Firstly, a little background about the shoe’s creators. Ristos are designed by world class weightlifting coach Ivan Rojas, a two time Olympian weightlifter and the man responsible for training several Gold metal winning athletes. The shoes are co-designed (and thoroughly lab tested) by his MIT Aero-Astro engineer wife, and weightlifting competitor, Gwen. As far as shoe resumes go, I don’t think it gets any better than having an Olympian and an Astro Engineer behind your design!

Another VERY important aspect is that these shoes are not run-of-the-mill, assembly line shoes; they are actually HANDMADE in South America by true craftsmen. This translates into a shoe that is of superior quality to anything else on the market.

Some of the features in design that really showcase the quality of these shoes are solid grain leather, an extra padded insole, sturdy molded leather interior, double stitching and a solid wood heel that is proportional to the size of the shoe.

As far as fit, the high quality, supple leather doesn’t require much time to break the shoe in. The toe box on the shoes is wider and taller than average allowing room for the toes to move up and down. This gives a “work boot” like fit and also accommodates high arches very well. The toe area is also very wide, accommodating people with wide feet and issues such as bunions. For those of you with narrower feet, the mid-sole section allows you to really tighten down the shoe so you do not have to worry about the ball of your foot sliding, which is an issue in other wide shoes. The heel is proportional, with heel height being higher on larger shoes and lower on smaller shoes. The height of a size 9 (Risto size 40) Men’s shoe is around 1″.

Sizing is difficult for these shoes and it is best to actually measure your foot as instructed on the Risto Sizing chart found on Muscles and Curves Fitness website.

The only bad thing we have to say about these shoes is that the styling falls a little flat. For instance, the white and gray shoes are nice, but the silver foil looking accent is a bit much. We have similar issues with the pink model. The shoestrings on the white model also have the silver foil intertwined through the lace, making the shoe laces feel somewhat “cheap”. These are, however, the first generation of Ristos so I’m sure they will improve with newer models. So far they are definitely on to something with these shoes.

A final note, we’re heard through the “grapevine” that Risto is working on a new model for later in the year that will update the look but cost significantly more and compete directly with Adidas. You might want to get a pair while the “gettin is good!”

Features:

• Handmade by shoe artisans
• Real grain leather, solid wood heel
• Work boot-like fit
• Proportional heel height
• Designed by real weightlifters and engineers
• Fits great on wide or narrow feet

Problems:

• Styling is a bit limited, may not appeal to everyone

Ratings (0-5):

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

As many of you can by now tell, we aren’t big fans of any of the sub one-hundred dollar shoes that are currently on the market.  Most of the brands of shoes like “Wan-Hoa” are cheap Chinese made crap coming from people buying on alibaba.com. The VS athletics brand are the only thing close to a decent weightlifting shoe but we have some serious issues with their quality and design. Suffice it to say we’ve felt there was a need for a good entry-level weightlifting shoe and we have finally found one.

Although the Thunder shoe is made in China as well, it is rumored to be made at the same factory that makes Adidas footwear products. That could be the reason for the higher-than-typical quality we noted. Also these shoes are made entirely of real leather, not vinyl or cat skin. Being a budget weightlifting shoe, the heel is made of dense rubber instead of wood. Quite honestly this is a better alternative to using non-durable pressed wood for a heel, something you see a lot on cheap shoes.

The heel height is the standard 0.75″ that you will find on the typical weightlifting shoe. The shoe fits like a sneaker and feels pretty tight on the foot. It will accommodate folks with average and narrow feet well, very wide footed people may want to look at other brands.

We have it on good authority that this is a limited run so the manufacturer can “test the waters” to see if they want to make more of these, and if so, what changes they need to make. Keep that in mind if you decide to buy a pair. Providing feedback to the stores which you buy these shoes from has a great deal of importance when it comes to changing things about products, at least in small markets like ours.

