Squat shoes are commonly known as weight-lifting shoes because the respective areas they are used in are concerned with weight-lifting activities such as squatting, power-lifting, and lower-body exercise. This is because, in all such activities, foot heels inevitably get elevated alongside ankle extension that is needed to be supported, or else it will create a mess.
The uniquely designed only shoes govern such properties that keep the feet stable throughout the workout provided you know how should squat shoes fit. See the following description depicting how these shoes make this happen or what is their mechanism.
What do squat shoes do?
The major purpose of wearing weight-lifting shoes is to keep the feet tightened and fit in the shoes so they may not keep slipping. This is made possible by providing midfoot safety, an elevated heel, and a grippy outsole.
- The midfoot safety with laces reflects that laces are tied tightly that keep the feet in their place without letting them slide. And if there is a strap, it also serves the same function. Usually, both laces, as well as a strap, are provided in midfoot for a better user experience.
- The elevated heel ensures that even if the heel is lifted upward, it will stay inside the oly shoes instead of getting out which can cause an untoward situation while lifting a high weight.
- The grippy outsole provides friction against the flat ground so you may not get slipped while squatting. The outsole offers resistance that keeps the foot fixed in place. Besides being grippy they are made very sturdy to stand high weight in fit squat shoes.
- Another factor is the toe area which is usually not considered significant by many manufacturers but it matters a lot. This needs to be wide enough to enable the fingers to spread whilst lifting weight because it is obvious to take place.
These are the basic properties of squat shoes that eventually distinguish them from others. But many people are yet unable to take advantage of their extraordinary features. The major reason behind this is that they either get improper size shoes or don’t fit them properly.
Conversely, if you are spending money on an expensive pair of shoes, shouldn’t you be aware of how should squat shoes fit well so they are ultimately worth the money? Your answer will be certainly yes. In this wake, this post has comprehensively described their fitting method in the following section.
5 tips to fit squat shoes well
To fit them finely, ponder over the following pieces of information that are worthwhile in this wake.
1. Length should be slightly greater than the foot length
Make sure that the length of your feet accommodates well on the insole in the way that if heels are touching the squat shoes from the backside, the toe should be at a slight distance from the tongue. This is for the reason that if the heel slips, there must be some room forward to allow this movement, or else the fingers had to curl which is not favorable.
2. Do not prefer a narrow-toe box
When ankles extend while squatting, the toe automatically expands and needs some room to spread. If the toe box is narrow, the applied pressure on the sides can make the shoe break. So, whenever gonna buy, give some shots of squatting whilst putting on the shoes and check if the toe expansion is possible in the fit squat shoes.
Or prefer the one that is although narrow but flexible enough to allow expansion.
3. The heel should be elevated enough to retain the foot heel inside
Since the up and down movement in squatting is gonna make the heels move, they can come out of the shoes if there is no backside support. This can be prevented by elevating the shoe heel to the extent that doesn’t let the heel get off.
Just imagine the situation when the heels go off the old shoes and create such an imbalance that you get slipped on the flat ground whilst lifting up the weight. You know better what a mess can arise there. This is why it is significant to be aware of the heel height in the context of how should weight-lifting shoes fit.
4. Midfoot should be fixed in place
Lock up the foot in its place with the help of laces or straps provided. Note that the loose feet inside will keep wobbling and eventually make you fall down. To avert this, tie your laces well and further fix them with the strap.
The more the feet are locked inside, the lesser the chances of slipping on the ground.
5. Fix the laces according to feet width
If the feet are wider, do not tighten up the laces much as it will not let the feet breathe and resultantly cause discomfort. If you are not comfortable, you can’t perform squatting well. So, be mindful of the shoe’s width and use this hack to enhance some breath in the fit squat shoes.
FAQS
Q: Why should I use Squat shoes?
A: Squat or weight-lifting shoes are used in activities where the upward movement of the heel is likely to prevail. Their purpose is to keep the foot fixed in its place without letting it slide. Also, it has an elevated heel so even if the foot rise very up, it remains inside the shoes averting any harm.
Q: Should I get loose squat shoes?
A: Certainly not! If you get a loose shoe, the foot will keep moving inside causing a mess and making you unable to perform well. Also, it can make you fall down with the weight you are holding. However, it shouldn’t be as snug as to not allow the toe to breathe instead should have a slight space next to the toe.
Q: Should I wear tight weight-lifting shoes?
A: They should be snug in terms that wobbling doesn’t take place and slightly additional space is there for breathing. Because if it is very tight, ankle pain and rubbing can be caused.
Key Takeaways
Since squatting or any other weight-lifting activity makes the foot heel move in an upward direction as well as forward inside the shoes, it is very important to know how should squat shoes fit, or else a wrong fitting will make them useless. This post has explained all those ways that will enable you to enjoy the true purpose by putting them on properly.
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