Footwear choice

[5kgLifter]

Just a question that intrigues me after having read stuff around the internet. Also, due to gym rules and such, I cannot go barefoot to deadlift which is normally how I deadlift when at home...so, to the question:


Do any of you guys change footwear when doing deadlifts and squats, i.e use a more flat-soled piece of footwear for deadlifts and then swap to something with a bit of a raised heel when doing squats; or do you use the exact same footwear for both exercises?


Like I say, just curious really, and intrigued

[big_swede]

I use a cheap pair of chuck taylors (a copy, got em for about 10$) and they are working great. Buddy of mine has got a pair of deadlift slippers and he really likes them, use them for both squats and deads.

[Off Road]

For squats I use a heavy pair of hiking boots. I like the foot and ankle support they give, they have a good solid footbed with arch support, and the sole is hard vibram (no give).

For Deadlifts I use an old pair of Chucks. I hate Chucks for everything but Deadlifts.

[LtL]

I have three pairs of shoes I use in the gym:

Adipower squat shoes for squats and bench press
Converse chuck taylors for deadlifts
Puma Dallas (simple flat soled trainers) for everything else

Those shoes never get worn outside of the gym. I know when I'm wearing them, it's time to train.

LtL

[Pull14]

When I was squatting with a wide stance I'd use the same shoes for both squat and deads - either converse or puma (don't know model). When squat stance came in I would switch to oly shoe for the squats. Now I do all my work in oly shoes due to the direction my training is moving...

[gaspers04]

Hard soled work boot or these skeechers hiking shoe, good ROM and a super ridgid sole.

[Soldier]

If I'm doing any squatting or dead lifting it's a pair of tight chucks that are 1/2 size smaller than I'd normally where. If I'm not then I just wear comfortable sneakers.

I'm with LTL about the symbolic nature of putting on the shoes. That's actually a sport psychology trick, making something you do into a symbolic mental switch. Golfers like to use putting on their glove as a way of switching on their athletic mind, which is one of the reasons many golfers take off their glove between every shot. I always prefer to follow the same pre-workout routine and when I lace up the chucks I know it's going to be a day where I need to give it my all.

[BendtheBar]

I live in Chucks in and out of the gym. I'm not much of a footwear guy. The only time I wear anything different is Winter, and then it's snow boots.

[BigJosh]

I wear chucks for both squats and deads.

[mab54]

Chucks for everything, but might get squat shoes.