This isn't a review, but its about merchandise so I thought it was warranted.
While no shoe styles are mandatory, if you want to train the Olympic lifts you need proper weightlifting shoes. The prices can range from $40 if you find a good deal to $200 if you have money to burn. The main difference between weightlifting shoes and normal shoes is the heel. Made of a solid wood wedge or composite piece, the heel allows the lifter to squat lower into the snatch or clean (as well as front and back squats during training). In addition, due to its incompressibility, the sole of the shoe is able to direct all force from the lifter into the ground and not dissipate the force in the softness of the shoe (for example, a normal running shoe has soft heels which compress under heavy loads).
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| Adidas Ironwork II |
You won't find weightlifting shoes in many stores in the US, so look online for a good deal. You can find them from:
This is not a conclusive list, but these are several manufacturers to check. In addition, the links are to manufacturers main sites in many cases, and the best deals can often be found elsewhere.
