Grip Test! Avancus 1.5 vs Tolos 1.0 vs Tolos 2.0 - Battle of the Best Lifting Shoes 

I know these are super random but hope they help a few people.

Lol oh man

I actually have more than one video on how to hang them. For flags I like using hooks screwed into some of the wood joists. For the other banners dual sided outdoor carpet tape has worked great. In the past I’ve also used gorilla tape.

Needed to spice it up lol.

the Avancus are heavier.

Haha appreciate it!

The cinematography here rivals Christopher Nolan.

Man my cars used to rip back in the day.

Try to contain yourself!

So I'm either a 12.5 or a 13 depending on the cut of the shoe. For the Tolos I found 12.5 was a bit too tight near my big toe, so went 13 and they fit perfect. My Vivos I sized normally but they have almost a clown shoe type toe box, so lots of room I could have probably sized down by 1/2.

I find the Tolos a tad more sticky, but I should note my preferred NL are the older Gen 2 NON sumo soles. So not sure how they compare to some of the more recent versions.

I just did a first impressions on my training day. I think for $99 they’re worthwhile.

So I have yet to really test it. I'm having a hard time finding where it fits in my training. Seems it's best served for higher rep/hypertrophy work. How do you utilize it?

@@BasementBrandon hypertrophy and accessory movements it's never the first exercise or focus of my workout. I try to use it one to two times a week but average half that likely three times a month now and just once within a workout.. I'd start with something easy like bicep curls or bent over row for your very first movement to get use to the device because it is unique before strapping on... I mean strapping in and substituting something like a front squat or goblet squat with a squat harness... I use mine for accessory squats, Bulgarian squats (really suck) which on a k box would be really high so watch your head, bent over rows, face pulls, shoulder to overhead movements, tricep push down, occasional bicep curls nothing crazy. Personally I try to go hard on the concentric so you don't end up half assing the eccentric, you're always fighting the momentum you just created so for me going hard on the concentric ensures that I go hard on the eccentric. It's a novel stimulus. I also like to do drop sets for time because the reps just take longer on both the concentric and eccentric portion of the movement compared to the substituted exercise. I do find myself taking longer breaks after each set in general as I find it more taxing overall compared to preforming the same movement with a free weight or cable. Completely unrelated ever considered attaching your leg curl extension to your low pulley to even out the strength curve of the movement? I see you use a band on that.

@@rodolfomedini9931 Thats kind of what I envisioned my use of the kbox to be. I'll have to start toying with it more, appreciate the detailed response. For the leg ext/curl, it would be such a pain in the ass to set up and the band actually works well! I talk about it in my training video from today that I'm uploading as I type this.

Thanks for taking a look!

For squat you’re looking for stability, grip, and some lateral support. There are many options, and I imagine the avancus apex powers would win for the combination of lateral support, wide-ish toe box, and grip. The $100 lifting shoes really aren’t gonna make you squat more though compared to some cheap minimalist shoe. For bench the main thing you need is grip. A shoe that makes your feet feel well-planted on the ground is nice, but the only truly important factor for bench IMO is not slipping. Any cheap shoe with a sticky sole could work. For conventional deadlift, you really just want to be barefoot if possible. A pair of shoes is just going to put you in a tiny deficit at best and destabilize you at worst. For sumo deadlift you want a lot of lateral support and grip. The original avancus apex powers are well known for being the best sumo deadlift shoe as far as I’m aware. As always, being barefoot works great too.

It appears the TYR-1 which i own and love have a heel lift and appear stiffer. The tolos appear more flexible and flatter. I’m not sure but while they are both lifting shoes, they may have different purposes.

A lot of this is preference. B/c I prefer to squat in flats, a minimalistic shoe makes the most sense as they typically are wider in the toe box to better fit my feet and offer little to no distance between you and the floor (stack height). I don't externally rotate super hard, not do i pull sumo, so having a well built side wall isn't something I really need, which is why the Tolos for me are my favorite (I'm also partial liking how they look). I don't think you're missing a ton by not going to a more minimalistic shoe, but for those who want to eliminate every disadvantage, no matter how small, it might be something to consider.

Some good responses here. I might add that for bench, sometimes people like to wear a heeled shoe to help get them in a better position and more push for leg drive.

I have some!

Yes I can try. There aren't a ton of differences to me outside of the more minimalistic design, new colors, and new upper material

Damn it. I wish I thought of that.

So the Avancus 2 are on the way, just not sure a definitive timeline. I believe they're sending me some. That said, the Radix are good shoes. I think they're pretty similar to the avancus overall. The one thing I noticed is the toe box is slightly less wide by my big toe, but it's not bad enough were I'd size up any more. I still like the Tolos the best personally but I don't need a lot of lateral support (which they don't do as well as the others mentioned).

