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Chuck Taylors

  • Thread starter Thread starter slobberknocker
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slobberknocker

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What is it about these that makes them such good powerlifting shoes?
 
They feel like cheap tennis shoes to me :)

But they are flat and have minimal soles, so not bad since they don't compress that much.
But they don't have any arch support, and don't feel that solid to me
 
For the moment I'm happy to lift in my Asics. They're perfect for my feet and body. Unfortunately they do compress, but I need arch support.

In a perfect world, I'll fit my orthotics into some chucks (if that's possible) or appropriate lifting shoes...
 
The minimal soles part sounds good for deadlifting. Wonder how they are with squats.
 
They are flat on the outside, which is great if you wear a custom orthotic. If you place a custom orthotic into a flat shoe like a chuck, you get a direct transfer of force. There have been many studies on this WRT to cyclist. Cyclist who wore orthotics that brought their foot flat with the shoe/pedal had a direct transfer of energy into the pedal. Those that did not have this support had to first transfer energy in the foot, the foot flattens/caves against the pressure, and then transfers the energy into the pedal.

Now that's just cycling. Let's crank this up a notch to an 800 pound squat. Instead of the weight compressing everything, you end up very stable with evenly distributed force. With stable feet comes stable knees, hips, shoulders...and the importance increases progressively as you travel up the spine.

The other reason is the wide band around the outside. It makes it very easy to "spread the floor" when squatting. They are also very wide soled. Many shoes I've seen, the shoe hangs over the sole. With a chuck, the sole comes up and around the sides, completely covering the shoe. This prevents rolling (as stated above).
 
There are dedicated power squat shoes which have a heel -Crains etc, and flat Inzer

these cost more but you do get what you pay for :)
 
Mike_Rojas said:
I squat and dead in chucks. They really help you sit back.
Me too. I love my chucks...inexpensive and I feel MUCH more stable DL'ing & Squatting with them on. I'm really glad I bought them.
 
I'm with LiftBig. Spatts is right too, and I can prove it with personal experience. I got a pair of Chuck's and when I squat it feels so stable and natural, I never am pushed forward, deadlifts feel great as well, so do my Olympic movements. I wouldn't advise any running in them, and if the lack of arch support is bothering me, I bring my Nike's in my bag and change shoes after my squats and cleans and do my upper body and accessory work in them.

Personally, I'd rather 3 pairs of Chuck's that work just as well as 1 overpriced pair of Otomix.
 
MsBeverlyHills said:
I do all my lifting in Otomix-- mostly cuase theyre cute ;)

My point exactly.....not a flame, but if I lifted in something because i thought it was cute, I'd kick my own ass......you on the other hand, Ms BH are another story.
 
DieselFueled said:


My point exactly.....not a flame, but if I lifted in something because i thought it was cute, I'd kick my own ass......you on the other hand, Ms BH are another story.

LOL!! c'mon... I was kidding!! geez.. it doesnt really matter what shoes you wear-- that effects your squat # by prob less than 1/2%-- unless theyre Manolo Blahniks... lol!
 
Chucks are great. Getting a new pair for Christmas.
Did squats in Vans for a long time and they seemed to have the same positive feel.
 
DieselFueled said:
I bring my Nike's in my bag and change shoes after my squats and cleans and do my upper body and accessory work in them.

I'd clean in my Nikes if I were you. I like my heels elevated when I am doing olympic lifts, and Chucks are just too flat.
 
Cuthbert said:


I'd clean in my Nikes if I were you. I like my heels elevated when I am doing olympic lifts, and Chucks are just too flat.

You think so? I might try this next time I clean (Friday).....I have been noticing some slight discomfort when my feet hit the floor due to arch support issues as well......I bring both pairs to the gym, so I will definitely try it, I'll warm up in the Nike's and if I like it, I will use them.....I will post and let you know.
 
DieselFueled said:


You think so? I might try this next time I clean (Friday).....I have been noticing some slight discomfort when my feet hit the floor due to arch support issues as well......I bring both pairs to the gym, so I will definitely try it, I'll warm up in the Nike's and if I like it, I will use them.....I will post and let you know.

Olympic shoes come with an elevated heel. I think it makes a big difference.

Rbrown actually had a pair of his skechers modified to give them an elevated heel for O lifting. He likes them a lot.
 
MsBeverlyHills said:


LOL!! c'mon... I was kidding!! geez.. it doesnt really matter what shoes you wear-- that effects your squat # by prob less than 1/2%-- unless theyre Manolo Blahniks... lol!


Maybe thats why my deadlift shot up 45lbs after getting the chucks :alien:
 
I use running shoes (Fila,beat to shit, half a size to big, got them from my uncle) for the rest of my training, and only use the chucks once a week on deadlifft day.
 
Sebass67 said:
What other kinds of shoes you guys use that are other then crosstraining or basketball shoes?

I've been using wrestling shoes for years and I like them better than my Chucks.
 
U think there is any use in getting some expensive powerlifting or olympic lifting shoes...there were these ones this one guy was using that had the most greatest sound everytime he hit the ground with his feet....
 
Sebass67 said:
U think there is any use in getting some expensive powerlifting or olympic lifting shoes...there were these ones this one guy was using that had the most greatest sound everytime he hit the ground with his feet....

Yeah one of my training partners has a pair of olympic shoes.

If I'm not mistaken... the heel is wood, or at least it looks taht way.. could make for cool noise.
 
Sebass67 said:
U think there is any use in getting some expensive powerlifting or olympic lifting shoes...there were these ones this one guy was using that had the most greatest sound everytime he hit the ground with his feet....

Id stick with the chucks, never tried the powerlifting or oly shoes though. Doesnt seem there'd be much of a difference.
 
