How Should Lifting Shoes Fit?

Hey docs,

Apologies for a relatively rudimentary question…I’ve tried Legacy Lifter III’s, Adidas Powerlifts and now Romaleos 4 (finally went on sale). Can’t get much else up in Canada without risking expensive shipping for returns. Roms 4 are “supposed” to fit narrower but having wide feet I find them more comfortable than Legacy III’s.

Trying to figure out sizing: how tight is too tight, and do they expand? 10s feel like they crush my toes a bit on the one foot, and like my foot is marginally too wide, but I’m not sure how much they expand. Strap is barely necessary and it becomes painful after 15 mins.
10.5s are slightly longer but more comfortable around the middle, and I need to clamp down the strap more. Oddly these seem to have less heel slip than 10s.

Thanks a bunch!

Trying to figure out sizing: how tight is too tight, and do they expand?

I don’t really know how to answer this in text format.

The shoes should be comfortable, like any other shoe; and yes, they will break in/expand a bit with time. The strap should not cause pain.

Good to know, and understandable. In general, I assume it shouldn’t be so tight as to be uncomfortable/painful pre-expansion? I’m also not sure how big a deal heelslip is, I imagine that’s potentially more problematic for olympic lifts than anything.

I would say this for any footwear, weightlifting shoes included.

I have never given this a thought in my entire training career.

Thanks doc, good to know. I see it mentioned on a number of sites for some reason but can’t think of why it would really matter so long as the shoes fit properly.

Thanks for your time!

Navigating the world of lifting shoes can indeed feel like a bit of a puzzle, especially when dealing with wide feet. It’s great that you’ve tried out a few different options like the Legacy Lifter III’s, Adidas Powerlifts, and now the Romaleos 4. Each shoe can have its own quirks when it comes to fit and comfort.