Look down at your feet and say hello. If that sounds a bit weird, think about the last time that you actually took a look at your feet. In many cases, you might be someone who has never really thought twice about your feet, or the way that they differ from someone else. However, this difference may be making a bigger impact than you realized.
The truth is that for athletes, the size of your feet will have a big impact on your ability to perform. If you do not know your feet as well as you should, then you’ll likely end up stumbling around or flailing all over yourself, which will be incredibly embarrassing, and dangerous, while powerlifting.
Evaluating your feet may not be something you’ve ever done before. But if you plan on being a powerlifter, then don’t go any longer without taking the time to give your feet the care they need. To do just that, here is some insight for knowing your feet and sizing for lifters.
Why Is Sizing Important?
As mentioned before, one of the obvious reasons to have the right sized shoe is because anything else will cause an athlete to trip over their own feet. While you may be able to cover this up if you are wearing a formal pair of shoes to work, or if you concentrate on not letting the size difference get to you, the truth is that your mind needs to be completely focused on powerlifting when competing. Anything else can lead to injury, or even more serious implications.
Another reason that sizing is important is because it will help you be a better athlete. There is something to be sad about being an athlete who trains with gear that is right for himself or herself. For example, compare a pair of shoes that don’t fit to a pair that do, and you’ll quickly see how much of a difference it can make with your lifts.
Finally, sizing is important to help you prevent injuries. Not having the right shoe size, or a shoe that is uncomfortable, might lead to you hurting your knees, back, or any other body part. That injury is something that might last with you for the rest of your life, and it’s implications may impact how you interact with family, friends, or yourself. To avoid this sort of problem from happening, a pair of shoes that is the right size is very important.
What Is The Right Width For Your Powerlifting Shoe?
Do you have an abnormally wide foot? If you do, then you might actually be in luck when it comes to powerlifting. After all, a wider frame for stance is going to help build a stronger and more complete foundation. If you do have a wide foot, then you need to get an equally as wide shoe. However, there are a lot of narrow shoes out there, which will be very uncomfortable for you. In addition, narrow shoes can lead to blistering on the outside of your foot and throughout the heel.
What Is The Right Length For Your Powerlifting Shoe?
Those that have long feet aren’t quite as lucky as those that have wide shoes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still dominate at powerlifting. The truth is that those who have longer feet typically will have a less wide base, which is like walking on a tightrope. Not imagine that walk with 400 pounds of weights.
Finding the right length will help you have the right stability at the front and back of your foot.
Types Of Shoes
When you go to the store to pick out your pair of powerlifting shoes, you’ll come across nearly every possible brand you can imagine. If there is a company out there that makes athletic shoes, chances are they’ll also make a powerlifting shoe. However, keep in mind that the amount of quality, doesn’t relate directly to quality.
Instead, you’ll want to stick to the shoe brands that you know you can rely on. This includes:
- Nike
- Adidas
- Reebok
- Rogue Fitness
We’ll also go over a few other diamond in the rough finds that we love for powerlifting shoes, and that we think you’ll enjoy too.
IPF Rules
We mentioned in another post that there are plenty of rules out there for weightlifting shoes. Some federations don’t want you to have too much of an arch, while others fear too much width. To make sure that you don’t get to the day of your competition and find out that you’ve been using shoes that aren’t allowed, read up on the rules before you start training. There is nothing more disconcerting than spending months of your life training for something, only to realize you can’t even compete. But you can avoid this from happening if you follow the rules and stay prepared.
How To Measure Your Feet
If you have never had your feet measured properly, then you don’t know what you are missing out on. That is the same to be said for those of you who have never had a suit fitted, or anything else for that matter, to your personal fit. You don’t have the knowledge or experience to know what truly fits right, so you need an expert who can help you with that.
Head over to a shoe store and they will use what is known as a Brannock Device to measure your foot. This will help to measure the width and the length, which will give you a great idea for the best fit for you. You can then also find out if you need a show that is overly wide or long, which might be the case. Finally, you can also find the perfect shoe at the place you had your foot measured by the Brannock device.
Your shoes will have a big impact on your ability to lift for powerlifting. If you don’t know about your feet, then you may not realize how much you are misunderstanding. To have a better idea, consider this insight when knowing your feet and sizing for lifters.