AVANCUS Apex Power Review | Best Minimalist Shoes for Deadlifting?

The AVANCUS Apex Power is a minimalist shoe designed with the lifter and strength athlete in mind. These shoes were purposely built to support heavy deadlifts, squats, and intense training sessions.

As someone on the never-ending quest to find the best barefoot shoes for lifting, I was stoked to put the AVANCUS Apex Power to the test. This model has a minimalist feel but with a bit more boot structure and support. 

In my AVANCUS Apex Power review, I’ll cover the pros and cons, and share my performance experiences in this shoe.

AVANCUS Apex Power

4.8

Stability

4.8

Versatility

4.7

Durability

4.7

Quality

4.8

Best For

• Deadlifting (Sumo and Conventional)
• Recreational Lifting
• Versatile Workouts
• Minimalist Shoe Lovers

Falls Short

• For Daily Wear

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	AVANCUS Apex Power ✖	Tolos Archetype 1.0 ✖	Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III ✖	Xero Shoes Zelen ✖	Vivobarefoot Primus Lite Knit ✖
Overall TF2 Score	4.8	4.8	4.8	4.7	4.6
Price		$115	$160	$129.99	$170
Best For	Deadlifting (Sumo and Conventional) Recreational Lifting Versatile Workouts Minimalist Shoe Lovers	Daily/Casual Wear Recreational Lifting Athletic Training All-Around Performance for the Price	Heavy Weight Training Daily Wear Casual Workouts Lighter Runs and Athletic Training	Short and Mid-Range Runs Outdoor Training Recreational Lifting Environmental-Conscious Shoppers	Recreational Lifting Casual Cross-Training Short Runs Daily Wear Wide Feet
Review	Link to Review	Link to Review	Link to Review	Link to Review	Link to Review
Shop	Shop AVANCUS	Shop Tolos	Shop Vivobarefoot	Shop Xero Shoes	Shop Vivobarefoot

Must Read: On the market for new barefoot shoes? Check out my Best Barefoot Shoes round-up to find the best pairs for your needs.

Who Should Buy the AVANCUS Apex Power?

After multiple training sessions in the AVANCUS Apex Power, I’ve found a few contexts where these shoes really excel.

1. Athletes Concerned With Traction and Grip

The first lifter that will enjoy the AVANCUS Apex Power is the strength athlete that is constantly putting a ton of stress into the sole of their shoe. There’s a reason not every model works for things like sumo deadlifts and sled pushes.

The AVANCUS Apex Power has performed exceptionally well regarding its traction on different surfaces and these were some of the grippier shoes I’ve trained in lately.

2. Strength Athletes and Lifters That Like Boot Support

The AVANCUS Apex Power feels like a blend of the Adidas The Total, which is a shoe designed for lifting that has a bit more upper and boot support and a Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III.

I think you love minimalist shoes with flexible soles but often wish they had a little more structure to them, especially through the boot, then you’ll resonate with the AVANCUS Apex Power.

3. Budget-Conscious Shoppers Wanting a Shoe for Lifting

If you’re wanting to spend less than $100 USD on a pair of shoes for lifting and training, then you’ll like the AVANCUS Apex Power’s $95 USD price point, especially for how well-rounded this shoe is.

This shoe has worked well for heavy lifting, and dynamic workouts that included plyometrics and power cleans, and they’ve held their own for my conditioning sessions. In my opinion, they deliver a solid performance for their price.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the AVANCUS Apex Power?

When it comes to performance in the gym, the AVANCUS Apex Power has done exceptionally well, but there are a couple of contexts where I think you’ll want to pass on this shoe.

1. Lifters That Want a Shoe for Daily Wear As Well

If you’re wanting a shoe for training that transcends the gym and can look good for casual wear, then you may not resonate with the AVANCUS Apex Power. This is a model that I’m going to reserve for training due to its outsole grip and appearance.

First, I don’t want to break down this shoe’s outsole with daily use since it’s super grippy and one of my favorite parts of this shoe. It can definitely work for daily wear, don’t get me wrong, but I want my pair to last longer.

Second, this model looks a little too “gymmy” for casual use, in my opinion, and I’d rather use something like a Tolos Archetype 1.0 for training and casual wear.

