Welcome to our annual article covering what shoes the Elite Hyrox Males chose to wear for their most important race of the season: The Hyrox World Championships. The Women’s version is coming very soon!
We’ll be the first to say that what shoes you chose to wear is a very small part of your Hyrox race result. The training you’ve put in to improve your strength, running and station-based endurance will have a far greater impact on your overall time.
But we do love shoes… And, in our defense, there’s evidence (not just marketing) that shows leading super shoes can significantly improve running economy. There’s less testing on shoes for Hyrox stations, but from our own experience, we’ve found that the grip material/pattern on a shoe can significantly impact your experience on the sleds, and the stability elements can make a big difference on the wall balls and lunges too.
As with all sports, Elite Hyrox Athletes will be looking to ensure they can fully express their fitness at the most important race of their lives. For this reason, you can be pretty sure that the shoe each Elite wears at the World Championships is going to be fast, stable and grippy. Essentially, well suited for a Hyrox race.
Now, in this year’s edition, we took things a bit farther. Maybe a bit far. And rather than just feature the shoes the athlete wore, we spent too many hours rewatching the Hyrox World Championships and browsing online shoe stores to find the exact colourway each athlete wore as well. Yes, this is clear evidence we have a pretty serious shoe problem.
We also reached out to each athlete to ask whether they’d be kind enough to let us know why they chose their specific shoe, whether they think shoe choice matters, and whether the shoe is still their choice going into the 2024/2025 season.
Anyway, we have an article coming up where we will go more in-depth on the shoes athletes have chosen (so do subscribe to our newsletter if you want to know when that comes out!), but for now, here’s a list of shoes the best of the best in our sport have put their trust in.
World Championship Shoe: On Cloudboom Echo 3.
Why? Alex told us he chose the shoe because “it is carbon-plated and so perfect for fast running, has good stability, and OK grip on the sleds”.
Does the shoe matter? “As the sport gets more competitive you can‘t miss out not to have a competitive high end race shoe, so it can make a big difference in a race”
Any plans to change? Alex said that he is currently sticking with ON.
World Championship Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Pro 3.
Why? Michael says the Saucony Pro 3 is “by far the best” shoe he has tried for Hyrox.
Does the shoe matter? Michael tells us that the shoe you chose to use can make a “big difference”.
Any plans to change? Michael has tried the Pro 4, but says the Pro 3 is better and the one he’ll stick with.
World Championship Shoe: Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2
Why? “They feel good for me. I’ve tried a good amount of shoes before these, but found they suit me the most.”
Does the shoe matter? “Shoes don’t matter. It’s all about how fit you are!”
Any plans to change? “I won’t be looking for a new shoe (see above!).”
World Championship Shoe: Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2
Why? “They are different, and I wanted something different in my shoes than my competitors that could give me an edge. They are bouncy.”
Does the shoe matter? “In my case, it makes the difference. Forefoot strikers like me can benefit from certain shoes more than heel strikers. I tested all my supershoes before deciding, and Mizuno made the difference. “
Any plans to change? “I am open to change to any shoes that can give me an extra second as long as they don’t compromise too much grip and stability (grip is more important)”
World Championship Shoe: Puma Deviate Nitro 3
Why? “I prefer the plate and the grip. Best grip in the game.”
Does the shoe matter? “If you’re not so strong on the sleds, a grippy shoe can save a few seconds. If you’re not so good on the running side, a bouncier shoe can help with turn Over.”
Any plans to change? Graham reveals plans to change shoe moving into next season. He says he’ll be going with the: “Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3. They have stack and grip!”
World Championship Shoe: Puma Deviate Nitro Elite
World Championship Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
Why? “Because the shoe is very fast and has a carbon plate.”
Does the shoe matter? “The shoe is mainly for the head. Carbon does make a difference when it comes to running speed. Otherwise, the right training is much more important than the shoe.”
Any plans to change? “I will start with the same shoe next season.”
World Championship Shoe: On Cloudboom Echo 3.
Why? “I was lucky to get them for free. On paper they should be the fastest ones I own due to the carbon plate, and they felt comfortable for all the movements.”
