Best Weight-Lifting Shoes for 2024

If you're an experienced powerlifter or CrossFitter, the Inov-8 Fastlift Power G 380 is calling your name. This is a surprisingly lightweight yet strong-performing squat shoe. Inov-8 is the first brand to use graphene in its shoes. Graphene is one of the toughest materials to exist, 200 times stronger than steel. It would also explain why this shoe is the most expensive on the list, at over $200. You're paying for top-quality material that is intended to be extra durable. The power heel and outsole are made of graphene rubber, which provides excellent support and stability. 

The toe box is made up of a flexible and breathable material, which is important as you quickly transition through exercises such as snatches or hang cleans. These squat shoes fit true to size for me, but the toe box is narrow, so I'd recommend sizing up if you have wide feet.

I tested these squat shoes while back and front squatting and was impressed at the depth I was able to hit with the assisted help. I even felt confident enough to squat heavier with the new range of motion and stability the shoes gave me. I could see taller people or those with mobility limitations benefitting from this shoe when they squat. If you're trying to hit new PRs in the weight room, then this is a solid pick to wear on your heavy-volume squat days.

Once upon a time, I used to lift weights barefoot because it was convenient. Barefoot training also has many benefits but it's not for everyone, and it can also put your feet at risk for injury around heavy equipment. That's where minimalist shoes come in. Vivobarefoot's minimalist shoe moves with you and feels as close to being barefoot as possible. The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III was designed to be stable and flexible and to be used for all workouts, including weight lifting. 

The Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III is lightweight and its toe box is wide and round to perfectly fit the shape of your foot. The rubber active outsole is only 2 millimeters thick, but it provides an excellent grip on the ground. The shoe is also sustainable -- when you're done wearing them, send them back to Vivobarefoot to recycle into a new pair of shoes. 

The downside to this shoe is that there are few half sizes, so I had to get the next full size up, which was slightly big for me. I used Vivobarefoot's Strutfit measurement app, which allows you to virtually find out your best shoe size. To do so, you take a picture of your foot and then you submit it to determine the size that should be your best fit. I would size down next time, but it would be beneficial if Vivobarefoot included more half sizes.   

Despite the sizing discrepancy, I was still able to wear these shoes comfortably. I'd recommend this style for experienced or intermediate lifters who are used to exercising barefoot, since this may take some adjusting for a novice lifter. I wouldn't suggest this style for Olympic lifting because it won't provide the same support an elevated shoe would for certain exercises. 

I'd never tried a minimalist shoe before so this was a new experience for me. Initially, I wasn't sure about the design but was pleased with how the shoe functioned during testing. It felt secure and comfortable doing conventional and sumo deadlifts, and it felt natural while doing back squats and didn't feel like I needed a heel. I even used these shoes during my upper bodywork day and had no issues.

If you want a trusty weight-lifting shoe that doesn't break the bank, then the classic Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars is a solid choice. I've lifted in these for years because the flat sole and ankle support makes for a good lifting shoe. I also like that the brand offers various colors and high tops if you prefer those over low tops. 

I'm able to use these shoes equally for squats and deadlifts without worrying about slipping around on the platform. I wouldn't recommend this shoe if you plan on doing Olympic lifts since you'd benefit from a more flexible shoe for those exercises. 

The only negative thing about Converse shoes is that the toe box may run small, so if you have a wide foot you'll want to make sure to order your shoes in a size wide. I can get away with the standard style, but there have been instances when I've felt them to be tight around my pinky toes. 

If you're not looking to shell out over $100 on weight-lifting shoes and only plan on doing traditional lifting, then the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star shoe is a good choice. Another trick I've learned is that if you have a smaller shoe size (like my size 6.5 foot), you can even get away with buying the shoe in a Big Kids style and paying $20 less.

Nobull launched in 2014 and has since made a name for itself in the weight-lifting community. The majority of Nobull's shoes are intended for lifting or training, and they even have lifting pairs with raised heels and running shoes. I tested the Black Ivy Trainer, which is designed to be used for weight lifting and cross-training. 

The shoe is stylish, true to size and snug in the toe box, but didn't feel as tight as some of the other shoes I tested. The rubber sole design has a 4-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, which makes it flat all around. The upper was my favorite aspect of the shoe design. It's made up of a SuperFabric that claims to be extremely durable, breathable and abrasion-resistant. You can tell that the shoe was made to be able to handle tough workouts and won't fall apart after a few uses. There are also SuperFabric guard plates, placed on a flexible mesh base layer, that look like small dots surrounding the shoe and are intended to create a shield for rope climbs or other exercises that require an exterior grip as part of your workouts. 

I tested these during both upper-body and lower-body workouts, and my ankles and arches felt extra secure during my lifts. I felt grounded and steady during deadlifts and squats, and the shoe is flexible enough to work for single-leg exercises or plyometrics. I'd recommend these to Converse wearers who are looking to change up their shoes for a similar yet more versatile design.

Because weight-lifting shoes run to fit your exact shoe size, I also looked for a cross-training shoe that would be comfortable for lifters with wide feet. From the ones I tested, I found the Altra Solstice XT2 to be the best fit. My problem with some of the cross-trainers I tested was that they were either too snug in the toe box, didn't have the right amount of grip on the sole, or were tight around the top of the foot. The Altras were that happy medium where the toes had room to spread but also had a balanced cushion platform that supported the heel and forefoot and had ankle and arch support. The upper is made up of a breathable mesh that makes the shoes extra flexible and easy to transition to different exercises.  

It doesn't hurt that it's a stylish shoe so it can be worn outside of the gym as well. I tested these shoes with squats, deadlifts and then a HIIT workout that included medicine ball throws and slams, squat jumps and jumping jacks. 

My only problem with these shoes is that the laces seem to be on the thin and short side, which causes them to untie easily so you have to make sure to double-knot them. Another aspect I noticed was that the mesh on the toe box tends to lose shape when it's not in use. I'd recommend keeping the tissue paper that lines the shoe to help keep the shape in check. Otherwise, if you're looking for an alternative cross-trainer that is wide-foot friendly, the Altras are a good place to start.