Do you lift on bare feet?

jdubz · 02-23-2006, 12:38 PM

Now that I've got a Power Rack at home I've been doing squats and deadlifts not using shoes. From my personal experience, the movement seems much more natural and my legs are starting to have major growth spurts. Anyone else here lift without shoes?

Speedbacker · 02-23-2006, 12:47 PM

Yea with squats and deadlifts.

**Beelzebub** · 02-23-2006, 01:02 PM

never. chuck taylors feel like bare feet though.

max silver · 02-23-2006, 06:55 PM

I just couldn't get comfortable with bare feet for lifting. I've just started using Chuck Taylors myself, and love these shoes for squatting and deadlifting. My knees feel much better since switching to these shoes, and my form is much better, as the shoes have flat soles, which prevents me from leaning forward during these exercises.

dunimous · 02-23-2006, 10:17 PM

Sorry to hijack but where did you guys get your chuck taylors?

**Beelzebub** · 02-23-2006, 10:38 PM

online shoe store, lol. 35 bucks.

max silver · 02-24-2006, 03:52 AM

I bought mine at Sport Chek (Canadian sporting goods chain) for around 55 bucks or so. I was skeptical at paying that kind of money for shoes this flimsy looking, but it has turned out to be money well spent.

**milwood** · 02-24-2006, 09:26 AM

Agreed--Chuck Taylors = bare feet!

**magic8ball** · 02-25-2006, 12:20 PM

No way man!!! About 14 years ago I lifted wearing wrestling shoes all the time. They are thinner than Chuck Taylors with no type of arch support. Too many heavy leg days lead to fractured bones in both feet. Try using a 2x4 wood block under your heels. This should help squats and leg press feel more natural. This also shifts the stress angle on your foot.

CDONDICI · 02-26-2006, 12:01 AM

What do you guys think about regualr converse allstars for lifting?

**Basso** · 02-26-2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic8ball

No way man!!! About 14 years ago I lifted wearing wrestling shoes all the time. They are thinner than Chuck Taylors with no type of arch support. Too many heavy leg days lead to fractured bones in both feet. Try using a 2x4 wood block under your heels. This should help squats and leg press feel more natural. This also shifts the stress angle on your foot.

Sorry no wood blocks allowed in comp.
-Chuck Taylors=Squat, provide superior side support the #1 shoe for squatting. Look around at some pics of 1000lb squats and I bet at least half are using CTs
-Wrestling shoes=Deadlift ONLY! who ever gave you advice to squat in wrestling shoes should be casterated. I also like Otomix, but when the heavy weight comes out, the wrestling shoes or DL slippers come out.

When you use wood you shift the angle of lift on your legs, this may be great for focusing on your quads or whatever but if your goal is to lift heavy and make your legs grow it's not a very good idea, also dangerous. Anyways why not wear big heel boots instead? If your lifting properly (sitting back on the squat) a 2X4 would cause your toes to lift up and put on the stress on your heels and cause loss of balance, a good squat shoe will have minimal arch support, have stiff sides and a hard bottom=Chuck Taylors!

Another thing to think about is that with a 2x4 you get below parallel a long time before your actually at parallel. With this type of squat you have to literally bury the squat with Ass on calves to get full range of motion, with heels up your increasing the range and you are unable to lift as much.

Just some things to think about

jdubz · 02-27-2006, 02:16 PM

hmm.. Arnold squatted on bare feet.

**Basso** · 03-26-2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdubz

hmm.. Arnold squatted on bare feet.

He also never lifted more than 405! (course he did insane reps with it).

Synthetik · 03-26-2006, 01:25 PM

I use the Nike Free shoes, also feels like your barefoot. The only reason I dont do barefeet at the gym is due to health issues (athlete's foot, fungus, etc.).

NecroFeelYa · 03-26-2006, 02:09 PM

I actually just started doing this yesterday myself. I liked it. I lift at home too so I don't have to worry about any health issues. I think I'll continue to lift in my bare feet, it just felt a lot more comfortable and natural. I think the only problem I had with it was that I lift in my (unheated) garage and it got mighty cold yesterday.

**Basso** · 03-26-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NecroFeelYa

I actually just started doing this yesterday myself. I liked it. I lift at home too so I don't have to worry about any health issues. I think I'll continue to lift in my bare feet, it just felt a lot more comfortable and natural. I think the only problem I had with it was that I lift in my (unheated) garage and it got mighty cold yesterday.

I think the biggest fear would be slipping, but if you have a good mat under your feet shouldn't be a problem. Some of my most scary lifts were when I forgot to tighten laces and my feet start moving in my shoes! I bet some chalk might help with slipping issues also.

ivydude · 03-26-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max silver

I just couldn't get comfortable with bare feet for lifting. I've just started using Chuck Taylors myself, and love these shoes for squatting and deadlifting. My knees feel much better since switching to these shoes, and my form is much better, as the shoes have flat soles, which prevents me from leaning forward during these exercises.

Agreed. The Chucks also allow me to exert more pressure on the outer part of my feet while squatting. They also just plain feel a lot better to squat and DL in.

rysigpi · 03-26-2006, 08:29 PM

After reading this thread I was intrigued. I always like the Nike Free for some reason and now I had an excuse to buy them

. Just bought a pair from ebay

View Poll Results: Do you lift without shoes?
yes	24	27.27%
no	64	72.73%
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