Note: When I first submitted this review, I accidentally posted it under the original VS shoe, not the VS II version. I am actually reviewing the II version. Just freakishly fast service! I wear a 9 in every major shoe brand and a 9 in these fits perfectly. Although they are a little on the wide side and then taper down to a narrower toe point. Still a very acceptable and "normal" fit. Very well made; to my eye they are as well made as any major shoe brand. The heel material is a completely rigid plastic with a thin runner layer for traction. I am a novice squatter, so I can't really comment with authority on how these will affect powerlifting, but I am very happy with them and they are definitely bargain. I was referred to these VS shoes by discussion boards where experienced lifters recommended them. So far they have definitely helped my get lower in the squat without needing to raise my heel, and I feel much more stable.

Sam Cruz

This customer purchased the item at our site.

My Background:

I'm a Crossfitter but have recently been focusing a lot more on Oly Lifting and strength training.



Previous Lifters:

My previous Oly shoes were the first generation Reebok Lifters, which are pretty much a leather reebok nano with a raised heel. Needless to say, they are not stable enough for Oly lifting and I found them harmful in some cases as they tend to push my arches inward leading to a collapse at the knees.

I have also used Adidas Powerlift 2s on a couple of occasions and the heel on the VS is much higher and the upper is less flexible lending to a much more stable feel.

I have also used Adipowers and Nike Romaleos once. These fit somewhere in between. They are wider than the Adipowers but more narrow than the Romaleos. The weight of these shoes seems to be close to the Adipower avoiding the brick like feel that the Romaleos are known for. These are not uncomfortable to walk in, a complaint that the Adipower often gets.



My Experience so far:

These are a huge upgrade. I truly feel glued to the ground and when I miss a lift, I know it's because of my technique and not because I lack stability.

These are solely lifting shoes. If you want a shoe that you can do burpees or double unders in while transitioning to thrusters, these are not for you. If you want to feel glued to the ground and stable in the bottom of a snatch, these are perfect.





The shoe:

The sole seems to be the exact same as in the newer Do-Win which is tried and true.

The upper is different from the Do-Win but in the best ways possible as I personally find the look of the Do-win to be unappealing. The upper appears to be synthetic like the Adipowers or Romaleos but I prefer this as synthetic material does not stretch over time and lends to a truer fit day in and day out.

The shoe is very aesthetically pleasing with it's lack of branding and matte black color. The first day I wore these, I had many complements of people saying they preferred the look of these as opposed to their own shoes which consisted of Black and Red Adipowers, Adidas Power-lift 3s, and Reebok Lifter 2s. I wear a size 11 in almost all shoes, and these fit true to size.



Conclusion:

These get the job done and are well worth the price. I would recommend these to anyone who is serious about lifting and would even put these up against the big brands in the sport.