VS Athletic Dynamo Shoe
THE REVIEW:
Commonly referred to as the “poor man’s oly shoes”, the VS weightlifting shoes will get the job done, but they won’t last forever and they may not be anatomically correct for you. The VS Dynamo weightlifting shoe is one of just a few lifting shoes under the $100 mark but this comes with its own price. The fit of the shoe runs true to size, unless you have wide feet, then you’ll need to get a half size larger. The suede exterior is comfortable and easy to break in, but it doesn’t hold up for very long if you go to the gym frequently.
Furthermore, the rubber sole initially grips well, but wears extremely fast. You’ll be left with a slick spots on the sole of the shoe which will actually be dangerous during your lifts. The heel on this shoe is 1.5″ on all sizes, that is just WAY too high for anyone under 6’1″ given that heel height should really be proportional to the height of the person wearing the shoe. Due to the ridiculous heel height and the quick wearing sole, these are not a recommended shoe.
If you do decide to go with the VS shoes, get the solid leather pair. They only come in white, and they will still suffer the same sole issues, but my guess is the exterior will last much longer. Also, solid leather lifting shoes are usually more stable. Expect these to take a few more workouts to break in though as compared to the suede models.
WHERE TO BUY:
While these can be purchased directly from VS Athletics, the best prices I’ve found on the VS weightlifting shoes has been on Amazon.com. You can also checkout Ebay and find a good deal on a slightly used pair from time to time.
PROS:
- Comfortable suede exterior
- Dual straps
- Great price
CONS:
- If you have wide feet, get a half size larger
- Rubber sole tends to wear out quickly
- Suede exterior wears with heavy use
ADDITIONAL SHOE FEATURES:
Just got some of these the other day, haven't lifted in them yet. How are these things (WL shoes in general) supposed to fit? I can feel my big toe pressing on the material in the toe area, just rather tight in general through the forefoot section. I have a 9.5 and all of my Chucks are size 9.
Lifting shoes should fit comfortably in the heel and toe area and then tighten up around the mid-sole and arch once you lace them up and strap them down. Since VS shoes have a really high heel, they tend to push your foot forward into the shoe, this may be causing the rubbing in the toe area.
Thanks, they were out of stock in my size and sent a half size down in the Dynamo after I had requested the original white shoe, so I'll be returning them and going with Rogues or the Pendlays, in the proper size hopefully.
I have heard that you should get a 1/2 size smaller than your actual size when buying lifting shoes. Is that true?
I've had these wonderful shoes for about 2 years now. My experiences:
-Great for non-serious lifting, until the sole wears, and it WILL wear away
-Heel is too high and will feel a bit uncomfortable and unnatural
-All in all, a good shoe for beginners who want to do some olympic lifting.
I agree with most comments here. I own a pair of white VS Athletics Dynamo shoes, and I'm 6'1". They are definitely not of the highest quality, but for the price – and great service from VS Athletics – you can't go wrong if you're a recreational lifter. I clean maybe 2-3 times/week and don't snatch all that often, but squat 3-5 times per week, and I think they'll hold up pretty well under that type of wear. People who are performing the quick lifts as their main training lift might want to choose another shoe, but it's a great beginner's shoe.