@@BasementBrandon Thanks BC, appreciate your time taken on this response. I just copped the Avancus V2 just now, super excited to use them and retire any shoes I used in the gym before now haha. Jake That Fit Friend said the same thing about the Tolo's, he also mentioned the 1HUND's so I'll take a look at those too as another pair for casual wear. Hope you and the fam are good and thank you for keeping me in the lifting game for the last 10 years bro.

I think you'll like them. Not sure if you are on IG but I posted about the Avancus yesterday. They're great lifting shoes for sure. I had bought a pair of the 1Hunds and wasn't a big fan, a bit more narrow than I liked and it had a built in cushioned sole. I think they came out with a new model however, but I haven't tried.

@@BasementBrandon hell yeah, just gave it a like. I've heard nothing but good things and excited to have a wide toe box in a training shoe. I had stopped deadlifting for a bit and still had been using the old adipower's for squats. Since I started deadlifting again I've just been using some puma sneakers and the wide toe box alone was a game changer, the adidas are so narrow at the toe so they're going to be retired with my chucks lol. Getting out of the 2010's finally! Good to know on the 1Hund's too, I definitely have wider feet so will stick with the Avancus for now.

Thanks Coach!

I haven't run into that issue yet personally.

Thanks my dude

I think of the shoes out there geared towards lifting the Avancus are prob the most ideal for most.

I think that theory would be put to rest by the fact that the 1.0s had the same color sole as the avancus?

@@BasementBrandon Indeed, true comparting the two white shoes, but what about the black?

​@@squealer42i dont think the color of the bench pad have anything to do with stickiness

@@gourmetpez2291 I think REP should produce and send him a custom white utility seat pad so we can know for sure. At a minimum, it would look sick!

Had to spice it up somehow!

I like the overall look but I don't think I like the all blacked out shoe look.

Not much yet. I'm stuggling to find a place where it fits in my training.

Mine fit true to size. I've always found nikes run small and on the narrow side.

They make slippers, very similar to Notorious Lift.

I tried the vivos that I had and they slid right off, but they've been worn so I'm guessing the tread isn't as grippy.

@@BasementBrandon yeah the primus lite are very slippery compared to the newer Motus Strength.

I did one on the Primus Lite!

@@BasementBrandon excellent I shall go for a look. But holy shit they’re expensive in Aus - $250 😩

It's bc it doesn't open until launch (Friday)

😂

Few reasons. Grip is important for the type of lifting I do (powerlifting) and socks don't provide that. Also I regularly compete and you are required to wear shoes.

@@BasementBrandon Yeah I use "yoga socks" i.e. grippy socks. I don't compete, but the very rare occasion I powerlift in a gym my zero shoes are meant to feel like I'm not wearing shoes anyway (as are your shoes) which I guess was my real question - reason for shoes when you're going minimalist anyway. Figured it was for competition specificity but was curious if you also were doing it to protect your toes or something. I always debate putting my zeroes on for the stub toe safety but just find not doing that more convenient (cause I'm that lazy I guess). Thanks for the answer!

my man

Thanks for taking a look!

He works for Dell - Computer Stuff

I work in Learning & Development (training) for a technology company

Oh sweet, any chance you could speak a little about your experience and give some tips on entering the tech industry. Currently i am working to transition from my blue collar job into tech and I value your opinion. Anyways, I know this is totally random. Thank you for entertaining

@@tony1118tony so my educational background was a BS in Economics, which I never used. Got a job at a company who sold power/racks/cooling (data center) out of school and started in their call center doing basic sales and tech support. That eventually led to a role in training & enablement. After a few years doing that I took an opportunity at a small networking start up to build their training department from the ground up. Several years later wanted to expand my career and earning opportunity so took a role at one of the largest storage providers focusing on unstructured data the past decade, only having switched to the server side of the house 2 months ago. My basic advice is you just have to jump in. the more you educuate yourself the better. there's a huge opportunity in the tech space today when it comes to all flavors of AI and Data Science.

@BasementBrandon thank you so much for taking the time to answer. I hope to have the instinct you’ve had to eventually have success in the business. I’ve been following you for years and truly appreciate your content, you add value to the space. Have a great day brother.

I'm submitting this research to get that Nobel Peace Prize.

We can't hide behind the media's false narratives. This is the information people need to see.

My point of view is there isn't a reason to. It's a gym and not a living room 🤪

Ain't nobody got time fo dat! 😇