Do you need Special Shoes for Deadlifting?

If you are involved in weight lifting or power lifting and you have an Instagram account, chances are you have been "marketed" to. Seems like every 22 year old with an iPhone and an "aesthetic" look is sponsored by 10 different supplement and apparel companies and is trying to sell you something that will make you bigger and more attractive! It can be almost impossible to determine if you actually need any of the stuff they are selling, or if it's just more noise clouding out what is actually important. It is in this landscape that I attempt to answer the question: "Do you need special shoes for deadlifting?"

The short answer is: no. There you go, blog over. Of course you don't need anything. There are people that pick up big rocks for exercise and they will probably outlive us all. Equipment is just a tool. Sometimes those tools provide a tangible benefit and sometimes they are useless. In the case of deadlifting shoes, I believe they provide a tangible benefit.

Deadlifting shoes are more of a category of footwear rather than a specific shoe. When I refer to a deadlifting shoe, I am referring to a shoe that has a flat sole with minimal cushion, allowing your feet to make as much contact with the floor or ground. So yes, deadlifting shoes can be beneficial. When you are attempting to deadlift, you want to be as solid as you can. Unfortunately, traditional running shoes or trainers that most people wear to the gym have a spongey bottom and sole, and although those can be great for running, they do not allow you to properly root to the the floor and be as solid as possible when you are deadlifting. This may not be entirely debilitating, but it can set your balance off enough to affect your results. Don't you want to be set up in the best possible position for success?

I have been using a deadlifting shoe of some kind for a couple years now and I will never go back. I know my leverage is better with a flat sole, I feel more stable in my set up, and I feel like I can generate more power in my legs to initiate my pull. I can honestly say that changing my shoes has made me a better deadlifter. Maybe it will make you a better deadlifter too, and I think you should give them a shot.

You don't have to go out and buy new shoes! If you have Converse or Chuck Taylors around the house, congratulations, you've already got deadlifting shoes! You could also buy a pair of wrestling shoes or you could succumb to the Insta-virus and grab a pair of the newest deadlift slippers your favorite influencer is begging you to buy (usually they aren't more than $40). Honestly not every accessory you use in the gym is going to make that much of a difference, but I do think deadlifting shoes are helpful and I think you should give them a try!