Shoes don’t land you in the Elite 15, but they can stop you from performing your best.
The general consensus is that if you pick a shoe with poor grip, a lack of stability, or one that doesn’t allow you to run at your best, you’re going to lose vital seconds, even minutes, during your race. This can make all the difference if your goals are to break into that Elite 15, hit the podium, or simply PR your finishing time.
With all that in mind, it makes sense to have a think about what shoes you’ll be wearing and the built-in ‘technology’ – such as grips, foams, plates, shape, etc – that may help or hinder you.
As we explained in the last article, there is some evidence that leading super shoes can improve running economy by as much as 3%. Equally important, some shoes will have a steeper drop that will be useful for wallballs, more stability that could help with landing during burpees or balance during lunges, overly pointed heels that can be a nightmare getting in/out of the rower, and grips (such as the PUMAGRIP) that can really help you on the sleds.
With this article, we wanted to let you know which shoes the best Hyrox Women were using in the 2022/2023 season and why they had picked them. We also wanted their opinion on whether shoe choice can make a difference. What I think is important to know is that every shoe on this list put the person suggesting it inside the Top 30 rankings during the season (many in the TOP 15 Elite race in Manchester). So, at very least, you know that the shoes are capable of carrying athletes to elite times and not the main limiter should you not be an Elite 15 athlete 🙂
This is the second in a series of 4 planned articles. The first was the shoe choices of the male elites. This one is the shoe choices of the women elites, the third will be a breakdown of the shoe choices (looking for any patterns), and the final one will be a group test (should we be able to get hold of all of the shoes!).
Final note: The shoe choices listed are the shoes the women used during the majority of the 2022/2023 season or prior to the World Championship race in Manchester. A number of women switched to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 for the final races of the season (e.g. Megan Jacoby and Lauren Weeks). However, we thought for the sake of variety and as they had been their primary shoes for the season, we’d stick with what they ran the most races in. Then, we’ll update them next season should they continue on with them.
Let’s goooooo!
I wore Reebok Floatride Run Fast Pro.
I choose them because my boyfriend saw on an old livestream of the North American champs where David Magida was talking about Ryan Kent wearing them and how good they were so I looked them up on EBay and found them.
They don’t actually make them anymore so they are really hard to get old of.
I think shoe choice makes a HUGE difference! I say that because I’ve had 2 shoe disasters!
In my first Pro race the grips of my favourite New Balance running trainers disintegrated in the sled push! I was sliding all over the place with no grip at all left on the bottom. I have never lost so much sweat in my life pushing that thing. It took 8 minutes (but felt like 80 minutes) and I was destroyed for the rest of the race. I actually tested the shoes many times before (including in the warm up zone) and they were fine but that race carpet is something else!
Then in a mixed doubles race I tried more of an all round Inov8 shoe but it was soooo slippery on the run surface (very good on all the exercises) in Maastricht I lost time skidding around the corners so ditched that one too!
For now the Reebok Floatride Run Fast Pro are ok for me and I’ve had good feeling with them on all the stations and runs but I’m still looking for better!
I’m not a fan at all of any of the carbon or thick soled shoes that most others wear. I tried them in a run store and they just aren’t for me! I prefer to feel the ground!
So basically to summarise shoe choice is extremely important. I think mine are really good. I want to find even better!
My shoe in my last race was the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2.
I chose this one because it’s comfy and I like the grip during the sleds 🙂
I don’t know if it made a difference. In Las Vegas I raced with Puma and that went well too 😊
I have races in NoBull trainers (NYC 2022 and World Championships), Brooks Hyperion (nyc 2023), and Brooks Ghost 14 (EU Championship)
I don’t mind more of a barefoot style running which is why I don’t mind running in NoBull trainers. They’re also great for stations.
The Brooks Hyperion slipped too much on the sleds. Brooks Ghost was a good mix of both.
