If you’re looking for the best shoes for Hyrox, you probably already know what it is. But for the uninitiated, Hyrox is a race series that combines running with functional fitness movements like sled pushes, sandbag lunges, and farmer’s carries—and has become one of the fastest-growing sporting events globally, with an estimated 650,000 people expected to compete across 83 races in 2025.
“It’s grown something like 2,000 percent year-over-year for the last two years. And it’s just going to keep exploding,” says Bret Gornik, a Chicago-based trainer and Hyrox athlete who’s no stranger to the podium himself.
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The event’s recent spurt in popularity has been so rapid, in fact, that shoe brands have barely had time to react, leaving us in an unprecedented predicament. Simply put, there is not a shoe—not a single pair—currently in existence that was designed with a hybrid race like this in mind.
“The biggest misunderstanding among people who have never done a Hyrox race before is that this is primarily a running race. You are running about five miles on what feels like the equivalent of a track,” says Gornik, who recommends going for a running shoe with benefits, so to speak. “From there, you’re kind of just figuring out the best option.” That is, the best running shoe that’s also capable of finding traction on turf, providing stability under weighted movements, and generally handling Hyrox’s varied gauntlet of pace, power, and plyometrics.
After weeks of rigorously testing dozens of shoes, here are the best options available as of this writing.
The Best Shoe for Hyrox Overall: APL Euphoria
If you can look past the nearly $300 sticker price, you will find the best shoe for Hyrox. I’ll admit, I did not see this coming. (This is why we test things.) For one, I don’t think I’ve seen a single person wearing APLs for Hyrox—and it’s got nothing to do with price, as evidenced by the popularity of top-tier supershoes at these events. But, as I said up top, that’s part of the fun in searching for the best shoes for Hyrox: The best option can come from anywhere. And it has. Ultimately, it came down to APL’s Euphoria and Nike’s Pegasus 41—two shoes with nearly identical silhouettes (albeit very different price tags). While both shoes aced every station and, needless to say, took the run portions in their stride, it was APL’s Heavenly Ride midsole that edged out Nike’s slightly softer ReactX cushioning when it came to comparing these models under the heavy loads of the farmer’s carry and weighted lunges. Similarly, this minor discrepancy resulted in the Euphoria having marginally, but noticeably, less energy leakage on the rower. I was initially concerned that the Euphoria’s minimalist Naked Net upper would detract from stability, but that wasn’t the case at all. The shoe provided excellent security across the midfoot, and this was especially apparent during wall balls and broad jumps. It also performed surprisingly well on the sled push, thanks to the outsole’s deep and diverse tread pattern. I can assure you that appearance did not factor into my testing whatsoever; that said, of all the shoes on this list, this is the one I’d be most likely to wear beyond race day and outside the gym altogether
The Best Value Shoe for Hyrox Overall: Nike Pegasus 41
The Nike Pegasus 41 would have certainly topped this list as the best shoe for Hyrox overall, were it not for the Euphoria’s slightly firmer midsole, which translated to better output on the rower and more sure-footed performance during the weighted stations. But I’d comfortably flip a coin to compete in either one of these shoes, as both are outstanding options. (I actually rated the Pegasus, with its toothy lugs, more highly than the Euphoria for the sled push, where I experienced what I can only describe as cheat code-level traction.) Speaking of comfort, the Pegasus was undeniably the most comfortable shoe I tested. The cushioning in the tongue and collar is deliciously plush, and the midsole’s combination of ReactX foam and dual AirZoom units is pure luxury. So much so that it created just a touch too much squishiness for my taste in the aforementioned scenarios. That said, at no point did I feel unstable or anywhere near in danger of rolling an ankle or compromising my form. This is a first-class shoe. That’s why we have to talk about the price. Of course, $140 is not an insignificant amount of money to drop on a shoe, but when you consider this is just about the best shoe for Hyrox—and hands down one of the best running shoes you can buy right now—I’m not sure you will find better value for your money elsewhere.
The Best Lightweight Shoe for Hyrox: Brooks Hyperion
In the midst of testing dozens of souped-up supershoes, the Brooks Hyperion was a breath of fresh air. It is simply a great, no-frills, normal running shoe, and I mean that in the best way possible. Brooks categorizes the Hyperion as a training shoe (and their lightest model yet), likely due to its minimalist approach to cushioning, but it’s perfect for racing shorter distances—and especially ideal for Hyrox, where you’re only ever running less than a mile at a time. The relatively slim midsole, however, is one of the things that makes this shoe such a great pick for this event. The low stack height, combined with the Hyperion’s wide base and supportive heel counter, made the shoe feel stable and secure while performing loaded movements like lunges, wall balls, and farmer’s carries. And the grippy outsole, conveniently distributed primarily towards the forefoot, clawed the turf like an animal during weighted sled pushes. It’s also worth pointing out the Hyperion’s traditionally shaped heel, which allowed the shoe to stay securely locked in place while rowing. (I also tested Brooks’ new Hyperion Elite 4 PB—a carbon-plated racing shoe that I instantly fell in love with. On the rower, however, it is effectively unusable due to the convex shape of the heel’s crash pad, which had my feet popping out of the heel cups every other pull.)
