The short version: if you’re buying one pair of Adidas lifting shoes and you’re serious about the snatch and clean & jerk, get the Adipower Weightlifting 3. If you’re new, on a budget, or you want one shoe for lifting and general strength work, get the Powerlift 5. The old Leistung 16 II was the tallest, most specialist of the lot, but it’s long discontinued — so unless you find a clean pair second-hand, the Adipower is its natural replacement.
That’s the answer if you’re in a hurry. Below is the detail: how the three lines actually differ, why “Powerlift” is the most confusingly named shoe in the sport, how the Leistung compares with the Adipower, what size to order, and whether any of it beats just lifting in trainers.
Adidas weightlifting shoes at a glance
| Model | Best for | Heel | Price bracket | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adipower Weightlifting 3 | Most lifters — the do-everything Olympic shoe | 22 mm lift | £££ | Buy this one |
| Powerlift 5 | Beginners, budgets, mixed training | ~15 mm lift | £ | Best value |
| Leistung 16 II | Tall lifters, tight ankles, upright catches | 37.8 mm total stack | Discontinued | Great, but gone |
The three Adidas lines, explained
Adipower Weightlifting 3 — the one to buy
This is the flagship and, for my money, the sensible default. A tall 22 mm TPU heel that doesn’t compress, a wide midfoot strap over the laces, and a sole that simply does not move under a maximal clean. It’s the shoe you see all over the warm-up room at competitions, it lasts for years, and it does everything — snatch, clean, jerk, squats — without a weak point.
I wore Adidas Adipowers back in the day, and the current Adipower Weightlifting 3 is the direct descendant — same tall, planted heel, and what I'd lift in now.
Check price on AmazonPowerlift 5 — the budget pick
Adidas’s entry-level lifter, and genuinely good for the money. The heel is lower (around 15 mm) and the sole a little more flexible, which makes it a friendlier first pair and a better single shoe if you split your time between the Olympic lifts and general strength work. Two honest caveats: the toebox is narrow, and it runs short — order at least half a size up.
Adidas's entry-level lifter — a lower heel, a more flexible sole and a friendly price. A genuinely good budget shoe; just order at least half a size up.
Check price on AmazonLeistung 16 II — the specialist that got away
The Leistung was Adidas’s top-tier lifting shoe: a very tall heel, a BOA dial working alongside the laces, and a properly locked-in fit. We reviewed a pair when they landed and rated them highly. They’ve been off the shelves for years now, and the pairs still floating around tend to be tired — so treat this as a “if you find one in your size” option rather than a recommendation.
Read our full Adidas Leistung 16 II review for the detail on fit, the BOA system and sizing.
Adidas weightlifting vs Adidas powerlifting shoes
This trips people up constantly, so let’s clear it up: the Adidas Powerlift is not a powerlifting shoe. Despite the name, it’s Adidas’s entry-level weightlifting shoe — raised heel and all. If you searched for “Adidas powerlifting shoes” and landed here, that’s almost certainly the shoe you saw.
The two sports genuinely want different things underfoot:
- Olympic weightlifting (snatch, clean & jerk) rewards a raised, solid heel. You catch the bar in a deep squat, so anything that lets you sit deeper and stay more upright is a direct advantage. That’s the Adipower and the Powerlift.
- Powerlifting (squat, bench, deadlift) is more mixed. Plenty of squatters like a heel too — and a Powerlift or Adipower works fine for that. But most people deadlift in something flat and thin, to keep the bar path short and stay close to the floor. A raised heel is the last thing you want pulling a deadlift.
So: heeled shoe for the Olympic lifts and squats, flat shoe for deadlifts. If you mainly powerlift, a Powerlift 5 will serve you well for squats and you can pull in something flat.
Leistung 16 II vs Adipower: which is better?
The comparison people ask about most — usually because they’ve found a second-hand pair of Leistungs and want to know if it’s worth it. The honest answer: they’re both excellent, and the Adipower wins on availability.
- Heel. The Leistung sits you noticeably higher. If you’re tall, long in the femur, or short on ankle mobility, that extra height helps you stay upright in the catch. If you’re already mobile, the Adipower’s 22 mm is plenty.
- Closure. The Leistung’s BOA dial cinches evenly and quickly with one hand. The Adipower uses a straightforward strap over the laces — less clever, nothing to break.
- Feel. The Leistung is the more specialist, more locked-in shoe. The Adipower is the more versatile all-rounder.
- Availability. This is the decider. The Adipower is in production and easy to replace when you wear it out. The Leistung isn’t.
Verdict: if a clean, unworn pair of Leistungs turns up in your size at a fair price, grab them — they’re a lovely shoe. For everyone else, buy the Adipower and don’t look back.
Which Adidas shoe should a beginner buy?
The Powerlift 5, nine times out of ten. It’s a fraction of the price, the slightly lower heel feels less alien when you’re still learning where your balance is, and if you decide after six months that weightlifting isn’t for you, you haven’t spent flagship money finding out.
The exception: if you already know you’re committed — you’ve joined a club, you’re training two or three times a week — skip straight to the Adipower. You’ll only end up buying it eventually anyway.
What size should I order?
Adidas lifting shoes run snug and short. Across the range, going half a size up from your normal trainer size is the safe move, and the Powerlift in particular runs short with a narrow toebox — some people go a full size. Our Leistung reviewer, normally a UK 9, took a 10.
They should feel locked in, not roomy: your heel shouldn’t lift and your foot shouldn’t slide forward when you drop into a catch. But don’t confuse snug with crushed — if your toes are curled, size up.
Are weightlifting shoes actually worth it?
Yes — and it’s the single upgrade I’d push hardest on a newer lifter. A running shoe has a soft, compressible midsole, which is precisely wrong for lifting: some of the force you put into the floor disappears into the foam instead of the bar, and the squidginess makes balance harder. A lifting shoe gives you a solid platform and a raised heel, so you sit into a deeper, more upright squat and drive out of the bottom with everything you’ve got.
The honest caveat: shoes don’t fix technique. If you’re brand new, spend your first weeks on positions in whatever flat shoes you own — then buy the shoes.
The verdict
Buy the Adipower Weightlifting 3 if you’re taking the Olympic lifts seriously. Buy the Powerlift 5 if you’re starting out, watching the money, or want one shoe for mixed training. Chase a Leistung 16 II only if a clean second-hand pair lands in your lap. Whichever you pick, you’ll wonder how you ever lifted in trainers.
Comparing across brands too? See our guide to the best weightlifting shoes, which pits the Adipower against the Nike Romaleos, Reebok Legacy Lifter and TYR L-1. And the rest of the kit we actually train in is on our recommended gear page.
New to the lifts? Start with our step-by-step guide to how to learn the snatch and the rest of our technique guides.
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