2. Blocky Feet May Not Resonate With These

Personally, I find the width of these shoes to be plenty fine for my feet, however, they do have a little taper to them at the end of the toe box. For example, if you compare them to a Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III they’re a little more “athletic” through the toe.

If you have blockier and notably wide feet, especially through your toes, then you may want to consider this with the Apex Power. I don’t think most will have issues with the sizing of these shoes, but it’s worth noting if you fall into that blocky niche.

However and again, I think for most lifters you’ll find the width plenty fine in the AVANCUS Apex Power. I included a picture of them versus a Converse below.

I personally like the more athletic fit of the toe box, too, and it reminds me of models like Tolos which I prefer because I don’t slide around. If you’re similar then you’ll vibe with this shoe. This point is more so for those who find shoes like Vivobarefoot too snug.

AVANCUS Apex Power Pros and Cons

Report Card: Get the Quick Facts

AVANCUS Apex Power

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Stack Height: ~6mm
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• Width: Wide

Pros

1. If you want a minimalist shoe with a lot of grip for training and exercises like sumo deadlifts these work really well.
2. These have a good level of width and should fit most foot anatomies well. They rival models like the Tolos Archetype 1.0 and Primus Lite III.
3. This model feels like a blend of the Adidas The Total and a traditional barefoot shoe so if you want a flexible sole with boot support, you’ll enjoy these.

Cons

1. In my opinion, you’ll want to keep these shoes for training and gym use and avoid rocking them for daily wear which cuts into their versatility.
2. While I find the width to be plenty fine in these shoes, some who have notably wide and blockier feet may not enjoy the toe box taper and find it limiting.
3. The tongue can press into the top of the foot at times and it may take a week or two to break in for some lifters that have high-volume feet.

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Performance and Testing Thoughts

To break down the performance of the AVANCUS Apex Power, I put these shoes through a variety of tests. I primarily tested these shoes for lifting and versatile training to see where they excel and fall short.

Below is a breakdown of my training experiences in the AVANCUS Apex Power.

Testing the AVANCUS Apex Power for Lifting

In the context of lifting, there were three construction aspects that I really appreciated with the AVANCUS Apex Power. First, the grip of the outsole was something that I really came to enjoy with these shoes.

No matter the surface that I was lifting on I felt secure and locked down in these shoes. I appreciated the depth of the tread when deadlifting on rubber platforms and on carpet these shoes also excelled so they should work well for powerlifting competitions.

Second, the flexibility of the sole was also appreciated when tackling exercises like walking lunges and split squats. This shoe articulates well and if you take on the insole then you get more ground feel when training.

Third and lastly, I like the structure of the boot of this shoe and enjoy that it provides a little more support compared to traditional barefoot shoes. Personally, I love a bit more structure to my shoes when lifting heavy so this feature was appreciated.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed how the AVANCUS Apex Power has performed for my lifting asks. I think this shoe will deliver a strong performance for most lifters planning to use them for barbell exercises, machine work, and accessories.

Testing the AVANCUS Apex Power for Versatile Workouts

In the context of versatile workouts, the AVANCUS Apex Power has surprised me with its capabilities. Going into this shoe I was expecting them to perform well for lifting but be so-so for versatile workouts and cross-training.

For jumping, multi-directional work, and my athletic-focused training sessions, the Apex Power has done well at holding its own. The outsole grip gives you a nice bite for plyometrics and for lateral work.

Plus, the sole’s articulation is great for letting the foot move through all of its ranges of motion when training more dynamically. The medial side wall of this shoe isn’t super rigid which was something I appreciated when doing things like catching power cleans.

I think if you’re a lifter that likes to add some conditioning and athletic-style training on the side of your strength work, then the AVANCUS Apex Power will deliver a strong performance for your needs. 

Will these be the best minimalist shoes for versatile workouts? Not necessarily because I wouldn’t run in them and their breathability isn’t the best so they’ll have some limitations, but they’ll perform well enough for most lifters’ and athletes’ needs, in my opinion.

AVANCUS Apex Power Performance Summary

My Lifting Experiences With This Shoe

For lifting, I’d give this shoe a 9.4/10 and the star players for this shoe’s performance in the gym revolve around its sole flexibility and outsole traction.

