I can't believe Alan actually just gave a completely honest and impartial review of the Position shoes.....what an absolute winner of a human being. God bless you Alan.
@@samdajellybeenie14 I think the reason it's interesting is that Omar Isuf bought into the company and relentlessly promotes them, he's obviously sent them to all his youtube pals too. But it's great to see Alan will still give a fair review despite being friends etc.
for what it's worth I've never had any of these issues with the quality of my position lifters. I've had mine for about 3 years and theyre still going strong. And that's with strongman training
6:46 Omar calling in going "dude why you bashing my shoe"... lol, appreciate the honest review though and the fact that you still like 'em despite build quality issues says something too.
So much love for the Romaleos 2, esp in the weightlifting community. Pretty amazing how durable they've been. His pair is probably the most beat-up pair I've seen.
I remember finding your channel when I was deployed in 2016. I shared your videos with all my buddies over there as you had a ton of useful lifting tips. You have come a long way my friend, very glad to see that you have been successful through your journey.
I've had my Do-Wins (old wooden heel ones) about 11 or 12 years, loads of life left in them. I've replaced the laces once. Also they were signed by Mark Felix so hopefully some of his gains have transferred to me 😂
Love to hear this. Bought a pair of wooden-heeled Do-Wins (Classic Lifter) two years ago and I agree on everything, including the laces (they're starting to fray). Glad to hear there's plenty of good life left in them.
I can definitely vouch for the NIke Metcon. I've owned two pairs now (3 and 4) and I wore them for EVERYTHING. From my experience, the shoe does wear out pretty quick (I went through each pair in a year), especially at the rubber sole. That said, the shoe has great support and a wide enough toe box. I now own Reebok Nano 10s and these are the best all purpose trainer I've own. If y'all are looking for a general purpose shoe, check that one out.
I’ve had the Romaleo 4s for 7 months and I can confirm they’re pretty narrow, so much so that I’ve just stopped using the lower metatarsal strap because it squeezes my foot so much. I don’t have the widest feet in the world either. There’s also some heel slip - I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t bother me sometimes. They run like a half-size small; they always feel a little tighter than “snug” but I’ve gotten used to it and kind of like it now, makes them feel secure. I only figured this out after I bought them because no local retailer carries them or any other lifting shoe so I couldn’t try them on. Otherwise, build quality is great although I’m definitely the “wear em when you squat and bench and then throw em in your gym bag and forget about em” kinda guy, so your mileage may vary. Good video Alan! TRAIN UNTAAAAMMMEDDDD
Romaleos 2 are the best lifting shoes ever. You'll see all the top weightlifters have them. They are so good, in fact, that they are impossible to find if you have an average shoe size. I should know, I have two pairs.
If you want to start your shoe lifting journey I would recommend beginning by lifting slippers, many shoe lifting fundamentalists will say not to start with slippers and instead use runners, you could follow this but I would say it’s better to get the technique down rather than going straight for weight. Lastly you could use a shoe horn to make the lift easier and while it is allowed in competitions I would suggest not using one so you can get better at technique. Eventually if you train hard enough you can lift some boots and wellies. But most importantly just remember to have fun, there’s no point in lifting shoes if you don’t enjoy the process.
Me when Alan praises the position shoes: of course hes praising em, hes friends with Omar *1 min into it, when he trashes its build aha, this is why I follow Alan. lol
I tried a bunch of different lifting shoes and found that my personal favorite was the Adidas Power Perfect 3. The Power Perfect 2s were a favorite among weightlifters for a long time and I see why. The 3's have a partially leather upper (sides and where the laces go for durability) but a mesh tongue and toebox so they breathe. The effective heel height is .75" which is basically the standard for the industry. They are also way cheaper than the Adipowers or Romaleos. I got them for cheap on an adidas sale last year and liked them enough I bought a 2nd pair for backup. I expect the first pair to last many years and the 2nd to last many more after that. While I would have preferred a wood or plastic heel over EVA foam, there are lots and lots of guys squatting way...way more weight in Power Perfect shoes than I will ever squat, and they love them. So I am confident I'll be fine.
Adidas Powerlift II are solid; I have mine for over 6 years using once or twice a week for powerlifting and strongman (alternating with Adipower 2's). You can jump and do short sprints (10-20m) on Powerlifts - it is not as awkward as with other weightlifting shoes. Soles are fine, not deformed or peeled out. Really good all round.
If you want the Rom 2 feel, but a better quality shoe, I would go with Anta. Just bought the Lu Xiaojun + Anta shoe (250USD)and I am 100% happy I went with them.
I only wear mine for squats and deads but they're two years old and not only in great shape, they still look new -- like, newer than I wish they look. I'm sure there's a better lifting shoe but I have no complaints. I paid $55 for them online.
@@trollsandparodys I like the snuggness of a lifting shoe when I pull heavy. Also, the hard flat sole and minimal inside padding accommodates a cleaner transfer of force from me to the platform. Any squishyness (these are all very technical terms I'm using here) in a shoe from an insole or an impact-absorbing foam sole dissipates some of that force and acts as a leak, like if your joints aren't properly stacked when performing an overhead press. I could wear Chucks or something flat (I did for years) but that would just involve me carrying another pair of shoes in my gym bag. If I used a squat shoe with a higher heel (1"+), I might not deadlift in them but, since the Powerlift heel is only 0.6", I don't really notice it.
