Shoes

[phillipsjosh2415]

I have thought about trying lifting barefoot. I currently workout in Nike Shox (I know, the worst shoes I could possibly use).  I workout at home so the temperature is always "comfortable".  I don't have to worry about stepping in something like mentioned above. This may be stupid but I have one concern - dropping a weight on my foot!!  Do any of you guys that lift barefoot ever worry about that or has it ever happened to you?  I know dropping a 45 lb plate on your foot is not going to feel good even with shoes on, but it would be way better than doing it barefoot.  Anybody got any advice or experience with this?

[guni]

 
if you're focused on what you're doing the chances of dropping something on your foot are pretty slim.  But shit can happen anytime anywhere, regardless of being barefoot or not.  Think of it this way, I work out at a commercial gym with all kinds of people doing stupid stuff  and I never got hurt, even deadlifting barefoot.  I know you have a home gym (saw it on the other thread, very nice), so the probability of a weight dropping on your foot is probably even smaller.
In other words, don't think about it too much, just try it out and you'll get used to it.

[Doo]

I was going to mention the potential safety issue with dropping a weight.
I work for a steel mill and am required to wear steel toed shoes when I am in the manufacturing facility. I work for quality control and could be carrying 20-30lb steel samples around. I never dropped them on my foot but it could always happen. So, even though there is a potential safety issue, I still prefer lifting barefoot.
What I try to do is carry plates to the side of me and lifting them in front of me only when placing on the bar or returning them to the rack. When the plates are in front of me, I try to keep my feet apart. If I did drop the plate, it would miss my feet..initially. I have rubber mats in my home gym and the weight could bounce back onto my feet. However, once you realize that you dropped the weight you should be able to quickly move your feet away before the bounce. I am not speaking from actual experience, only my consideration of potential safety issues.

[phillipsjosh2415]

Thanks guys.  Good advice.  Even with shoes on, I already do like Doo says and carry the weights out beside me, never lifting the weight in front of me unless my feet are apart or I am very sure I have a good grip with both hands.  While carrying with one hand the weight is out to the side.  I might give this a try in the near future.

[Quagmire911]

Another thing, if you wear shoes on the deadlift it lowers the bar on your leg; thus making the lift harder!!! Deadlift barefoot!!!

[phillipsjosh2415]

Do you guys that lift barefoot, only do deadlift barefoot, or do your whole workout barefoot?  Any advice or recommendations?

[Quagmire911]

I squat barefoot as well. Overhead press should probably be done barefoot to.
Apart from that there shouldn't really be many lifts that it would make much difference in. Anything where there is a lot of pressure on your feet you should be either barefoot or have a sturdy soul.
Definitely barefoot on deads though.
Quagmire
 
 

[Doo]

All my weight training is done barefoot. In fact, I lift only wearing running shorts which are loose and very light weight. Since I have a home gym, I would prefer to lift naked (with proper support of course). I know.  Too much information

[jdurando]

Tony
The only difference in not wearing shoes would be that you could immediately see your foot if you dropped a plate on it, would be quicker to get ice on it that way too.

[Noexit]

This is just an update and a recommendation in case anyone runs across this thread in the future. I did get a pair of Converse All-Stars, the low tops. Everyone seems to not tighten the high tops to avoid hindering ankle mobilty, so I just went with the lows. If you're looking for good, all around weightlifting shoes that don't cost a fortune these are the shoes for you. They solved my problem with my feet slipping around, I feel more secure and stable in the squat rack, and I can't say that I'm transferring more power to the weights, put pushing up on squats and deadlifts definitely feels different in a good kind of way. I spent abotu $40 (USD) on them, I figure if I keep them in my locker and only use them in the gym they'll probably last forever.

[Kerberos]

hmm , right now I have some runningshoestyle shoes on in the gym. i'm doing weights but also eliptical for cardio.
I guess i should get some flatsole shoes for weightlifting and switch between them in the gym.
 

 

[adaniel]

I use flat soled asics tomizuka tigers. I also use them for running.

I don't know if anyone is interested but I had gotten into running barefoot last summer. Your body naturally goes into a good running form to keep from hurting yourself. This means primarily landing on the balls of your feet. If you watch most people in running shoes, they tend to land on their heels negating the shock absorbing effect of your feet. The problem with running shoes is that for some reason, the heel is 1-2" higher than the ball of your foot, basically forcing you to land on your heel. I had running problems disappear by barefoot running (and also made sure to work the hell out of my calves). A lot of track athletes do their warm-ups or cool-downs barefoot and their running shoes have flat soles with very little padding. I wear shoes when I'm running on concrete because concrete is like sand paper on my calluses.

So much like how a 3 year old naturally knows good squat form (heels down on the ground, knees near their armpits), they also know how to run. Ever watch a kid run barefoot? Perfect form. Same goes with exercising barefoot, you'll be using all those years of evolution.

[Harsh]

@adaniel..
ur right..Pose running is more natural..you can also use shoes with no padding like some Puma shoes....check out pose tech forums for more details..

[mjh]

I've been using a pair of wrestling shoes and I really like them a lot.

I have tried Chucks, and they were vastly better than running shoes, but had a little trouble with my foot slipping around when I got a sweat up. Tried lacing them tightly, but still had the problem. So I read somewhere about wrestling shoes, and thought I'd give it a try. They have very firm but thin and flexible soles, much more than with Chucks. You can really feel the floor with all of your feet, and my squat feels much better these days with a truly flat footed stance (you can feel in your feet every small change in your contact with the floor).

[ArsoN]

I walk to the gym in trainers, but as soon as I'm in the weights room I take them off and remain in socks until I've completed my workout. I'd like to get some ironwork 2s, but money is tight right now.