Deadlifting and Flat Lifting Shoes

A flat lifting shoe puts your foot as close to the floor as it can get with grip and a little protection. No heel, a thin sole that does not compress, and a toe box wide enough for the toes to spread. That is what you want for deadlifts, where every millimetre under the foot is extra range of motion and any squish costs stability, and it is what many lifters prefer for low-bar squats and bench press too.

Slipper or shoe

The two families on this page do the same job in different ways. Deadlift slippers, the Notorious Lift Sumo Sole and Lifters, are the thinnest option: a few millimetres of grippy rubber, a light upper, and barely more weight than a sock. They are the closest thing to lifting barefoot that a gym will allow, and they are the cheapest way into a proper deadlift shoe. Flat shoes, the Avancus Apex Power V3 and High Top and the TYR Dropzero, have a more structured upper, a heel counter and a strap or laces you can tighten, with a sole that is still thin and flat. They give more lateral support, which matters if you pull sumo and drive the knees out hard, and they are comfortable enough to wear for a whole session and the walk in.

If you only deadlift in them, a slipper is enough. If you want one flat shoe for deadlifts, low-bar squats, bench and general training, buy a shoe.

The range

Notorious Lift Sumo Sole is the wide-toe-box slipper, built for sumo pullers who want the toes to splay and the foot to grip the floor; the Gen 4 is the proven version and the Gen 5 adds a more durable outsole and a firmer heel cup. Notorious Lifters are the standard-width slipper for conventional pullers and general training. Avancus Apex Power V3 is a full flat shoe with a wide anatomical toe box, extended contact points at the heel and forefoot so it does not roll under lateral drive, and a 4mm grip outsole; the High Top is the same platform with ankle coverage. TYR Dropzero is a zero-heel trainer with a midfoot strap, the choice if you want a flat shoe that also works for agility and conditioning.

Sizing

Slippers should fit snugly; there is no structure to hold a loose fit, so take your normal size or half a size down if between sizes. Avancus sizes are EU and true to length with a deliberately roomy forefoot, so take your usual EU size rather than sizing up for width, and go up if between. TYR Dropzero runs true to size. If you are unsure, send us your foot length in centimetres before ordering.

Common questions

Can I squat in flat shoes? Yes, low-bar and for lifters with good ankle mobility. If you pitch forward or struggle for depth, a raised-heel shoe will help more; see our weightlifting shoes.

Flat shoes or Converse? Converse are flat, but the sole is thicker and softer than a lifting slipper and the toe box is narrow. A purpose-built flat shoe gives more grip, more room for the toes and less compression under load, for not much more money.

Are they legal in competition? Yes. Flat-soled shoes and deadlift slippers are legal for all three lifts in the IPF and its affiliates, provided the sole is within the allowed thickness, which every shoe here is.

How long do slippers last? Used only for lifting, a year or two. Dragging them across rough gym floors or wearing them outside wears the thin outsole quickly.

Every pair ships from our Sydney warehouse, and the full range is in store to try on.