the ankle and hopefully get a little correction in my feet.

Casually I’m not trippin’ on what shoes to wear. I usually wear a pair of Jordans when I’m all out and about and they’re real comfortable with a lot of support so I’m cool with those. Thanks for the advice though man, and everyone else too

#7

I don’t know if this is a good idea or not, but I’ve heard wrestling shoes are excellent to train in. Almost like going barefoot. Dunno if it’s a good idea in your situation tho.

#8

[quote]AssClown wrote:
CantStop wrote:
AssClown wrote:
I’m looking into getting some new shoes here pretty soon, only for lifting. I’ve been wearing a pair of chucks for about six months now and they’re real supportive and everything, but they’re VERY uncomfortable for me.

I forget what it’s called, but I have that whole deal where my feet kind of turn inward and I walk on the outer soles of my feet. I have MASSIVE callouses on the balls of my feet and on the outer corner of my feet underneath the little toe. Sometimes the callous will get too big and after a heavy lifting session I’ll find some dead skin in my shoe (just learned about those damn pumis stone things).

I was lookin’ for any advice you guys could give on foot wear or added support for the shoes I have now. I was thinking of going to Big 5 or something and gettin’ like a $30 pair of Spalding basketball shoes or something like that. Any advice?

A lot people like Nike Free

I heard they don’t have a lot of support, but they’re really comfortable. The thing I’m looking for more than anything though are shoes with a lot of support because my feet take a beating[/quote]

I train barefoot. In my opinion the support is the problem. I lift at home though. Most commercial gyms probably won’t let you do this.

I just got my first pair of Nike Free’s and for walking, running and casual wear they are the best. Haven’t tried them for lifting as there is no reason for me too.

#9

[quote]AssClown wrote:
I’m looking into getting some new shoes here pretty soon, only for lifting. I’ve been wearing a pair of chucks for about six months now and they’re real supportive and everything, but they’re VERY uncomfortable for me.

I forget what it’s called, but I have that whole deal where my feet kind of turn inward and I walk on the outer soles of my feet. I have MASSIVE callouses on the balls of my feet and on the outer corner of my feet underneath the little toe.

Sometimes the callous will get too big and after a heavy lifting session I’ll find some dead skin in my shoe (just learned about those damn pumis stone things).

I was lookin’ for any advice you guys could give on foot wear or added support for the shoes I have now. I was thinking of going to Big 5 or something and gettin’ like a $30 pair of Spalding basketball shoes or something like that. Any advice?[/quote]

You sound like a supinator, in which case, DO NOT buy nike frees.

#10

Your feet supinate (roll in), so you need something with a lot of stability and to essentially ‘roll out’ and balance your feet. I recommend the New Balance 992 or the New Balance 587. And I second what Samurai Wannabe said with the Brooks Beast.

#11

[quote]Desideratus15 wrote:

You sound like a supinator, in which case, DO NOT buy nike frees.[/quote]

Yeah that’s what it’s called. I heard the Frees weren’t very supportive so I said to hell with those.

Weird thing today; I was doing lunges like I said early I would try, with bare feet on grass, but I noticed something weird. I’m fine and perfectly balanced when I step forward with my right foot, but I noticed that when I step with my left I plant real awkwardly, like my big toe doesn’t really plant on the ground, just the toe right next to it and not really any of the others, and the heal of my foot only lands on the outside edge. It’s really weird.

My thickest callouses are on the outer pad of my right foot on the very corner under the little toe, and on my left foot it’s real thick underneath the two toes to the left of my big toe. It’s really weird

#12

Hey, AssClown, do you have wide feet? Most of the people I know with wide feet hate Chucks. I imagine they would feel the same about the Free’s as they are snug on me, and I have narrow feet.

Can you wear your Chuck’s out on the town, Like say, for four or five hours of standing and walking around or would that kill your feet also?

#13

[quote]AssClown wrote:
Desideratus15 wrote:

Weird thing today; I was doing lunges like I said early I would try, with bare feet on grass, but I noticed something weird. I’m fine and perfectly balanced when I step forward with my right foot, but I noticed that when I step with my left I plant real awkwardly, like my big toe doesn’t really plant on the ground, just the toe right next to it and not really any of the others, and the heal of my foot only lands on the outside edge. It’s really weird.
[/quote]

I get the same thing, but I don’t think it’s my left foot’s fault. I just can’t Lunge as much with my left as I can with my right. It’s not like when my strenght gives out on a heavy bench or squat, I just lose my balance and fall to the side. So I go with the left first and let that determine the weight I use for both sides.

