Reviews Best Weightlifting Shoes Review Weight Lifting Shoe Trainers Olympic Power Lifting

New Site Features: Shoe Width and Weight!

In an effort to provide answers for two of THE MOST asked questions I see on this site, and boards across the net, I've added two new specifications under the "Shoe Features" section of each review. As the title exclaims, these will be Shoe Weight and Shoe Width. While these won't provide the exact weight and width of EVERY shoe due to obvious differences in sizes, it will provide a baseline for which all shoes can be measured. HELP ME OUT HERE! Since I have a short, square hobbit foot, all measurements will be based on a size 9 US men's shoe or the equivalent size for the specific brand. I wish I would have thought of this sooner because I don't have access to many of the shoes that I've already reviewed. So... if you happen to wear a size 9 and you have access to an accurate scale AND you know how to use a tape measurer, you can post up the measurements so I can include them on the shoe specs.

Comment on Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe by Sean

Sean — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:36:30 +0000

When it comes to training programs I've had to invent a jack of all trades kind of curriculum. The only thing remotely close to what I do is Sealfit. Though, they neglect bodybuilding and I don't.. Therefore, I won't focus on any 1 style of training more than a few months.
However, because I cannot safely perform weighted back squats I've resorted to sled pushing and pulling along with numerous styles of resistance walks. Overall, the benefits are amazing. The big problem comes with finding footwear which will hold up to the abuse. Has anyone used the reebok crossfit nanos or Crossfit Oly's on repeated sled work? How did they handle? I have flat feet as it is so sneakers are never a perfect match. I'm wondering if either of these shoes are form enough for calves raises(standing, seated) I need an all around great sneaker.

Adidas PowerLift Trainer

THE REVIEW:The PowerLift Trainer Shoe is a model designed by Adidas to fit a growing market of consumers - the fitness enthusiast and athletes that have become aware of the need for proper footer while weight training. This new shoe features a leather upper, a 0.60" heel constructed of EVA and a very comfortable tennis shoe-like fit. Resulting in a low cost, solid weightlifting shoe. To understand the impact the Power Lift Trainers will have on the market, we need to first look at the Adidas model history that precedes these shoes. In early 2011 Adidas launched the Power Perfect II, a budget Olympic lifting shoe targeted more towards non-competitive athletes. This shoe replaced the now discontinued Power Perfect and IronWork 3 models.With the Power Perfect 2 shoe on the market for Olympic weight lifters, Adidas needed to design a shoe that met the needs of recreational lifters - low cost, durable and an easy transition from other lightweight trainers. This was the driving market behind the Powerlift Trainer, gym goers that knew they needed stable shoes to lift in, but didn't want to spend $120+ on a pair of shoes just for the gym. Since this shoe is an almost identical twin to the Power Perfect 2 weightlifting shoe, let's cover the differences so they aren't confused. First off, this model is about $30 cheaper, priced right around $90. Like the Power Perfect 2, most of the shoe is made of synthetic leather but to reduce the cost even further an EVA material was used for the heel of the PowerLift model (EVA is a lightweight polymer, as dense as harder rubber soles but much lighter.) Finally, the PP2 is only available in white with red accents while the PL Trainer is available in 5 distinct colors. The EVA material keeps the shoe light, and with a heel height of 0.6 inches, they are the exact height recommended by infamous strength training coach Mark Rippetoe for power lifting. The heel is EVA, not wood or super dense rubber, so they WILL begin to compress under very heavy weight loads. With that said, I've personally seen a 250lb man performing 350lb squats while wearing these and he didn't seem to be complaining. [gallery link="file" columns="4" exclude="132,178"] This model was targeted at the mainstream Crossfit and "Starting Strength" power lifting crowd who don't really need a $150 pair of shoes just for lifting. And although the Ironwork and Power Perfect were Olympic lifting shoes, we didn't find the PL Trainers suitable for the Olympic lifts. Instead, I'd say these are best suited for beginner to intermediate power lifters or those that are just performing squats, presses, dead lifts and bench. Adidas still run a bit "tight" in the forefoot area so once again, wider feet may have more difficulty fitting into these shoes. I also found the forefront of the shoe to be pretty stiff so a few trips to the gym will be required to break them in. The sole of the shoe uses the exact same sole of the former IronWork, so grip is very good as well. Overall the styling and construction of the shoe seem very promising and many owners are already singing praises for this shoe. Only time will tell if the cut in cost leads to a reduction in durability for this shoe. SIZING: These shoes run true to size. I wear a size 9 in Reebok Zigs, and a 9 in Adidas AdiZeros and a size 9 PL Trainer fits perfect. The shoes are fairly narrow in the toe box so anything more than a moderately wide foot will probably result in an uncomfortably tight fit. WHERE TO BUY: I'm a huge proponent of buying directly from the source and Adidas has made this even easier by having the best prices online for this shoe AND free shipping for a limited time. Click here to check out ShopAdidas. I have also seen some really good deals on Amazon for this shoe, as well as seeing the above mentioned rare colors. After paying shipping you will likely end up paying the same as if you had purchased directly from Adidas, but Amazon is still a good alternative if you can't find the size and color combination you are looking for. Rogue Fitness also carries these shoes but they cost more and do not come with free shipping. PROS:Very "sticky" gripping sole Lightweight Sneaker-like fit Well madeCONS:Not the best fit on wider feet Heel does have some give to it Shoe laces are too long

