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If you’re looking for new weightlifting shoes, you may have considered the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 versus the Reebok Lifter PR 3. These are two new models from Reebok that deliver strong performances.
The Legacy Lifter 3 is Reebok’s latest “premium” weightlifting shoe with its classic Pump System, while the Lifter PR 3 is a strong, well-rounded, beginner-friendly budget shoe.
For Those In a Rush: The Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 will be best for athletes and lifters that want a higher heel elevation and more ground feedback from its TPU midsole. If you’re a beginner or want to save money, the Reebok Lifter PR 3 is a good shoe and you’re not missing much by opting for the less costly option, in my opinion.
Key Takeaways
- The Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 has a 22mm/.86-inch heel elevation, whereas the Lifter PR 3’s heel sits a little lower at 15mm/.6-inch. Taller lifters and athletes who like more “heel” may resonate more with the Legacy Lifter 3.
- The Lifter PR 3 can be a great option for beginners getting into weightlifting shoes as they have a lower price point and heel-to-toe drop to help newer lifters acclimated to heel elevated shoes.
- The Legacy Lifter 3’s Pump System is a little gimmicky, and to be honest, if you can find the Legacy Lifter 2s on sale, then I’d opt for those before going full price on the Legacy Lifter 3s.
Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 Performance
To break down the performance differences between the Legacy Lifter 3 and Lifter PR 3, I’ll cover how these shoes stack up for squats, weightlifting, and accessory exercises.
This way you can select the best shoe for your performance needs since we all train differently and have different asks for our weightlifting shoes.
Testing the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 for Squats
When it comes to stability in squats, the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 and Reebok Lifter PR 3 should perform just fine for most athletes. I’ve squatted between 315 and 405 lbs in both shoes, and they’ve delivered a nice, stable feel.
The Legacy Lifter 3’s midsole is built with a TPU so it will give you a “denser” feel when squatting and will have a tiny bit less compression than the high-density EVA in the Lifter PR 3. That being said, though, I don’t think most athletes will notice a difference.
Instead of only considering stability for squats between these shoes, I’d consider their heel-to-toe drops as they are fairly different. As a taller lifter, I typically resonate well with slightly higher heel elevations.
If you like heel-to-toe drops above .75 inches in height, then I think you’ll enjoy the elevation of the Legacy Lifter 3’s 22mm/.86-inch heel. The heel cup is also great for anchoring the foot and providing additional stability for squats.
If you’re traditionally used to lifting with flat shoes and you’re making the switch to heel-elevated shoes for certain squat contexts, then the Lifter PR 3’s lower heel-to-toe drop of 15mm/.6 inches may actually be a good call for your needs.
Going from a flat shoe to a heel-elevated shoe for squats will change your lifting mechanics, and lower heel height to start can give you a good idea of what’s going to resonate best with you long-term as you acclimate to the form changes that follow elevating the heels.
Winner: Tie. Both shoes will work really well for most athletes and lifters regarding their stability for squats. For squat-focused asks, I’d instead suggest exploring which shoe’s heel-to-toe drop will work best for you.
Reebok Lifter PR 3
Reebok Legacy Lifter 3
Testing the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 for Weightlifting
For weightlifting-focused sessions that are programmed in CrossFit WODs and for athletes that like adding cleans and snatches into their programming here and there, both shoes should work well.
Essentially, if you’re not super specific with your weightlifting performance, then I wouldn’t stress either of these shoes’ performances or worry about making the “wrong” choice as both shoes work pretty well.
As you get more specific, though, you’ll start to run into some differences between these shoes. Unlike the Legacy Lifter 2, the Legacy Lifter 3 has a little more toe spring due to its heavier upper construction, which does break in over time, but it bothers me with this shoe.
If you have an issue with being too eager with your toes and missing lifts forward, then you may want to consider this. On that note, that’s also why I actually like the Legacy Lifter 2, which is a little better for weightlifting as it doesn’t have this same construction quirk.
The Lifter PR 3 has less toe spring, which is great, but it also has a construction quirk that bothers me. The Lifter PR 3’s strap is pretty short and the velcro doesn’t feel as aggressive as the Lifter PR 2’s strap did.
If you have a high-volume foot and you’re a weightlifting athlete, then you’ll want to consider this as the midfoot strap on this model may not give you the longevity and security that you’re after.
The Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 midfoot strap and heel cup give them a more secure and robust feeling compared to the Lifter PR 3. Both shoes feature ribbed rubber outsoles that do a good job with grip overall.
Winner: Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 for dedicated weightlifting athletes. That being said, I think the prior iterations of both of these shoes performed stronger than the current models regarding weightlifting-focused contexts.
Reebok Legacy Lifter III
$220
Pros
- Good stability for squats and other lifts
- Strong upper security
- Outsole has great grip
Cons
- Upper lacks breathability
- Forefoot can feel snug
Best For
- Squats
- Weightlifting
- Recreational Strength Work
- Narrow and Neutral-Width Feet
Specs
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 22mm |
| Weight | 18.85 oz |
| Width | Medium |
| Lifting Threshold | 420 lbs |
Testing the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 for Accessories
For accessory exercises like leg presses, hack squats, and quad-biased movements, both of these perform pretty well. I actually like the Lifter PR 3 better for these style sessions as they’re lighter and feel easier to wear for longer durations.
The upper in the Lifter PR 3 breathes a little better, and they don’t feel as clunky and heavy as the Legacy Lifter 3. If you want a shoe to wear for squats and then for other exercises throughout your workout, the Lifter PR 3 should work well.
That’s not to say the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 won’t work for this training context, but I prefer it for squats and weightlifting sessions versus sessions where I want a heel-elevated shoe for multiple exercises.
If you’re only planning to do things like hack squats or more static strength accessories in your shoes, then both models should be fine and I wouldn’t stress this detail too much.
Reebok Lifter PR 3
Pros
- Strong well-rounded performance
- Great for beginners and recreational lifters
- Good price point
Cons
- May lack for lifters wanting more heel height
Best For
- Squats & Recreational Lifting
- Beginners to Weightlifting Shoes
- Beginner Weightlifters
- Cost-Efficiency
Specs
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 15mm |
| Weight | 17.60 |
| Width | Medium |
| Lifting Threshold | 395 lb |
Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 Construction
To break down the construction differences between the Reebok Legacy Lifter 2 versus the Reebok Lifter PR 3 I’ll cover the different parts of this shoe and how they stack up to one another.
This will hopefully make this section a lot easier to digest and highlight the different features that justify these two shoes’ prices.
Outsole
The outsole constructions of the Legacy Lifter 3 and Lifter PR 3 are very similar in their design and tread pattern. The Lifter PR 3 has a full rubber outsole with a ribbed construction with a small cutout at the heel.
The Legacy Lifter 3 also features a full rubber outsole with ribbed tread patterning and cutout at the heel and the midfoot of the forefoot. Both of these shoes have equal levels of grip on wooden platforms and rubber gym floors.
Midsole and Heel
The Legacy Lifter 3’s midsole is built with a dense and stable TPU. The heel of this model has a flared construction to create a greater base of support at the heel and the TPU cup wraps pretty far up the for additional stability.
The Lifter PR 3’s midsole is built with a high-density EVA foam which is a pretty standard material used in budget-friendly weightlifting shoes like this model and the Adidas Powerlift 5. Both midsoles offer plenty of stability.
Upper
The Legacy Lifter 3’s upper is built with a blend of leather, textile, and mesh materials. This shoe’s upper feels a lot heavier and layered compared to the Lifter PR 3’s upper. If you like heavier-built weightlifting shoes, you’ll like this shoe’s upper.
The Litter PR 3’s upper is built with a blend of mesh and textile materials. Compared to the Legacy Lifter 3, you can feel a noticeable weight difference in the Lifter PR 3 upper’s weight and density.
Laces and Tongue
The Legacy Lifter 3 features 6 core eyelets and a thick mesh tongue which has Reebok’s Pump System built in. There’s a low gusset on this tongue and the Pump System helps to inflate the tongue to give you additional midfoot security.
The Lifter PR 3 is built with 6 core eyelets with a 7th for lace-locking and it has a non-gusseted mesh tongue. The tongue in this model can be frustrating because it can be prone to lipping and rounding in due to its outer lining.
Midfoot Strap
The Legacy Lifter 3’s midfoot strap is the exact same build as the Legacy Lifter 2’s strap. This strap is adjustable at the base and features a thick mesh construction with fairly aggressive Velcro. The loop in the Legacy Lifter 3 is built with metal.