The Best Plated Shoe for Hyrox: Saucony Endorphin Speed 4
If you’re pushing for the podium, this is the shoe you want. Nowadays, a carbon- or nylon-plated shoe is pretty much the buy-in for anyone looking to compete with the elites. The thing with these kinds of supershoes, though, is that most of them are horrible for Hyrox. Yes, even some of the models you see elites wearing. Simply put, a lot of the fastest athletes in the game right now are willing to sacrifice stability and output on certain stations in order to absolutely beast the run portions. (Seriously, go put on a pair of AlphaFlys and tell me how you do on the rower.) The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, meanwhile, emerged from testing as a surprisingly capable speed demon. In terms of running, it goes without saying that it’s an absolute bullet. Even though Saucony’s PWRRUN PB foam delivers some of the best energy return out there, I love that they used it sparingly here, allowing the nylon plate to shine. (Interestingly, this shoe felt way faster than Saucony’s considerably more expensive, carbon-plated Endorphin Pro 4, which sits on more foam and felt frustratingly squishy by comparison.) On the rower, I was pleasantly surprised by how the shape of the heel actually hooks into the heel cups of a Concept2, allowing me to confidently rip the handle with reckless abandon. (Surely this was not an intended design feature, but who cares?) And, like the Hyperion, the outsole’s tread placement and traction grabbed the turf securely with each push of the sled. If I had to list a con, it would be that the heel could’ve been more stable on the weighted lunges, but it’s not a deal breaker, and the wide forefoot makes up for it.
The Best HIIT Shoe for Hyrox: On Cloud X 4
If the idea of doing wall balls and weighted lunges in a running shoe makes you cringe, you’re definitely not alone. After all, under normal circumstances, you should really never be lifting in running shoes. That’s why, in addition to testing running shoes capable of managing Hyrox’s functional workout stations, my testing included HIIT shoes proficient in managing the run portions of the race. At the end of the day, even though you’re going to have to run about five miles, you’re never actually running more than about a sixth of a mile at a time. Looking at all the available options through this lens, one shoe stood out from the pack: On’s Cloud X 4. While some might say the Cloud X 4’s cushy midsole makes it too wobbly for hoisting heavier loads in the gym, it is this trait that incidentally makes it perfect for Hyrox’s run sections. I mean, you’re not going to mistake it for the smooth ride of a Nike Pegasus, but I’d say it’s within striking distance of Brooks’ Hyperion. For less than a mile at a time, it’s perfect. And as for all the other stations, well, that’s what this shoe was made for. In my testing, the Cloud X 4 made light work of wall balls, farmer’s carries, broad jumps, sled pushes, and broad jumps—and weighted lunges felt particularly natural, thanks to the shoe’s low stack height and reassuringly wide forefoot. It’s also worth mentioning that the Cloud X 4 shares a unique perk with the Saucony Speed 4 in its unexpected (and, again, probably totally accidental) ability to hook its heels into the stirrups of a Concept2 rower.
The Best Shoe for Hyrox Training: Salomon Aero Blaze 2
As a rule, you should always train the way you want to race. For Hyrox, that means not just running, but incorporating all eight stations into your training—and hitting each session with the same intensity as you would want to on the big day. Assuming a standard training plan of about eight weeks, that leaves a lot of room for wear and tear on a pair of shoes, potentially dulling its edge come time to race. The Salomon Aero Blaze 2 offered the best durability of any shoe I tested, which makes a lot of sense, given the brand’s Alpine heritage. The hardy, well-lugged outsole—which, by the way, provided the best traction on the sled push alongside the Nike Pegasus 41—runs the full length of the shoe, protecting against any scuffs to the midsole. This feature also created a satisfying stable base for the sled pull, as well as a license to launch into lengthy broad jumps without fear of slipping out. The relatively minimalist upper, meanwhile, is constructed with a durable engineered mesh, which proved resistant to abrasion in the weight room, on the turf, and out on the road. As for the performance of the shoe, the Salomon Aero Blaze 2 is a shoe that gets out of your way and lets you move the way you want to. Midsole cushioning is used sparingly (although not quite as sparingly as in the Brooks Hyperion), which provides a nice balance of comfort and ground feel, and the roomy forefoot gives your toes space to splay and stabilize your body during movements like weighted lunges and wall balls.