Comment on Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe by zach

zach — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:23:30 +0000

I've ordered two pairs of these shoes and both times the eyelet ripped when i tightened the laces! never even been used. not too impressed. Looks like i'll be refunding them this time.

Nike Romaleo 2 Shoe Release Date Announced

Nike reps have stated that the new 2012 Nike Romaleo 2 will be available online on Monday, January 15th - so mark your calendars. Nike's Facebook Page has been abuzz with people anxiously waiting the release of the new Romaleos for all their Olympic lifting needs. From what I can tell, there may very well be more people interested in these than the new Adidas AdiPower shoes and I'm curious to see if scarcity and low stock become an issue. Some of the increased interest in the Nike2 shoe seems to be in response to Adidas only be making the AdiPower in solid red with white strips, similar to the limited coloring options that were available on the Power Perfect II shoes.As far as changes to the overall design of the shoe, Nike has stated that the Nike2 will look almost identical to the previous Romaleos and that most of the changes will be made "under the hood" so to speak. For instance, they've made the forefoot and toe box of the shoe much more flexible and they have reduced the weight to make the shoe lighter than its predecessor.The shoe will retail for $199, same price as the originals, and will let Nike retain the crown of being the most expensive weightlifting shoe on the market. By the way, if any of you would like to snag a pair of the original Romaleos for cheap, Rogue and Athleps have them on sale for $145. We don't know yet where or not the new changes to the Nike2 will justify the $55 price difference, but as soon as we get our hands on a pair, we will post a review and let you know what we think.

Comment on Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe by Damian

Damian — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:08:47 +0000

Great review. I've been in mine for a few weeks now and I am very happy with them. I assumed that the Uform was just a gimmick but after baking my shoes i have noticed a better fit. They are stable enough for heavy lifts yet durable enough to gring out box jumps and DUs when you have to.

Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe

THE REVIEW:The Reebok Crossfit Olympic Weightlifting Shoe is Reebok's most anticipated offering to the CrossFit community in their freshman year as Title Sponsor. Like it's cousin, the CrossFit Nano, the Crossfit Oly U-Form was in R&D for well over 8 months before being released to the public. During this time Reebok tested and tweaked the shoe with numerous CrossFit athletes. It shouldn't need to be stated, but Reebok is attempting to do what no other weightlifting shoe company has been able to achieve - create a truly multifunctional Olympic weightlifting shoe. The result of their efforts is, quite honestly, one of the coolest new shoe designs we've seen since Vibram Five Fingers. DESIGN AND STYLING: The Reebok Olys are currently available in 4 different styles - two for men and two for women. The men's models are white with a black toe and black with red accents while the women's models are all white with black accents and purple with gray accents. The women's purple model are actually the sharpest looking pair of the bunch. All models come with two different color of shoe strings. Unlike most weightlifting shoes, the entire heel and sole are extremely low profile. The shoe is also very lightweight, weighing an impressive 2.4 ounces LESS than a comparable size do-win; all the while still offering a rather wide toe box, a 0.75" effective heel height and an extremely stable heel. [gallery columns="4" exclude="367, 371"] A few of the ways Reebok has achieved such a light shoe is by utilizing carbon rubber in the sole of the shoe and a TPU heel with pyramid shaped cut-outs in the bottom. These heel voids result in a "jagged" triangular pattern along the outside of the heel. While some people have thought this was just to add flare to the design of the shoe, these triangular wedges actually serve a purpose - to allow one to grip and climb rope easier! Pretty nifty eh? The heel extends to about the mid-point of the foot, where it is bonded to the sole of the shoe. From here the sole runs the length of the forefoot, thinning down to a mere 0.25" just behind the ball of the foot. First reaction to such a thin sole would be that it would wear down quickly with all the jumping, pushing and running; however, Reebok has made the sole from carbon rubber which should have excellent durability. The tread pattern of the sole is actually comprised of narrowly spaced "score" lines which further increase the flexibility of the toe area. The sole itself has great grip on most surfaces we tested. For instance, while wearing these in a squat rack I found that once you planted your feet it felt like you were stuck in cement. The Velcro shoe strap is 1.5" wide and made of nylon with a rubber tip to keep it from fraying. The strap is placed intelligently across the mid-meta tarsal region (middle-top foot) and doesn't hinder flexion at the ankle. While the shoestrings on the pre-retail model were a bit too short, we found these to be a bit too long even when running the laces through both sets of top eyelets. Furthermore, if you do use the top-most eyelet, the shoestrings extend past the tongue of the shoe and can dig into the foot. Luckily we discovered a nifty way to remedy both of these issues - watch the video review for detailed instructions. Finally, the exterior of the shoe is made up of two different materials. The toe of the shoes is a very supple, full grain leather while the rest of the shoe is a synthetic suede. Some concern arises by how soft the toe of the shoe actually is. Typically the softer the leather, the faster it will wear and the more susceptible it is to aging and environment. So here are a few tips for keeping the toe of the Reebok CrossFit Oly shoe is good shape. Don't get the shoe wetIf the shoe does get wet, take it off as soon as possible and let air dry so you don't warp the leatherUse a leather conditioner like a saddle soap on the toe to clean, condition and protect itFIT AND SIZING: While there is still no word from Reebok on whether they fixed the sizing issue on the Nano Flex, our pair of Oly's appear to run true to your standard Reebok size. The toe box is a good width, coming in somewhere between wide and medium-wide. The U-Form technology works a little differently on the Reebok weightlifting shoe than it does on the trainer. Instead of using a hairdryer, you need to bake the shoes in a preheated oven at 200 degree Fahrenheit for 3 minutes. When you remove the shoes from the oven, the U-Form logo should be red signaling they are ready to mold to your feet. At this point you need to just put on the shoes, lace them up and sit with your feet touching the floor for eight minutes. Once the shoes are molded, set them aside and let them cool fully before trying to work out in them. The U-Form process can be repeated as many times as you'd like. The tongue of the shoe is sewn in place, effectively making it just a sock liner. Lucky it isn't thick, too long or too short. It does have a non-removable polyurethane insert inside the tongue which makes it very stiff. Most people won't notice this though and I didn't have any issues with it. Other than the shoe string issue, the only other complaint we could possibly make about these are that they don't have much heel cup or arch support even after the Uform procedures are done. While foot shape is certainly going to vary from person to person, I think a more pronounced heel cup would really make the shoe even more stable. On a final note, the low profile design of the shoe actually makes them a much easier Oly shoe to transition into versus a traditional Olympic lifting shoe. This will make these shoes a great choice for those just getting into lifting. Overall, the Reebok CrossFit Oly is destined to be one of the hottest selling weight lifting shoes in 2012. WHERE TO BUY: Like the Nano, the CrossFit Oly will be available through the Reebok Store and the Reebok CrossFit HQ Store. Rumor has it that Reebok will open up retail options to more vendors later in 2012. One vendor, Rogue Fitness has stated that they may be carrying the Reebok Oly as early as February. Reebok has informed us that Rogue Fitness and Again Faster are the only retail partners they will be selling the CrossFit shoes through. PROS: Lightweight Low Profile, Comfortable Truly Multi-Use Design U-Form Technology Should Be Durable if Cared for Properly CONS: Price is Steep But Still a Good Value Needs a More Defined Heel Cup

Comment on Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe by Bill

Bill — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:04:13 +0000

Ordered some Risto shoes almost 3 months ago and never received them. The best shoes in the world won't do you any good if you can't even put them on. Steer clear!