My Nike Romaleos 2 are about 5/6 years old. Still going strong. If Allen got 8 years out of his, I bet mine are good for 16+. I really only wear them to squat. They've been great since day 1.
Saw this at the perfect time. I have my first comp coming up in May, and I just ordered my first pair of shoes, the Do-win classics.. Two months ought to be enough time to acclimate. Thanks Alan!
I love wooden heels for squat shoes. Really dig it. I would have bought Position shoes, but since it's based in Murica (Or Canada), the shipping cost would cost me another leg. So I researched and researched and found a shop in europe selling those. It seems like wooden heels are out of "fashion", but for me personally it got nothing to do with fashion as the feeling is the most important factor.
LETS GOOOO I lift in wrestling shoes too. I bought a brand new pair halfway through my senior year of wrestling bc my old ones broke due to heavy use and I felt so wasteful bc they barely got any use out of the new ones. I was lifting barefoot in my garage but my feet would get insanely cold and I didn’t get great traction with socks on then I realized I could just use my wrestling shoes. I have not looked back I love lifting in wrestling shoes. If anyone is reading this I highly recommend it especially ASICS wrestling shoes those are the best quality you’ll find
I also have the Do-Wins. I've never owned another pair of weightlifting shoes, so I can't compare them to anything else, but I have wide feet and these work great for me. I'm happy with them
@@frankyi8206 awesome. Don’t make my mistake and place your orthotics in them like I did while going for a heavy squat. Totally ruined my knee and had to seek PT for two months.
Alan, you might want to think about a pair of U.S.-made Thorogood lace-to-toe Roofer Boots. They have a slight intentionally greater heal angle (the better, the info stated, to stay up on the roof), either a wedge or a heal, good soles which grip well, a wider footprint than most shoes (also better for stability up-high), and a sturdy leather body. I wish that I had these at 18 when I actually did a summer of roofing…. As it is, I’ve used mine as daily wear, alternating between mid-shin length Red Wing boots. Both are easy on my plantar fasciitis, as my days of wearing Converse hi-top Chucks passed decades ago. The Thorogoods aren’t apparently made anymore, but worth searching for.
Can't say I've used any of those aside from the Romaleos. For years I lifted and squatted in Adidas Adipowers which have a big plastic heel and relatively narrow toe box which I don't mind. I still use them often for heavy squats because of the stability and heel height. Have recently tried a few alternatives - notorious lift slippers (can't stand them, no lateral support whatsoever) and bearfoot ursus low-tops (love them, very minimal, wide toe box, very different feel I'm still getting used to) and the Reebok nano 9s (compared to the metcons they're a bit beefier and flatter, so sturdier for lifting, not as nice to run in) Thanks for the info!
I bought a pair of Addidas squat shoes well over 10 years ago (i dont recall the exact model name). heavy duty, raised wooden sole (1/2" or so) 3 velcro straps over top. i still use them today for pretty much all my lifts and they are still in excellent condition. a very well made shoe!
I have a 5-year-old pair of Adidas Power Perfect 2, I really beat them up by throwing them in the washing machine and dryer several times and they are still holding up. The only thing is that the synthetic leather starts crackling ( which only really has an aesthetic impact, the integrity of the shoe itself is unchanged) and the sole on one of them is also slowly coming off, although that can probably be fixed with some super glue. I will probably also have to change the laces for the first time soon. Overall I think that they are perfect for newbie lifters, not everyone is happy spending 200+ on shoes when they start a new hobby that they might not stick with, especially when you are also gonna get a proper belt, straps, wraps, chalk...
If only big manufacturers could take a note from the crappy by weightlfiters to weightlifters shoes and make good quality ones with appropriate design. It's one of the most common critiques I hear today, that the new models/versions of weightlifting shoes from big manufacturers are otherwise great, but not designed for weightlifting. Except apparently Reebok Legacy Lifter II are both improvement to the previous ones and actually fine for lifting (apparently desgined with a high level lifter which makes sense with the result). I'd love to be able to try the first Adipowers and the Romaleo 2s, those get absolutely the best reviews or nostalgy from lifters and I'd love to try how a shoe like that felt. Everything after those gets compared to them and every new revision gets the same "nice attempt to improve from previous, but they got it right earlier and should take more notes from that time". Supposedly the weightlifting shoe design changed due to crossfit popularity and attempt to create more visually pleasing products over professional functional shoes. Funnily enough I lift in socks because I didn't have inside sports shoes and couldn't bother getting ones just for the gym, because every inside sports shoe I've had felt like garbage in the feet. Might as well invest in long-lasting and good functional design shoes.
I wear a pair of the Reebok Legacy lifters which were mentioned and have wide, flat feet. I've not noticed a narrow fit, but got them because of the double metatarsal strap giving a bit more stability. Reebok Nanos for everything else, including comp deadlifts. They are low enough to not really increase ROM but I find are much more comfortable than wrestling shoes, plus are more versatile like the metcons.
A few years back, I decided to buy a pair of athletic shoes with some money I got for my birthday. I went to Ross, and this pair of salmon-colored Nike caught my eye. They were a little more than some options, but I fell in love. Started wearing them, and found them very comfortable. I also finally joined a gym and started lifting the following year... and found out that the random shoes I had bought were Metcons, one of the most popular general-purpose lifting shoes. Total lucky coincidence.
