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Lululemon Chargefeel 2 Review: A Versatile Workout Shoe for When You Wish to Do It All
%20(4000%20%C3%97%203000%20px)%20(1).png "Lululemon Chargefeel 2 Review: A Versatile Workout Shoe for When You Wish to Do It All")
Aug
The streamlined silhouette made me (and my sorta wide feet) a little bit frightened. But Lululemon’s shoes are designed specifically for a girl’s foot, which makes the toe box a little bit roomier—I didn’t notice any pinching along the perimeters.
Once I stood up in them, I could feel the cushion underneath my foot—it was a lot softer than I’d expect with lifting shoes—and felt pretty supported on the ankle. I also loved the padded tongue, which allowed for a decent lacing lockdown without it digging into the highest of my foot. After a fast walk around my apartment, I felt excited to take them to the gym to see how they do with more intense movement.
Christa Sgobba
On the gym
I made a decision to check out the Chargefeel 2 during a higher-rep, lighter-weight lower-body workout that followed a fast treadmill warm-up. From the get-go, I used to be stoked: I actually enjoy prepping my legs for strength training with a brief, easy jog, but I’m never in a position to do it because I all the time wear completely flat lifting shoes for a session—that are a no-go for me for running, especially since I’m vulnerable to some lower-leg injuries.
My warm-up was lower than a mile at my easy pace, but I definitely could have gone longer: These felt cushiony for running and weren’t blocky or unwieldy like some shoes I’ve tried that also promise to do all of it. The heel support within the shoe helped keep my foot regular with each stride.
During my lifting portion, I did each dynamic moves and more traditional strength training exercises: barbell reverse lunges, dumbbell single-leg deadlifts, goblet squats, lateral step-ups, and a few mini-band work. I actually enjoyed the flexibleness of the shoe throughout the lunges; sometimes with lifting shoes, I feel just like the foot that’s moving has to actually fight to get on its toes. As for exercises where each feet remained planted, these sneakers stayed stable on the ground and didn’t wobble (which frequently happens if I attempt to squat or hinge in trainers). I discovered the shoe especially helpful during lateral step-ups. This sort of dynamic, side to side movement may be tricky in stiff, flat, trainers, however the Chargefeel 2 supported me and allowed me the range of motion I needed.
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Bottom line
For workouts that include a bunch of various modalities—running, lifting, lateral movement—the Lululemon Chargefeel 2 ensures each portion stays as comfortable because the others. I’d select this shoe for routines which can be heavy on the dynamic movement, especially HIIT-based routines, circuit classes, or those who have you ever moving from the treadmill to the free-weight floor and back again. Due to their cushion, support, and general pretty appearance, they’d even be a solid selection for walks with friends, running errands, or casual gatherings.
I’d lean toward the Chargefeel 2 for workouts that do a little bit little bit of every little thing fairly than those which can be completely focused on going all in on one modality. For example, while these felt great on a treadmill warm-up, I probably wouldn’t take them on a protracted run or a speed session. They usually were supportive with dynamic strength training moves like lunges, but when I used to be doing a routine with max-weight big moves like barbell deadlifts, I’d persist with my flat-bottomed shoes to actually dial in my stability. But for those days where your body is craving all of it, these are a fantastic choice to get it done.
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