Nike Savaleos
Editor’s Conclusion
The Nike Saveleos is the perfect lifting shoe for dedicated powerlifters that like to switch it up every once and a while. It’s as if the Metcon series had a baby with the Romaleos. The Romaleo lineup is geared more towards serious powerlifters that are looking to smash records but don’t offer much functionality outside of powerlifting.
While the Saveloes boast all of the advanced features of a powerlifting shoe such as a hook and loop lockdown strap and 15 mm heel stack, it’s a little bit more flexible and provides features for lighter and speedy sets. It’s a great shoe for serious powerlifting days but can transition to cardio-style training days as well. Unlike the Metcon series that is more versatile, the Savaleos are geared more towards heavy lifts.
Plus, when compared to the Romaleos, this shoe is offered at a much more affordable price point that won’t break the bank.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make the Nike Savaleo a really great powerlifting shoe.
While the Saveloes boast all of the advanced features of a powerlifting shoe such as a hook and loop lockdown strap and 15 mm heel stack, it’s a little bit more flexible and provides features for lighter and speedy sets. It’s a great shoe for serious powerlifting days but can transition to cardio-style training days as well. Unlike the Metcon series that is more versatile, the Savaleos are geared more towards heavy lifts.
Plus, when compared to the Romaleos, this shoe is offered at a much more affordable price point that won’t break the bank.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make the Nike Savaleo a really great powerlifting shoe.
Nike Savaleos Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Versatile design is great for high-intensity workouts
Ideal for powerlifting
Great for beginners
Affordable price point
Knife-edge long the heel is great for HSPUs
15 mm heel stack
Lightweight
Cons
Runs a little narrow
Not made for running
Key Features
MIDSOLE
I did a lot of digging, and couldn’t find much on the actual midsole material used for this training shoe. What I did discover, however, is that the midsole material used for these shoes is incredibly rigid. It doesn’t provide that soft step-in feel like the Nike Metcon series and instead utilizes a similar midsole as the Nike Romaleos.
This stiff midsole offers a strong foundation that helps you really dig into power deadlifts and squats. The stiff midsole material also allows for a strong transfer of power when engaging in explosive lifts as well.
What I also appreciate about the midsole of this shoe is that it boasts a slightly lower heel than the Romaleos. The Romaleos provide a heel lift of around 20 mm, while the Savaleo offers a lift of about 15 mm. This lower heel height still provides excellent drive, with just a little bit of added flexibility and movement for more high-intensity lifts.
OUTSOLE
The outsole of this design shares a lot of similarities with the Romaleos, with a few changes to help increase agility and movement. The outsole is composed of slip-resistant rubber that runs the full length of the shoe. The grooved texture in the rubber ensures maximum contact with the ground and prevents the rubber from slipping on slick or smooth surfaces.
This shoe also boasts more flexible rubber on the sides of the foot to boost agility and lateral movements when engaging in workouts such as CrossFit.
Another big difference between the Savaleo and its big brother the Romaleo is the addition of the knife-edge on the end of the heel. This additional feature is a great tool to use for HSPU’s (Hand Stand Push Ups), which works to limit your shoe’s contact with the wall to make this very difficult movement just a little bit easier.
UPPER
What I also love about the design of the Savaleo is that the upper provides advanced stability features while keeping the overall weight light. It is composed of stiff canvas material that boosts lockdown so that your feet won’t shift while inside of this shoe.
It also has modest mesh panels in key areas to help move hot air up and away from your feet. When compared to the Romaleo, this shoe is much more breathable and lightweight, making it perfect for high-intensity workouts as well.
It also utilizes a hook and loop strap that runs along the top of the foot. The implementation of the singular strap helps to lock the shoe in place when engaging in deadlifts or squats, but it’s modest enough to cut down on the overall weight of the shoe.
The hook and loops design is far superior to the Velcro designs found in other brands and provides a more secure overall fit that is easy to make minor adjustments as needed.
PERFORMANCE
Overall, I would recommend this shoe to those that are just starting out on their powerlifting journey for a few reasons. First of all, this shoe is much more affordable than other dedicated powerlifting shoes out there on the market. True powerlifting shoes are unique, and they certainly aren’t for everyone.
I found that the insanely high stack height on the Romaleos was a little too heavy and bulky, especially on light recovery days. I often had to swap out my powerlifting shoes for something that was a little more accommodating for higher rep recovery days. The Savaleos hit that sweet spot between modest lifting shoes and everyday trainers.
