I bought these wrestling shoes to use primarily for doing heavy squats and leg workouts. They have worked excellently for that purpose. The reason for this is because there is no cushioning in the soles to compress and absorb the force being transmitted through your body from heavy weights. It provides a positive secure transmission platform for the forces generated through heavy lifting. When you wear shoes like these with no cushioning, you are able to lift and control heavier weights during leg workouts. These are also a cheaper alternative to the wooden sole powerlifting shoes.