Now onto our own recommendations for this shoe. The review pair we received had dark brown or “off-black” colored laces which did not match the shoe very well. We also didn’t care much for the lightning bolt on the side of the shoe. Other than that, for $89 I don’t think there is pair of shoes anywhere in that price range that can compete with these. The guys at Thunder have a really promising product in these shoes. Let’s hope they stay around!

Features:

• All leather construction
• Solid rubber heel
• Sneaker-like fit
• Very well made

Problems:

• Styling needs some work (we don’t like the logo)
• Review pair had off-colored shoe laces

Ratings (0-5):

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

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.

The shoe is made in a different plant than the Rogue Do-Wins and as such, the quality is much better. The half inch heel make this really comfortable as well. I find that most weightlifting shoes are great when you are lifting, but they absolutely suck to walk in. This has to be one of the only weightlifting shoes that you can wear in the gym and actually walk around without feeling uncomfortable.

The heel is a solid construction with no compression and the outer material is suede so they break in quickly and breath well. These are not Do-Win style shoes so the width is about average. Rogue has yet to release information on sizing so we don’t know yet if they run big or small.

Unfortunately Rogue sold out of these in about two days so when we can get our hands on a pair we will do a complete review… stay tuned.

The AdiStars have a visible wood block heel, a single, extra wide hook and loop strap and a TPU welded mid-sole make. While they fit great on narrower feet, I do not recommend ANY Adidas weightlifting shoe for people with wider than average feet. The toe area is very tight and will be uncomfortable regardless of how much you loosen the mid-sole.

My last complaint with the AdiStars is this: They are extremely hard to find and only carried by a handful of US distributors. They also have a minimum advertised price of $199 so don’t expect to find them new for cheaper than that.

Ultimately, due to the restrictive cost and shared design, the AdiStar do not make the recommended list. Any of the high rated brands on this site would be a better buy then these shoes.

Features:

• Well made
• Mesh material allows for better ventilation
• Great styling

Problems:

• The most expensive pair of mainstream weightlifting shoes
• Do not fit wide feet well
• Non-unique design

Rating (0-5):

• Quality – 5
• Comfort – 3.5
• Style – 5
• Price – 2
• Functionality – 4

The main disappointment with this shoe is, like all name brand products, they are somewhat cost prohibitive coming in at about $30 more than comparable Pendlay and Rogue shoes. Also, the limited style and variety means you are going to wear a white pair as this is the only color available. While I’m not knocking name brand shoes (I definitely have some Nike and Asic trainers in my closet) it just seems that  there are other brands in the weightlifting market that are made just as well (if not better), have more options and cost much less. But again, if you have skinny feet, these shoes may be the best fit for you.

Features:

• Narrow fit, great if you have skinny feet or like a really tight shoe
• Well made, exposed wood block heel
• Fit more like a “sneaker”

Problems:

• More expensive than comparable shoes on the market

Rating (0-5):

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

Furthermore, the rubber sole initially grips well, but wears extremely fast. You’ll be left with a slick spots on the sole of the shoe which will actually be dangerous during your lifts. The heel on this shoe is 1.5″ on all sizes, that is just WAY too high for anyone under 6’3″ given that heel height should really be proportional to the height of the person wearing the shoe.

Due to the ridiculous heel height and the quick wearing sole, these are not a recommended shoe. If you are looking for something in this price range, I highly recommend the Thunder shoe.

If you do decide to go with the VS shoes, get the solid leather pair. They only come in white, and they will still suffer the same sole issues, but my guess is the exterior will last much longer.  Also, solid leather lifting shoes are usually more stable.

Features:

• Comfortable suede exterior
• Dual straps
• Great price

Problems:

• If you have wide feet, get a half size larger
• Rubber sole tends to wear out quickly
• Suede exterior wears with heavy use

Rating (0-5):

• Quality – 3
• Comfort – 4
• Style – 3
• Price – 5
• Functionality – 2