While it’s marketed as a versatile powerlifting/cross-training shoe, I found that this shoe leans more into powerlifting than cross-training. If powerlifting is your main jam, and you like to supplement your heavy lifts with snappy drop sets, this is a great option. If you lean more into cross-training than powerlifting, the Nike Metcon series is your better overall option.
FIT
The fit of this shoe is a little bit different when compared to other Nike trainers. Many users found that the cut of this shoe runs a little bit narrow, so it may be in your best interest to buy a half-size larger than you would normally wear.
Also, due to the fact that this isn’t your average everyday running shoe, it’s important that you give them a test run before you make your purchase. I suggest heading down to your local shoe store to try them on first.
If you can’t make it to a shoe store to give them a test run, be sure to take accurate measurements of your feet and compare them to Nike’s sizing chart. I found that Nike’s sizing chart is incredibly accurate, so you can feel confident that you will select the right size for your feet without the need to send them back!
STYLE
If it doesn’t look cool, then it isn’t Nike. What I love about the Savaleos is that they come in a few unique color options that match your personal style. It is offered in basic neutral tones such as black with white accents, But also includes a few options that are a little unconventional.
Personally, I love the sleek white with yellow accents. Unlike running shoes, you can get away with white powerlifting shoes because you most likely won’t be wearing these shoes outside of the gym, which means that they will stay bright white for quite a while!
PRICE
One of the most notable features of these powerlifting shoes is the super affordable price point. Up until the Savaleos release in 2021, if you wanted a Nike powerlifting shoe you had to prepare yourself for a super steep price tag. What I love most about this versatile shoe is that it clocks in at a price point that is around the same amount that you would spend on a good pair of running shoes.
The versatility and durability of this design are just as functional as the higher-end powerlifting shoes with a more approachable price point. If you want to give a good powerlifting shoe a try but are unwilling to pay the steep price point of some of the Olympic-grade shoes out there on the market, this is an excellent place to start.
I did a lot of digging, and couldn’t find much on the actual midsole material used for this training shoe. What I did discover, however, is that the midsole material used for these shoes is incredibly rigid. It doesn’t provide that soft step-in feel like the Nike Metcon series and instead utilizes a similar midsole as the Nike Romaleos.
This stiff midsole offers a strong foundation that helps you really dig into power deadlifts and squats. The stiff midsole material also allows for a strong transfer of power when engaging in explosive lifts as well.
What I also appreciate about the midsole of this shoe is that it boasts a slightly lower heel than the Romaleos. The Romaleos provide a heel lift of around 20 mm, while the Savaleo offers a lift of about 15 mm. This lower heel height still provides excellent drive, with just a little bit of added flexibility and movement for more high-intensity lifts.
OUTSOLE
The outsole of this design shares a lot of similarities with the Romaleos, with a few changes to help increase agility and movement. The outsole is composed of slip-resistant rubber that runs the full length of the shoe. The grooved texture in the rubber ensures maximum contact with the ground and prevents the rubber from slipping on slick or smooth surfaces.
This shoe also boasts more flexible rubber on the sides of the foot to boost agility and lateral movements when engaging in workouts such as CrossFit.
Another big difference between the Savaleo and its big brother the Romaleo is the addition of the knife-edge on the end of the heel. This additional feature is a great tool to use for HSPU’s (Hand Stand Push Ups), which works to limit your shoe’s contact with the wall to make this very difficult movement just a little bit easier.
UPPER
What I also love about the design of the Savaleo is that the upper provides advanced stability features while keeping the overall weight light. It is composed of stiff canvas material that boosts lockdown so that your feet won’t shift while inside of this shoe.
It also has modest mesh panels in key areas to help move hot air up and away from your feet. When compared to the Romaleo, this shoe is much more breathable and lightweight, making it perfect for high-intensity workouts as well.
It also utilizes a hook and loop strap that runs along the top of the foot. The implementation of the singular strap helps to lock the shoe in place when engaging in deadlifts or squats, but it’s modest enough to cut down on the overall weight of the shoe.
The hook and loops design is far superior to the Velcro designs found in other brands and provides a more secure overall fit that is easy to make minor adjustments as needed.
PERFORMANCE
Overall, I would recommend this shoe to those that are just starting out on their powerlifting journey for a few reasons. First of all, this shoe is much more affordable than other dedicated powerlifting shoes out there on the market. True powerlifting shoes are unique, and they certainly aren’t for everyone.
