In addition to keeping any possible boredom at bay, I also feel I’m being a little more productive with my time. I’m working my aerobic engine with the zone 2 running, but my mind is also active and engaged.

If you want to take this a bit further, in addition to listening to Podcasts for entertainment, you can choose one with an educational focus to help you improve as an athlete by increasing your training knowledge too.

Today’s list features some of our favourite Hyrox Podcasts. The rules we’ve set ourselves are simple. Either:

• They must by athletes who have completed a Hyrox
  or
• They must be primarily about Hyrox or Hybrid Racing

Alright, let’s help you find a new podcast!

The Roxzone

The RoxZone is a great entry point into the world of Hyrox Podcasts. Essentially, you have three mates who stumbled across Hyrox discussing the sport. None of the hosts Ben, Max or Tom have their sights set on the Elite 15, but rather they’ve fallen in love with the community aspect of the Hyrox, the style of training it requires and the amount of fun each event offers.

Being close friends long before finding Hyrox, the conversation is always easy and there’s plenty of banter between the three guys. What sets The RoxZone apart from many Podcasts I’ve listened to in this space is that the focus is on Hyrox as a hobby. The RoxZone does offer solid training advice and they cover events too, but it’s with the goal of breaking down barriers and boosting everyone’s enjoyment of the sport.

If I’m doing a long-run and feeling a bit bored, I’ll often chuck on The RoxZone and find myself laughing at the lads ripping each other whilst covering a topic I find interesting such as ‘Juggling Hyrox With Work’, ‘Breaking Down The Hyrox PFT’ or ‘Best Shoes For Hyrox’. Some of the podcasts that can really put you at ease in the early days of your training include ‘Movement Standards’, ‘Hyrox Mythbusters’ and ‘Training For Your First Hyrox’. Their coverage of Hyrox events is good fun and often released just a few days after the event has wrapped up. They have regular interviews too.

Who: Max Schlummer, Ben Rawls. Tom Previte & Lucy Mitchell (Guest Host)

What: Three friends discuss training for Hyrox and having fun whilst doing so

Back Catalogue: 36 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | RSS Podcast

Reinforced Running Podcast

I probably shouldn’t have favourites, but I’m certainly partial to Rich Ryan’s Reinforced Running Podcast. And not just for the alliteration. Even before I got involved with Hyrox, I’d been listening to Rich Ryan’s Podcast where he deep dives into how to train as an athlete wanting to be competitive in functional fitness and hybrid racing.

Rich Ryan is probably the best runner in Hyrox right now. He was a Spartan Pro, is a reigning Deka World Champion, and a Hyrox Elite 15 athlete too. He’s also been involved in CrossFit for over 10 years. Many people will favour him to be on the podium for this year’s Hyrox World Championship.

As an athlete who wants to be competitive myself, I love how Rich’s Podcast really go into detail on how to improve as an athlete. ‘Pacing A Race’, ‘Preventing Burnout’, ‘Tapering Tactics’, ‘Compromised Running’, ‘Pre-Race Routines’, ‘Off-Season Training’, ‘Should You Take Creatine’ – over the course of 3+ years of Podcasting, Rich has covered pretty much any question you can find yourself asking. Rich also covers his race strategy after each event, interviews some of the leading athletes in Hyrox, and also brings on industry experts.

Who: Rich Ryan

What: Content for athletes seeking to be more competitive

Back Catalogue: 264 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | Buzzsprout

The Hybrid Approach

James Muscart is one of the top five Hyrox Pros in the UK and one of the people who got me interested in Hyrox due to his enthusiasm and love of the sport showcased through his YouTube Channel: JayFit. In The Hybrid Approach Podcast, James teams up with fellow Hyrox Ambassador and Hyrox World Championships qualifier Joe Patrick.

Both James and Joe are competitive athletes and are training hard to improve their race times further. James and Joe have a fun dynamic and aren’t afraid to poke fun at each other, which makes the Podcast very easy to listen to.

Content revolves mainly around improving your Hyrox performance through intelligent training, observations about the sport, and coverage of races. There’s a lot of non-Hyrox related content too, especially during the off-season, where Joe is working on his running and James is taking part in all kinds of functional fitness events across Europe as a MyZone athlete. Many episodes also feature a high-profile guest and both James and Joe do a good job of bringing them into the conversation and getting a lot of insight from them. Hint: Any episodes featuring the Hogans are laugh-out-loud funny

Who: James Muscart and Joe Patrick

What: Training discussion and Hyrox event coverage for all

Back Catalogue: 26 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | Podbean

Rox Lyfe

If you’re looking for something a bit more data-driven and analytical then The Rox Lyfe could well be what you’re looking for.

