Nike Romaleos II vs. Adidas Adipower

Joe String

J Fitness

The Breakdown: Adipower vs. Romaleos

Price	$199.99	$189.99
Color Choices	Red and White Red, White and Blue	Black and Silver White and Black Red and Gold White, Red and Black Volt (Neon Green) Black and Obsidian
Weight	18.0 oz.	15.8 oz.
Stability and Support	Very stable with solid flat bottom, tight fit for max support, high strap wraps ankle tightly	Very stable with solid flat bottom, wider but still snug, high and low strap wrap the foot extremely tightly
Quality	Incredible build, very durable	Incredible build, very durable, includes insole replacement (competition sole)
Winner	To be continued..	To be continued…

The never-ending debate between the Nike Romaleos IIs and the Adidas Adipowers is something that powerlifters and weightlifters abroad hear about every single day. It is very rare to scope any online fitness forum, check a websites review section or walk through any local gym without hearing a debate as to which shoe holds the crown. I have used both shoes and, too, had the battle within my head as to which pair to purchase. Today I set out to give my opinion…one that I think will hold much value as lifters go to make their decisions.

Adidas Adipower

I want to start with the Adipowers because they’re the first shoes that I had the opportunity to use. Adidas, one of the top sports apparel and footwear companies in the United States, is well known for their ability to produce quality products through the entire athletic spectrum. Well, in the case of powerlifting, they surely do not disappoint.

The Adipowers are constructed with a very high quality leather body and contain an adiWEAR® rubber outsole that reduces wear and tear while providing absurd amounts of strength and support beneath the foot. The hard, rubber bottom makes for a flat surface with very little give, which assists the lifter in digging into the ground and driving up through the lift. A high-placed strap increases the overall feel and allows lifters to let the shoe become a part of them during their workout, increasing comfort and confidence.

Cosmetically, again, Adidas brought their best. The appearance of the Adipowers is indeed memorable especially for shoes designed specifically for weightlifting. Clearly, this is opinion based, but most would agree. From the pure, fire engine red to the red, white and blue, the Adipowers are sharp, sleek and add to any weight lifters look in the gym.

Now, when speaking of price, it is very difficult to sound excited. Most shoppers in this situation would turn away when looking at a $200 price tag, but not so fast—remember, quality. When purchasing a pair of shoes, one can expect maybe a year, two years tops out of them. When purchasing shoes as well built and durable as the Adipowers, the $200 will go much further. It is an investment, but will end up being the last gym-shoe purchase for a long time…if ever made again.

The only two weaknesses, which will only be an issue for some when speaking of the Adipowers, are the facts that they are very slim-fitting and they are pretty heavy. They hug the foot no looser than a running shoe and leave very little wiggle room. This may sound optimal when weight training, but for me, it was relatively uncomfortable at times. Also, weighing in at 18 oz., they are on the heavier side. This can be expected for weightlifting shoes but it must be noted.

Nike Romaleos II

Alright, so, who doesn’t know Nike™? They are, without question, the biggest and most highly-held athletic wear company in the world and are known for producing nothing short of high quality, long lasting and eye pleasing products. Much like Adidas and the Adipowers, Nike stepped up to the plate and hit a home run with the Romaleos IIs.

Constructed with a synthetic leather body and a rubber outsole, the Romaleos are very flexible and soft at the top but stiff, sturdy and strong beneath. Underneath the shoe, where all of the stability comes from, is Nike’s “Powerbridge.” It consists of a TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane) heel cup, which is a technology that was engineered to provide arch-reinforcement for the bottom of the foot. This makes for extra stability and unmatched durability while handling countless sessions of heavy weight and hard work.

Also integrated into the Romaleos IIs were different heel heights relative to other weight lifting shoes, minimizing heel wear and maximizing feel. The shoes come with two separate insoles—a softer, less rugged sole for general training and then a stiff sole for use in competitions. Having used both, I can say from experience that the difference can, indeed, be felt.

Finally, when speaking of the fit of the Romaelos IIs, it must be mentioned that they are wider shoes and that they possess a high and low strap. The wider fit allows for a little more wiggle room, which eliminates all feeling of tightness and soreness associated with over-tight footwear. The double (high/low) strap takes overall feel to a whole new level, maximizing comfort and confidence.

With so many different choices (no surprise coming from Nike™), it is simple to decide on a colorway that one would find attractive. There are darker, black pairs with neutral colors such as silver or specific colors, such as red. There are also lighter, white pairs that also pair neutrally or specifically with other colors. Finally, there is the unique red and gold pair and of course, Nike’s signature Oregon Ducks inspired Volt, which is bright neon green coupled with gold strap tips.

Pricewise, the Romaleos IIs are not something that a shopper would get excited over. They can be found for $189 on most websites, which for a pair of shoes, is definitely on the higher end. With that in mind, understand that these shoes are built extremely well and will sustain a heavy workload day to day, providing years upon years of use and little to no maintenance. It is indeed an investment, but it is one worth making.

A weakness that one might point out about the Romaleos IIs is that the body is constructed with synthetic leather. Knowing that the shoe does not contain pure, genuine leather can scare potential buyers into thinking the shoe is of inferior quality to its competitors. As an owner, I can say that this is not the case, but it is still something that must be mentioned. A second potential weakness for some could be the fact that the shoes fit wider than others. Some may not be a fan of the extra wiggle room.

One vs. The Other

When looking at the grand scheme of things, the two shoes differ very little. Both contain a hard-nose rubber outsole with enough flexibility to be optimal for training, but enough stiffness to provide a flat, sturdy surface for Olympic lifts. At only a $10 difference, it is not necessarily clear as to which shoe to choose.

Differences truly reside within the feel and technology. Adidas went with a more compact, versatile and tough shoe. They built the Adipowers with genuine leather to minimize wear and tear, but suffer slightly from a lack of color choices, overall weight and slight stiffness. Nike went with a wider, lighter, extra-comfortable and flexible shoe while still remaining sturdy and flat. They chose synthetic leather, which can bring durability into question, but that creates a more flexible feel and offers multiple color choices with a double-strap, again, to maximize foot contour.

What to choose?

As hard-pressed as I am to say that there is no clear-cut winner, there is, indeed, no clear-cut winner! One must evaluate the differences, strengths, weaknesses, price and appearance of both shoes to make a decision. Today, I think I was able to provide you, the reader, with a great breakdown of both shoes leading to an easier choice!

Contact Joe: joestring@jfitnesstraining.com