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August 9, 2023
Fitness
I Tried the New Lululemon Sneakers to See If They’re Really as Versatile as They Claim
The streamlined silhouette made me (and my sorta wide feet) a little worried. But Lululemon’s shoes are designed specifically for a woman’s foot, which makes the toe box a little roomier—I didn’t notice any pinching along the sides.
When 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 at the ankle. I also loved the padded tongue, which allowed for a tight lacing lockdown without it digging into the top of my foot. After a quick walk around my apartment, I felt excited to take them to the gym to see how they do with more intense movement.
Christa Sgobba
At the gym
I decided to test out the Chargefeel 2 during a higher-rep, lighter-weight lower-body workout that followed a quick treadmill warm-up. From the get-go, I was stoked: I really enjoy prepping my legs for strength training with a short, easy jog, but I’m never able to do it because I always wear completely flat lifting shoes for a session—which are a no-go for me for running, especially since I’m prone to some lower-leg injuries.
My warm-up was less 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 it all. The heel support in the shoe helped keep my foot steady with each stride.
During my lifting portion, I did both dynamic moves and more traditional strength training exercises: barbell reverse lunges, dumbbell single-leg deadlifts, goblet squats, lateral step-ups, and some mini-band work. I really enjoyed the flexibility of the shoe during the lunges; sometimes with lifting shoes, I feel like the foot that’s moving has to really fight to get on its toes. As for exercises where both feet remained planted, these sneakers stayed stable on the floor and didn’t wobble (which often happens if I try to squat or hinge in running shoes). I found the shoe especially helpful during lateral step-ups. This kind of dynamic, side to side movement can be tricky in stiff, flat, running shoes, but the Chargefeel 2 supported me and allowed me the range of motion I needed.
Lululemon Chargefeel 2
Sizes: 5-12 (including half sizes); Widths: one; Weight: 9.1 oz; Heel-to-toe drop: 9.5 mm; Colorways: Baked Clay/Peach Fuzz/Sunset; White/Vapor/Delicate Mint; Vapor/Silver Drop/White; and Black/White/Anchor
Bottom line
For workouts that include a bunch of different modalities—running, lifting, lateral movement—the Lululemon Chargefeel 2 ensures each portion remains as comfortable as the others. I would choose this shoe for routines that are heavy on the dynamic movement, especially HIIT-based routines, circuit classes, or those that have you moving from the treadmill to the free-weight floor and back again. Thanks to their cushion, support, and general pretty appearance, they’d also be a solid choice for walks with friends, running errands, or casual gatherings.
I would lean toward the Chargefeel 2 for workouts that do a little bit of everything rather than those that are completely focused on going all in on one modality. For instance, while these felt great on a treadmill warm-up, I probably wouldn’t take them on a long run or a speed session. And they were supportive with dynamic strength training moves like lunges, but if I was doing a routine with max-weight big moves like barbell deadlifts, I’d stick to my flat-bottomed shoes to really dial in my stability. But for those days where your body is craving it all, these are a great option to get it done.
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