Like most mass-produced shoes, all Do-Wins are made in China, so quality control is a bit relaxed. This was apparent on the review pair we received that had a uneven heel and a mis-aligned rubber sole. I was also disappointed that the shoes were not real leather, but instead a “pleather” material. This does make breaking the shoes in much easier but it also makes them very shiny and “attention” getting. If that’s you thing, then these may well be for you.

Beyond those complaints the shoes feel great from the first time you put them on. Although these are Do Wins, the 2010 year model does not seem as wide as previous years’ so the fit is more like a regular athletic shoe. The mesh side allow the shoes to breathe pretty well so foot sweating is minimal.

The heel has been lowered for the 2010 models with a heel height coming in at 0.75″. Some people may prefer this, but a traditional Olympic lifting shoe has a higher heel for a reason, to allow more ankle flexibility and a lower descent under the bar. People, such as Mark Ripptoe, may argue that a lower heel will allow you to place more emphasis on your hamstrings during a lift but this can also be achieved by just pointing your toes outward more. Furthermore the heel height of the shoe should really be proportional to the height of the person wearing it.

Overall the Pendlays function as you would expect any weightlifting shoe and are great for everyone including those serious about weight training, crossfit athletes, or your average recreational lifter. I still think they are a bit over priced for what they are, being slightly more expensive than a few of your alternatives; however, they aren’t as expensive as models such as the Adistar or Ironwork yet they come with more options. Go figure!

Features:

• Synthetic leather, wood heel
• Available in a variety of colors
• Fit like an average athletic shoe, easy to break in
• Average heel height at 0.75″   ( 3/4 of an inch )
• Pendlay has awesome customer service

Problems:

• Quality control is relaxed, not all shoes are A+ quality
• Not real leather, colored models are very “flashy”
• A bit overpriced

Ratings (0-5):

• Quality – 3
• Comfort – 4
• Style – 5
• Price  – 3
• Functionality – 3

Note: All 2010 Do-Wins run one half size smaller than a typical running shoes and one half size larger than a pair of Chuck Taylors. So if a size 10 athletic shoe (nike, adidas, etc)  fits you nice and tight, then a size 9.5 Do-Win should fit. If you wear a size 9 Chuck, then a size 9.5 Do-Win should fit. Keep in mind the “shape” of your foot may have some bearing on how the shoe fits; wider or narrower feet may fit a little different. All the companies we work with have good exchange policies, so if you get a pair that doesn’t fit, simply call them up and exchange them.

The women’s weightlifting shoe is the same template as the other 2010 Do-Wins; a synthetic leather exterior with breathable mesh around the sides, a .75″ wood block heel, and a “stubby” strap. That means these shoes get the same high marks as the other 2010 Pendlays… we just thought they they deserved their own entry since they look so cool!

For a complete review of the 2010 Do-Wins see this post.

Note: All 2010 Do-Wins run one half size smaller than a typical running shoes and one half size larger than a pair of Chuck Taylors. So if a size 10 athletic shoe (nike,adidas,etc)  fits you nice and tight, then a size 9.5 Do-Win should fit. If you wear a size 9 Chuck, then a size 9.5 Do-Win should fit. Keep in mind the “shape” of your foot may have some bearing on how the shoe fits; wider or narrower feet may fit a little different. All the companies we work with have good exchange policies, so if you get a pair that doesn’t fit, simply call them up and exchange them.

The major differences here would be the the Rogue do-wins are only available in black suede with white accenting and they have two straps instead of one. Other than that, they are identical. This means the same quality control issues that plague the Pendlay Do-Wins are shared by the Rogue model.

While the Rogue brand is about $10 more than the Pendlay solid white model, you make this up with the free shipping offered by Rogue. So price wise, they cost basically the same as the Pendlay. Our only reason for choosing the Pendlay over the Rogue Do-Win comes down to styling, with Pendlay offering their model of shoe in 5 distinct colors. Admittedly, this is more of a personal preference attribute than anything but hey, the shoes are almost identical and we had to find something to break the tie!

Pros:

• Comfortable suede exterior
• Constant heel height of 0.75″   ( 3/4 of an inch )
• Dual straps (Shortened for 2010)
• Old School Wood Block Heel
• Free Shipping!

Problems:

• Only available in Black
• Some people may prefer a hard leather exterior for additional stability
• Same QC issues as all Do-Win shoes

Rating (0-5):

• Quality – 3
• Comfort – 5
• Style – 3.5
• Price – 4
• Functionality – 3

Note: All 2010 Do-Wins run one half size smaller than a typical running shoes and one half size larger than a pair of Chuck Taylors. So if a size 10 athletic shoe (nike,adidas,etc)  fits you nice and tight, then a size 9.5 Do-Win should fit. If you wear a size 9 Chuck, then a size 9.5 Do-Win should fit. Keep in mind the “shape” of your foot may have some bearing on how the shoe fits; wider or narrower feet may fit a little different. All the companies we work with have good exchange policies, so if you get a pair that doesn’t fit, simply call them up and exchange them.