Hello, I hope this type of post is allowed here.
I’m a beginner lifter and my budget is ~$50 (USD). Any possibility of finding good lifting shoes around this price point, or am I going to have to shell out more money? :')
Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!
I mean traditional shoes take away stability. Probably the most stable foot is a strong bare foot. Minimal barefoot shoes probably take away some stability but a negligible amount.
Stability comes from toe splay, and engaging the arches of the foot. Traditional shoes bind the toes, making your foot narrower than it otherwise would be, and less stable. They also have foam, providing an unstable surface, and usually arch support, preventing your arches from engaging.
But - most people have weak feet from years of wearing shoes that weaken their feet. If you have weak feet, then most of these things (arch support, foam, tight fit, heel drop), will increase the stability of a weak foot.
Your feet will strengthen as you do exercises with minimal shoes. Over time, you will become more stable than you could be a traditional shoe.
Gotcha