Shoes, Weightlifting shoes and flat feet

[^pala]

Hey!

Due to the recent important and recognition of shoes in training, I decided to grab shoes that will serve my purpose, but also fit my body.

I have a serious flat feet problem, and currently squat with Converse. A lot have said to me that such shoes are very bad for feets like mine, and I should get shoes with support. I have a small hip injury/pain which I suffer at the moment (which I will open a new thread) and was wondering whether it could be due to squatting with the wrong shoes.

I decided to look for weightlifting shoes, and I came upon these:
http://www.asicsamerica.com/Shop/Foo...010142757.9093

I can get them for cheap, and am wondering if I should get them, or there are better available in the price range? Most popular ones are really expensive (Rogue, VS, Adipower) so I'm looking for alternatives.

Also, any advices for a person with serious flat feet?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Never seen a pair, but they look like running shoes with a strap. Just get the Rogues.

[hollismb]

Wow, they really do look like running shoes, and are apparently constructed that way as well: "DuoMax® Support System: A dual-density midsole system positioned to enhance support and stability, positioned sport-specifically." This reads as the same material that they put in motion control shoes to prevent over-pronation, which implies that the rest of the sole around it is softer and more deformable... not what you want in a weightlifting shoe. I'm surprised they didn't also put gel in the heel.

[meetch]

Bought the Romaleos today. Worth the 200 bones I spent. I highly recommend them, especially if you have wide feet. Adidas shoes are typically more narrow, especially the AdiStars and red AdiPowers.

[Joe Leppo]

OP,

I also have extremely flat feet--I swear they are convex where they should be concave; as such I have had prescription (i.e. custom made) orthotic inserts since I was a teenager and have had to deal with shin splints and plantar fasciitis for as long as I can remember. (I'm 43 now.)

Buy the Rogue's (Do Wins).

I have both a 1/2" and 3/4" heel pair and have lifted in them for a couple of years now without any problems or foot pain. (I do prefer the 1/2" heel, though.) I do not use the orthotics while lifting. I starting out using the Chuck's and then a minimalist shoe and found them both painful and unsatisfactory while lifting once I was able to add some weight to my lifts.

Assuming they will fit you, you won't regret spending the money on them. They will last for a couple of years. Aside from some chaulk dust, mine look pretty much the same as when I took them out of the box. I will not willingly lift without them.

[^pala]

OP,

I also have extremely flat feet--I swear they are convex where they should be concave; as such I have had prescription (i.e. custom made) orthotic inserts since I was a teenager and have had to deal with shin splints and plantar fasciitis for as long as I can remember. (I'm 43 now.)

Buy the Rogue's (Do Wins).

I have both a 1/2" and 3/4" heel pair and have lifted in them for a couple of years now without any problems or foot pain. (I do prefer the 1/2" heel, though.) I do not use the orthotics while lifting. I starting out using the Chuck's and then a minimalist shoe and found them both painful and unsatisfactory while lifting once I was able to add some weight to my lifts.

Assuming they will fit you, you won't regret spending the money on them. They will last for a couple of years. Aside from some chaulk dust, mine look pretty much the same as when I took them out of the box. I will not willingly lift without them.

Thanks! Looks like the best way is to get the rogues.
Also very interesting on your shin splints, i am running a lot, and i do suffer from them a lot as well, no matter what i do. Did you never manage to get ride of them even withthe best orthotics?

Also was really wondering if a person with serious flat feet can get away with squating with allstars/converse? Im having some hip pain issues and maybe it could be my shoes? Or nothing related?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Flat feet predispose to valgus failure, so it's likely that YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE SHOULD SQUAT IN PROPER FOOTWEAR. As I've mentioned before.

[Joe Leppo]

Thanks! Looks like the best way is to get the rogues.
Also very interesting on your shin splints, i am running a lot, and i do suffer from them a lot as well, no matter what i do. Did you never manage to get ride of them even withthe best orthotics?

Also was really wondering if a person with serious flat feet can get away with squating with allstars/converse? Im having some hip pain issues and maybe it could be my shoes? Or nothing related?

No, I never managed to elimante shin splints completely--more of managing them in relation to what I could tolerate. Just another reason running sucks. I just use a C2 Rowing machine and/or an exercise bike for my conditioning workouts now since I don't have access to a Prowler at the moment.

You can certainly continue liftining in the converse shoes, but it will be sub-optimal. I can't really comment on flat feet contributing to hip pain--not my experience. Proper shoes certainly can't hurt though...

[Dave Longley]

I have flat feet. I wear the Adidas Power Perfect II and have never had an issue. In fact, when I've had plantar fasciitis, squatting in the shoes didn't hurt because I'm not walking around and I'm planted. I don't wear them for deadlifting, but spending the money on proper shoes will help. A lot. It's money well spent. For everything else, get some orthotics.