What Shoes Do Strongmen Wear?
What shoes do strongman wear? For the massive amounts of weight they lift, having a solid grip to the ground is needed. Some of the famous events like the airplane pulls require great grip from certain shoes. Do you know what shoes Eddie had on when lifting up 500kg in competition? We are going to dive into what shoes are the best for certain events.
Unlike more conventional sports there is no “one fits all” answer to this question. However with the phenomenal weight being leveraged by strongmen and women, there are situations where grip and surface traction is more important for moving events. Contrasted to this is the “flat footed” events where the ideal is barefoot for maximum stability.
Before diving into what shoes strongman wear, do take note it will not be the same for everyone. If you have wider feet, you may find some of these options are not for you. Just because they work for somebody, you need to see if they are compatible for yourself. A podiatrist is an expert in this field, so best consult them!
Converse-style Classic Sneakers
With their hard flat soles they help athletes of the sport push more effectively during lifting such as squats and dead lifting where you would like an ideal even distribution of weight on your feet.
It is also beneficial to not be too high off the ground as this helps with stability
Shoes such as trainers with grip indents on the sole are ideal for grip on outdoor terrain, but may cause you to rock slightly in this sport and are not recommended and may even cause ankle injury (however this only applies to pushing events).
Other advantages of this style of shoe include being cost effective. It has good grip on wooden platforms and are more comfortable than traditional lifting shoes. Many strongman wear converses, notable wearers of these include Brian Shaw, Robert Oberst and Eddie Hall.
A tip for the beginner, size up the people to learn from in your local gym. You will generally find this is the choice of the most experienced.
Deadlift Shoes
Deadlift shoes, as stated in their name, are for designed for deadlifting! Their purposely built and designed with the lift in mind. This is an option for enthusiasts wanting (and willing) to pay for every slight edge available.
Deadlift shoes are something that will unlikely add massive improvements to PR’s of a beginner. In strongman, a sport known for its participants to push the body to the absolute limits, it can be beneficial. Along with equipment such as squat suits, some may feel are worth the investment for competitions.
Hard soled and flat, the deadlift shoe aims to support the foot as much as possible to the floor underneath with optimal weight distribution. They also may be useful for events such as the viking press.
They have added ankle support which may help avoid injury and assist with form.
A good accessory for the professional however arguably an unnecessary accessory for the amateur.
Rock Climbing Shoes
A must for events such as the truck or aircraft pull where grip at a pivot is essential. With rock climbing shoes, you will get as much grip for uneven surfaces. With big vehicle pulls, having rock climbing boots on tarmac can anchor yourself to the earth. Rock climbing shoes are generally popular for many events where the surface is uneven. These events can include:
- medley events and farmers walk
- highland games (these games are generally outdoors in the elements on grass fields)
Its not unknown for some competitors to wear builders boots. With some dangerous lifts, such as atlas stones, you want some protection for your toes! Builders boots have steel toe capped boots that provide protection.
Barefoot (or just Socks!)
Barefoot is generally frowned upon in common gyms. This is the ultimate option for being as stabilized to the ground beneath you for push events such as deadlifting. The 501KG deadlift was completed by Thor barefoot! Now barefoot doesn’t mean no socks, it generally means no shoes.
The world record for a raw deadlift is by Benedikt Magnusson, lifting up a whopping 1015lbs. He wore no footwear, just his socks! Icelandic are built differently, have a quick read here about the best Icelandic Strongest Men!
Going barefoot also improves and strengthens the neuromuscular pathways of the foot and leg where a shoe may reduce stability. When it comes to deadlifting, being barefoot means closer to the ground. This means a slightly less distance to pull! This can make a great matter in your PRs, with even an inch making a difference.
Though barefoot is not a favoured option in many gyms. I mean, who wants to see somebody walking around in their socks or bare feet? Be considerate, make sure you don’t have smelly feet or ask a staff before doing so. Another option apart from barefoot is using minimalist “5 finger” shoes which look like rubberized gloves for the feet. They may look weird, but they have great grip and get the job done!
Personally, I go barefoot for deadlifts and squats. There are many factors when it comes to shoes and what is optimal for lifting. Natural positioning and no need to worry about any hiccups that can happen with shoes!
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for the best overall shoe for strongman, you are best going for converse styled shoes or barefoot. Most of the key feats of strength require flat soled based shoes. For moving events, a sturdier shoe with great grip and protection for your feet is required. Rock climbing shoes and builder shoes can provide this. Don’t want to drop any atlas stones or shields on your toes!
The best possible advice I can give is to observe your favourite strongman idols. Take note of what they are wearing when doing a particular exercise, and you will notice a trend. Most of the information in this article is based on what we have seen in their videos. It is no hidden secret!
