Basically, because you need to wear shoes in a competition which are approved. Good shoes also make you lift more. 

 

 

Before we honk to the details of why you should or should not use powerlifting shoes, let me ask you a couple of questions: 

 

 

These questions are essential to your success and failure. Research shows that people who write down and reflect on their goals are more likely to achieve them. So get a pen and paper and start. Many people go about their lives like this: 

 

 

Almost everyone knows what they want. Fewer make a detailed plan on how to get there. Almost no one knows why they want something. Focusing on what you want is a good way of going crazy. What you want changes hundreds of times a day. Putting what you want in the middle of all of your efforts will make you run in hundreds of directions and arrive nowhere. Your resources will be spread thin and your time scattered between too many activities. Something interesting happens when you flip the order of these questions on their head: 

 

 

This why what matters most to you will be in the middle of your attention. Your thoughts and actions will become more connected and success more likely. If you want to know how this works on a psychological level read Daniel Kahneman's thinking fast and slow. Simon Sinek's TED talk on the golden circle will change your life. 

 

You have to start somewhere. I increased my salary by 30% in a year and got my marriage in order when I started to keep a daily journal. The best one I found is the self journal. I highly recommend that you have a look.

 

 

Powerlifting is the sport of the total. Your total is the sum of three lifts. These lifts are the bench press, squat, and deadlift. For each lift, you get three attempts to establish the highest amount of weight lifted. You have to have at least one qualifying attempt for each lift to make it on the board. Your best attempts will be added up and based on this you will be ranked against your competitors.

 

A big difference to lifting in the gym is that you will be judged. Three referees observe your lifts from different angles. They decide whether your lift was performed according to the standards of the federation you compete in. Two out of three have to agree so that the lift counts. 

 

Your total will split into 40/40/20. The deadlift and squat will contribute 40% each while the bench press adds 20%. From these splits, you can see that powerlifting should actually be called powerlegging. But that is for another article. 

 

To lift a lot of weight you need proper shoes. The sport of powerlifting does not allow you to go all natural so you have to have at least some slippers on your feet. 

 

 

Powerlifting shoes are shoes with a flat sole and flat heel. Based on what kind of shoe you are looking at they can be soft or hard. What they all have in common is that the bottom of the shoes has no spring or air cushion in them. 

 

This is the main reason for wearing powerlifting shoes apart from hygiene. Thmoreare ore stable under heavy load than average runners. Some examples of powerlifting shoes: 

 

 

Powerlifting shoes are mainly popular for the deadlift. They can also be a cheaper entry than weightlifting shoes to own a pair of lifting shoes. 

 

 

Weightlifting shoes are a little different from powerlifting shoes. What they have in common is the solid sole. In the past, they were made of wood. Nowadays it is hardened plastic. The big difference is in the heel. Weightlifting shoes have an elevated heel. 

 

Originally these shoes come from weightlifting and also made their way into powerlifting. An elevated heel makes it easier to get under the bar as your shins can tilt forward and get out of the way in the squat. This was especially good for the quick descend for the snatch and clean and jerk. 

 

It also helps powerlifters with their squat. This is how these shoes made it into this sport too. 

 

Some examples of weightlifting shoes are: 

 

 

If you get weightlifting shoes you probably want to get powerlifting shoes too to be able to deadlift. Deadlifting in weightlifting shoes adds a couple of inches to the distance the bar has to travel. This is not really what you want to set records. 

 

Another popular option instead of powerlifting shoes are slippers. This basically means you put slippers or ballerina shoes on your feet to deadlift which have a minimal sole. This way you can save dorm money and buy slippers and weightlifting shoes and you are sorted for all occasions. 

 

Powerlifting demands that you were shoes to lift in competition. Even though many strongmen prefer to lift barefoot irbid not permitted in most powerlifting meets. Good shoes also help on the squat to add a couple of kilos to your max.