The Lifter PR 3’s midfoot strap is also consistent with the Lifter PR 2’s strap, for the most part. This strap’s Velcro doesn’t feel as aggressive as the Legacy Lifter 3’s midfoot strap and it runs short. The strap in the Legacy Lifter 3 is better built, in my opinion.
Weight, Heel Height, and Insole
The Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 features a removable insole whereas the Lifter PR 3 does not. On that note, the Reebok Lifter PR 3 has a bit more upper volume through the forefoot than the Legacy Lifter 3, but the lack of a removable insole can be hit or miss.
- Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Weight and Effective Heel Height: 23.10 oz (size 10), 22mm/.86-inch heel height
- Reebok Lifter PR 3 Weight and Effective Heel Height: 14.80 oz (size 10), 15mm/.6-inch heel height
- Lifter PR 3 (left)
- Legacy Lifter 3 (right)
If you have additional construction-related questions about these shoes and how they stack up, drop a comment below.
Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 Sizing
For the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 and Reebok Lifter PR 3, most athletes and lifters should be safe going true to size in these models. Their lengths run fairly true and they have medium/neutral widths.
I think the major sizing differences to note between these shoes revolve around their upper volume through their forefoot and how midfoot can feel.
The Legacy Lifter 3’s toe box feels “lower” than the Lifter PR 3’s toe box and I think the midfoot in the Legacy Lifter 3 can feel a little more jarring for athletes with flatter feet.
- Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Sizing Thoughts: True to Size for Most.
- Reebok Lifter PR 3 Sizing Thoughts: True to Size for Most.
If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the Lifter PR 3 versus the Legacy Lifter 3, drop a comment below and let me know what you can wear, so I can help you out accordingly.
Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 Durability
For recreational lifting, the durability of the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 and Reebok Lifter PR 3 should be fairly comparable with one another. I don’t think either of these models will show signs of breaking down super quickly for general use.
For example, my Reebok Legacy Lifter 2 and Reebok Lifter PR 2 are both going strong after a year of recreational use. I’ve even competed in powerlifting in the Legacy Lifter 2s twice now and they’re still in great condition.
I would expect both of these shoes to also deliver good levels of durability since the large base of their construction is similar to that of their predecessors. Between the two, I do feel like the Legacy Lifter 3 will be a little more durable if you’re using these shoes a lot.
My main durability concern between these models revolves around the Lifter PR 3’s midfoot strap. Since its Velcro isn’t the most aggressive and the strap itself runs short, I’m curious to see if it will last as long as the PR 2’s did.
If you have either of these shoes and you’ve experienced durability issues with either of them, please reach out and let me know what you’ve run into so I can make those issues known in this comparison.
Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 Vs Reebok Lifter PR 3 Price
There’s a fairly large price difference that exists between the Legacy Lifter 3 and Lifter PR 3, and by fairly large, I mean the Lifter PR 3 costs 50% less than the Legacy Lifter 3.
You can expect to pay $220 USD for the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 and $110 USD for the Lifter PR 3. To be honest, if you don’t want to spend more than $200 USD on a shoe, then the Lifter PR 3 is a safe bet.
In addition, while I like the Legacy Lifter 3, I’d also search for the Legacy Lifter 2 on sale since they’re equally a strong shoe before investing in the Legacy Lifter 3 for full price.
Generally, though, you can find sales on both of these shoes through retailers like Reebok and Amazon, and if you can knock the price down of either of these shoes, then I think they’re worth the investment.
Reebok Lifter PR 3
Reebok Legacy Lifter 3
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:Are the Reebok Lifter PR 3 good for squats?
Q:Can beginners use the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3?
Q:Are Reeboks good to lift in?
Takeaway Thoughts
If you’re debating between the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 versus the Reebok Lifter PR 3, I think you’ll be happy with either of these shoes. For squats, weightlifting, and accessory exercises, both of these shoes perform really well.
For athletes that are more focused on weightlifting, then I think the Reebok Legacy Lifter 3 will be the stronger shoe between these two. The Lifter PR 3 will be best for beginners and budget-conscious shoppers that want a consistent shoe for a good price.
The fairly different effective heel heights between these shoes should also be considered before making your investment decision.
If you have additional questions about the Lifter PR 3 and Legacy Lifter 3, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).
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