I swapped my regular shoes for Lululemon trainers in the gym - here's why I'm never going back

Lululemon trainers are one of the brand's staple pieces these days - and the strongfeel is part of that line-up. Designed for training, these supportive shoes have quickly become my new favourites.

Being made for women's feet - rather than being made for men's feet and altered for women as many of the best running shoes are - Lululemon trainers have always been special. Today, there are seven different styles of Lululemon trainers, with the strongfeel specially designed for strength training and gym workouts.

When it comes to gym trainers, I'm not easily impressed. I like combining cardio with weights in my workouts - and few trainers can do both. To test out the Lululemon strongfeel shoes, I wore them for two weeks in all my normal workouts and walking to and from the gym. 

Lululemon strongfeel trainers: From £64 and available to buy online
The strongfeel trainers are available to buy online in several colours, from matt black to bright orange. I opted for the Vapor/White/Iced Lavender colourway to match my other activewear.

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Lululemon strongfeel trainers review

Specifications

• RRP: From £64 to £118 depending on colour
• Size range: 3.5 to 10.5
• Weight per shoe: 390g
• Heel to toe drop: 6mm 
• Colour range: 9 colours
• Cleaning: Cold hand wash, do not tumble dry 

Who are the Lululemon strongfeel trainers suited to?

The Lululemon strongfeel trainers are designed for training, which means resistance training and workouts with jumps, lifts, and dynamic movements. So if you find yourself doing one of the many types of strength training, whether that be lifting weights in the gym or Crossfit, these could be the shoe for you.

Also, if you're looking for a Lululemon trainer for everyday wear and the Lululemon cityverse isn't quite for you, I'd suggest these as an alternative. While the arch support isn't as solid as a pair of the best walking shoes, for example, it's definitely there. The cushioning makes heel-to-toe striking comfortable on harder pavement surfaces and small lugs on the bottom of the shoe ensure traction on uneven surfaces - though I haven't worn them in the rain yet, so I can't attest to that. I did wear my strongfeel trainers for a day in the office and walked to the gym over the weekend without an issue though.

What's it like to wear these Lululemon trainers?

The Lululemon strongfeel trainers are very comfortable. I opted for a whole size up from my normal size 8 as I have relatively wide feet and I wanted the extra room. The brand encourages buyers to go half a size up anyway as they are made with US sizes and "run small". 

When I first slipped them on, the sides and upper felt quite rigid - but just a short walk to the gym and some foot flexion in my stretching routine later and the rigidity was gone, replaced instead by an intense comfort and supportive feeling, especially around the midfoot and heel.

Some reviewers note that the shoes aren't very breathable - and I'd have to agree. At the end of my workout, I did notice that my feet felt a little sweatier than usual. However, this didn't impact the experience - and sweaty feet are to be expected after an hour in the gym. I was also wearing these shoes in the summer months when the temperature tipped 20 degrees. In the winter, I'm sure this won't be so much of an issue - and I might even be grateful for the extra insulation.

I also noticed that the sole of the shoe in my chosen colourway was quick to mark, being white and pale blue, though the actual fabric of the shoe stayed clean. As these shoes are hand wash only, this is something to consider. If you're doing lots of workouts where you're splashed or find yourself scuffing your shoes, you can't just throw them in the washing machine. 

Design and fit of the Lululemon strongfeel trainers

From opening the box and taking a brief look at the shoe, it doesn't appear to be much different from some of the other gym trainers I've tried - like the Reebok Nano X4, which were my last pair and a good Lululemon alternative. On closer inspection and from my first wear, the small design elements that make this such a great shoe became very obvious. 

For starters, the heel base is slightly wider than the width of the shoe, providing a stable base for strength training workouts where the majority of the movements require you to push from your heels. This design feature adds a sense of security and balance, so I felt I could just get on with my workout, confident that my shoes weren't going to let me down. It sounds like a basic achievement but, trust me, it's one that not every gym shoe fulfills. 