#14

[quote]Uncle Gabby wrote:
Hey, AssClown, do you have wide feet? Most of the people I know with wide feet hate Chucks. I imagine they would feel the same about the Free’s as they are snug on me, and I have narrow feet.

Can you wear your Chuck’s out on the town, Like say, for four or five hours of standing and walking around or would that kill your feet also?
[/quote]

No I have long, narrow feet (14). Chucks do hurt after a while when I’m wearing 'em casually like I did for a while in high school. I can’t wear Chucks normally though because the outer sides of 'em always frey and the rubber lining peels off.

#15

[quote]AssClown wrote:
Uncle Gabby wrote:

No I have long, narrow feet (14). Chucks do hurt after a while when I’m wearing 'em casually like I did for a while in high school. I can’t wear Chucks normally though because the outer sides of 'em always frey and the rubber lining peels off.
[/quote]

Hey AC, this might sound crazy, but you might want to try some Jordan Training Shoes (either the Trunner or the Jumpman DJ) by Nike (obviously). Jordan himself has narrow feet, so in turn, the shoes are modeled after his own feet (narrow, like your feet).

Check them out at sporting goods stores that carry the more expensive shoes, like Champs Sports, Foot Locker, Finish Line, Foot Action, Athletes Foot, etc. No harm in at least trying them on to see how they feel.

#16

[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
AssClown wrote:
Uncle Gabby wrote:

No I have long, narrow feet (14). Chucks do hurt after a while when I’m wearing 'em casually like I did for a while in high school. I can’t wear Chucks normally though because the outer sides of 'em always frey and the rubber lining peels off.

Hey AC, this might sound crazy, but you might want to try some Jordan Training Shoes (either the Trunner or the Jumpman DJ) by Nike (obviously). Jordan himself has narrow feet, so in turn, the shoes are modeled after his own feet (narrow, like your feet).

Check them out at sporting goods stores that carry the more expensive shoes, like Champs Sports, Foot Locker, Finish Line, Foot Action, Athletes Foot, etc. No harm in at least trying them on to see how they feel.[/quote]

That’s a good idea, I never thought of that. I wear Jordans normally and they’re real comfortable to me so that sounds like a good idea. You’re a damned genius :stuck_out_tongue:

#17

[quote]AssClown wrote:
tmoney1 wrote:
AssClown wrote:
Uncle Gabby wrote:

That’s a good idea, I never thought of that. I wear Jordans normally and they’re real comfortable to me so that sounds like a good idea. You’re a damned genius :stuck_out_tongue:
[/quote]

Well, I do what I can, that’s how I roll.

I’ve lifted in J’s before and I thought they were extremely comfortable while lifting and doing cardio.

#18

[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
AssClown wrote:
tmoney1 wrote:
AssClown wrote:
Uncle Gabby wrote:

Well, I do what I can, that’s how I roll.

I’ve lifted in J’s before and I thought they were extremely comfortable while lifting and doing cardio.[/quote]

I don’t know about cardio, because my main pair are a pair of 3s and they weigh a goood amount, and I’ve never tried liftin’ in 'em but I imagine they’d be great for that. Thick soles and heavy material.

#19

I’m thinking of doing away with wearing Chuck Taylors and buying a pair of Otomix weightlifting shoes. Are these some good shoes for lifts?

#20

[quote]AssClown wrote:
tmoney1 wrote:
AssClown wrote:
tmoney1 wrote:
AssClown wrote:
Uncle Gabby wrote:

Well, I do what I can, that’s how I roll.

I’ve lifted in J’s before and I thought they were extremely comfortable while lifting and doing cardio.

I don’t know about cardio, because my main pair are a pair of 3s and they weigh a goood amount, and I’ve never tried liftin’ in 'em but I imagine they’d be great for that. Thick soles and heavy material.
[/quote]

Yeah, my bad, when I used to wear them a few years back, I used basketball for my form of cardio, and naturally, J’s are great, so that’s what I meant about cardio. Sorry for the confusion.