Starting Strength Weightlifting shoes

[Robin UK]

Dear Rip,

I recall from a seminar of yours a couple of years ago that you said you would like it if a manufacturer would make a decent pair of zero heel drop weightlifting shoes.

The Starting Starting weightlifting shoe seems like a God send to the market and I would very much like to invest in a pair. Any other brand is a nonnegotiable for me, such is my faith and liking for your whole Starting Strength operation. It’s by far the most effective strength training regimen I’ve ever tried.

However, I also want zero heel drop. Which of these two options would you recommend?

1) I purchase a pair of starting strength weightlifting shoes and follow Mike Tuscherer’s
method of taking them to a specialist cobbler and having the heel raise taken to zero drop.

2) I have a pair of Starting Starting shoes custom-made at the manufacturer.

After following the investment advice of Nassim Taleb for years, cost is not an issue for me. My preference is option two if that indeed is an option.

Ps. After Friday‘s podcast I watched that 1988 Seoul Olympics 100m race 20+ times. I remember being in awe of Johnson at the time. I am still in awe of his performance to this day, as I am equally still repulsed by Carl Lewis‘ stinking hypocrisy and self-righteous pomposity (None-withstanding his incredible achievements as an alien athlete).

Regards,

The UK based UK inhabitant.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I have never recommended a net-zero heel shoe, because I think everybody does better with a little heel. The SS shoe we have been working on was designed to have a 5/8" net heel. The project has become mired in corporate tape, and I don't know if or when it will be available. If you have the means, go ahead and have a pair custom made for you.

[Robin UK]

Dear Rip,

Thanks for that quick reply, very much appreciated.

I should’ve specified that I wanted the zero net heel specifically for deadlifting because I deadlift best with the Sabo Deadlifting Shoe - the lowest heel drop weightlifting shoe I’m aware of on the market that also has sufficient arch support and metatarsal strap (I’ve had long enough training cycles using Nike Romaleos, Rogue Do Wins and the Sabo to compare).

Those Starting Strength weightlifting shoes looked absolutely fantastic - I was really looking forward to their release and upgrading to them from my Nikes. Such a shame that corporate mire has got in the way what looks like a phenomenal product.

As always, thanks to all at Starting Strength for the brilliant work.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Merely lowering the heel on a heeled shoe will not correct the problem, since any stiffness in the sole will continue to be expressed in the toe-up angle starting at the ball of the foot.

[Robin UK]

Ok Rip, thanks again for that. Really appreciate your help.

[Robin UK]

YouTube

Dear Rip,

9:50 mins - what did you exactly mean when you said a flat shoe - did you mean zero drop heel?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Yea, no net heel.