A good pair of shoes seems like a no-brainer for resistance training, yet every now and then, you’ll see a super-fit person crushing a workout in bare feet. Is there something to this, or is it just some peculiar personal preference? Our dynamic duo of experts weighs in and give a yea or nay on barefoot training.
Consensus: YEA
Barefoot training can drastically improve your productivity and performance as well as how well you perform your big lifts. While no method should be viewed as one-size-fits- all and individual needs and environments should always be taken into consideration, kicking off your squishy, cushioned shoes can provide better stability, mobility and force production — especially for major compound lifts such as squats and deadlifts.
When you “dial your feet in” (pushing your big toes, then little toes, then heels into the ground while slightly “screwing your feet” outward), you create an intrinsically strong base that transmits the tension from the ground and up through the ankles, knees, hips and spine. Shedding the barrier between your feet and the floor creates a more dynamic connection.