Converse All-Stars: The perfect shoes for deadlifts
12.2.2018
Translation: machine translated
Punks wear them, trendy teens wear them and the strongest men in the world wear them: The Converse All-Stars - affectionately known as "Chucks" - are the shoes of choice for strongman athletes around the globe. They are particularly suitable for deadlifts.
Back straight, shoulders back, pelvis back, bent at the knees. The magnesium on my hands crumbles as I grip the bar. I start the deadlift,
my exercise.
My exercise.
In the last Swiss Strongman Championships, only one person managed to beat me in the discipline over three rounds: Marco Ledermann, currently the strongest newcomer in Switzerland. I was injured, a tendon in my hand was "more than just torn" according to the doctor. Nevertheless, I didn't want to miss out on the last competition and came fifth. That was stupid. Because the hand has been hurting for five months.
That's why I'm training hard again. I'm now lifting the quarter tonne without straps. But with Rehband knee pads, magnesium and good shoes. I will wear Sabo deadlift shoes until they die. If not Sabo, then I'll wear Chucks. I'm not alone in this. The big names in strongman sports wear them too.
The importance of shoes
I did my first strongman training in Doc Martens. Stefan Ramseier, president of the Swiss Federation of Strongman Athletes, told me at the start of the training session that I was wearing the wrong shoes.
Wrong shoes:
Right shoes:
The reason is simple: when deadlifting, you need a good, firm footing. Air cushions in soft soles may be good for running, but they are a nightmare for weightlifting. Especially with heavy weights. Because your foot needs a solid stance. The closer to the ground the sole of your foot is, the better. On air cushions, your muscles are busy constantly balancing, among other things. With heavy weights - from 150kg upwards - this can lead to an increased risk of accidents. Therefore: a solid stance. Important.
The Docs were an emergency solution. After my first training session, nearly fainting on my first attempt at the power stairs and receiving my first weightlifting belt, Stefan gave me the homework assignment of getting decent shoes.
I chose the Docs.
My choice fell on the Converse Charles Taylor All-Stars.
Who is Charles Taylor?
Charles Taylor was first and foremost a shoe salesman and basketball enthusiast. Although his claims to have played professionally for several NBA teams in the 1920s cannot be verified, the Converse Rubber Shoe Company is certain that Charles Taylor is partly responsible for what is probably the most famous sneaker in the world. Chuck, as he was nicknamed, made changes to an earlier shoe model in 1924. The result: the Chucks as we know them today.
Taylor himself was an original. He didn't have a permanent residence for over 30 years, but drove around the USA for 30 years with his VW Beetle and a boot full of shoes, selling shoes. But that is not to say that Chuck led a life of poverty. Abraham Aamidor, author of the book "Chuck Taylor, All Star: The True Story of the Man Behind the Most Famous Athletic Shoe in History", writes that Chuck made good and happy use of Converse's expense account.
The changes to the shoes were significant. The shoe became more flexible with its inputs, offered better support for the foot and a small protector was sewn onto the ankle. Converse added the iconic logo there.
So why weightlifting?
The Converse All-Stars are cult. They are no longer worn on the basketball court. The last NBA player to step onto the court in Chucks was Wayne Monte Rollins, who became known as Tree Rollins. That was in the 1979-1980 season, and although the shoes have remained unchanged since then, they are no longer sports shoes.
However, strength athletes swear by the shoes. The flat rubber sole is thin and hard. This forces you to maintain correct posture and you can feel the ground under your feet. The flexible upper part of the shoe allows you to move your ankle cleanly and without friction, because with high weights, every bit of help you can get counts.
A little warning about deadlifts
This article wouldn't be complete if I didn't warn you. Deadlifts are a tricky thing. You can ruin a lot if you do it wrong. This wouldn't be complete without the following tips:
- Just because you're wearing good shoes doesn't mean you can or should just go over your limit for no reason
- Good footwear is all well and good, but correct form for deadlifts is key
- Don't do a cat hump. That's the slipped disc you don't want
- Always check with your trainer when attempting a new record
- You only have one back. Take care of it
- Be careful rather than lenient
So, that's it. Stay safe and stay strong.
By the way, I took the pictures at Sportclub Swissness. Thanks, guys, for letting me occupy both squat racks for a moment. <p
Journalist. Author. Hacker. A storyteller searching for boundaries, secrets and taboos – putting the world to paper. Not because I can but because I can’t not.
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