I found that the insanely high stack height on the Romaleos was a little too heavy and bulky, especially on light recovery days. I often had to swap out my powerlifting shoes for something that was a little more accommodating for higher rep recovery days. The Savaleos hit that sweet spot between modest lifting shoes and everyday trainers.
While it’s marketed as a versatile powerlifting/cross-training shoe, I found that this shoe leans more into powerlifting than cross-training. If powerlifting is your main jam, and you like to supplement your heavy lifts with snappy drop sets, this is a great option. If you lean more into cross-training than powerlifting, the Nike Metcon series is your better overall option.
FIT
The fit of this shoe is a little bit different when compared to other Nike trainers. Many users found that the cut of this shoe runs a little bit narrow, so it may be in your best interest to buy a half-size larger than you would normally wear.
Also, due to the fact that this isn’t your average everyday running shoe, it’s important that you give them a test run before you make your purchase. I suggest heading down to your local shoe store to try them on first.
If you can’t make it to a shoe store to give them a test run, be sure to take accurate measurements of your feet and compare them to Nike’s sizing chart. I found that Nike’s sizing chart is incredibly accurate, so you can feel confident that you will select the right size for your feet without the need to send them back!
STYLE
If it doesn’t look cool, then it isn’t Nike. What I love about the Savaleos is that they come in a few unique color options that match your personal style. It is offered in basic neutral tones such as black with white accents, But also includes a few options that are a little unconventional.
Personally, I love the sleek white with yellow accents. Unlike running shoes, you can get away with white powerlifting shoes because you most likely won’t be wearing these shoes outside of the gym, which means that they will stay bright white for quite a while!
PRICE
One of the most notable features of these powerlifting shoes is the super affordable price point. Up until the Savaleos release in 2021, if you wanted a Nike powerlifting shoe you had to prepare yourself for a super steep price tag. What I love most about this versatile shoe is that it clocks in at a price point that is around the same amount that you would spend on a good pair of running shoes.
The versatility and durability of this design are just as functional as the higher-end powerlifting shoes with a more approachable price point. If you want to give a good powerlifting shoe a try but are unwilling to pay the steep price point of some of the Olympic-grade shoes out there on the market, this is an excellent place to start.
Comparison to the Nike Romaleo
If you are on the hunt for a good powerlifting shoe, you may be torn between the Romaleo and the Savaleo. The Romaleo hit the scene first and was Nike’s only dedicated powerlifting shoe for a long time. It boasts high-end performance features for advanced powerlifters and it also came in at a really steep price point.
If you are just starting out on your powerlifting journey, the Savaleos is the perfect starting point. Not only is this shoe offered at a much more affordable price point than the Romaleo, but it also provides additional features for more versatile lifting and workouts.
The Romaleo is stiff, boasts a higher stack height, and only shines when engaging in the three big lifts: squats, bench presses, and deadlifts. What makes the Savaleo unique is that it is built with a few additional features that are great for cardio workouts and snappy drop sets.
Plus, the much more approachable price point makes it a great option for those that are just unsure about powerlifting shoes.
If you are just starting out on your powerlifting journey, the Savaleos is the perfect starting point. Not only is this shoe offered at a much more affordable price point than the Romaleo, but it also provides additional features for more versatile lifting and workouts.
The Romaleo is stiff, boasts a higher stack height, and only shines when engaging in the three big lifts: squats, bench presses, and deadlifts. What makes the Savaleo unique is that it is built with a few additional features that are great for cardio workouts and snappy drop sets.
Plus, the much more approachable price point makes it a great option for those that are just unsure about powerlifting shoes.
Verdict
If you are in the market for a great powerlifting shoe that is also able to adapt to casual lifting or even CrossFit, the Nike Savaleo is a great choice. I feel this is a good pick for novice lifters because it comes in at a modest price point, and offers extra features that allow users to wear them when engaging in bodyweight exercises as well.
It’s listed as a versatile powerlifting/cross-training shoe, but I feel that it is geared more towards powerlifting than cross-training. The outsole of this design provides more flexibility than the Romaleos, but not quite enough to take these shoes out for a jog.
It’s listed as a versatile powerlifting/cross-training shoe, but I feel that it is geared more towards powerlifting than cross-training. The outsole of this design provides more flexibility than the Romaleos, but not quite enough to take these shoes out for a jog.
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