Weightlifting shoes for women are so much different from normal workout shoes, and they make a huge difference in how you perform exercises such as squats and deadlifts.
Bringing you’re A-game to the gym is one thing but when your workout gear is ill-fitting, your A-game means nothing.
Weightlifting shoes for women or men are constructed with a hard sole, which is meant to provide stability and proper form during heavy lifting.
Weightlifting shoes for women
Owning a pair of weightlifting shoes goes beyond having something nice in your gym wardrobe or something that you use to show the world that you’re a serious lifter.
When you wear normal athletic shoes during a weightlifting session, your range of motion will be limited, and form compromised and this might result in injury.
Why you need a pair of the best squat shoes
According to a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences in 2017, weightlifting shoes significantly reduced ankle movement and increased the bending of the knees.
The study also showed that weightlifting shoes improved the lifting technique, and gave the participants a more upright form, and greater knee movement during loaded back squats.
Another study demonstrated that weightlifting shoes contributed to minimizing forward body lean, thus, people with a history of low back injury or those who want to reduce stress in the back area, may likely benefit from wearing weight lifting shoes.
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Top 7 weightlifting shoes for women
You don’t have to search for high and low for weightlifting shoes sold near you. All the shoes listed in this guide for the best weightlifting shoes for women are readily available on Amazon in various sizes, patterns, and colors and best of all, are true to size.
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7. Cheap weightlifting shoes – Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
If you are on a tight budget or just looking for some cheap weightlifting shoes, then Chuck Taylors are a better alternative to buying specially designed weightlifting shoes.
The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star is what you basically would call the entry point to weightlifting kicks. The sore is not as squishy as normal athletic shoes, but also, not as perfect as proper weightlifting shoes.
When I just started out, I used to lift in my socks until my gym told that that wasn’t allowed. I couldn’t afford proper powerlifting shoes back then so I opted for Chuck Taylors, and that worked well because my lifts weren’t very heavy at the time. Later, when I was able to, I upgraded, and I can tell you, the difference I felt was huge.
My honest advice is that you should go for Chuck Taylors if you are on a shoestring budget, and upgrade later when you can.
6. PUMA Tazon 6 WN’s FM cross-trainer shoe
So, if your workouts are a solid balance between HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and weightlifting, then the Puma Tazon is the shoe for you.
From a distance, the shoes look quite heavy but that is not the case when you actually put them on. They are incredibly lightweight, have memory foam, and a very stable base that will keep your feet firmly on the ground during HIIT and weightlifting sessions.
Apart from being super affordable, these cross-trainers won’t cramp your feet while you workout – the toe box is quite wide and roomy.
If you don’t want to change shoes between high-impact exercises and leg day workouts, Puma Tazon is one of the best shoes for weight training and cardio.
5. NOBULL Training Shoes
NOBULL weightlifting shoes are really not for everyone. This shoe is designed for people with flat feet. If most footwear seems to hurt your feet, then you probably have wide feet, and this pair of shoes is the perfect solution to your problem.
The grip on the NOBULL shoes is insane and the solid sole provides a stable base for weighted squats, lunges, and deadlifts, kickboxing and CrossFit.
4. Inov-8 Women’s Fastlift 335 weightlifting shoes for women
One thing you will instantly notice with Inov-8 Fastlift 335 shoes, is how much your posture will automatically be correct when you do squats and deadlifts.
If your back usually arches during weightlifting, this is the shoe for you on leg days. The Inov-8 Fastlift 335 is lightweight but so steady, you will be surprised at how incredible a lifter you’ll instantly become.
On a scale of 1 to 10, Inov-8 Fastlift 335s are a perfect 7.5, especially for people who have weak ankles.
3. Best shoes for weight training and cardio – Reebok CROSSFIT Nano 8.0 Flexweave
This is a weightlifting shoe with a particular focus on CrossFit, which means that the Reebok CROSSFIT Nano 8.0 Flexweave is simply the best shoe for CrossFit.
If you have been using cross-training shoes and would like to step up and step into real CrossFit shoes, you will do yourself a huge favor by getting yourself the Nono 8.
For a lot of functional movements involved in CrossFit such as box jumps and burpees, this Reebok weightlifting shoe has the mother of all grips, to help prevent all the slips and slides that may otherwise cause injury.
You will also appreciate that this pair of lifters doesn’t fit too tight- if you have a wide foot, you won’t suffer any blisters or discomfort due to the toe box being too small.
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2. Nike Metcon weightlifting shoes
The best Nike weightlifting shoes are the Metcons. The Metcons provide amazing balance when lifting heavy, and are ideal for CrossFit, powerlifting, and overall weightlifting.
The sole of this shoe is hard but sturdy enough to support heavy weights. What you’ll also love about the Nike Metcons is that they are lightweight and breathable shoes, despite the rubber sole. These shoes are also non-slip and won’t leave any marks on the floor.
There are several editions of the Nike Metcons but, the Nike Metcon 2 beats all others in this class and is worth every penny.
1. The best women’s weightlifting shoes- Adidas Powerlift women’s 3.1 Cross Trainer
The Adidas Powerlift is by far the best weightlifting shoe for women. These Adidas weightlifting shoes for women are for anyone that fancies lifting weights, on a competitive or recreational level. This shoe is well known for its ability to engage your leg muscles as you train.
The Adidas Powerlift 3.1 Cross Trainer is designed to improve weight lifting form and also stabilize your core during each workout session.
The upper mesh for these kicks is lightweight, making it extremely breathable and easy to exercise in. The material around the ankle is well cushioned to allow for proper ankle support.
The Adidas Powerlift 3.1 Cross Trainer will become your go-to shoes once you discover just how ultra-chic and comfortable they really are. Adidas Powerlift.3.1 Cross Trainer is available on Amazon in 12 super cool colors.
Susan Chanda is a professional content writer/journalist with over 20 years’ experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from University of South Africa and a diploma in Journalism and Public relations.
Susan has been writing evidence based fitness and health articles since 2016 for Fitness Chat, and is a certified fitness trainer, and diet and nutrition coach.
Fitness Chat is one of the several other websites that Susan owns, or co-owns with her children.
You can read more about Susan here.