Have a pair of Do-Wins with the wooden heel for the past 8 years which are still going strong. One pair I've wanted to try though is the high top Titan Contender/Olympian but don't think they are made anymore so am looking for an alternative.
Love my Romy2s. I'm reading and hearing good things about the Romy4s also. They appear to have moved back toward what the 2s were, but even beefier in the sole dimension. 4 years using the Romy2s, and if Alan's lasted 8 years, i expect mine will last 15 or 20. I do baby them, doing just squat and bench with them.
R4 - painfully narrow toe box. Way too much heel slippage. R2 - so much praise on the internet. They seem good for me but I wish they were more breathable like my Adipowers.
I use Adidas wrestling shoes for deadlifting and I love them. They are a little narrow, but that keeps them from being too loose. The grip and how thing they are is awesome
I've gone back to flat shoes. My powerlift coach was always stuck on lifting in oly shoes but I hated them, always felt like I was falling forwards. Been wearing some flat inov8 shoes (can't remember the model) and squating has felt the best it has in years.
reebok legacy lifters for me, squat and deadlift in them just fine. theres def a difference between heel heights though, i felt the taller heel felt better then others i tried. i dont have bad ankle mobility (everything else is another story) but they feel nice and planted
I have vastly less experience, but I also really like the Metcons. I wouldn't use them for any long-duration cardio, as the lack of a cushioned sole will make them hard on your feet after a while, but they're great for basically everything else.
10 months later is this still your opinion? I'm planning to get my 1st gym shoe ever and I'm thinking if I should get the metcon 7's or not. I mainly focus on lifting & jump rope. I don't want to get olys. Please do let me know your opinion thank you!
@@gabriellanoelle1606 Yeah. I've had the same pair for about 3 years now. Still in great shape. Still work well. I should point out a massive caveat that I haven't tried other lifting shoes. These were my first ones and I haven't seen any need to replace them so far.
@@getstrongby4038 get some Marino wool socks, don't skimp, REI makes a good one, higher the Marino wool % the better, no more sweat, saves on shoes, I've had same work boots for 2 years now, used to have swamp foot that would wreck a boot in 4 months, you're welcome lol
I used to have a problem with my feet caving inward (flat footed) my outer heel would lift a little. I have been consistently training for ~2 years now. I got a pair of adidas powerlift 4.0 6 months ago. I dont have issues with my heels lifting anymore and feel like i can get to depth comfortably. I dont know if this is solely attributed to the shoes, I have also more than likely improved my technique; regardless, if you love to squat, power lifting shoes are great!
If anyone needs a good weightlifting shoe that has a wide toebox and is affordable, I recommend the VS Athletics weightlifting shoe II. Very similar to the do-wins
Mine are the original, suede version with the wooden heel. I bought them online 15+ years ago on sale for $45. I only wear them on the lifting platform (3-4x/wk). Aside from replacing the laces a couple of years ago they are essentially the same as the day I got them. I'm surprised more people don't know about them.
That’s what I used to do! When I was doing boot camp circuit workouts & more cardio. Worked for over 4 years, lol, but eventually I needed a better workhorse. Love my Metcon 5’s🙌 Super utilitarian & comfortable & they came with an addition heel lift insert if you like the extra for squats as Alan mentioned.
@Wicked I haven’t deadlifted in shoes almost ever, it feels so much better. Squats it varies a lot, I squat with just my socks a lot, or alternate between my romaleos and converse. Depends how I’m feeling that day
I wear Vibram Fivefingers KSO's for everything but squats. Like being barefoot, but without excessive risk to toes. Get asked about them all the time. Reebok Men's Lifter Pr Cross-Trainer ($60) for squatation. love'em, but they're my first lifting shoe, so not much to compare to.
I agree. I started with Chuck Taylors and they worked fine until my wide feet pulled the sides of the shoes away from the soles. I got the Sabos after the Calgary Barbell guy said they are wider, and they are affordable. They are good shoes, but if you want something with a heel, don't get them cause they are flat.
Funny. I have the Reebok Legacy Lifting shoe. It was my first squat shoe purchase about 2 years ago...and I only got them because they were $50 cheaper than the Nike Romaleos. I like them. I don't use them to deadlift in though. I either wear Chucks or just socks......
You should not apologize for your constructive comments about the Position shoes. That company should improve the quality. When they do, you should try them again and say what your actual experience is at that time.
I use the Nano 7 Weave from Reebok, for me the best I've ever had. Flat, hard sole (at least for me). They're all-rounders for me, don't know which ones I will buy when they die as they're not made anymore :(.
I recall the late Chip McCain setting up for a 700+ squat at the Senior Nationals in 1980 in Madison while wearing knee-high “logger” or “lineman” boots with a tall, hard heal. Chip was quite a squatter, but wobbled and shook all over the platform while trying to find a solid position for the “SQUAT!” signal. The poor spotters followed him around the platform nervously. I don’t recall now if he found at least two white lights. Chip reportedly tragically drown decades ago. Life is short; get your squat on!
I do all my lifts in Chucks. They don't last long but they're cheap and always in stock everywhere. Not sure what my excuse is for wearing my tattered pair.