Reebok Crossfit Nano U-Form Shoes

THE REVIEW:Click Here For Our Review of the Reebok CrossFit Oly Shoe. The Reebok Crossfit Flex Nano trainers are a minimalist style, zero-drop shoe, designed specifically to meet the needs of Crossfit athletes. Frankly that is a hard task to take on given the very nature of Crossfit and its notorious variation of exercises. Nonetheless, Reebok has spent some 10 months testing and refining the U-Form Nanos to be THE shoe of choice for Crossfit. After testing, here's our own humble review.DESIGN AND STYLING: We'll first discuss the styling of this shoe, as it is appears to be a hotly debated topic. Minimalist shoes, in general, are not the most attractively designed due to their primary focus on functionality, not fashion. With that in mind, I feel Reebok did a decent job of making the Crossfit Nano appealing while still incorporating all their intended design features into the shoe.Some have disagreed and stated they look too much like "clown shoes" - to these people I would say if you care that much about what your shoes look like while you are working out, maybe you should go do some Zumba instead...As mentioned, this is a zero-drop style shoe so your foot remains flat from heel to toes. The sole is fairly hard and stiff with a grip that has been designed for your typical Crossfit affair - box jumps, rope climbing, etc. The grip isn't great on wet surfaces; and I don't recommend these for trail running either due to the grip pattern and stiff sole. However, these weren't designed for that type of use in the first place.Two of the coolest things to note about the Nano U-Form sole are the rope gripping design on the interior arch of the shoes and the soft "landing pad" section located on the ball of the foot. (See the video review for exactly what I'm talking about). Both of these designs were incorporated for the specific needs of Crossfit.The shoe features lots of mesh making breath-ability a non-issue. The tongue isn't thick or annoying and the height of the shoe opening fits right below the ankle, allowing for plenty of ankle mobility. We did find the shoestrings to be a little too short though. While watching the 2011 Crossfit games, I noticed several of the athletes wearing the Reeboks needing to stop and tie their shoes. This is not only a safety issue, but in a time-sensitive sport like Crossfit, I feel it is a major oversight by Reebok.One of the many deviations from typical trainers that Reebok has used can be found at the toe cap of this shoe. Instead of using extra foxing (the rubber part that connects the sole of the shoe to the top of the toe), Reebok has opted to harden the toecap with a flexible, yet rugged material that feels somewhat like liquid cement. They refer to this as the "DuraGrip Toe Cap" and it gives the toe of the shoe extended durability for push-ups, burpees, and even climbing rope (or ya know, missing that 55" box jump...)Our one criticism on the design of the shoe is this - it seems in an effort to make the sole as stable as possible, they may have made the bottom too stiff. The flex-point of the shoe appears to be right behind the ball of the foot, not the best place in my opinion, while the middle arch area feels very stiff like a plank. In short, I wouldn't try and use these for long distance runs. [gallery columns="4" link="file" exclude="328,336"]FIT AND SIZING: The toe box is extra wide, which is a blessing to those of us that have been cramming our feet into what seem like extra narrow Inov-8s for the last few years. Those of you with dainty feet and un-flared toes will also be accommodated by this toe box, which was designed to mimic a barefoot feel "inside" the shoe.This attempt at a "natural" feel may make the shoe seem to fit too big if you are not accustomed to similar style shoes. My suggestion is to wear them around your house, as to not dirty the shoe, and make sure you aren't experiencing any irritation or pain while wearing them. If not, and your toes reach the end, then they fit as intended.We found that these shoes do not run true to size. Instead they seem to run a half size to a full size big, depending on the person. Again, the width of the shoe can make them feel too large as well, so here's a sanity check - Your longest toe should reach the end of the shoe for a proper fit.The U-Form technology is what really puts the finishing touches on the fit and feel of the Reebok Nano. While not a novel idea, a moldable insole allows you to custom shape the shoe to your foot. In a minimalist shoe this almost seems unnecessary, but after molding the shoes we felt a noticeable improvement in the fit of the shoe. It wasn't so much support but more of a "glove" like fit around the heel and toes.Bear in mind there are TWO types of U-Form technology, one you need to bake in the oven and one that only requires a blow dryer. The Reebok Crossfit Trainer shoe requires only a hair blow dryer to mold the insole - do not bake, microwave or use a cutting torch to mold these shoes!How Does Reebok U-Form Work? In short, you will hold a hairdryer inside the shoe for 4 minutes or until the U-Form logo turns red. Then you put the shoes on, lace them up and sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor for 8 minutes. After that, you're good to go and the shoes can be remolded as many times as you'd like. For more detailed instructions see Reebok's page at shopcrossfitreebok.com/u-formWHERE TO BUY: It looks like Reebok's Crossfit HQ Store is going to be only place to get these for now, with a release date of early 2012 for the next shipment to be in. We're not certain, but it doesn't look like the yellow model will be available to the public. The shoes are now available, in ALL colors, through Reebok.com. Given the sizing issues, I certainly hope Reebok posts a reliable sizing chart on their website; otherwise I can see a lot of people returning these due to purchasing an incorrect size.PROS: Lightweight Wide Toebox Crossfit Specific Design U-Form TechnologyCONS: Cost - More Expensive Than Other Minimalist Shoes Sizing Needs Clarification Really Short Shoestrings

