6 Best Weightlifting Shoes For Men in 2023

Nicholas Rizzo
Nicholas Rizzo on
6 Best Weightlifting Shoes For Men in 2023
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Since weightlifting shoes look so much alike at first glance, finding the best one can be pretty confusing. But not with the help of RunRepeat. 

This team of shoe-doting nerds has got you covered, whether you're a beginner looking for a pair of shoes that can help you with your strength training or an athlete on the lookout for reliable kicks specifically designed for squats. Besides that, we also went ahead and handpicked the most value for money shoe if you're on a tight budget and the best overall men's weightlifting shoe if you simply want to know which is the best. 

Now, when we say the shoe delivers, you can take our word for it. After all, most of the kicks have been tried and tested by our team of shoe experts. 

 

How we test weightlifting shoes

While most weightlifting shoes would boast a stable construction to keep your feet grounded while lifting heavy loads, some fail to deliver, and a few consistently keep up with their promises. That's where we come in. 

To know which shoes are the best out there, we do the following:

  • Aggregate user opinions to find out what the majority thinks about the shoe
  • Send shoes to our experts who put them through the wringer

To reflect the above, a CoreScore is also calculated and assigned for each shoe.

 

 

Best men's weightlifting shoes overall

Nike Romaleos 4
92
Superb!

What makes it the best?

Nike's fourth iteration of the Romaleos received a warm welcome from the weightlifting community. Coming from the brand’s elite series of lifting shoes, this version does not disappoint. With top-notch quality from the outside and a secure and stable shoe feel from the inside, it’s hard to go wrong with this lifter.

Pros

  • Phenomenal stability
  • Sturdy platform and sole
  • Better lockdown with two straps
  • Comfortable for a lifting shoe
  • True to size
  • Efficient traction
  • Appealing looks

Cons

  • Upper lacks durability
  • Not for narrow ankles
  • Not breathable
Full review of Nike Romaleos 4

Today's best price

Unisex
Any color
Black (CD3463010)
White (CD3463101)
Total Orange/Black (CD3463801)
Marina/Kumquat/Siren Red (CD3463493)

Best low drop weightlifting shoes for men

Adidas The Total
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

Hands down, the Adidas The Total is a well-built shoe that does what it's intended to do: make lifting safer and more efficient. Reviewers can't find any serious flaws in it, so it's safe to say that you will get your money's worth, and perhaps even more, when you buy this.

Pros

  • Great for strength training
  • Good traction
  • Quite stable ride
  • A lot of ground feel
  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Functionally spacious toebox
  • Accommodates wide feet
  • Fairly priced
  • Streamlined look

Cons

  • Has to be broken in
  • Not versatile enough for non-strength exercises
Full review of Adidas The Total

Today's best price

Unisex
Any color
Black (GW6354)
Team Royal Blue-silver Metallic-team Navy Blue (GY8917)
Green (HQ1921)
Preloved Blue/White/Lucid Blue (HQ3532)
Navy Blue (HQ3533)
White (GW6353)

Best expensive weightlifting shoes for men

Adidas Adipower 2
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

A significant number of wearers were delighted with the stability and improved responsiveness of the Adidas Adipower 2. However, there were opposing views about the flexibility of the forefoot area. Some claimed that it helped them get better ground feedback while a few commented that it caused stability issues. Despite the issue, this footwear is quite desirable to have for its many upsides.

Pros

  • Solid and stable base
  • Improves ankle mobility
  • Good forefoot flexibility
  • Dynamic upper
  • Great minimalist design

Cons

  • Eyelet durability concerns
Full review of Adidas Adipower 2

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Wild Moss/Grey/Acid Yellow (FX0573)
White/Core Black/Core Black (GZ5953)
Black (F99816)
Black (EG1214)
Black (GZ2859)
Schwarz (GZ5952)
Beige (GZ0176)
Grey (EG1215)
More colors

Best Nike weightlifting shoes for men

Nike Savaleos
84
Great!

What makes it the best?

It's clear that the Savaleos trainers from Nike adequately perform in both lifting and working out. If you're looking for footwear that can switch between these two endeavors, this shoe is the quick answer. In a nutshell, the Nike Savaleos is a versatile, entry-level lifting shoe that could double as a workout buddy.

Pros

  • Versatile for a lifting shoe
  • Superb stability
  • Reasonably priced
  • Secure lockdown
  • Velcro doesn’t damage laces
  • Excellent grip
  • Visually appealing
  • Great for beginners

Cons

  • Not for heavy weightlifting
  • Not for wide feet
Full review of Nike Savaleos

Today's best price

Unisex
Any color
White (CV5708100)
Grey (CV5708083)
Black (CV5708010)
148 sail/black-deep royal blue (CV5708148)
606 chile red/white-black (CV5708606)

Best value weightlifting shoes for men

What makes it the best?

For many weightlifters, the stability the Inov-8 FastLift 360 delivers is worthy of their commendation. Its dependable traction on gym surfaces and durability didn't go unnoticed too. On the flip side, some were not happy with how tight the shoe fits. Overall, athletes who are serious about weight training enjoy the benefits this trainer brings.

Pros

  • Excellent stability
  • Reliable outsole grip
  • Durable
  • Great breathability
  • Appealing design

Cons

  • Too tight
  • Stiff
Full review of Inov-8 Fastlift 360

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black (000919BKGU)
Blue/Red/White (000919BLRDWH)
Khaki (000919KH)
White (000918WHNYRD)

Comparison of the 6 best weightlifting shoes for men

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways
Author
Nicholas Rizzo
Nicholas Rizzo

Nick combines 10+ years of experience in the health and fitness industry and a background in the sciences in his role as the Fitness Research Director. During his competitive powerlifting years his PRs have him sitting in the top 2% of bench presses (395 lbs), top 3% of squats (485 lbs) and top 6% of deadlifts (515 lbs) for his weight and age. His work has been featured on Bodybuilding.com, LiveStrong, Healthline, WebMD, WashingtonPost, and many more. Along the way, collaborating with industry leaders like Michael Yessis, Mark Rippetoe, Carlo Buzzichelli, Dave Tate, Ray Williams, and Joel Seedman.