Reebok tried to marry an athletic shoe with a weightlifting shoe. The result? Confusion.

A mass-produced weightlifting shoe is a relatively new venture for Reebok. Prior to this model, the last time I saw a Reebok weightlifting shoe was back in the late ’90s. For a brief period, Reebok sponsored the Russian Weightlifting Team with shoes, singlets, outfits, etc. But even then, their shoes weren’t available for sale or worn by lifters outside of Russia.

For a modern attempt at a shoe designed to perform overhead lifts, they did a fairly decent job. The shoe is made using methods now employed by all the market leaders, featuring:

• A TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) heel molded to the shoe
• Lightweight perforated upper with a soft full-grain leather toe
• Polyurethane molded sock liner
• Nylon mid-foot strap

Unique Features of the Reebok CrossFit Lifting Shoe

U-Form Custom Fit Technology

The first unique feature of the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Lifting Shoe is “U-Form,” Reebok’s method to achieve a custom fit in your shoes. Reebok recommends heating your oven to a low temperature (around 200 degrees Fahrenheit), then placing your brand-new shoes inside for a designated amount of time—about three minutes—to soften them. After heating, you put them on and sit for several minutes, allowing the shoes to mold to your feet for a personalized fit.

Extensive Customization Options

The second is color, color, and more color! For an extra $40, you can customize your shoes to no end. Reebok offers 14 (yes, 14!) different places on the shoe where you can select one of 16 brilliant colors, as well as your choice of four different types of leather. From the eyelets and lace loops down to two separate places on the sole, your shoe will be totally custom and more than likely be one of a kind!

Performance and Design

Lightweight Construction

This shoe is very light. Size 9 tipped the scale at 386g, making it the lightest lifting shoe available. Considering their primary market is CrossFit and not specifically for weightlifting, it’s a good thing. A lightweight shoe provides a huge advantage when doing hundreds of box jumps, double-unders, pull-ups, burpees, etc. The super-light weight will become obvious when you are gassed at the end of a WOD and need to complete a few more reps.

Heel Height and Pitch

The heel and overall pitch also differ from traditional weightlifting shoes. Here, Reebok’s heel measures a bit less than normal, somewhere on par with the new Adidas PowerLift Trainer. The lower pitch will be welcomed by people not accustomed to lifting shoes and a bit frowned upon by avid lifters. The pitch is approximately 6%, compared to the higher 7.8%–8% pitch of the 2012 Adidas Adipower and Nike Romaleos 2 flagship models.

Manufacturing Quality

A first look at them lets you know immediately that they are manufactured by a major shoe company and not a small private firm. In no way do they resemble a dress shoe made of hand-stitched leather and slight variations, but more of a fresh-from-a-mold, cookie-cutter, mass-produced look you see in all new sneakers. Because of this manufacturing process, the shoe has no obvious imperfections, and the small stamped details look excellent.

Measuring the weight of each shoe individually revealed that manufacturing quality is very high. The shoes were within 0.8% of each other, which, compared to some others, is nothing short of remarkable.

Fit and Comfort

When I slipped them on, my first impression was… wow! To the touch, they are incredibly soft and comfortable, like a worn leather slipper. They run true to size, so you can confidently order your regular shoe size without worrying about fit issues. After walking around for hours, I almost forgot I was wearing lifting shoes. However, the lack of good arch support became apparent.

Unlike the rigid forefoot of the Nike Romaleos 2, the forefoot of the Reebok bends very easily. Jumping up and down was effortless in this shoe.

Before I trained extensively in them, I wanted to take advantage of the U-Form technology. Following Reebok’s instructions, I heated the shoes in the oven at a low temperature to soften them, then put them on so they could mold to my feet. Wearing the shoe both before and after this process, the difference was negligible.

Performance During Training

Lack of Lateral Support

After a week of heavy training, the shoes’ light weight and very soft upper made the lack of lateral support quite apparent. This could have been caused by outdoor prowler runs or heavy lifting. Whatever the reason, the toe box began to feel sloppy and loose.

Stability became an issue during classic lifts, especially split jerks. My lead foot in the jerk didn’t feel as planted, and overall, I didn’t feel as assured as I had when they were new. Tightening the laces and adjusting the strap offered minimal improvement.

There was no issue with the receiving position in cleans or while doing squats. However, in snatches and jerks, I felt a bit uncertain and not as grounded as I usually do in other top-of-the-line lifting shoes.

Adjusting to Lower Heel Pitch

After lifting with classic weightlifting shoes with the higher, normal shoe pitch, it took a bit of time to get used to the new body positions with the lower pitch the Reebok put me into. This only became an issue with max attempts in both cleans and snatches. The lower pitch put me in slightly unfamiliar body positions at the bottom of the lifts, which I never completely adapted to, even after ten days of training with them.

Durability Concerns

Thin Sole and Outdoor Use

The thin sole is exactly like those of the 2012 Adidas Adipower and Nike Romaleos 2 Olympic weightlifting shoes, which is great. However, as all experienced lifters know, you don’t wear your lifting shoes outside! Lifters typically change into lifting shoes just before training since the soles aren’t designed for extensive wear and tear, especially the newer models with their micro-thin soles.

The issue with the Reebok Crossfit Lifting shoe is that many CrossFit WODs include outdoor components such as runs, sled pulls, or sandbag carries. After just a week, the sole deteriorated significantly from outdoor use. The sled and prowler exercises really took a toll on them.

I would not recommend the Reebok CrossFit Lifting Shoe for outdoor runs due to the hard heel. Additionally, using them for heavy sled or prowler work will quickly break down the sole and compromise lateral support.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight Construction: At 386g for size 9, it’s the lightest lifting shoe available—ideal for high-repetition CrossFit workouts.
• Custom Fit with U-Form Technology: Allows for a personalized fit by molding the shoe to your foot shape.
• Extensive Customization Options: Offers 14 customizable areas with 16 color choices and 4 types of leather, enabling a one-of-a-kind design.
• Comfortable Fit: Soft, comfortable upper feels like a worn leather slipper, suitable for extended wear.
• True-to-Size Fit: Shoes run true to size, simplifying the ordering process.

Cons

• Lack of Lateral Support: Soft upper and lightweight design result in reduced stability during heavy lifts, especially over time.
• Lower Heel Pitch: The 6% pitch is lower than traditional weightlifting shoes, which may affect body positioning and require an adjustment period.
• Durability Issues: Thin sole and design are not suited for outdoor use or heavy sled/prowler work; the sole deteriorates quickly with such activities.
• Minimal Arch Support: Lack of substantial arch support may be uncomfortable for some users during prolonged use.

Conclusion

If you’re shopping for a shoe for indoor WODs involving non-maximum weight training and you desire the benefits of easy movement and improved stability over your current CrossFit Nano, the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Lifting Shoe is an excellent choice. However, if you need a shoe specifically for Olympic weightlifting or for outdoor use, these may not be the best option.