Another great benefit of deadlift shoes is their thin soles. While hard and fully flat, they keep you as close to the floor as possible. Also, the soles are almost entirely flat. In fact, they’re flat where it matters, as they have no heel elevation. This protects you from losing your balance and keeps the barbell on you all the time. The Vivobarefoot Motus Strength has become one of my favorite shoes for deadlifting when you have wider feet. This model is designed to be great for pretty much everything in the gym and it excels exceptionally well for deadlifts. The insole should offer good arch support and enough comfort to have on for an entire training session, while also being firm enough to not compress and deform under heavy loads. One of the problems with flat shoes is that they’re a bit harsh on your arch. However, you’ll be delighted to know that Sabo deadlift shoes solved this problem.

The problem with a flat sole is that it doesn’t run smoothly with the curvature of your foot arch, making them uncomfortable to wear for a long time. This way, you can feel more comfortable while securing your feet and limiting their range of motion when wearing deadlift shoes. Protects You From Injuries

Rubbery materials are among the best materials that offer slip resistance. They also play a role in securing your stance and position while lifting. SABO Deadlift Shoes are specific to deadlifting which makes them incredibly niche in nature and not for every lifter out there. However, if you are someone who competes in powerlifting or is highly focused on their conventional and sumo deadlift performance, then this model is certainly worth exploring. Now, there are a handful of deadlifters that can perform conventional deadlifts (NOT sumo) better in raised heel shoes.

Always look for shoes with straps to keep your ankle and metatarsal region in place. As you already know, these straps prevent your feet from wobbling and over-extending. T wo lateral straps allowing for an individual fit and precise tuning of tightness for the foot, ankle and heel.

Takeaway Thoughts

The soles are also super thin, allowing for excellent stability while holding the heavy weights on you.

All these qualities make them great for running or High-Intensity Interval training. However, for the same reason, a shoe with a raised heel is unsuitable for deadlifting. As you’ve figured from the previous benefits, a dedicated deadlift shoe has everything that keeps you in the correct position to lift. Position your foot on the paper such that your heel and longest toe are centered on the line. It’s important that you’re standing since your foot will spread out more when bearing your full weight, leading to a more precise measurement. The Born Primitive Savage 1 is an awesome training shoe for heavy deadlifts and functional fitness. In the context of cross-training shoes, this model has been one of my favorites of recent years to tug heavily in. The SABO Deadlift Shoes have a 0 millimeter “heel to toe drop,” which is as flat as you can get. Your foot is completely parallel to the floor. Zero drop is ideal for the vast majority of deadlifters because:What makes the Otomix Stingray special is that it has a relatively thinner and flatter sole than most boxing shoes. The rubber also gives it durability against heavy compression.

As a rule of thumb, hard plastic and wood have the highest rigidity and compression resistance levels. However, they might be a bit rough on your feet. The Otomix Stingray is famous for its ankle coverage. It comes with an extra-tall ankle collar that provides excellent ankle support. They’re able to be so lightweight in large part because the soles are so thin, as I already discussed. Soles on most shoes are the densest and heaviest part of the shoe. When you have the SABOs with 2-3x less sole material than your average sneaker, it’s going to feel super lightweight.

Functional Trainers – Nike Metcon 2

The first potential con I could see others having is expecting these shoes to be versatile outside of their intended use. This model is not going to be the best at supporting things like cross-training and other activities outside of deadlifts, so if you plan to buy them, then make sure you’re okay limiting their use for this activity. The vast majority of injuries caused by a deadlift come from incorrect execution. Since deadlift shoes ensure that your feet stay balanced while lifting, they contribute to aiding in the proper technique that will allow you to stay injury-free. SABOs have side support in the outsole that allow you to spread the floor without worry of the shoe rolling, or busting at the seams. So not only is it a more ineffective movement pattern, you can risk injury under heavy load. Slipping While Lifting