No Reebok lovers around? I squat in flat-soled shoes so pair of Reebok nano 4 is with me for a bit less than 6 years now. About 3 years ago eyelets started to rip (1 on each shoe, but that's cause I lace up really tight) and I bought pair of nano 6 just in case. They still new, never had to get out of the box.
side note for peons who live around the world- the Do-Wins (which are excellent and very wide) ship on AliExpress worldwide for cheap, as they're a Chinese brand
Reebok legacy lifters for life, had em for 3+ years only look worn and perform like the day I bought them, reebok is made by addidas so same great quality just cheaper cuz of the marketing, got em at a reebok outlet store. had 1 lil nick in the plastic got for 50% off. Awesome buy
The Romaleo 2 and the Do-win shoe mid sole and out sole are almost identical...Looks like the same mold and everything. The upper seems to be the only difference. I had to settle on a pair of ladies size 11 for an equivalent to men's 9.5 when ordering on line a couple years ago (same color as yours). Hard to find, but Great shoes. Met con's have excellent out soles.
Thanks for the recommendations Alan! I've been trying to find some good "weightlifting" shoes for my overhead stuff and because of your comments I decided to get some of the Do-Wins. Rogue was selling them at a slight discount too with free shipping so it was more enticing to go with them. I too prefer a wider toe box/shoe style so I'm glad you mentioned that feature too as some of the other shoes I was looking at seem to be super narrow.
I can't believe Alan actually just gave a completely honest and impartial review of the Position shoes.....what an absolute winner of a human being. God bless you Alan.
I’ve been really getting spammed with Position ads recently so, like all products I see on IG, I’m skeptical. Glad Alan reviewed them
@@samdajellybeenie14 I think the reason it's interesting is that Omar Isuf bought into the company and relentlessly promotes them, he's obviously sent them to all his youtube pals too. But it's great to see Alan will still give a fair review despite being friends etc.
@@Malakie001 Omar is a shill with no integrity. Can’t stand him. Same wth Joey (szatstrength). Seriously corny dudes.
@@porlorlorl how come?
for what it's worth I've never had any of these issues with the quality of my position lifters. I've had mine for about 3 years and theyre still going strong. And that's with strongman training
I haven't heard the "shoes" song since I was a child watching RUclips when my parents were out, thank you for that Alan
I love that Alan does a video on shoes and doesn't try to sell you anything. Just explains the shows and basically says "wear whatever" at the end.
Based
6:46 Omar calling in going "dude why you bashing my shoe"... lol, appreciate the honest review though and the fact that you still like 'em despite build quality issues says something too.
"There's not much sole to it."
Let's change that Alan
*plays the funky music *
My favorite part of this video was Allen kicking the log press bar.
So much love for the Romaleos 2, esp in the weightlifting community. Pretty amazing how durable they've been. His pair is probably the most beat-up pair I've seen.
Kudos to you man, for being honest about the position shoe
I remember finding your channel when I was deployed in 2016. I shared your videos with all my buddies over there as you had a ton of useful lifting tips. You have come a long way my friend, very glad to see that you have been successful through your journey.
Do-Win's are one of the best budget options for lifting shoes by far. Great construction, very solid performance, all for like $110. Very good.
I just got a used pair for $20 on depop and they’re solid as fuck and completely pristine
The tpu or the leather heel? Know anywhere with the wooden heels?
I need to get my shit together and make some responses to these videos. Good stuff.
Man I remember the good ol days - young Brandon, schlong jokes fully loaded, backwards cap, classic romaleos vs adipowers
Great another opinion by a guy on the internet 👍
1:26 velcro over B roll sounded like you were going to snapcity 😆
I like how Alan has video of him using each shoe as he speaks about them. Little things like that put him ahead of other RUclipsrs
I've had my Do-Wins (old wooden heel ones) about 11 or 12 years, loads of life left in them. I've replaced the laces once. Also they were signed by Mark Felix so hopefully some of his gains have transferred to me 😂
Dang! By Mark Felix himself?
Sick! I’ve generally heard good things about the Do-Wins. Maybe if my Romaleo 4s ever wear out I’ll get a pair
@@gabrielmoreno3027 yes he did a small seminar at a gym near me. Really nice guy.
Love to hear this. Bought a pair of wooden-heeled Do-Wins (Classic Lifter) two years ago and I agree on everything, including the laces (they're starting to fray). Glad to hear there's plenty of good life left in them.
@@BM-si2ei you will still be lifting in them in 10 years time!
Massive respect for honest review of Position shoes
Holy shit the "Shoes" clip you showed in the intro took me straight back to 2008
Oldschool as hell lmfao
Same, haha. KELLY!!
I can definitely vouch for the NIke Metcon. I've owned two pairs now (3 and 4) and I wore them for EVERYTHING. From my experience, the shoe does wear out pretty quick (I went through each pair in a year), especially at the rubber sole. That said, the shoe has great support and a wide enough toe box. I now own Reebok Nano 10s and these are the best all purpose trainer I've own. If y'all are looking for a general purpose shoe, check that one out.