Comment on Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe by Marius

Marius — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:08:46 +0000

Just got these and I was relieved as the fit was as good as perfect. Good craftsmanship, awesome design and the smell of new leather is hard to beat. I have not yet tried lifting with them, but as there have been some comments regarding the quality I figured that I would leave a comment with my experience. Can't wait to try them tomorrow!

Sneak Peek: 2012 Adidas AdiPower Weightlifting Shoe

UPDATE: These are now available directly from Adidas at ShopAdidas.com. If you haven't read my other article regarding Adidas shoes you should know I recommend buying directly from Adidas because they have free shipping (and it's FAST) and returns/exchanges are super easy since they include a RMA label inside the box. We just received word directly from an Adidas rep that in January 2012, Adidas will be launching the new AdiStar weightlifting shoe under the new name AdiPower Weightlifting. They have already started phasing out other AdiStar models and replacing them with the AdiPower line, such as the new AdiPower Predator Soccer Cleat (which features Adidas's new Sharp Blue and Slime color combo that we first saw on the PowerLift Trainer models). As many of you know, the AdiStar WL shoe was launched in early 2008 in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. It appears that the launch of the new AdiPower line is again going to coincide with a Summer Olympic game year. The pictures we've found circulating of the 2012 Adidas AdiPower weightlifting shoe were taken at the Las Vegas NSCA Convention (National Strength & Conditioning Association). Although this exact shoe may only be a prototype, they do provide a good idea of the direction Adidas is going in with the new model. The AdiPower appears to be a complete departure from the previous design and is totally unrecognizable to the AdiStar. [gallery link="file" columns="4" exclude="267"] Some of the more notable difference are the lightweight, almost foam-like material that the upper part of the shoes appears to be made of. This should allow for amazing flexibility in the forefoot, but I'm unsure how the lateral stability will be affected. Something else Adidas has done, and I personally think it is a good idea, they've made the interior of the tongue tacky so that it better grips your foot and holds you into the shoe. Possibly one of the biggest and most noticeable differences (if you disregard the Halloween-like colors) is the departure from the traditional wood heel. The AdiPower has opted to go the polymer heel route using what appears to be TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) in the new "Torsion System" heel. This now makes the AdiPower very similar to the Romaleos, but the one big question is whether or not the heel height of the AdiPower model will be proportional to the shoe size as we see in the Romaleos. Adidas has gone through a lot of effort to make this shoe more breathable, something any true weightlifter who spends hours a day in their shoes can appreciate. If you look inside the shoe you will notice several large holes in the heel. I'm wondering if they have included some type of air circulating system through the heel/sole much like what you'll find in a nice pair of dress shoes (Clarks have this). You will also find large holes in the toe area, back of the heel and along the side of the shoe. This coupled with the lightweight material that the entire shoe appears to be made of should keep your feet dry as well as make the shoe lighter. As soon as these are on the market, we'll release a full review! We'd like to thank Natarem.com for providing us with some inside info and a few extra photos!

Comment on Nike Romaleo Weightlifting Shoe by Jimmy

Jimmy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:25:16 +0000

Got mine dirt cheap from a Nike Rep at the NSCA Convention. Width is good and the shoes fits true to my regular size with Nikes. The only problem ive had is with the heel height. Ive had trouble on the front squat and deadlift with these shoes. Is this just a technique flaw that is coming out with these shoes or is it all in my head. Any feedback would be great.

