I had no idea that powerlifting became pricey as you become more experienced in the sport. My first powerlifting meet opened my eyes to that. I will always want to have a high quality shoe that works best for my lifts. Something that does not sacrifice style as it is an important factor for anything that I choose to wear. That doesn’t change for powerlifting. In 2022, I invested in the Nike Romaleos 4 which I use for both squats and bench. After using these weightlifting shoes for two years, I feel that I can give an extensive review on them.
About Nike: The History
In 1964, former track and field athlete, Phil Knight, and his former coach Bill Bowerman, teamed up to form Blue Ribbon Sports. They had no idea that they would create one of the best-recognised global sports brand in the world. After splitting with Onitsuka in 1971, Blue Ribbon Sports changes its name to Nike, after the Greek goddess of victory. In that same year, its “swoosh” logo was introduced.
Over the years, Nike’s success has been tied to its ability to blend product innovation, quality and style to develop deeper ties between its products and consumers. Its defining moment was signing Michael Jordan in 1984 to promote the Air Jordans, a black-and-red-basketball shoe, in the NBA games. The popularity of Air Jordans coincided with the rise of hip-hop artists in the 1980s. They were known for both their music and clothing. With Nike’s classic trainers and collaboration lines with athletes, the brand was able to expand its reach, ultimately, creating a new footwear subculture.
About Nike, Just Do It: The Brand
Nike is one of the best-recognised and largest global sports and athletic wear brands in the world. With its ‘Just Do It’ slogan and its swoosh logo, the glory of winning is not its only focus. In addition, hard work and daily struggle of putting in effort no matter what is another focus. In fact, Nike’s products is not just for athletes. It inspires everyday people overcoming obstacles to lead a healthier lifestyle. In sum, it was able to expand from footwear to include athletic wear, fitness apps and equipment.
If you take a look at Nike’s Instagram page, you can see that their identity is vibrant. It includes real faces with real stories. Moreover, their values such as striving for better and redefining human potential is in each post. Their products are universal and inclusive across race, gender, age, class etc.
Disclaimer: This post does include some affiliate links. If you click and purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I have personally vetted.
What To Look For In Squat Shoes
If you are looking to invest in some squat shoes, you’ve got to decide whether you would like a shoe that is flat or has an elevated heel. Shoes with an elevated heel can make it easier to hit depth as the reduced ankle flexibility stops you from coming up on your toes while squatting. At the same time, it can make balance difficult because of the heel, which can push you forward to come up on your toes – the exact thing that it is supposed to prevent. Moreover, you’ll notice in the difference in your form when you wear them because the position of your body changes and it does help keep your body upright especially as the weights get heavier.
Whereas a flat shoe, it will give you the opportunity to squat as if you are barefoot. In my opinion, that is one of the best ways to learn how to squat- without shoes. I didn’t do when I first started to squat (and I wish I did) but I did it for deadlifts and saw how it made a difference to my form, balance and stability.
Flat shoes tend to be best for lifters that don’t want to compete and set PRs. If you plan to compete in powerlifting and weightlifting, I would suggest getting a shoe with an elevated heel as it will help improve your training sessions.
Aside from the heel, the other type of features that you want to look for in squat shoes include:
- The width and volume – you want a shoe that is comfortable and has sufficient space for your feet.
- The sole of the shoe – something sturdy so it doesn’t cause your feet to slip inside the shoe.
- The material: synthetic or leather – always opt for synthetic as it will not stretch as you break them in.
- Straps for stability: a single strap or double (multiple) straps. Shoes with a single strap perform well whereas shoes with a double strap provide increased stability but are pricier than single straps.
The Nike Romaleos 4 Review
When I was searching for the next squat shoe to invest in, I was deciding between three pairs of shoes: the Nike Romaleos 4, the Reebok Legacy Lifters and the Nike Metcon. Ultimately, it was the price point, the colour ways and the availability that were the deciding factors for me. That led me to invest in the Nike Romaloes 4.
What Are The Benefits
Firstly, what makes the Nike Romaleos 4 a great shoe for powerlifting is:
- It has a double strap with a thick heel support that keeps the feet securely on the footbed so it doesn’t push them forward.
- The shoe has a heavier build that provides great stability and sturdy platform so you won’t feel wobbly in them.
- The upper part of the shoe is rigid due to the woven fabric that helps withstand hard bracing as the lifts get heavier. In addition, the toe box is wide enough for your feet to feel comfortable in them.
- It is true to size, so there is no need to go up and down in sizing.
What Are The Cons of Nike Romaleos 4
However, I have noticed that there are a couple of cons that I have noticed with the Nike Romaloes 4 in the last two years:
- It’s not as breathable as it should be. My feet get hot in them after 45 minutes, it’s not unbearable but it is something to be aware of if that is something you would make you feel uncomfortable about. Something that I do to minimise the warmth is to wear thicker cotton socks to help with breathability.
- It is an expensive shoe roughly $200. It’s not something I would recommend investing in as a beginner in the sport, there are other shoes out there for a cheaper price. An alternative would be the Nike Savaleos.
The Results & My Experience
For the past two years, I have mainly been using these as my squat and bench press shoes. Due to the elevated heel, I feel that it gives me the needed height for bench as I’m only 5’0. I always try my best to replicate competition standards during my sessions so I don’t want to get used to placing plates under my feet for bench. For squats, it took a bit of time for me to adjust to them compared to the Adidas Powerlift 3. After a week of training in them, I felt at ease wearing them for my strength sessions.
As mentioned above, some elevated heel shoes cause slippage and I have never had that issue with the Nike Romaleos 4. The only issue that I have had with the shoe is that the laces unravel quite often. I don’t like double knotting my shoe laces as it makes the shoe feel too tight and uncomfortable instead; I opt to retie them a couple of time during my sessions.
Nike Romaleos 4 Review: The Final Judgement
My final judgement? I think the Nike Romaleos 4 would benefit:
- Olympic weightlifters looking for a raised heel with a wide base support
- Competitive strength sports athletes that need increased stability
- Lifters that do weightlifting movements and their variations such as snatches, squats, cleans, jerks etc.
- Lifters that want to invest in a shoe that will last them several years
- Lifters that want extra confidence in squatting
Although I’m not advanced in the sport of powerlifting, these are the best squat shoes that I have had so far.
Would I buy them again? Yes I would and I would replace the laces.
What is your favourite shoes for your power lifts? I hope that this post has given you some insight in the features to look out for when choosing the right squat shoe for you. Make sure to hit that subscribe button to join the community and never miss out on a post. Find me on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok for more powerlifting and wellness content.
Until next time,
Folakemi
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