How Should Weightlifting Shoes Fit?

powerlifter wearing weightlifting shoes

To know how weightlifting shoes should fit, the first thing you need to consider is the ideal heel height for you.

The higher the heel’s height is, the more you can move the ankle in an upwards direction. Now when you are squatting, your ability to move the foot at an upward angle from the ankle is important. The higher the heel, the more you can push your hips forward for a deeper squat.

Once you’ve learned how they should fit, have a look at our review of the best weightlifting shoes.

Snug and Tight is Right

No matter what kind of shoe you are going for, getting comfort is always going to be one of the top priorities. Weightlifting shoes are no exception so when you are considering how weightlifting shoes should fit, you need to look for something that gives a snug and tight fit.

Your heel should sit well with your foot with no lift. There should not be more than an eighth of space between the end of the shoe and your longest toe. The shoe has to be big enough to properly accommodate your foot without being too tight. You should not experience any restriction of blood or discomfort while you’re wearing the shoe.

Convert Women’s Sizes to Men’s

For women considering weightlifting shoes, you should head on over to the men’s section to get an idea of how weightlifting shoes should fit you. You need to know your size and since women’s weightlifting shoes do not carry a size of their own in the industry, you should try on men’s weightlifting shoes to get an idea of the size. This will give you a good baseline to decide the size that would fit your feet best.

Do Not Use Running Shoes

While weightlifting shoes may look awfully like running shoes in a lot of instances, they are not the same thing. Running shoes are built for providing extra mobility while moving fast. The mechanics of weightlifting shoes and how they should fit are completely different from running shoes. Weightlifting shoes are designed to provide extra stability to your feet while they are under a lot of pressure when you push out from the bottom of the lift.

The heels are higher than the heels for running shoes and that plays a vital role in providing the extra bit of cushion for your heels to sink into while you apply all that force pushing your hips forward. You do not get the same stability and security from running shoes.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how weightlifting shoes should fit is pretty easy if you think about it. They need to have the right heel size, be comfortable and provide the right support for your ankles and feet while you are lifting all those heavy weights. For women, the only extra consideration to make is trying on men’s size weightlifting shoes so that they can get a good idea of the size they need to wear for successful weightlifting over a long time without injuring their feet.