Nike Romaleo Weightlifting Shoe

THE REVIEW:The Nike Romaleo Weightlifting Shoe was released in 2008 as a direct competitor to the Adidas AdiStar model. Both models of shoes were released to coincide with the 2008 Summer Olympics, however; Adidas clearly won the marketing battle as we saw many more lifters sports the AdiStars than the Romaleos. That should come as no surprise since Adidas was clearly the market leader, having made shoes for Olympic weightlifting since the 1970's, and the Romaleo is technically Nike's freshman model of oly shoes. With that said, the Romaleo is a formidable alternative to other models of shoes. For starters, the Nike has a different fit than Adidas models with a wider, more square shaped toe box. For those of us that can't wear narrower shoes due to wide feet, this makes the Romaleo a great alternative. The heel of the Romaleo is also proportional to the length of the shoe, a feature currently shared only by Risto brand shoes. I personally think that heel proportionality is a major feature that ALL Olympic lifting shoes should include since it helps ensure proper knee angle for each lifter, regardless of height. As for durability, the Romaleo feature a synthetic upper that is extremely durable yet very soft and pliable. The result is a near zero break-in period required for these shoes. I have friends that have put more than 500+ training sessions on their Nike's and they still shoe no signs of noticeable wear. Some questions have arisen with regards to the longevity of the sole of the shoes. I've received reports from lifters who say they've trained 4-5 times a week for over three years and the rubber soles are still very much intact and don't appear to need replacing anytime soon. [gallery link="file" columns="3" exclude="262,135"] The actual heel of the Romaleo is made of TPU and features the unique "Power Bridge" technology developed by Nike. Again, the heel is proportional to the shoe size and the inside sole of the shoe has a nice contoured heel cup that allows you foot to really sink into the shoe. The shoes also ship with two different inserts, one being a softer version for everyday training and the other a "competition" version that is extra rigid. While the Power Bridge is touted as a "lightweight alternative to wooden heels" we didn't really find this to be the case. The Romaleos were noticeably heavier than a same size Adidas Ironwork model and weighed in slightly heavier than the Risto Series 2 model. While the Romaleo's weight may be a setback, this is quickly forgiven when you realize the comfort and extreme stability this shoe provides. The double meta-tarsal straps appear to be located in just the right spot across the instep so that upon tightening them down you really feel locked into place. Lateral stability is unparalleled in the Romaleo, to the point where you almost feel as if you are wearing magnetic boots. We did find that the straps are a little too long if you really crank them as tight as you can, this was true regardless of the width of the wearer's feet. Given the heel cup and wide toe box, people with mid to high arches should be able to wear these shoes without issue or need for orthotic inserts. And the pliability of the upper material leaves no weird feeling seems or uncomfortable creases when plantar flexing. Last but not least, the Nike Romaleo is one of the better looking model of weight lifting shoes on the market right now. Originally available in numerous different color variations, you are now pretty much limited to the white with black accent or solid black models. Although, i have seen a few stores still carry the anthracite and gold colors as well. WHERE TO BUY: We recommend getting your Nike Romaleos from VS Athletics as they tend to have the shoes in stock more often then other retailers and their customer services rocks. PROS:Flexible forefoot area Great stability Wider fit Well madeCONS:A bit heavy Straps are a bit long One of the more expensive models

Comment on Reebok Crossfit Nano U-Form Shoes by wlshoes

wlshoes — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:01:43 +0000

Take pictures along with a brief description of what caused it and when you noticed it. Email them to me at wlshoereviews [at] gmail.com I'll look into it and see if I can find more occurrences of this. If so, I will bring it to the attention of a few contacts I have in the Reebok company.

Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe

UPDATE 6/21/2011: The Pink Thunder model has now been discontinued and replaced with the LG Thunder. UPDATE 1/6/2011:The Series 2 is now available in a Blue and White model known as "Linea Blanca".THE REVIEW: Picking right up where they left off, Risto has released the new Series 2 weightlifting shoe in the 4th quarter of 2010. This shoe will be the flagship model for all of 2011 and is already receiving praise from crossfitters and the weightlifting community. The new model has a few changes to the design that make the shoe feel a little more comfortable such as extra padding and a more pronounced heel cup. They still use the dreaded "Risto Size" sizing system with numbers that appear to, but DO NOT relate to EU sizing. So when you buy these you absolutely need to measure both your feet and go with a size that fits your larger foot to ensure a proper fit. The heel height is still made proportional to the size of the shoe, a Risto only feature. It is also handmade and requires a 30 day process to shape and cure the wood. (This is part of the reason it took Risto so long to get these shoes to market, but more on that in our news section.) The leather portions of the shoe are now machine cut and sewn which, in my opinion, is a great improvement because it leaves a nicer looking "finish" to the shoe. Whereas, the previous models were completely made by hand and always had minor imperfections that were a turn off for some buyers.The biggest change for this model is going to be the updated styling, which looks much better. No more additional stripes on the shoe or silver accents in the laces (wtf was that anyway?). The design is straight forward and pragmatic will little flair, something I find to be a welcomed departure from the mainstream "flash" that brands such as Pendlay embrace. Not to say the shoes aren't stylish, they just aren't overdone. Currently the only colors available are black and white and pink and white but a blue and white version going by the code name "linea blanca" is rumored to be due out late December or early January. The other big difference is the $20 price increase, something we were pretty sure we would see with this brand since they compete directly with Adidas and Nike. They still come in cheaper than either of those brands' flagship models and an extra $20 is a reasonable price to pay for the quality, durability and overall functionality of this shoe. Risto is now offering these shoes for $119. The company is still ran by Ivan Rojas and his Wife Gwen but they have since become a fair-trade company. This means all workers employed to make the shoes are paid fair wages and the conditions under which they work are to be acceptable and above-board. In other words, no slave-children are used to make these shoes. So if you decide to buy a pair then you can wear them with a warm and fuzzy feeling knowing you gave your money to a company dedicated to helping others better their lives... or you could just wear them and hit new PRs. WHERE TO BUY:If you are interested in buying the Risto Series 2, RistoSports.com is going to be your best bet. The shoes may be for sale on some other retailers sites, but they are only drop shipping from the Risto warehouse. Lastly, Risto ships internationally to any country so if you are an international customer they will be able to accommodate you. Everyone I know who has purchased directly from Risto has had nothing but good to say about the experience. PROS:Superior craftsmanship Very sturdy, comfortable fit Proportional heel height Designed by real weightlifters Socially responsible productionCONS:Price may be out of reach for some Sizing system can be confusing A little on the heavy side

Comment on Reebok Crossfit Nano U-Form Shoes by Anthony

Anthony — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:16:15 +0000

I dont know man, it happened to my pair and my buddies pair and his are even more crumpled. I think the innov-8's might be the best shoe. Thoughts?

Comment on Reebok Crossfit Nano U-Form Shoes by wlshoes

wlshoes — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:27:53 +0000

Interesting. Through all their testing you would think they would have found any defects that existed in the product design; so let's hope it's just a defective pair!

Comment on Reebok Crossfit Nano U-Form Shoes by Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:10:21 +0000

I have a pair and I noticed last night that the metal cup they use to support the heel is actually bending and crumpling with each heavy lift/power clean/broad jump. It was only brought to my attention by one of my athletes! I emailed reebok but no response so far. I hope that my shoes are defective, otherwise Innov-8 210 here i come

Comment on Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe by Brian

Brian — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:00:27 +0000

I purchased these several months ago to replace a pair of rogue do-wins and they're an upgrade in every way. The extra heel height is great for anyone over 6 feet. The bottom position feels VERY solid when compared to the do-wins. My wife also has a pair and the quality is excellent on both; feels like they'll last 10 years or more. The people at Risto were polite and helpful when we called with sizing questions and we recieved them within a week. Nothing but good things to say about this shoe….highly recommended for competitive o-lifters.

Comment on Adidas PowerLift Trainer by wlshoes

wlshoes — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:25:15 +0000

You should be fine in these for now.

Comment on Adidas PowerLift Trainer by Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:46:12 +0000

i do squats, bench, deadlifts, reverse squats etc… no competitive… just training for bodybuilding… im 150 lbs and all my lifts are in the 200s would this be the best shoe for me?

Comment on Nike Romaleo 2 Shoe Release Date Announced by JM2424

JM2424 — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:45:37 +0000

Lauren, I have a Pair of last years Romaleos size 5. I bought from the Rogue site in December of 2011. I've only worn them twice. They are literally BRAND new. Let me know if you are interested.

Comment on Reebok Crossfit Nano U-Form Shoes by wlshoes

wlshoes — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:32:41 +0000

Not much arch support in these. I'd recommend that you tape your instep if you plan on wearing these or invest in orthotics.

Comment on Sneak Peek: 2012 Adidas AdiPower Weightlifting Shoe by wlshoes

wlshoes — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:32:08 +0000

Soon. Real life is getting in the way right now but hopefully I'll have time to get all 6 new reviews up soon.

Comment on Reebok Crossfit Nano U-Form Shoes by jim

jim — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:50:56 +0000

how is the arch support on these shoes? i get shin splints alot and need to make sure that the flat arch wont screw them up

Comment on Sneak Peek: 2012 Adidas AdiPower Weightlifting Shoe by Moe

Moe — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:44:03 +0000

You seem to have used the adiPower a couple times, are we getting a review soon?

Comment on Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe by wlshoes

wlshoes — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:04:23 +0000

Why don't you contact Risto directly regarding the sizing…?

