The Right Weightlifting Shoes Can Improve Your Power and Form—Here Are 10 Expert-Approved Picks

• 1

  Nobull

  Black Gum Trainer

  Best Overall, Flat

  • Pros: Extremely durable exterior, stabilizing feel
  • Cons: May run small and narrow (according to some reviewers)

  Nobull comes highly recommended by Future trainers Lauren Powell, PhD, CSCS, and Tiffany Thompson, NASM-certified personal trainer. This bestseller from the brand is built for stability, with a minimal heel lift and a rubber outsole for extra grip. Its durable upper is abrasion-resistant and protective (there’s added rubber over the toe), but still breathable thanks to perforations along the tongue.

  • Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Heel-to-toe drop: 4 millimeters | Weight: 11 ounces | Materials: Synthetic fabric, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, rubber

• 2

  Adidas

  Powerlift 5 Weightlifting Shoes

  Best Overall, Lifted

  • Pros: Grippy yet lightweight, prevents foot shifting
  • Cons: May run small (according to some reviewers)

  This Adidas powerlifting shoe is surprisingly lightweight, thanks in part to its breathable partial mesh upper. It’s designed to fit securely, with a set of laces and a midsole strap working in tandem to hold your foot in place. The rubber outsole is extra grippy—because the last thing you need to be thinking about is slipping when you have a barbell on your back.

  • Sizes: US 6 to 15 | Heel-to-toe drop: 16 millimeters | Weight: 15.38 ounces | Materials: Synthetic fabric, canvas, rubber

• 3

  Converse

  All Star High Top Sneakers

  Best Budget

  • Pros: Relatively affordable, stylish
  • Cons: Not as durable as other options on this list

  In addition to its retro appeal (and good price point), the Chuck Taylor High Top has endured as a go-to gym shoe for its minimal cushioning and flat sole, Jared Gremillion, DPM, a podiatric surgeon at Holston Medical Group in Bristol, Tennessee, tells SELF. The low heel will help you feel more connected to the floor and maintain your balance. One thing to note: These shoes are on the narrow side, according to reviewers, but Converse offers wide sizing in select colors.

  • Sizes: US 5 to 13 | Heel-to-toe drop: 0 millimeters Weight: N/A | Materials: Canvas, foam, rubber

• 4

  On

  Cloudpulse

  Best for Beginners

  • Pros: Supportive yet comfortable, stylish
  • Cons: Not suitable for lifting heavy weights

  If you want to add lifting to an already varied workout routine (say, one with cardio, plyometrics, and HIIT classes sprinkled in), On’s Cloudpulse is a great all-around gym shoe. Christa Sgobba, CPT, SELF’s director of fitness and food, recently tested a pair and found that they felt great during warm-ups and more dynamic exercises: “I’d consider the Cloudpulses comfy, but not really to the point where I’d call it out. Rather, they were more like, put them on, lace them up, and forget that they’re on—which isn’t really a bad feature in a shoe!”

  They aren’t as flat or stiff as other sneakers on our list, so they’re not the best option if you’re lifting heavy weights and want a super stable base, says Sgobba. But we like them for beginners who want to take their weightlifting journey nice and slow.

  • Sizes: US 5 to 11 | Heel-to-toe drop: 8 millimeters | Weight: 10 ounces | Materials: Recycled polyester, EVA foam, rubber

• 5

  Lululemon

  Strongfeel Training Shoe

  Most Comfortable

  • Pros: Stabilizing feel, extremely comfy
  • Cons: Not super breathable (according to some reviewers)

  Sgobba also tested and loved Lululemon’s Strongfeel shoes. In her review, she noted that the sneakers’ secure base made it easy to focus on her exercises, rather than how her feet felt. “Although I was mainly interested in testing these for lower-body days—where stability is even more important—I found myself reaching for these for any strength-training workout, simply because they made me feel better,” she wrote.

  • Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: 6 millimeters | Weight: 10.20 ounces | Materials: Mesh, foam, rubber

• 6

  Reebok

  Nano X4

  Best for Stability

  • Pros: Provides a firm foundation for heavier lifts, supports smooth lateral movements
  • Cons: Stiffer than other cross-trainers; not suitable for longer, more cardio-focused sessions

  Reebok’s best-selling Nano line is a longstanding favorite among dedicated gym-goers—and its latest iteration is an especially good option for people who prioritize stability during their workouts.

  It’s technically a cross-training shoe, but it felt supportive and stable enough that Sgobba wore it for heavier lifting when she tested and reviewed it. “I added an extra 10-pound plate for the first time to my reverse lunges while wearing the Nanos,” she wrote. “My working leg felt steady, but the shoe also had enough flexibility for my moving foot so I was able to plant my toes easily. All this to say: I’m looking forward to trying them out on a max deadlift attempt soon.”

  • Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: 7 millimeters | Weight: 12.07 ounces | Materials: Synthetic fabric, thermoplastic urethane (TPU), foam, rubber

• 7

  Core

  Weightlifting Shoes

  Best Squat Shoes

  • Pros: Stiff and sturdy, encourages proper squatting form
  • Cons: Lacks versatility

  This sneaker from Core has a higher-than-average heel, which can be especially helpful for maintaining proper posture during back squats and other heavy lifts. Reviewers write that its stiff, solid sole is excellent for squatting, but it’s so sturdy that they wouldn’t want to wear it for much else. The Core Weightlifting shoe is definitely a more specialized pick, ideal if you’re working toward specific squatting goals.

  • Sizes: US 2.5 to 15.5 | Heel-to-toe drop: 22 millimeters | Weight: N/A | Materials: Leather, mesh, Velcro, EVA foam

• 8

  Nike

  Metcon 9 Training Shoes

  Best Cross-Trainers

  • Pros: Versatile, stylish
  • Cons: Not as sturdy as other options on this list

  The Metcon 9, Nike’s flat cross-training shoe, features a strong, solid plate in the heel and a combination of firm and soft foam in the insole, so it’s sturdy with just the right amount of give. The tongue has a strap that holds the shoe’s laces in place and out of the way, a nice safety measure that could also save you from tripping in the weight room. All of these elements make it a great choice for anyone who likes to pair their lifting sessions with aerobics, Crossfit, and any other faster, higher-agility cross training.

  • Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: N/A | Weight: N/A | Materials: Synthetic fabric, mesh, foam, TPU, rubber

• 9

  Under Armour

  TriBase Reign 6 Training Shoes

  Best Flexible Option, Flat

  • Pros: Lightweight design will appeal to minimalists, good traction, wide toe box (according to Under Armour reviewers)
  • Cons: Might not feel as protective as other options on this list

  Consider the TriBase Reign 6 training shoe from Under Armour a safer alternative to barefoot lifting (which Dr. Gremillion does not recommend). It has a solid, flat sole with varied traction patterns, meant to encourage the natural motion of your feet during lifts. Its upper is very lightweight and breathable, it’s a particularly good pick if your feet tend to sweat.

  • Sizes: US 5 to 12 | Heel-to-toe drop: 2 millimeters | Weight: 8.64 ounces | Materials: Polyester, rubber

• 10

  Inov-8

  Fastlift 360 Gym Shoe

  Best Flexible Option, Lifted

  • Pros: Bendable yet sturdy, prevents foot shifting
  • Cons: Pricey

  This investment-worthy pair from Inov-8 is another great option with a heel lift. It’s flexible in the forefoot, which enables you to move naturally, and also super grippy along the sole to keep you steady through every rep. You can trust that your feet will stay in place inside the shoe, too, thanks to the velcro strap that cinches around the midfoot.

  • Sizes: US 5.5 to 11 | Heel-to-toe drop: 16.5 millimeters | Weight: 12.70 ounces | Materials: Nylon, TPU, rubber

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.