Notorious Lift

Notorious Lift makes deadlift slippers: the thinnest, lightest footwear a gym will let you pull in. A few millimetres of grippy rubber, a light knit upper, a heel cup to stop the foot sliding, and almost no weight. They exist because every millimetre between your foot and the floor is extra range of motion on a deadlift, and anything soft under the foot moves when you drive. They are also the cheapest way into a purpose-built lifting shoe.

Sumo Sole or Lifters

The difference is the toe box. The Sumo Sole has a wide, anatomically shaped forefoot so the toes can splay and grip the floor, which is what sumo pullers want when they drive the knees out and load the outside of the foot. It is also the pick for anyone with wide feet or who trains in barefoot-style shoes. The Lifters have a standard-width toe box for a more familiar, locked-in fit; conventional pullers and lifters with narrower feet tend to prefer them, and they double as a general minimalist training shoe.

Which generation

Sumo Sole Gen 4 is the proven version and the value pick: the wide toe box, the redesigned anatomical sole and the grip compound at the lowest price in the range. Gen 5 keeps the same platform and adds a more durable Novus 3.0 outsole, laser-cut knit ventilation and a firmer TPU heel counter; it costs more and lasts longer. Gen 3 is the earlier model, still available in a couple of colourways while stock lasts. On the Lifters side, Gen 3 is the current shoe and Gen 2X is the previous one at a lower price. If you pull three or more times a week, the Gen 5 or Lifters Gen 3 outsole pays for itself; if you want to try slippers for the first time, Gen 4 or 2X is the sensible start.

Sizing

Slippers should fit snugly. There is no structure to hold a loose fit, so take your normal size, and half a size down rather than up if you are between sizes. The Sumo Sole feels wide by design; that is the point, not a sign it is too big. Send us your foot length in centimetres before ordering if you are unsure.

Common questions

Can I squat in them? Low-bar squatters with good ankle mobility do. If you pitch forward or struggle for depth in a flat shoe, a raised-heel weightlifting shoe suits you better.

Can I wear them for the whole session? The Lifters, yes. The Sumo Sole is a deadlift shoe first; many lifters change into them for pulls and out again after.

Are they legal in competition? Yes. Deadlift slippers are legal for all three lifts in the IPF and its affiliates.

How long do they last? Used for lifting only, a year or two. Dragging them across rough floors or wearing them outside wears the thin sole quickly; the Gen 5 outsole holds up longest.

Notorious Lift or Avancus? Notorious is the slipper: thinner, lighter, cheaper. Avancus is a full flat shoe with more upper structure and lateral support. Both are on our flat shoes page and both are in store to try on.

Every pair ships from our Sydney warehouse.