I’ve had the Romaleo 4s for 7 months and I can confirm they’re pretty narrow, so much so that I’ve just stopped using the lower metatarsal strap because it squeezes my foot so much. I don’t have the widest feet in the world either. There’s also some heel slip - I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t bother me sometimes. They run like a half-size small; they always feel a little tighter than “snug” but I’ve gotten used to it and kind of like it now, makes them feel secure. I only figured this out after I bought them because no local retailer carries them or any other lifting shoe so I couldn’t try them on. Otherwise, build quality is great although I’m definitely the “wear em when you squat and bench and then throw em in your gym bag and forget about em” kinda guy, so your mileage may vary. Good video Alan! TRAIN UNTAAAAMMMEDDDD
I really like a Mary Jane's for deadlifts, but when it comes to squats, nothing beats a nice pump or slingback.
But the penny loafers are money.
That clip of “shoes” is such a throwback wow
i love how we need to revisit the topic of squat shoes every 3-5 years on youtube either between you, omar, silent mike, brandon campbell
Romaleos 2 are the best lifting shoes ever. You'll see all the top weightlifters have them. They are so good, in fact, that they are impossible to find if you have an average shoe size. I should know, I have two pairs.
What are thooooooossseee ??!
These are my crocs!
Ah I see your a man of culture
hello doctor Mike Israetel
THOSE ARE MY CHANCLAS
If you want to start your shoe lifting journey I would recommend beginning by lifting slippers, many shoe lifting fundamentalists will say not to start with slippers and instead use runners, you could follow this but I would say it’s better to get the technique down rather than going straight for weight. Lastly you could use a shoe horn to make the lift easier and while it is allowed in competitions I would suggest not using one so you can get better at technique. Eventually if you train hard enough you can lift some boots and wellies. But most importantly just remember to have fun, there’s no point in lifting shoes if you don’t enjoy the process.
Me when Alan praises the position shoes: of course hes praising em, hes friends with Omar
*1 min into it, when he trashes its build
aha, this is why I follow Alan. lol
I tried a bunch of different lifting shoes and found that my personal favorite was the Adidas Power Perfect 3. The Power Perfect 2s were a favorite among weightlifters for a long time and I see why. The 3's have a partially leather upper (sides and where the laces go for durability) but a mesh tongue and toebox so they breathe. The effective heel height is .75" which is basically the standard for the industry. They are also way cheaper than the Adipowers or Romaleos. I got them for cheap on an adidas sale last year and liked them enough I bought a 2nd pair for backup. I expect the first pair to last many years and the 2nd to last many more after that. While I would have preferred a wood or plastic heel over EVA foam, there are lots and lots of guys squatting way...way more weight in Power Perfect shoes than I will ever squat, and they love them. So I am confident I'll be fine.
For squats I use Adidas Superstats.They are not weightlifting shoes but are pretty good,flat and the material is hard ,which I like
Adidas Powerlift II are solid; I have mine for over 6 years using once or twice a week for powerlifting and strongman (alternating with Adipower 2's). You can jump and do short sprints (10-20m) on Powerlifts - it is not as awkward as with other weightlifting shoes. Soles are fine, not deformed or peeled out. Really good all round.
If you want the Rom 2 feel, but a better quality shoe, I would go with Anta. Just bought the Lu Xiaojun + Anta shoe (250USD)and I am 100% happy I went with them.
Are they any more breathable than the R2?
@@laughter95 Yes. My feet stay cool the entire workout.
A better quality shoe?
Yeah not sure about that one
I have had the Adidas powerlifts for 7 years now and they haven't shown any real wear at all, can not fault them!
I only wear mine for squats and deads but they're two years old and not only in great shape, they still look new -- like, newer than I wish they look. I'm sure there's a better lifting shoe but I have no complaints. I paid $55 for them online.
Nice! I just bought the powerlifts 4 will try them soon hope they'll be good
@@dard4642 why do you wear them for deadlifts?
@@trollsandparodys I like the snuggness of a lifting shoe when I pull heavy. Also, the hard flat sole and minimal inside padding accommodates a cleaner transfer of force from me to the platform. Any squishyness (these are all very technical terms I'm using here) in a shoe from an insole or an impact-absorbing foam sole dissipates some of that force and acts as a leak, like if your joints aren't properly stacked when performing an overhead press. I could wear Chucks or something flat (I did for years) but that would just involve me carrying another pair of shoes in my gym bag.
If I used a squat shoe with a higher heel (1"+), I might not deadlift in them but, since the Powerlift heel is only 0.6", I don't really notice it.
I love my pair, I prefer those over chucks.
The metcons are amazing. I have had mine for about 3 years. No regrets
My Nike Romaleos 2 are about 5/6 years old. Still going strong. If Allen got 8 years out of his, I bet mine are good for 16+. I really only wear them to squat. They've been great since day 1.
+1 for Metcon. I had 3s that i wore out and the 5s come with a heel lift insert
Saw this at the perfect time. I have my first comp coming up in May, and I just ordered my first pair of shoes, the Do-win classics.. Two months ought to be enough time to acclimate. Thanks Alan!
Do-win classics with leather heel? How have they been for you?
I love wooden heels for squat shoes. Really dig it.
I would have bought Position shoes, but since it's based in Murica (Or Canada), the shipping cost would cost me another leg. So I researched and researched and found a shop in europe selling those.
It seems like wooden heels are out of "fashion", but for me personally it got nothing to do with fashion as the feeling is the most important factor.
Still have my Ramalio 2s after 7 1/2years!
IMO the best powerlifting/Oly shoes ever made!
