Barefoot running shoes aren’t just for barefoot runners.
Huh?
If you’re a gym rat, you should seriously consider a pair of minimalist shoes. Getting the most from a weight room workout requires proper form, and traditional athletic shoes work against you. The elevated heel disrupts your base and impairs lifting efficiency.
Barefoot Weightlifting
Not to be confused with “Banana Weightlifting”
In order to compensate for wobbly support from traditional athletic shoes, your muscles and tendons have to exert excess force to maintain balance. At best, this will take away from your overall output potential and limit the amount of weight and number of reps you can complete. At their worst, traditional athletic shoes can cause torn muscles and sprained ligaments.
When you lose the shoes, your base is strong and stable. During squats, deadlifts, or power cleans, you’ll be able to drive through your heels and midfoot in order to utilize glute and hamstring muscles more efficiently. As with barefoot running, you’ll have to adjust to barefoot weightlifting. Soon enough, however, you’ll be lifting more weight than you could have with athletic shoes.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of commercial gyms turn a deaf ear to the barefoot argument. If you just start taking off your shoes when lifting, expect attendant backlash. To avoid confrontations, consider picking up a pair of minimalist running shoes. Most of them are gym-friendly (check our reviews), and they allow the same neutral footing as no shoes at all. Plus, your feet will already be adjusted should you ever want try barefoot running (if you haven’t already).
If you’re a weightlifter, minimalist shoes are a near must. You’ll be able to build muscle more effectively and avoid injuries by tossing the athletic shoes in the trash. Need more proof? Guess who is notorious for barefoot weightlifting… The Terminator! Can’t argue with results.
