Nike only released one weightlifting shoe in 2019 and it was the Nike Romaleos 3 XD. Why did they release just a single shoe? Well probably because it was their most all-rounded offering. What we are trying to say is that the Nike Romaleos 3 XD is a great pair of weightlifting shoes. However, don’t just go on purchasing them right this second, there are certain things you need to know about them before you make a big decision.
The Nike Romaleos 3 XD is a straight-for-business kind of weightlifting shoe. It comes with a solid and firm insole and sole. The heel is also raised considerably increasing your stability during heavy lifts. Even for squats, light lifting, and jerks, these are great.
Quick Review Summary
Rating:
Recommendation: These shoes are made for one thing and one thing only, if you need a serious tool that can aid you in weightlifting, the Romaleos 3 XD are a solid choice.
Pros:
– Very sturdy and has almost no “squish” in the heel.
– A definite upgrade from the Romaleos 3 in terms of build quality and materials.
Cons:
– You cannot walk in them to the gym.
– They are a narrow pair of shoes.
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Nike Romaleos 3 vs. Nike Romaleos 3 XD
A lot of people have confusion over whether these both are the same shoe or not. Let’s clear that up first. The Nike Romaleos 3 XD and the Nike Romaleos 3 are not the same shoes. However, the Nike Romaleos 3 XD is kind of like Nike Romaleos 3.5. Think of this as the iPhone S instead of the numbered released. It is not the Nike Romaleos 4 but just an updated version of the 3 with better materials. Should you get the Nike Romaleos 3 then? We’d recommend that you don’t. However, if you like the materials they used on the old version, it is still on sale.
The major difference between Nike Romaleos 3 and Nike Romaleos 3 XD are the materials and some design choices that make the new ones sturdier. A lot of people have problems with the tongue getting ripped on the old shoe, Nike seems to have fixed that issue with the Nike Romaleos 3 XD.
Nike Romaleos 3 XD Weightlifting Shoes
The Nike Romaleos 3 XD are weightlifting shoes made for those who are interested in lifting weights and nothing more. These are more of a tool or gym equipment than actual footwear so they are not meant to be used for running, climbing, jogging, jumping or anything else. They have one purpose and they achieve that with flying colors. The Nike Romaleos 3 XD is a pair of weight lifting shoes and nothing more.
Heel Raise
The best thing about the Nike Romaleos 3 XD is the heel raise. It is perfect for deep squats as it allows you to stay stable even when going as far as you can go. The amount of flex needed by the ankle is reduced drastically when you use these weightlifting shoes. The raise is 20mm which is perfect and on par with something you can find on competing shoes from Reebok and Adidas.
The heels are also quite rigid and solid. There is almost no flex to them and offer almost non-existent cushioning. The heels also don’t squish at all, which is great for more stability. We are sure there is some squishiness when you lift super heavyweights but we didn’t see or feel it ourselves.
Solid and Firm
Another thing about these shoes is the right amount of firmness. The Nike Romaleos 3 was good but the newer version goes above them when it comes to stiffness and firmness. The midsole, the outsole, and the insole all feel sturdy and instill a feeling of stability. The right amount of trust is needed in your shoes when you are lifting heavy weights and the Nike Romaleos 3 XD are up to the task. While we didn’t lift a lot of weight ourselves, the shoes felt comfortable and stable for the whole set.
The midsole is also removable. This is due to the fact that Nike Romaleos 3 XD actually comes with two different midsoles. One is super hard and firm while the other is a bit softer and has some cushion. This is a great feature for those who want extra firmness or a bit of cushioning.
Speaking of the sole, it is super flat and has an exceptional amount of grip. This is exactly what we want from a good pair of weight lifting shoes. The flat nature of the shoe allows a bigger surface area to be in contact with the ground, increasing the grip and stability.
The MidFoot Strap and Flywire
The Nike Romaleos 3 XD comes with a great midfoot strap that adds in another layer of security. You can adjust how tight they are and change the fit of the shoe according to your own needs and feel.
Then there is the Flywire feature. These are Vectran filaments that run with the laces as well as the body of the whole shoe. This means when you tighten up the laces, the whole shoe gets tighten up with them. If you peek inside, you can actually see them along the sides of the shoe too. A practical and useful feature for sure.
One Negative Thing – Narrowness
The Nike Romaleos 3 XD are narrow, so if you have wider feet, you are not going to be comfortable using them. We recommend that you order half a size up when you get them as well, the strap along with the laces can help with the fit anyways. The extra space will allow your foot to have room when lifting as well. It is not a big negative at all and will only affect a certain number of lifters, however, it is an important one to keep in mind when ordering the Nike Romaleos 3 XD.
Conclusion:
The Nike Romaleos 3 XD is a wonderful pair of weightlifting shoes. We loved how stable they felt during the lifts. We are also loving the Flywire system Nike has implemented in the shoes. In short, if you are going to be weightlifting a lot, these are some of the best shoes you can get for that. The price might be an issue for some customers, but we feel the price is justified and the shoes bring a lot to the gym mat.
Results
Rating:
Recommendation: These shoes are made for one thing and one thing only, if you need a serious tool that can aid you in weightlifting, the Romaleos 3 XD are a solid choice.
Pros:
– Very sturdy and has almost no “squish” in the heel.
– A definite upgrade from the Romaleos 3 in terms of build quality and materials.
Cons:
– You cannot walk in them to the gym.
– They are a narrow pair of shoes.