I just got the Romaleo 4s for Christmas and they’re great.
I train barefoot or in sheepskin lined slippers when the concrete is too cold or I don't want to get my feet dirty.
it all comes down to preference, some of the best lifters lift barefoot
I put rubber mats down on my concrete makes barefoot way better.
@@jackk8422 I would but I'm cheap.
I use Uggs👍
Thank you for an honest review!
LETS GOOOO I lift in wrestling shoes too. I bought a brand new pair halfway through my senior year of wrestling bc my old ones broke due to heavy use and I felt so wasteful bc they barely got any use out of the new ones. I was lifting barefoot in my garage but my feet would get insanely cold and I didn’t get great traction with socks on then I realized I could just use my wrestling shoes. I have not looked back I love lifting in wrestling shoes. If anyone is reading this I highly recommend it especially ASICS wrestling shoes those are the best quality you’ll find
I have a black pair of do-wins. I love them. The toe box IS roomy. I have wide, flat feet and these work great. Would never squat without them.
I also have the Do-Wins. I've never owned another pair of weightlifting shoes, so I can't compare them to anything else, but I have wide feet and these work great for me. I'm happy with them
@@frankyi8206 awesome. Don’t make my mistake and place your orthotics in them like I did while going for a heavy squat. Totally ruined my knee and had to seek PT for two months.
How is the sizing for Do-wins? I’m trying to get the black ones from rogue fitness
@@Mannymak I’m a 9 and ordered the 8.5s. They’re perfect.
The tpu heel do-wins or the leather heel?
I got the do-win shoes for Christmas and it helped me tons with squatting. Finally got my max squat up and hit depth.
The tpu or leather heel ones? How have they been?
Alan, you might want to think about a pair of U.S.-made Thorogood lace-to-toe Roofer Boots. They have a slight intentionally greater heal angle (the better, the info stated, to stay up on the roof), either a wedge or a heal, good soles which grip well, a wider footprint than most shoes (also better for stability up-high), and a sturdy leather body.
I wish that I had these at 18 when I actually did a summer of roofing….
As it is, I’ve used mine as daily wear, alternating between mid-shin length Red Wing boots. Both are easy on my plantar fasciitis, as my days of wearing Converse hi-top Chucks passed decades ago.
The Thorogoods aren’t apparently made anymore, but worth searching for.
again…heel not “heal”…
(spellcheck)
Love Alan casually front squatting my back max
Can't say I've used any of those aside from the Romaleos. For years I lifted and squatted in Adidas Adipowers which have a big plastic heel and relatively narrow toe box which I don't mind. I still use them often for heavy squats because of the stability and heel height. Have recently tried a few alternatives - notorious lift slippers (can't stand them, no lateral support whatsoever) and bearfoot ursus low-tops (love them, very minimal, wide toe box, very different feel I'm still getting used to) and the Reebok nano 9s (compared to the metcons they're a bit beefier and flatter, so sturdier for lifting, not as nice to run in) Thanks for the info!
I bought a pair of Addidas squat shoes well over 10 years ago (i dont recall the exact model name). heavy duty, raised wooden sole (1/2" or so) 3 velcro straps over top. i still use them today for pretty much all my lifts and they are still in excellent condition. a very well made shoe!
I have a 5-year-old pair of Adidas Power Perfect 2, I really beat them up by throwing them in the washing machine and dryer several times and they are still holding up. The only thing is that the synthetic leather starts crackling ( which only really has an aesthetic impact, the integrity of the shoe itself is unchanged) and the sole on one of them is also slowly coming off, although that can probably be fixed with some super glue. I will probably also have to change the laces for the first time soon.
Overall I think that they are perfect for newbie lifters, not everyone is happy spending 200+ on shoes when they start a new hobby that they might not stick with, especially when you are also gonna get a proper belt, straps, wraps, chalk...
If only big manufacturers could take a note from the crappy by weightlfiters to weightlifters shoes and make good quality ones with appropriate design. It's one of the most common critiques I hear today, that the new models/versions of weightlifting shoes from big manufacturers are otherwise great, but not designed for weightlifting. Except apparently Reebok Legacy Lifter II are both improvement to the previous ones and actually fine for lifting (apparently desgined with a high level lifter which makes sense with the result).
I'd love to be able to try the first Adipowers and the Romaleo 2s, those get absolutely the best reviews or nostalgy from lifters and I'd love to try how a shoe like that felt. Everything after those gets compared to them and every new revision gets the same "nice attempt to improve from previous, but they got it right earlier and should take more notes from that time". Supposedly the weightlifting shoe design changed due to crossfit popularity and attempt to create more visually pleasing products over professional functional shoes.
Funnily enough I lift in socks because I didn't have inside sports shoes and couldn't bother getting ones just for the gym, because every inside sports shoe I've had felt like garbage in the feet. Might as well invest in long-lasting and good functional design shoes.
I wear a pair of the Reebok Legacy lifters which were mentioned and have wide, flat feet. I've not noticed a narrow fit, but got them because of the double metatarsal strap giving a bit more stability. Reebok Nanos for everything else, including comp deadlifts. They are low enough to not really increase ROM but I find are much more comfortable than wrestling shoes, plus are more versatile like the metcons.
Awesome and informative- well done!
