DKT, did you join this forum just to argue?
I'm still trying to figure out how we got from pulling in Chucks (which was the initial question, I thought) to pulling barefoot. I am aware of the arguments in favor of barefoot pulling, and there are plenty of strong and successful lifters who do so. But the mechanics of a bare foot an a hard floor are completely different. In Chuck Taylors, the sole will compress, unevenly due to the basically uncontoured inner sole, and they lack any structure to control the lateral (or less commonly, medial) roll that results. It's an inefficient transfer of force to the floor and it introduces instability into the entire system.
It's still better than running shoes. But there are other shoe options out there (hell, wrestling shoes even) if you can't or won't pull in an Oly shoe. If you want to pull barefoot I won't argue with you, although I don't agree with it...there are enough examples of people pulling 7,8 or 900 pounds barefoot that I would be a fool not to admit that it works for them.
I'm not aware of anybody who routinely pulls over 700 lbs in Chuck Taylors.
DKT, did you join this forum just to argue?
Maybe we can compromise and lift in toe-shoes.
Lifting in Chucks is stupid.
Well I've done some research and realize I should have been paying a lot more attention to footwear than I was. I assumed it wasn't too kosher to deadlift with slightly raised heels, simply for the fact I've never seen it blatantly recommended or directly mentioned. After looking it up in your book and reading the article more carefully, it seems you are ok with deadlifting in 1/2 inch raised heels. Your book mentions anything raised higher than an inch isn't good for "pulling from the floor" and the article mentions people generally wearing their squat shoes for the rest of the workout. I was concerned with having not only to purchase two pairs of specialty shoes (1 for squat, 1 for deadlift et al) but changing them every work out. Money is extremely tight for me right now, and so is my gym (I have my eye on another one, though, as my membership is almost up).
Anyway, thanks for posting the article and for the thread. It made me realize the importance of good shoes if nothing else.
Yep, I never discuss shoes. I've never really thought about them.
Lots of people drive without seatbelts, and is still perfectly healthy. That is sufficient evidence to conclude that driving without seatbelts is not, by itself, a cause of accidents.
Some people who drive without seatbelt do got into accidents and got themselves mangled up good. But that is not sufficient evidence to conclude that driving without seatbelt caused that condition. The root cause could be a structural abnormality of the brain that was made clear by the accident.
Pro-tip: People lift heavy shit with very dumb methods all the time.