text: I needed some flat lifting shoes and these fit the bill. My old boss who was a powerlifter recommended these and wears them all the time. Many reviews say they are wide and like &#34;clown shoes&#34; but I need a super wide shoe at the toe area so I guess that means I have clown feet. Darn.<br />  In most cross trainers my feet hang over the edge in the front after the shoes break in. This causes ankle rotation during heavy squats on my weak leg. So far with these my feet are planted and solid.  They do look a bit boxy, but if all my shoes fit so well without jamming my toes together then all of them would be boxy, so I will just embrace that. It's a workout, not a fashion show.<br />  What a good value. I gave them 4 stars because they have very little arch support and I can't use them for cardio but big deal. Bring another pair of shoes to the gym and swap when you need to. longer socks are needed to protect your ankle from the canvas. I ordered another pair so I would have them when these wear out.