Are Crocs Good For Squats?

It’s a big NO. You should not try wearing Crocs for squats at all. You could get yourself injured, and that’s the truth.

While some friends of mine claim that Crocs could be worn for arms, and shouldn’t be worn when you’re doing legs; squatting, for instance, I still kick against wearing it to the gym.

The major reason for this is because you may end up being injured as Crocs leave you vulnerable while performing this task of squatting.

Rather, go for weightlifting shoes or some sort of cross-training sneakers that could be used for weightlifting.

If you’ve been wearing Crocs to the gym before now, it’s high time you stopped that and did the right shoes.

Is it bad to squat in running shoes?

I do think that ‘Bad’ is too serious a word to use when asked if running shoes are good for squatting.

It’s not an outrageously bad idea to squat in running shoes, it’s just not ideal to do so on the long term, considering its ripple effect.

While I’ve seen a whole lot of persons, newbies especially, come to the gym in running shoes, thinking it’s a fine idea; running shoes are not made for lifting weights!

In fact, running shoes and weightlifting shoes are on opposite ends of the footwear spectrum, and their differences impact your performance if you were to wear them.

Albeit, many people who are badass when it comes to squatting may conveniently squat in running shoes.

Lifting shoes are expected to be hard, as opposed to the cushioning and soft soles found in most running shoes. In addition, running shoes usually have heavy arch support.

The kinematics of squatting are extremely different from running, and the wearing of running shoes may throw you off balance.

Here are a few reasons you shouldn’t squat in running shoes;

• Soles of running shoes are usually padded and have a shock absorber, designed to absorb any impact. You definitely do not want this while squatting.
• The padded heel usually found in a runner may cause you to lose strength and power while squatting.
• Runners aren’t as stable as squatting shoes in comparison. Meanwhile, you need to assert stability when squatting.

Is it bad to squat in flat shoes?

Not at all! As a matter of fact, I recommend that beginner squatters learn to squat in flat shoes as it helps with a stable connection between the feet and the ground.

However, the more you keep doing it and become dexterous, you can then make your own decision whether a flat shoe still pays off for you.

There are certain issues that may render the wearing of flat shoes for squatting non-permissible.

This means that if you suffer any of the problems I’m about listing, you shouldn’t wear flat shoes for squatting, rather wear heeled shoes. These issues are;

• Lack of ankle mobility
• Long femur length
• Above-average height
• Narrower stance width
• High bar squatter
• Shallow pelvis

However, lifters who have a wider stance, strong back, and strong hips, may prefer squatting in flat shoes.

Is it bad to squat with heels elevated?

It isn’t totally bad. Many lifters usually elevate their heels during squats for the following three beneficial reasons;

• To increase their squat depth
• Because it feels better to them
• To keep their torso more upright

But rather than manually elevating your heels (as in, standing on your tiptoes, and keeping your heels mid-air) which could teach your body to squat wrongly, ruin your athletic performance.

This will in turn, reinforce dysfunctional movement, which could increase your injury risk while squatting on your toes; why not get heeled shoes?

With heeled shoes, you are able to elevate your heels with your feet placed on the ground, and also do not get to pressure your toes.

The foot is an immanent part of the squat, as the stability of the foot does play a large role in the stability of the knee and hips as well.

Once there is a disconnect between the foot and the floor, control is lost already.

The idea behind wearing heeled shoes is that it helps you keep the weight on your heels, which in turn allows you to sit back more when squatting.

The significance of this is that it allows the lifter to remain upright in the bottom position of the squat.

Try standing in your squat stance, and then squat down. Remain in the same position for say, 20 seconds. Try putting a 5lb plate beneath your heels and do the same thing you did earlier.

If you find it easier with the 5lb plate beneath your heels, then a squat shoe with heels will benefit you.

Is it better to squat with socks?

Squatting either with socks or totally barefoot provides you with the direct connection to the floor that lifting shoes aim to create.

However, it’s been discovered that due to our different body structures, most people require support from weightlifting shoes when they need to squat.

This tells that there is a reason weightlifting shoes are called weightlifting shoes as they are designed to help you perform your best while weightlifting and keep your feet from sustaining injuries. See the benefits?

If you decide to squat in your socks or totally barefoot, it’s fine. Just ensure you do not squat in running shoes or Crocs as it could be dangerous too.

Meanwhile, if you do Cardio without socks, you’re simply asking for blisters. This means you should put on a pair of socks alongside your weightlifting shoes.

What shoes are then good for squats?

To begin with, there is no one size fits all when discussing the right shoes for squats. This is owing to the fact that every individual is built differently, and thus has different leverages.

If you’re on the lookout for the perfect shoes to wear for squats, you’re just in the right place.