I’ve also tried the saucony endorphin pro 3 with carbon fiber plate which I felt too unstable on
I think you can pick your shoe based on your weakness – if you’re not a good runner, go with a running shoe. If you’re not good on stations, pick a shoe that optimizes performance there.
If you’re a balanced athlete, a standard running shoe like Brooks Adrenaline, Brooks Ghost, or Brooks Launch would be a great choice
Also consider the surface you’ll be running on – typically polished pavement with spilled water
Note: If you have any foot / ankle questions, Doctor Alandra Greenlee would be a great person to ask.
Drop her a DM!
I like to use the New Balance 1400 because they are a light shoe with decent grip on the bottom.
I will say there is not much cushion. So running on the concrete floor can hurt peoples shins. So I would recommend with caution.
I think you can definitely make a bad shoe choice. But I also there there are lots of shoes that could be the right answer too! Not just one good one.
Note: Lauren wore the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 during the World Championships.
I wear Salomon Phantasm and the race before I wore the Saucony Ride 15.
I like both and I think it is important to have a lightweight running shoe that still has plenty of grip for the sled.
I wear the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2.
I choose them because, even if they are not perfect for the sleds, I can manage to push and pull well using my strength and body weight. The good part is that I feel so much better during the run. They are the shoes I used just for the speed workouts in training but then, becoming stronger with the sleds I tried them in Dallas and I was very pleased with them.
I think that a shoe can make a big difference especially if it is the wrong one. First of all it has to be comfortable. Once you have a comfortable shoes the grip you can manage and the feeling in the run are the 2 most important factors.
I use the New Balance 1080 v12
They are normal running trainers for the hard surface running with good support and cushion, good grip for sleds too.
I’m not sure it makes much of a difference it’s just what I’m most comfortable in so I don’t have any concerns during the race.
Note: Megan switched to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 for her World Record and the World Championship race.
I wear the Saucony Endorphin Speed.
It’s a good short- middle distance shoe. As a slower runner, I need good running shoes.
There is no right or wrong shoe, it depends on your running style.
If you are a midfoot or forefoot runner, how much grip you need on the sled: it depends on the athlete.
Hahahah people love their shoes! I wear the Brooks Hyperion Tempo.
I choose them because… see meme!
I don’t come from a running background, so I don’t notice too much of a difference between shoes, so I’m mostly concerned about grip on the sleds, support, and that they don’t feel super bulky.
I think a lot of shoes accomplish those things (hopefully) so I don’t think it makes too much of a difference, but I might try a shoe with a higher heel down the line to help with my squat mobility.
The never ending shoe debate!! Love this topic and really enjoy hearing about people’s choices too!
This season I’m wearing Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
Mainly because they are an elite running shoe with a carbon plate built for speed, they are really lightweight and super comfy.
I think shoes make a huge difference!! My first season I used Nike Pegasus which I was happy with at the time however since upgrading to Saucony it’s given me an edge. I call them my fast shoes 😂 I also do my speed sessions and long runs in a training pair of Sauconys and notice how much more supportive they are on my knees and calves which has reduced injury and tightness.
I use the Altra – Riveras.
Kris R (below) got me on them 😁
I think shoes are huge when it comes to the sled and sharp turns.
You do not want to be slipping out there on the course.
I wear the Altra Riveras. I’ve been wearing them for a year now, because they’re a comfortable healthy shoe for my fit. They have a nice amount of cushion for all the cement running, and they have great grip on the sleds!
Shoes aren’t going to make an athlete, but they can play a big part in breaking them. My shoes aren’t the reason for any success or failure I may have, but because I wear comfortable well fitted shoes every day in training, on race day they’re a shoe that I know will work well and one less thing I ever have to think about
Currently I run with Saucony Endorphin.
I feel like I’m in slippers and I like the way they respond in CAP.
I cannot say what they bring more or less, above all I look at the comfort and the sensations that I feel.
I tried the Nike Vaporfly and the test was not conclusive on past events but I intend to test these shoes again during a race but not immediately in HYROX.
