There are lots of different ways to build thick thighs and a strong lower body, but none so brutally satisfying as the squat. That’s why investing in a quality pair of squat shoes (aka weightlifting shoes or “lifters,” in bro-speak) like the TYR L-1 Lifters is a smart move—albeit one that even the most seasoned gym rats often wait far too long to make.
Weightlifting shoes have a heel and a drop that’s usually between 15 to 21 mm, making them unique to your average trainer, sneaker, or running shoe. By raising the heel, you’re able to facilitate proper squatting posture, wherein your knees can travel further over your toes (which is perfectly safe, contrary to what your high school strength coach may have told you in the early aughts) and you’re able to circumvent ankle mobility restrictions that could prevent you from squatting deeper and more efficiently. The heel raise can also eliminate high levels of what’s known in the horse-leg community as “butt wink,” or posterior pelvic tilt in the “hole,” aka the bottom end of the squat. (Butt wink, hole, pelvic tilt—we hear it, too, folks.)
Since picking up a pair last December, I’ve only squatted a measly 450 pounds in the TYR squat shoes, but plenty of high-profile athletes—including Olympic Medalist Hampton Morris and 2023 World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper—have put some serious weight on these bad boys with no problems. (Here’s Hooper wearing the L-1s doing a massive set of five at 800 pounds.) At $200 a pair, it’s quite an investment for the average gym-goer or aspiring meathead, so I put the TYR L-1 Lifters to the test to see how they fit, how they look, and if they’re really worth it.
How do they look?
While looking cool is obviously something to factor in, it’s not really my top priority when I have hundreds of pounds on a thin steel bar on the back of my neck. That being said, these happen to be pretty sleek, and the blacked-out pair I have is easy to match with whatever gym outfit I’m rocking on a given day. (Looking back, though, I’d probably go with the white/gum colorway.) They’re also available in a million different colors to go with any and all gym aesthetics, and while the shape is a little clunky from the extra-wide toe box (more on that later), I think the square look is kind of cool, depending on the color.
How do they fit?
For most people, the biggest draw of the TYR L-1 Lifters will be the wide toe box, which the brand dubs, “the first-ever anatomical toe box.” (These were a collab between TYR and toe-box evangelist Dr. Aaron Horschig of Squat University, one of the biggest strength and fitness influencers in the game.) If you know you have wide feet, or you’ve ever felt cramped and uncomfortable in a pointier shoe, these are a great option. Personally, when I wear my pair of Adidas Powerlifts, my feet feel squashed in from the sides, which makes it tough to “root” my feet into the ground (aka “grab the ground” with my whole foot) when squatting. The TYRs, on the other hand, let me splay my foot more easily and are definitely more comfortable to lift in. (However, if you have particularly narrow feet, you might feel like you’re swimming in them.) Finally, in terms of fit, I found these to be pretty true to size.
How do they wear?
You don’t really want your feet to move around in your shoe while you squat, which is why the L-1’s tight straps and back cushioning are so clutch. I feel Davis Clarke-levels of locked-in when I’m wearing these, and though the front part of the sole is slightly flexible, the hard sole feels good to push through on heavy pressing. And despite the heel, these aren’t bad to walk around the gym in either, and I usually leave them on for my whole sesh instead of taking them off right after I squat.
Are they worth it?
Absolutely. For the price of a brutal bar tab, you’re looking at a windfall of benefits to your squat and leg development that you wouldn’t get squatting barefoot or in flats. If you have trouble hitting depth on a squat, have ankle mobility issues, or want to target your quads more by putting them in a more stretched position in the hole, you’ll love squatting in a heel. If you have wide feet or just want a well-made squat shoe trusted by some of the world’s best squatters, you can’t go wrong with the TYR L-1 Lifters. And anecdotally, squatting in these shoes changed my entire leg day experience—I used to squat barefoot, but when I made the switch to heels, my legs blew up, my numbers rose, and the nagging shin pain I had for years while squatting finally went away.
Do you need weightlifting shoes?
If you’re currently 100% happy with your squat, I’m jealous. However, if you’re having trouble hitting depth or you find that your heels are coming off the ground in the hole, they might change your gym life. Personally, I think everyone should try squatting in heels at some point, since you might realize you’re a heeled squatter and love it—or you might hate it, which is okay, too. An easy way to test is by putting small weight plates (like 2.5-pounders) under your heels—or, if you don’t have access to plates, paperback books (preferably ones you don’t care about) of the same size (an inch or smaller) will do the trick. Once you’re set, squat all the way down and see how you feel. If you can suddenly access new depth, your shin/ankle pain goes away, or it just feels… right, you’d probably benefit from a weightlifting shoe.
Who can benefit from weightlifting shoes?
Anyone who squats or presses through their legs. Squat shoes are great for Olympic weightlifting, bodyweight squatting, back squats, front squats, overhead presses, leg presses, goblet squats, machine squat presses—the list goes on.