Squat shoes are a must have for me. Ankle mobility is horrible. Tried soft tissue work and everything
A few years back, I decided to buy a pair of athletic shoes with some money I got for my birthday. I went to Ross, and this pair of salmon-colored Nike caught my eye. They were a little more than some options, but I fell in love.
Started wearing them, and found them very comfortable. I also finally joined a gym and started lifting the following year... and found out that the random shoes I had bought were Metcons, one of the most popular general-purpose lifting shoes. Total lucky coincidence.
Good guy Alan. Even tho Omar is his friend and part owner of Position USA, Alan still gave a critical review of the Position USA.
I have a pair of powerlift 2s that I love. 2 yrs still going. Good for us wide footers.
I just wear squat shoes and do squat, ohp and bench on one day, then deadlift barefoot the other day.
Good review! Thank you
Great vid. Thanks for the info
Have a pair of Do-Wins with the wooden heel for the past 8 years which are still going strong.
One pair I've wanted to try though is the high top Titan Contender/Olympian but don't think they are made anymore so am looking for an alternative.
I believe the newer Metcons have a sole insert for a small heel. They work well in comparison to the Reebok shoes I have.
Love my Romy2s.
I'm reading and hearing good things about the Romy4s also.
They appear to have moved back toward what the 2s were, but even beefier in the sole dimension.
4 years using the Romy2s, and if Alan's lasted 8 years, i expect mine will last 15 or 20.
I do baby them, doing just squat and bench with them.
R4 - painfully narrow toe box. Way too much heel slippage.
R2 - so much praise on the internet. They seem good for me but I wish they were more breathable like my Adipowers.
I use Adidas wrestling shoes for deadlifting and I love them. They are a little narrow, but that keeps them from being too loose. The grip and how thing they are is awesome
How is the sizing on them? Is it the same for all other adidas?
@@lgiorgos1 I have no clue, I have wide feet and the 14 regular wrestling shoe fits but tight. Perfect for deadlift
Great video i needed this information
I've gone back to flat shoes. My powerlift coach was always stuck on lifting in oly shoes but I hated them, always felt like I was falling forwards. Been wearing some flat inov8 shoes (can't remember the model) and squating has felt the best it has in years.
reebok legacy lifters for me, squat and deadlift in them just fine.
theres def a difference between heel heights though, i felt the taller heel felt better then others i tried. i dont have bad ankle mobility (everything else is another story) but they feel nice and planted
I have vastly less experience, but I also really like the Metcons. I wouldn't use them for any long-duration cardio, as the lack of a cushioned sole will make them hard on your feet after a while, but they're great for basically everything else.
10 months later is this still your opinion? I'm planning to get my 1st gym shoe ever and I'm thinking if I should get the metcon 7's or not. I mainly focus on lifting & jump rope. I don't want to get olys. Please do let me know your opinion thank you!
@@gabriellanoelle1606 Yeah. I've had the same pair for about 3 years now. Still in great shape. Still work well. I should point out a massive caveat that I haven't tried other lifting shoes. These were my first ones and I haven't seen any need to replace them so far.
I love the Romaleos 2 - been lifting in mine since 2013. Still in amazing condition...
How? They have to smell like a rotting corpse
@@getstrongby4038 get some Marino wool socks, don't skimp, REI makes a good one, higher the Marino wool % the better, no more sweat, saves on shoes, I've had same work boots for 2 years now, used to have swamp foot that would wreck a boot in 4 months, you're welcome lol
@@krisalan5327 i have 4 pairs so I just switch them up, and use cedar shoe trees afterwards so not really any of that
But 9 years is a long time
@@getstrongby4038 true 9 years is a very long time lol
@@krisalan5327 I do have one random tracksuit made of merino though and it's very nice to wear 😆
I used to have a problem with my feet caving inward (flat footed) my outer heel would lift a little. I have been consistently training for ~2 years now. I got a pair of adidas powerlift 4.0 6 months ago. I dont have issues with my heels lifting anymore and feel like i can get to depth comfortably. I dont know if this is solely attributed to the shoes, I have also more than likely improved my technique; regardless, if you love to squat, power lifting shoes are great!
I wear adidas powerlift shoes, they're great! I wear them for squatting and bench pressing primarily. Chuck Taylors are good to wear for deadlifting.
Bought the Addidas power lifts. Pretty decent. No complaints. Been pretty durable for about 2.5 years.
This was great Alan! Thanks! Lifters on Amazon for cheap called Adidas Adipower. Going to test them out with Log clean and press.
If anyone needs a good weightlifting shoe that has a wide toebox and is affordable, I recommend the VS Athletics weightlifting shoe II. Very similar to the do-wins
Mine are the original, suede version with the wooden heel. I bought them online 15+ years ago on sale for $45. I only wear them on the lifting platform (3-4x/wk). Aside from replacing the laces a couple of years ago they are essentially the same as the day I got them. I'm surprised more people don't know about them.
@@jdawg1835 yeah theyre great shoes. I think it just comes down to marketing so thats why alot of people dont know about them
Lool I lift in my socks for main lifts and wear normal everyday trainers just around the gym, keepin it basic
That’s what I used to do! When I was doing boot camp circuit workouts & more cardio. Worked for over 4 years, lol, but eventually I needed a better workhorse. Love my Metcon 5’s🙌 Super utilitarian & comfortable & they came with an addition heel lift insert if you like the extra for squats as Alan mentioned.