You definitely need a shoe which has a flat sole with a good Grip on the Carpet for the sleds. Also a flat sole gives you More stability for the Single Workouts. AND it has to be a good Running shoe.
So I know really good running shoes for example the Nike Alphafly. It Is a Carbon shoe which will help you to get a faster Running time. But because of the thick sole with no grip underneath (bad Grip on the Carpet ) it’s just unsuitable for the Workouts.
For example a Nike Metcon would be a perfect shoe for the Workouts but not for the Running.
So my first shoe for hyrox was the new balance 1500v6. It was a recommendation by Tobi Lautwein and it is definitely a Perfect shoe for Hyrox.
Then I Switched to the Puma Deviate Nitro which is also a really good shoe for Hyrox.
Both shoes are good Running shoes, have a good Grip on the Carpet and gives a enough stability on the Workouts.
My current go to shoe to race in is the Brooks Hyperion Tempo.
I like shoes that have a direct feel to the ground and not such a thick sole as some of the high end carbon plate marathon shoes.
I feel like the Hyperion Tempo is a pretty good mix of running and workout shoe.
Despite the simplicity of the shoe, it feels very fast to run in.
Love the good grip it has on the sled stations as well.
I wear the Hoka Evo Jawz (no longer produced 😔).
I love lightweight shoes that fit my very narrow foot. These particular shoes are trail runners with pretty dramatic lugs, which are probably unnecessary for Hyrox but they definitely helped my grip in the sleds! Honestly, they are just my favorite shoe and make me feel light so I love racing in them. They remind me of racing in spikes when I was in track.
I think having the right shoe for YOU is what’s important and definitely makes a difference but I don’t think there is a single best shoe. My Hoka Jawz are ripping from the toe box in 2 places but I chose to race my 2nd Hyrox in them instead of my normal trainers (Sauncony Kinvara) because they help put me in a racing mindset. It may have all been mental, but I felt the difference with my favorite shoes.
I wear Puma Velocity Nitro trainers when I compete and when I run.
I love the comfort and they are secure when I am using the sleds too. The last thing you want is a shoe slip and you see it all too often when people compete.
I used to run in a different brand and used to get a lot of hip and Achilles issues, since switching these shoes have more cushion and adsorb shock a bit better and I haven’t had these niggles.
Plus they have super cool range of colours!
I normally wear the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 now, but switched to the New Balance RC Elite v 1 because I was worried about the sleds in Chicago and these shoes have the best grip.
The run is great, soft but responsive. I have really bad arthritis in my feet and these shoes don’t bother my feet. They have decent grip and are fairly stable. The upper fits snug, much better than the pro in my opinion.
I think shoes make a lot of difference, because if my foot hurts then will affect not only my running but sled, lunges and farmers carry so keeping my foot healthy is important
I think in hybrid it’s important to trust your shoes to do what they need to do, especially with the sleds.
For my last race, I decided to wear the Nike Streakfly.
The shoe gives me a very good running feeling, because the Streakfly is really light and you don’t have the feeling of having shoes on your feet. In addition, I have often worn the shoe in training and had the feeling that I can also cope well with it on the sled push and pull.
However, the shoe also has a disadvantage. It offers little stability. For me, that’s fine, but anyone who generally has problems with twisting, should possibly be careful. In the lunges, I therefore often feel a bit wobbly.
I think the wrong shoe you can really mess up a lot. There are models with which you can only slide when pushing or pulling the sled, which is super annoying and costs extra energy. Running can also be really difficult if the shoe is simply not a good running shoe. So stay away from bad running shoes 😅 Hard to say how big the difference is in the end. But with a bad shoe, I might have lost 5 minutes 🤔🤔
Note: Alina switched to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 for her World Championship race.
And that’s it! A dozen or so shoes recommended by 19 of the world’s fastest Hyrox athletes.
I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to the amazing Hyrox women who replied. It means a lot you were willing to share your shoe choice, experience and advice with our community.
And, readers, before you go: let us know in the comments which shoes you’re using for your next Hyrox and why…