Here are some of the lifting tests I did with them with my thoughts.

• 265 lb power cleans: Good grip and flexibility.
• 545 lb deadlifts: Stable and wide.
• 70 lb rear-foot elevated split squats: Strong articulation.
• 470 lb leg press: Good grip and stability.

My Versatile Training Experiences With This Shoe

For versatile training, I’d give this shoe a strong 8.5/10 and that’s keeping in mind that it’s not necessarily a shoe designed solely for HIIT workouts and athletic-style training.

• Box jumps: Comfortable and lightweight.
• Jump rope: Good ground feel.
• Skater strides: Great traction.
• Sled pushes: Strong grip and articulation.

AVANCUS Apex Power Sizing

In the AVANCUS Apex Power, I think most lifters should be safe going true to size in this shoe, however, there will be some exceptions here regarding sizing.

I have a medium/neutral to wide foot width and I found these shoes to fit pretty well when going true to size. If I wear thin no-show socks or go barefoot then I really enjoy the fit of these shoes.

They can feel a little snug if I’m wearing thicker socks and I believe that’s due to the volume and the length of this model. That said, if you have wider feet, you may want to go up a half size in this shoe to play it safe.

When putting them side by side with a Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III, the Apex Power has a similar width through the midfoot and base of the forefoot with a little more of a taper toward the end of the toe box.

• AVANCUS Apex Power Sizing Thoughts: True to size for most.

If you have additional questions about the AVANCUS Apex Power’s sizing, drop a comment below and I can help you out accordingly.

Price Assessment

For the AVANCUS Apex Power, you can expect to pay around $95 USD. Compared to other minimalist shoes for training, this price point is pretty fair for what this shoe offers, in my opinion.

I think if you’re buying these shoes for lifting with some versatile training, then you’ll enjoy what you’re getting out of these shoes for your investment.

I also like that these shoes are quickly becoming some of my favorite shoes for powerlifting and if you’re wanting something consistent for deadlifts and squats, then these won’t let you down for the price.

On that note, if you’re thinking about investing the AVANCUS Apex Power and also want to support That Fit Friend while saving money, then you can use “TF2” at checkout and that should save you 10%.

AVANCUS Apex Power

4.8

Stability

4.8

Versatility

4.7

Durability

4.7

Quality

4.8

Best For

• Deadlifting (Sumo and Conventional)
• Recreational Lifting
• Versatile Workouts
• Minimalist Shoe Lovers

Falls Short

• For Daily Wear

Shop AVANCUS

Construction Breakdown

The construction of the AVANCUS Apex Power is pretty simplistic in nature. Below are the key details to note about this shoe’s construction.

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 0mm
• Stack Height: ~6mm
• Weight: 11.45 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Full Rubber Outsole
• Medial and Lateral Outsole Wrap
• Mesh and Synthetic Upper
• Upper Wraps Around the Toe Box and Heel
• Padded Boot
• Thin Mesh Tongue
• 5 Core Eyelets

If you have additional construction-related questions about the AVANCUS Apex Power and I can answer whatever you have.

AVANCUS Apex Power FAQ

Do the AVANCUS Apex Power fit true to size?

For most lifters and athletes, the AVANCUS Apex Power should fit true to size. This model has a good amount of width and their length runs fairly true.

Are the AVANCUS Apex Power good for lifting?

The AVANCUS Apex Power delivers a strong gym performance for strength training. The flexible and stable sole and the grippy outsole give this shoe a strong lifting performance.

Are the AVANCUS Apex Power flat?

The AVANCUS Apex Power has a zero-drop construction. If you want a flat shoe for lifting, I think you’ll enjoy the Apex Power’s construction and feel on the feet.

Takeaway Thoughts

The AVANCUS Apex Power has been a surprisingly strong shoe in the gym. For lifting, I think the AVANCUS Apex Power will deliver a strong performance for lifters and strength athletes from all walks of life.

The grip on this shoe’s outsole is awesome and I don’t think you’ll run into traction issues whatsoever in this model. I also like the width and additional boot support.

Will this model be the best minimalist shoe for training and daily wear? Not necessarily so keep that in mind before investing.

If you have additional questions about the AVANCUS Apex Power, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).