The Best Stability Shoe for Hyrox: New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v14
If you have flat feet or suffer from plantar fasciitis, or even if you just prefer a more supportive running shoe to keep your ankles locked in and prevent your feet from overpronation, New Balance’s Fresh Foam X 860v14 is the way to go. It’s got a touch of arch support and a light lift under the inner heel, as well as a heel counter that’s as padded as it is rigid. And the stretchy upper allows your toes to move naturally in the forefoot. Honestly, this is probably the best stability shoe out there, period. And it just so happens to be a great fit for Hyrox, too. First, I want to quickly address the outsole’s performance on the turf, specifically for the sled push. It is excellent. It doesn’t look like it would be, but it is. (I also tested New Balance’s Fresh Foam X 880 v 15—a very similar, albeit more neutral shoe with an almost identical tread pattern, and I was sliding all over the place.) Aside from the 860v14’s impressive grip on the turf, I think the thing that impressed me most about this shoe is how perfectly it has mastered the balance of cushioning and stability. On the run, it’s a dream. I’ve said before that New Balance’s Fresh Foam is one of the most comfortable midsole technologies out there. But it doesn’t come at the expense of structure. From farmer’s carries and lunges to wall balls and broad jumps, I put these shoes to the test and didn’t experience so much as a wobble.
The Best Low-Drop Shoe for Hyrox: HOKA Mach 6
There are loads of low-drop (and no-drop) shoes out there, but it’s surprisingly difficult to find a pair that also has both enough cushioning for the run and sufficient traction to push a weighted sled across the turf—not to mention the all-around stability to manage the other seven stations. Difficult, but not impossible. With a five-millimeter drop, the HOKA Mach 6 puts your foot in a more natural position than anything else on this list. (That may seem like a strange statement, considering HOKA is known for making some of the thickest, marshmallow-iest running shoes out there, but the Mach 6 is all the way at the other end of the spectrum, compared with the brand’s more stacked offerings. That is to say, it’s very well cushioned, but nowhere near as bouncy as the Bondi or Clifton.) This is the perfect shoe for someone like my dad—a.k.a. my Hyrox doubles partner (yes, seriously)—who will be wearing these this year. He has enviable mobility and therefore likes to lift in a low-drop shoe, but he is not a fan of running at all, so the extra cushioning helps to make the experience more bearable. I, on the other hand, love running. And I love running fast. So my only note, after having spent a week testing this shoe out for myself, would be that, despite the shoe’s name, you will not be breaking the sound barrier anytime soon while wearing these.
What to Look for in Shoes for Hyrox
As of this writing, there are no shoes on the market that have been specifically developed with Hyrox in mind. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t great options out there, just waiting to be discovered. If you know what to look for—and what to avoid—you can quickly narrow the field and find the best pair to propel you to the finish.
The sled push can make or break your performance on race day. “If that event suffers, your legs are going to be so trashed,” Gornik says. “Any mechanical advantage for that event is super important.” While all of your running will be on hard ground, the sled push happens on turf, so it’s important to make sure your shoes have sufficient traction to grip the floor. “If you don’t have traction under the front of the toe, you’re going to be spinning your wheels,” Gornik says. Look for a shoe with the grippiest outsole you can find—the deeper and more defined the tread pattern, the better.
A thicker midsole might be comfortable for running, but it could also make certain events harder than they need to be, or even set you up for a race-ending injury. Sandbag lunges are hard enough as is, and for a rep to count (at Hyrox, at least) your knee has to make contact with the ground. “If you’re wearing a super high shoe, now you’ve got to get even lower to the ground,” Gornik says. A higher stack also puts you at increased risk of rolling your ankle during the farmer’s carry, which has you weaving left and right “like an airport TSA line,” Gornik says. “A lower stack height would be particularly good for that event.”
This one came up during testing, and it is absolutely critical. Some running shoes feature unconventional heel shapes. For example, one popular brand (you can probably figure out which one) has a whole line of shoes that taper to a point at the back. Obviously, you won’t find any of those on this list. “That can be really annoying when you’re on the rower,” Gornik says. Having personally worn these kinds of shoes in testing, I’d go a step further and say it can make rowing downright impossible. Sidestep the issue altogether and look for a shoe with something closer to standard, rounded heel that will easily fit into the heel cups of a Concept2 rower.
A shoe with a wider outsole is going to give you some extra stability, which will come in handy during more than one station once your legs start to fatigue. “It’s definitely harder to do lunges in a shoe that’s more narrow,” Gornik says. “A shoe with a wider foot base will accommodate well for all the functional movements. It’s one reason why I like the Saucony ones, which are a bit wider in the forefoot—where you spend most of your time when you’re doing the lunges.”
In a running shoe, we typically only think of heel-to-toe drop in terms of heel cushioning and run mechanics. But when it comes to Hyrox, the right amount of drop can give you a serious advantage when you arrive at the race’s final station. In order for wall balls to count, you must squat down until your thighs are at least parallel with the ground—something that is much easier with a slight heel lift, if you need it. “If your mobility is limited, and because of that you can’t get to parallel, you’re not going to get any reps,” Gornik says. “[The officials] will give a little bit of leeway if you have an injury or something, but if you’re just tired and can’t hang, you’re going to get penalized.” Too much drop, on the other hand, can destabilize your landings on the broad jump, so it’s important to find a shoe that strikes the right balance for you.
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