Let’s talk about the best weightlifting shoes that ever existed. Like I have mentioned earlier, weightlifting shoes as the name implies, are for a reason; weightlifting!

For a fact, using squat shoes isn’t at all luxury; it actually helps improve some special aspects of your squat like the stance, posture, depth, safety, and how much you lift.

Adidas Men’s Powerlift 4

The Adidas Powerlift 4 provides you with all the support you need while squatting with its high-density EVA foam of heel height 0.6.

Made of a high-quality outsole, it is also wear-resistant and is made of highly durable material, providing you with the needed firm grip.

Pros:

• It is long-lasting
• It is made for stability
• It comes with the Adidas AdiWEAR outsole
• It has a durable canvas construction
• Supportive dense EVA lining

Cons:

• It is possible for this model to slip on wet platforms; hence, you should make sure to wipe any sweat or moisture around before beginning your squats.
• Midfoot material dip; although this doesn’t affect your performance, it may take a few workouts before you get used to how it feels

PURCHASE

Reebok Women’s Legacylifter Sneaker

Perhaps you’ve been in search of a pair of squat shoes that balances between comfort and function.

Well, I am pleased to apprise you that the Reebok Legacylifter Sneaker women’s model is designed specifically for weight training as the heel height offers you optimal squat positioning.

It comes with a TPU heel piece in the midsole for stability and control.

It is also accompanied by double upper straps mainly for a customized, locked-in feel. Its grip rubber provides you with traction and durability as well.

Although heavy in weight, you do not have to worry as you’re only expected to use it for squats, not walking nor running with it.

Pros:

• It has the exo-frame technology in the heel for added support
• Highly breathable construction around the feet
• It comes with double upper straps
• It has a solid TPU lining

Cons:

• It may be expensive for persons running a low budget, but trust me when I say it offers you with utmost value for your money

The Reebok Women’s Legacylifter Sneaker is undoubtedly one of the best squat shoes you can find around.

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Nordic Lifting Powerlifting Shoes

The Nordic Lifting Powerlifting Shoes help improve your squat mechanics if you lack ankle and hip mobility, and guess what? It is available at a quite competitive price!

The outsole of this shoe is completely flat, compared to other shoes which have indentations on their soles; this however does not affect its anti-slip feature as it grips perfectly; so long as you remain on a dry surface.

You should take all necessary precautions when wearing this pair of squat shoes as moist surfaces have been proven to decrease their traction.

Therefore, you should wipe all sweat and moist surfaces before doing the squats.

Pros:

• Its sturdy Velcro strap and raised heel offers you good foot stability and support
• It has a long-lasting quality
• It comes in different sizes; hence, you do not have to worry about sizing
• It improves lifting posture
• It is available at an affordable price
• It is made of high-quality materials
• It comes with a year warranty

Cons:

• It appears to be susceptible to slippage on moist surfaces

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Core Weightlifting Shoes

With a heel height of 1.2, the Core Weightlifting Shoe improves stability and promotes proper posture when lifting. It is also a non-slip squat shoe for powerlifting.

Pros:

• Lightweight and snug
• It has a stunning Nordic design
• It is highly giftable
• Non-slip EVA wedges and Velcro lace straps are present to support heavy lifting.

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Nike Unisex’s Romaleos Fitness Shoes

The Nike Unisex Romaleos Fitness Shoe is designed for elite-level lifting and features a plastic heel arranged in a honeycomb structure, compared to other shoes with a solid bulk.

It gives the same amount of support expected but is with much less weight. The midsole has the slightest arch support.

In addition, it comes with two insoles (hard and soft) which are interchangeable to match your preference.

Pros:

• It is long-lasting as well as durable
• Its flexible forefoot allows a natural range of motion
• It has a honeycomb-patterned TPU plate for a stable feel
• Its solid rubber outsole provides excellent grip and stability
• Its Flywire technology and a dynamic strap wraps the midfoot for a locked-down fit

Cons:

• It is quite expensive

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Final thoughts

Is it Crocs, running shoes, flat shoes, elevated heels, barefoot, or squatting with socks? You now know which of these to squat in, and which ones not to.

While Crocs and running shoes aren’t good enough or perfect at all for the gym, you have the option of flat shoes as well as heeled shoes.

Look through the shoes I’ve recommended to you as well, find the perfect one for you!

I hope that you found this article insightful, enlightening, and of course, helpful. What shoes do you squat in? Do you prefer flat shoes to heeled shoes, or is it the other way around?

How often do you squat in these shoes? I’d like to get answers to all of these questions in the comments section below.

If you have any thoughts to share with me; suggestions, questions, etc, the comments box is open; I’d be awaiting your feedback.

Thanks for engaging!