While the exterior appearance of the shoe looks minimal, small panels made of water-resistant fabric decorate the outside of the shoe. I can imagine this coming in very handy when I'm walking to the gym later in the autumn when it's raining outside. There's nothing worse than wet toes. However, this is missing from the sides of the shoe just above the sole, where water could splash up. 

Directly below the laces on the sides of the shoe is another panel made of the same thick fabric. It loops through two lines of laces, adding extra traction when you tighten the laces, improving support down the sides of the shoe even more, and enhancing that 'locked in' feeling. Just excellent. 

Colour-wise, I opted for the Vapor/White/Iced Lavender. For me, this is the perfect blend of white and blue that matches the majority of my activewear from Lululemon, Gymshark, and Sweaty Betty. Plenty of other colour options are available too though - and some of these are discounted in the 'We Made Too Much' section of the Lululemon sale so prices start from £64. 

Testing: Gym workouts

I wore these Lululemon trainers for four gym workouts over two weeks, strength training for just over an hour each time. During these workouts, I focused on compound movements like the barbell squat, deadlift, military press, and chest press. I also performed some single-leg exercises, such as a Bulgarian split squat, on a bench and used the leg raise machine.

Needless to say, the shoes were hard at work - and I was very impressed. The heel of the shoe felt stable under my feet during the squat, allowing me to push comfortably upwards through the movement without a wobble. The toe box is spacious enough to allow toes to spread out as needed, while still offering support down the sides of the foot.

Testing: Walking and stationary bike

The Lululemon strongfeel trainers aren't designed to be running shoes - that's the Lululemon Beyondfeel shoe - but I walk 30 minutes a day to the gym and like to do a little cardio at the beginning of my strength training workout to warm up, so I was interested to see if these shoes could cover the basics of an uphill treadmill walk. I also tested the strongfeel trainers indoor cycling on a stationary bike.

On the bike, I barely noticed the shoes were there. They were held in place on the pedals by the straps. The cushioning did come in useful when it came to riding while standing up though as the additional pressure on the balls of my feet could have been uncomfortable. In the past, when I've worn thinner trainers, I can feel the effects of this pressure on the balls of my feet when I get off the bike. I didn't feel this at all with the strongfeel trainers.

Walking to the gym, I didn't notice much difference between walking in the strongfeel trainers and my running shoes - except perhaps a little less propulsion in my steps. But who need that? Though I haven't been walking in these in the rain yet, I am sure the water-resistant tab on the front of the toe will come in handy when the puddles form later in the autumn. On the treadmill, it became a little more obvious that these shoes aren't designed for higher-impact cardio as it wasn't so easy to roll through the uphill walk as with other shoes. For a quick warm-up though, I have no complaints and I got off the treadmill ready for my workout. 

Are the Lululemon strongfeel trainers worth it?

Yes, absolutely. Now I've tried the Lululemon strongfeel trainers, I'm not going back. For me, the support is unmatched by any other trainer I've had - and I've had many over the years. In movements where you need stability and balance, these are a winner thanks to the wide heel support and locked-in feeling of the upper.

They are also significantly more stylish than many other gym trainers out there, being available in both neutral palettes and bright colourways and with minimal external design features. 

My only issue with them is the combined lack of breathability and hand wash-only care instructions. Together, it's not a match made for freshness. 

Are Lululemon trainers true to size?

Lululemon shoes use US sizing and tend to run small, the brand says. "To find your fit, measure your foot from heel to toe in cm and check it against the US size in our size chart. For wider feet, go up half a size," the website says.

Personally, I'm normally an 8 in trainers but I size up in running shoes for comfort and because I tend to find that all running shoes, regardless of the brand, run small. I opted for a size 9 in the end and although they are a little big, they are very comfortable and the extra size doesn't limit me in any way. 

Also, feet naturally swell and become warm after a work out, so you may benefit from the extra room.