Comment on Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe by John

John — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:51:41 +0000

I wear size 15 and it's impossible to find powerlifting shoes.. I live in Canada too so I can't order from Adidas as the canadian site does not carry lifting shoes. I squat above 400lb so I need a higher quality shoe as you say. My only option is someone on eBay that has the adipowers for $260 shipped or I can take a chance on these; my foot is 12.5" and the highest Risto size (48) is 12.68". Should I go for the Risto's or overpriced adipowers? (keep in mind Risto says "Do NOT leave less than .25 inches of space difference between the length of your foot and the shoe interior length.")

Comment on Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe by wlshoes

wlshoes — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:28:57 +0000

Ristos hands-down are made from the best material. They will work with wide feet but take time to break in because the leather is thick. Reebok and Nike are probably the next best bet; however, after wearing the AdiPowers for a few workouts I think they too will end up working for narrow footed people.

Comment on Nike Romaleo 2 Shoe Release Date Announced by Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:24:51 +0000

I am looking for a size 5 & they are out of stock or where never made. Has anyone seen a size 5?

Comment on Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe by Victor Lawson

Victor Lawson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:36:00 +0000

Here are some great videos on Ben Smith’s youtube channel. Good heavy lifts…and in Reebok Olys! They look pretty stable… HERE is the link: http://www.youtube.com/user/cbsmit1234?feature=wa…

Comment on New Site Features: Shoe Width and Weight! by Victor Lawson

Victor Lawson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:42:12 +0000

Thanks for the speedy reply…I guess I will order something from roguefitness and just return it if it doesn't fit. Gonna go with 10.5 Reebok Oly's (the only shoe I own in any of the companies reviewed on this site is a pair of sz 10 Adidas Sambas…but i wear a 9.5 Converse…and a 10.5 Vans!)

Comment on Reebok CrossFit Oly Weightlifting Shoe by Vahe

Vahe — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:04:32 +0000

And which shoe in your opinion has the most real leather and will be appropriate for my really wide, and flat feet? Thanks, appreciate it.

Comment on Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe by wlshoes

wlshoes — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:56:41 +0000

You're probably a 45 but first of all, is your foot 11.25 or 11.5 inches? That's a big difference. If your foot is 11.25 you'd add .5 and come up with 11.75" – which would equal a size 45. If you are 11.5" then we add .5" and come up with 12" – a 45 might be tight, and a 46 might be lose. My guess is that since you wear a 11.5 in Adidas that you are most likely a 45.

Comment on New Site Features: Shoe Width and Weight! by wlshoes

wlshoes — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:52:25 +0000

This certainly seems like a good idea, but I've found that shoes fit people different regardless. I may wear a size 9 Reebok and a size 8 Converse, but someone else may wear a 9 and 8.5 (I've actually seen this) so putting up a chart using a specific shoe as a base comparison will probably not work either. Although it is probably a better idea than what all the retailers say, i.e. "Go one-half size down from your regular athletic shoe". Wow, really… which shoe? My Vibrams, New Balance or my Nike Frees? It's definitely something to consider.

Comment on Risto Sports Series 2 Shoe by KJS

KJS — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:39:14 +0000

I currently lift in the adidas powerlift trainer, but I have been looking for a different shoe with a higher, stiffer heel. I've pretty much decided on the risto series 2, but im a little bit confused about the sizing. I wear an 11.5 in the adidas PL trainer, but this is very tight, as i prefer them to be. my foot is 11.25 to 11.5 inches in legnth. I looked it up, but im still not sure if i am a 44 or 45. Could anyone offer some insight? Hopefully someone has experience with both shoes.

Comment on New Site Features: Shoe Width and Weight! by Victor Lawson

Victor Lawson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:22:38 +0000

Quick question on shoe sizing…NOT talking specifically about width and all those details…I just want to know a general comparison…like something you could put into a chart…

as in…GENERALLY, will a sz 10 Reebok translate to a sz 10 Adidas and Nike as well…?? We all know Adidas is narrower etc…I'm just talking general overall sizing comparison. Not how Perfect or Comfortable it is, but again, a general comparison.

I apologize if this is covered in detail somewhere else. I looked and could not find anything. Just very interesting…

Maybe, comparing every brand to a Converse Chuck sizing would have some utility in it…almost anyone can find some Chucks to try on…

Comment on Sneak Peek: 2012 Adidas AdiPower Weightlifting Shoe by damien

damien — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:35:01 +0000

disappointed