Weightlifting shoes or squatting shoes are something that every gym go-er needs to ensure safety as well as assist certain movements like squatting and Olympic weightlifting. In this article today we are going to be discussing the top weightlifting shoes in India and ranking them according to price-to-value ratio. These shoes can be used by both men and women.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WEIGHTLIFTING SHOES?
There aren't many things to look for when looking to buy weightlifting shoes as currently in India, your options are anyway limited to only two brands, however, there are still a few things.
HEEL HEIGHT - The heel inclination of a weightlifting shoe should at least be around 25mm which is 1 inch. This standard is usually followed by most foreign manufacturers and going any lower than that is usually not a great sign.
OUTER SOLE QUALITY - It should preferably be made out of leather, be it artificial or genuine, this way your shoes last years after years without the outer sole tearing. Any other material usually is not as durable as leather.
VELCRO STRAPS - Dual velcro straps are preferred in place of single velcro straps as they help keep your feet stable and prevent any movement while squatting. It helps more than you think it does.
TOE BOX WIDTH - The toe box area which is where your toes touch the shoes should be wide enough such that you shouldn't face much discomfort while walking or squatting in those shoes.
1. PRO KVH SQUAT SHOES
These are the new Pro KVH squat shoes that have been launched in the Indian market and these shoes are trying to hit the budget segment of weightlifting, PRO KVH, Pro Wolf, and Rxn are currently the only 3 companies in this weightlifting shoes industry in India and these shoes have honestly impressed me for the price that they are coming in. These are coming in at INR 2499 for that price you are getting some great quality squat shoes.
These shoes do not come with any laces so using them for weightlifting movements such as clean & jerk and snatches might not be a good idea these shoes are great for squats as they have a wide tow box, my feet are medium to wide and my toes were able to freely move inside the shoes, this is something that I liked about them.
However the heel height of the shoes is around 0.6 inches if you measure the toe to heel drop, so I found that to be a bit less, I prefer a higher heel height of around 1 inch which helps me sit deeper in the squat, although 0.6 inches can work well for some people who do not need as much assistance from their squat shoes as I do as I have very long femurs.
The overall quality of these shoes is amazing for the price, and the leather quality on the sole, as well as the comfort of the shoe, is also great, the inner sole on these shoes is great as well it is neither very hard nor very soft, just the perfect amount of stiffness has been used to ensure rigidity as well as comfort. I found the velcros particularly to be of great overall quality.
Overall, I am very impressed by these shoes for the price point they are hitting, I am confident to say that these are currently the best budget weightlifting shoes in India that you can buy, check them below
2. RXN World Star Weightlifting Shoes For Men
RXN is a famous brand on Amazon making Weightlifting Shoes in India and their World Star series is their newest line-up in this category. These RXN shoes are the best-selling squat shoes in India and for good reason. The quality-to-price ratio is really good and they are one of the first companies to bring squatting shoes in India,
Rxn as a brand is more focused on providing cheaper priced shoes as most of their shoes range below the INR 3,000 range, although I will say that I did not find the upper sole on this shoe to be of very high quality, and it will wear down with time but the bottom sole, as well as the heel on these shoes, were good quality. The upper sole may start to show signs of aging as early as 6 months into wearing them especially if you use them daily.
The heel is great on these actually and the heel-to-toe drop on these shoes is 1 inch, which is higher than the Pro Kvh squat shoes so these shoes will be great for people with longer femurs like myself who have a hard time squatting deep. The great heel height will result in you getting to hit deeper ranges of motion in the squat.
A big problem I faced with these shoes was the narrow toe box where my feet kept hitting the edges of the shoe and it made it uncomfortable to squat in them, if you have wide feet then these shoes are not for you. These shoes are for people with narrow feet, they will fit you perfectly and for people with medium feet, I would recommend going for a larger size than your usual for a better comfortable fit.
I got UK10 with these shoes which is one size larger than my regular size which is UK9 and even after that my toes were feeling uncomfortable inside the shoes, so I wouldn't recommend these shoes to feel having medium to wide feet like myself if you have narrow feet than you won't face any issues with the toe box.
If you're looking for some good weightlifting shoes on a budget, then this is a good pick keeping in mind all the points I mentioned above. The quality of this shoe is not that great but honestly, you won't face any issues with them when you're squatting.
3. PRO WOLF PRx900 - MOST PREMIUM
If you're looking for the best that's out there, then surely Pro Wolf PRx900 are the shoes that are made for you. These shoes are newly launched and although they come with a premium price tag, however, they are very premium in quality as well. The entire design of the shoe is inspired by Nike Romaleos which do not sell in India, and Pro Wolf is selling that design at almost half the price, that's a big win for us.
The upper sole of this shoe is made from Nepa leather and honestly feels very premium, it's soft to the touch and one of those things in life where you know it will last a long time the first time you start using it from your instinct and on paper as well, nepa leather is one of the finest qualities of leather available.