@@rubylong8897 I lift barefoot except for Oly lifts and squatting where I need the rom
I squat and deadlift with converse idk why I am watching this
@Wicked I haven’t deadlifted in shoes almost ever, it feels so much better. Squats it varies a lot, I squat with just my socks a lot, or alternate between my romaleos and converse. Depends how I’m feeling that day
@@memer-_-9235 I hate deadlifting with no shoes, feels like im falling backwards
I love the nike metcons. have used 3 gens of them. I do switch to some inov8 245s though If I'm doing any plyometric or running workouts.
The Romaleos 2 are out there. Google it and you can find new old stock shoes.
They are, but mostly in weird sizes
But i found 2 pairs in somewhat nornal sizes 😅
Considering how much he used them and how he used them, these position shoes are really good
I watched the whole Shoes OMG Shoes video. Thanks for that
I wear Vibram Fivefingers KSO's for everything but squats. Like being barefoot, but without excessive risk to toes. Get asked about them all the time. Reebok Men's Lifter Pr Cross-Trainer ($60) for squatation. love'em, but they're my first lifting shoe, so not much to compare to.
I can recommend the Sabo powerlift shoes. Very affordable and solid quality. Allthough the velcro needs to be replaced after a while.
I agree. I started with Chuck Taylors and they worked fine until my wide feet pulled the sides of the shoes away from the soles. I got the Sabos after the Calgary Barbell guy said they are wider, and they are affordable. They are good shoes, but if you want something with a heel, don't get them cause they are flat.
Funny. I have the Reebok Legacy Lifting shoe. It was my first squat shoe purchase about 2 years ago...and I only got them because they were $50 cheaper than the Nike Romaleos. I like them. I don't use them to deadlift in though. I either wear Chucks or just socks......
You should not apologize for your constructive comments about the Position shoes. That company should improve the quality. When they do, you should try them again and say what your actual experience is at that time.
I use the Nano 7 Weave from Reebok, for me the best I've ever had. Flat, hard sole (at least for me). They're all-rounders for me, don't know which ones I will buy when they die as they're not made anymore :(.
I recall the late Chip McCain setting up for a 700+ squat at the Senior Nationals in 1980 in Madison while wearing knee-high “logger” or “lineman” boots with a tall, hard heal.
Chip was quite a squatter, but wobbled and shook all over the platform while trying to find a solid position for the “SQUAT!” signal. The poor spotters followed him around the platform nervously.
I don’t recall now if he found at least two white lights.
Chip reportedly tragically drown decades ago. Life is short; get your squat on!
heel, not “heal”
You just did wonders for Do Wins stock prices
I do all my lifts in Chucks. They don't last long but they're cheap and always in stock everywhere. Not sure what my excuse is for wearing my tattered pair.
I can recommend the Adidas Powerlift . Yes the heel is not super hard. But they are cheap and I have them 4 years already. They last a long time.
I’m pretty sure they fixed the problems with the 3 on the 4 Bc ppl loved the 2 but didn’t like the 3
No Reebok lovers around? I squat in flat-soled shoes so pair of Reebok nano 4 is with me for a bit less than 6 years now. About 3 years ago eyelets started to rip (1 on each shoe, but that's cause I lace up really tight) and I bought pair of nano 6 just in case. They still new, never had to get out of the box.
side note for peons who live around the world- the Do-Wins (which are excellent and very wide) ship on AliExpress worldwide for cheap, as they're a Chinese brand
With the amount I lift Air Max 95’s are fine.
I have the Reebok Legacy Lifters and really like those. Each to their own.
Reebok legacy lifters for life, had em for 3+ years only look worn and perform like the day I bought them, reebok is made by addidas so same great quality just cheaper cuz of the marketing, got em at a reebok outlet store. had 1 lil nick in the plastic got for 50% off. Awesome buy
The Romaleo 2 and the Do-win shoe mid sole and out sole are almost identical...Looks like the same mold and everything. The upper seems to be the only difference. I had to settle on a pair of ladies size 11 for an equivalent to men's 9.5 when ordering on line a couple years ago (same color as yours). Hard to find, but Great shoes. Met con's have excellent out soles.
Good to know! You mean the Do-win tpu heel or the leather heel are identical?
I feel like you’d like the Adidas Powerlift 3s. Smaller heel height than the Romaleo 2s, but definitely a wide shoe. Super stable.
I own them and they are definitely more on the narrow side in the toe box
Mehh
You could always super glue those tears in the bottom of your shoes. Always worked for me when my favorite shoes wore and tore.
Thanks for the recommendations Alan! I've been trying to find some good "weightlifting" shoes for my overhead stuff and because of your comments I decided to get some of the Do-Wins. Rogue was selling them at a slight discount too with free shipping so it was more enticing to go with them.
I too prefer a wider toe box/shoe style so I'm glad you mentioned that feature too as some of the other shoes I was looking at seem to be super narrow.
that gym at 2:00, was that in Iraq? looks just like the one that was at Ramadi back in 2008
1:25 i thought you had just torn something haha 😭
i just got a pair of lifting shoes, nike romelo 4 i use them for squat and powercleans on of the best gym investments ive made
The nike metcon are what I ended up with for any movement activity. They've held up insanely well. I have even done a few 5ks in them.