Heavy, sturdy, a little clunky, and very locked in, the Nike Romaleo 4s are your best bet for serious Olympic weightlifting, heavy squatting, and static overhead movements—and honestly, not much else. Even once they’re broken in, these aren’t very comfortable to walk around in, so they probably aren’t the move if you’re just looking for a raised heel to target your quads a bit more on leg press and hack squats. However, these ultra-rigid clompers are elite when it comes to static feats of strength. The stability and locked-in feel you get from the wide, hard sole coupled with the (very) supportive insole, narrow construction, and dual-strap lacing system means your foot won’t be going anywhere when you’re lifting in these, whether it’s max-out Friday on your weightlifting program or you’re finally going to strict press two plates in front of your gym crush.

Best Looking: Adidas Adipower 3 Shoes

When it comes to looks, you can’t go wrong with stripes. The classic silhouette of the Adidas Adipower 3 makes them the sleekest-looking shoes out there, IMO, and they come in a grip of different color combos to match any and every gym aesthetic. Plus, there’s just something cool and kind of eastern European-ish about weightlifting in Adidas that makes you feel like you’re channeling your inner Klokov. With a hook-and-loop strap to lock your foot in and a 0.86 inch (22 mm) heel lift, these are also tailor made for serious Olympic weightlifting and upright squatting. As a heads up, these tend to run a bit narrow (though not as much as the Nikes, I found) so be advised.

Best for Beginners: Adidas Powerlifts

If you’re not 100% sold on weightlifting shoes, but you’re interested in dipping your toe (or, entire foot) in the water, the Adidas Powerlifts are a great option, since they have a slightly less aggressive heel lift than other models. At just .56 inches (15 mm of drop) you’ll definitely notice a difference when squatting, but it won’t be huge. And, since these are a lot more affordable than other models, you can always upgrade to a higher heel in the future and keep these for general leg training or overhead work. I’ve loved these for back squats and military pressing, and I sent a pair to Austin last year, who hit some pretty sweet-looking cleans in these bad boys.