Chucks vs Oly shoes, hmm no comparison..I have both so I know :)

I like chucks for deadlifting I think, but I don't deadlift much. I like chucks for general weightraining. They do feel a bit funny when you walk around though and don't grip so well. In the wet yikes.

You can get lifting shoes that are flat but with all the trimmings that Chucks don't have. Honestly Chucks are just retro BBall shoes :)
 
CoolColJ said:
Chucks vs Oly shoes, hmm no comparison..I have both so I know :)

I like chucks for deadlifting I think, but I don't deadlift much. I like chucks for general weightraining. They do feel a bit funny when you walk around though and don't grip so well. In the wet yikes.

You can get lifting shoes that are flat but with all the trimmings that Chucks don't have. Honestly Chucks are just retro BBall shoes :)

Hmmm...I have both Chucks and OL shoes as well...so I know:)

Chucks for pulling (unless you have wrestling shoes) as well as wide squatting. OL shoes for OL lifts...including the OL High Bar Squat.

You CAN'T spread the floor and activate the hips with OL shoes in the squat or the GM...and you can't spread the floor effectively with wrestling shoes either...

B True
 
Bfold, which do you think would be better for squatting with a moderate width stance?
 
slobberknocker said:
Bfold, which do you think would be better for squatting with a moderate width stance?

If I were squatting with a moderate stance...I'd probably still go with the Chucks. I am used to them and they activate the hips, hams, glutes, and lower back more in my personal experience...and that is where I am stronger. The OL shoes are like standing on a pair of 10 pound plates (one under each foot) which puts more stress on the quads.

That is just me though...the only real way that you are going to find out is to try them both.

My OL shoes with shipping = $150
My Chucks with shipping = $38

B True
 
Thanks Clint. I'm gonna go with the Chucks. I'm sick of pulling and squatting with these big clunky New Balance size 13 extra extra wide clodhoppers, lol.

Did you order your Chucks online? Where from?
 
slobberknocker said:
Thanks Clint. I'm gonna go with the Chucks. I'm sick of pulling and squatting with these big clunky New Balance size 13 extra extra wide clodhoppers, lol.

Did you order your Chucks online? Where from?

Mike Wortham gets a kick out of me. He is one of my best friends in the world and a HUGE competitor in Strongman. He once told me..."Clint, I'd love to have the body that you have. Well, except for the foot thing." I was the only person NOT laughing when he said that...lol.

www.americanathletics.com I think is where I got mine.

B True
 
b fold the truth said:


Mike Wortham gets a kick out of me. He is one of my best friends in the world and a HUGE competitor in Strongman. He once told me..."Clint, I'd love to have the body that you have. Well, except for the foot thing." I was the only person NOT laughing when he said that...lol.

www.americanathletics.com I think is where I got mine.

B True

Awesome man, thanks so much. I just bookmarked it. Did you get the hightops or the lows?
 
High tops...black and white. I want the monochrome ones next time.

I wear a 16 in normal shoes but with the Chucks...I might wear a 14. They size a lot like dress shoes do...from my experience.

B True
 
b fold the truth said:
High tops...black and white. I want the monochrome ones next time.

I wear a 16 in normal shoes but with the Chucks...I might wear a 14. They size a lot like dress shoes do...from my experience.

B True


Thanks man. I appreciate it.
 
b fold the truth said:


Hmmm...I have both Chucks and OL shoes as well...so I know:)

Chucks for pulling (unless you have wrestling shoes) as well as wide squatting. OL shoes for OL lifts...including the OL High Bar Squat.

You CAN'T spread the floor and activate the hips with OL shoes in the squat or the GM...and you can't spread the floor effectively with wrestling shoes either...

B True

Hmmmm.....I think I definately need to look into a pair of chucks now......

I've been oly style squatting with my wrestling shoes, and am much more comfortable with a 1/2" board under my heels. (Like wearing oly lifting shoes, I assume.) You think the chucks would be more effective or comfortable squatting like that?
 
JOKER47 said:


Hmmmm.....I think I definately need to look into a pair of chucks now......

I've been oly style squatting with my wrestling shoes, and am much more comfortable with a 1/2" board under my heels. (Like wearing oly lifting shoes, I assume.) You think the chucks would be more effective or comfortable squatting like that?

OL Squats are best with OL shoes on:)

B True
 
You can change how you squat quiet a bit with oly shoes based on how you place the hips in relation to where your ankle are, but it still feels different from flat shoes like chucks, even when you sit way back. I have 2 different squat days and I used them both on the different days.

I got sore from the chucks, because they activate different muscle fiber groove. Variety is good.
I do feel I get more leverage in oly shoes
 
Last edited:
b fold the truth said:


OL Squats are best with OL shoes on:)

B True

Makes sense. Probably why I like the board under my heels.:)

I will rpbably keep my wrestling shoes and get a pair of chucks as well, and just use the board when I oly squat. I can't justify the cost the shoes for my purposes.


Thanks for all the info everyone.
 
The only time I wear my OL shoes is when I'm overhead pressing OR attempting to do an OL lift...

I wouldn't wear them if they didn't help and neither would basically every other Pro Strongman and Olympic Lifter in the world.

You should ask rbown about his..I think that he had his made out of an old pair of Sketchers...

B True
 
At the very least, you shoud have chucks...they are quite afordable and readily available. I bought the high tops...all black and I love them.

If you have the money, get the oly shoes too...
 
I am not sure who is left on this forum, but I'd say to figure Chuck's run one or one and a half size larger than Nike--i.e., get them at least a size smaller than your usual sneakers if you order them online.
 
They are black on black...but they look a little bluish in this pic...took it with my cell phone!

IMG_nonerz_0_1130224903625.jpg
 
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