Does the shoe matter? “0.01%”
Any plans to change? “My plan right now is to use the same ones, I’ll save them for races only so they last for a while.”
World Championship Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
World Championship Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Pro 3
Why? “I felt like these shoes moved the sleds well enough while also having great responsiveness on the runs and decent stability compared to most plated shoes.”
Does the shoe matter? “A good shoe to a great shoe can make a marginal difference maybe 30 seconds. A bad shoe to a good shoe can make over a minute. A horrible shoe can destroy an entire race.”
Any plans to change? “I will always be looking for the best shoe to race in but for the time being will be sticking with these unless I come across a better one leading into the first major.”
World Championship Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Pro 4
World Championship Shoe: Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2 (Run 75 Edition)
Why? “I chose the Elite 2s mostly because the elite line has been super reliable ever since I began wearing them. The Deviate Nitro Elite 1 was actually the first super shoe I ever bought. I fell in love and haven’t turned back. The last thing I want to worry about on race day is whether or not my equipment (shoes, shorts, etc) is going to hold up. My pumas have been put through the wringer, and they’ve always been up to whatever I’ve asked of them!”.
Does the shoe matter? “I think shoe choice is important, not because it’s going to win you a race, but because the wrong shoe can certainly lose you a race. If it’s unstable side to side, it’s hard to take corners or lunge. If the rubber isn’t good, you’ll struggle to move the sleds. Having a shoe you know works where you need it is huge.”
Any plans to change? “I’m excited to try out the new puma’s – the Deviate Nitro Elite 3s. I know a bunch of athletes already have them, I just haven’t pulled the trigger yet.”
World Championship Shoe: Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2
Why? “I’ve been looking for a super-shoe that has a very responsive and cushioned foam that propels you forward with good grip too! I’ve used shoes in the past with pieces of what I was looking for, but it’s been tough finding a shoe with the right balance. The Mizuno has probably the best grip on the carpet since the New Balance RC Elite 1s. It’s almost like a turf shoe, it has like cleats on the bottom that grip the ground really well. I was worried it might not grip concrete so well, but it’s not let me down yet and actually grips the ground as well as any shoe I’ve worn for Hyrox.”
Does the shoe matter? “I’m not exactly how sure how much of a difference a shoe really makes. To me, it’s a lot more about peace of mind and the comfort in putting on that shoe and having it remind you that it is race day; having something that feels a little bit faster and more aggressive and just gives you that confidence that I’ve covered all my bases. This is really why I take time caring about my shoes and wanting to optimise as much as possible. But, how much difference would it make to wear this shoe versus another? Maybe a couple seconds… Maybe 20-30… I’m not sure. I don’t think it’s a make or break, but at this point those margins are going to matter, especially when it comes to the Elite 15.”
Any plans to change? “The Wave Rebellion Pro 2 is a little funny. Because the heel is cut away, it eliminates any heel strike (when running), but this also makes it a little bit funny on the row because you are not really locked into the heel pedal in the way that you would be in other shoes. This is less than ideal, but it’s been pretty good on every other station outside of the row and it feeling a little bit funny on the ski too. I don’t think I’m going to make a change. I have a fresh pair of them that I’m ready to deploy and I know that for the Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 3 (coming soon) they’re only making changes to the upper, whereas it’s the midsole and outside that matter to me – so I’m sticking with these.”
World Championship Shoe: Saucony Endorphin Pro 4
Why? “Wanted the fastest version of a shoe that has done well for me with good pop off the carbon plate, helping to save my legs. And excellent grip on the carpets.”
Does the shoe matter? “Shoes make a huge impact. I ran my second race ever in Vaporflys and I almost didn’t finish the sled pull I was just dragging myself to the sled instead of the sled to me. You need a quick shoe but also something that can grip. The right shoe can save you minutes.”
Any plans to change? “I’ll be exploring shoes for next season. I’m a free agent at the moment, so I’d be open to the newest pumas for their grip but may stay with Saucony or look to other brands. I’m hoping for a slightly lower drop to make the lunges and wallballs smoother.”