The heel-to-toe drop on these shoes is exactly 1 inch which is 25mm and honestly, the first time I used these shoes they felt much taller than my previous ase squat shoes that I used to use the majority of the time. These will easily let you hit depth in your squats, if you have never used squat shoes before these can be a game changer.
Pro Wolf has designed a new sole for these shoes, where it has a curve of its own which assists the natural curve of your feet, this is beneficial for the regular user but also beneficial for people with flat feet where they are missing that curve, these shoes easily solve that problem and let's you squat with the most optimal posture. You also get a pair of regular soles in these shoes in case you don't want to use the heel assist sole inside it, you can simply take that out and use the regular ones.
If you're a serious weightlifter/powerlifter then these shoes are made for you,
yes cheaper shoes also do work as well however if you're competing at the highest level then you may as well have the highest quality equipment at your disposal, or else others may have an unfair advantage over you, these are currently the best shoes available in India and although their pricing is quite high I think the quality of the shoes do justify that. check them out below.
4. PRO WOLF PRx700 - Best Value for Money
These are the younger brother of the prx900 and they are called prx700. These shoes were the first ones launched by Pro Wolf when they came into the Indian market, I have not used these shoes personally although dozens of my subscribers own these shoes and I have only heard positive reviews for them. This shoe has also stood the test of time as it has been more than 1.5 years in the market and there haven't been many any complaints about them.
PROS
• These shoes have a heel height of 25mm or 1 inch inches which is perfect for most people.
• The Upper sole is made from Micro-fabric Leather which feels good against the skin.
• An Extra Layer of Mesh is provided all around the shoe from the upper sole to the heel so that these shoes feel very comfortable to wear.
• The laces and velcro are made of premium quality.
• The shoe is wide enough for your feet. Your fingers won't hurt while wearing them.
• Multiple colour options Available.
To be honest, Pro Wolf is the only company in India right now who are making premium weightlifting shoes, the other brands are making good options in budget however those shoes can't be used by professionals or in competition, earlier Indian athletes used to import Nike romaleos and Adidas adi power from foreign as those shoes do not sell in India, but now they will not feel the need to anymore, as pro wolf is providing international quality standards right here in India.
If you want most premium weightlifting shoes then these are definitely for you, they are much much better in terms of quality than the budget options that have been discussed above and if you are thinking about upgrading or simply want something durable with international quality standards, then get these without even thinking twice.
5. RXN LIFTER WEIGHTLIFTING SHOES - CHEAPEST ONES
This is the previous generation of the RXN shoes that we reviewed above, these come at a cost of around INR 500 cheaper than the world star shoes and there is some cost cutting done, but previously this was the best-selling weightlifting shoes in India.
These shoes are currently the cheapest weightlifting shoes available in India, I have not found any cheaper shoes than them over Amazon or Flipkart, ASE used to sell shoes even cheaper than these however since they do not sell weightlifting shoes anymore it is out of the question. Let's look at some Pros & Cons.
PROS
• The heel inclination of these shoes is around 1.3 - 1.4 inches
• Mesh Lining is used around the heel and ankle area to provide comfort
• These shoes are heavier than the ones discussed thus far.
• Various attractive colour options.
• Runs correct size and not many people have complained about fit.
• Not many people have complained about their toes hurting.
CONS
• Single Velcro Strap provided, might have problems in tightening the upper sole area & can't use without laces.
• No mesh lining available around the Upper sole area, which might make it uncomfortable to wear.
• The laces get entangled with the velcro & cannot take out laces as a single velcro doesn't provide a snug fit.
If this is your first time getting weightlifting shoes then I don't think you will notice many flaws with them however, since I have multiple shoes above listed are the flaws that I noticed. The leather quality and mesh lining is just okay. It will last you a while and honestly, I haven't owned these shoes for years to be sure about their durability however they won't cause you many issues.
VERDICT
If budget is your main concern then these are the shoes that you should be going for. Considering it runs perfect size you will not have problems fitting your feet in this shoe however the upper sole might feel a bit uncomfortable at first. Overall it does the job pretty well for what it's designed for and these will be my recommendation for the ultimate budget pick. Buy them below
WEIGHTLIFTING SHOES FAQ's
What is the best Brand for Weightlifting Shoes?
Currently here in India, only three brands are making weightlifting shoes that are Pro KVh, RXN & PRO WOLF as international brands such as Nike and Addidas are not available here.
Do Weightlifting Shoes really work?
Yes! Weightlifting shoes are one of those pieces of equipment that you can wear and instantly notice the difference. You can squat deeper easily with them instantly without having to do any mobility drills.
Do weightlifting shoes make a big difference?
Yes, weightlifting shoes can make a big difference instantly especially if you have longer legs and have difficulty hitting depth in your squats.
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