I’ve no idea what host Greg Williams does for a living, but I imagine it’s something with spreadsheets and projections. If you’re the kind of person wanting to know how fast in seconds you should be doing your burpee broad jumps compared to the rest of the field to be competitive or are curious about how the differences between venues could hurt/help your performance than Greg is the go-to source for this kind of information.

All that being said, The Rox Lyfe and Greg himself is certainly not boring. All the information is broken down and explained in an interesting way so that it should appeal to newer and more experienced athletes whether they are looking to be competitive or just finish a race. This analytical study of Hyrox is clearly working for Greg too as his personal Hyrox times have tumbled from 1:29 down to 1:12.

I have especially enjoyed the Race Recaps that Greg does where he goes into detail on the season’s races – covering winners, average times and any records set – and his interviews with some of the sports leading and upcoming names.

Who: Greg Williams

What: Data-driven Hyrox coverage

Back Catalogue: 26 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | Anchor

Fitness Racing Podcast

If you’re in the UK, then you’ve probably heard about the Fitness Racing Podcast as the hosts are very active in the UK Hyrox Facebook Group.

I really love this show as the goal of it seems to be building and promoting the UK hybrid scene. If some podcasts are like journals and others are like newspapers, I’d say that the Fitness Racing Podcast is more of a magazine.

Host Ian Kay interviews a wide range of people involved in the sport from judges to new entrants with an interesting story to tell to YouTubers to elite athletes. Ian is an experienced host and conversations with guests are always seamless. They also do a great job of providing in-depth race previews and reviews of UK events.

If I’m on a long-run and want something really easy to listen to I’ll often chuck this on and find myself enjoying the run a lot more.

Who: Ian Kay

What: Interviews and UK race coverage

Back Catalogue: 60 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Nitty Gritty Training

Although it’s not exclusively Hyrox focused, Nitty Gritty Training is one of my favourite podcasts to listen to on a run.

Each show has a set topic and the two hosts, Faye Stenning and Jessica O’Connell, chat through them drawing upon their experiences and expertise. Faye was on the Spartan Pro Team and had more podium finishes than any other female athlete over the past decade; she also has a degree in Kinesiology. Jessica O’Connell is an Olympic runner, specializing in the 5000m with a personal best time of 15:06 (wow!); she has a degree in Exercise Physiology. So, basically, they’re pretty qualified! But if you’re still not convinced, Faye has done a Hyrox and she won it maintaining running splits between 3:35 – 4:08 for the entire event.

What I enjoy about Nitty Gritty Training is that it’s very easy to listen to. Faye and Jess have known each other and trained together since they were at school and so couldn’t be more comfortable chatting with each other. And, essentially, that’s how the show comes across: as a conversation between two friends.

Topics are always relevant to the masses too. Whether it’s ‘Breaking Through Plateaus’ or ‘Training For Multiple Different Events’ or ‘Building A Home Gym’ or ‘Sleep’ or ‘Types Of Run Workouts’. They also run regular Q&As where they answer questions submitted through Instagram and have done interviews with Hyrox Athletes such as Hunter McIntyre and Lauren Weeks.

Who: Faye Stenning & Jess O’Connell

What: Running and OCR topics by a Spartan Pro and Olympian.

Back Catalogue: 70 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | Stitcher

Race Brain Podcast

Another Podcast hosted by Rich Ryan and featuring a reoccurring panel of Brakken Kraker, Jack Bauer (not the badass from 24, sadly?), and Kirk DeWidnt! If you’re not familiar with these guys, their expertise come from being a mixture of Spartan Pros, coaches, authors, stats gurus and popular podcast hosts. As a result, this Podcast is super slick, professional sounding and very in-depth.

This Podcast is geared more towards those who want detailed coverage and analysis of all things OCR, hybrid fitness, and endurance racing. If you’re new to this world, you may initially feel a little lost with this one. However, if you’re familiar with the various events and athletes involved then this is one of the very best to get your news and deepen your understanding of the sport.

Hyrox is a relatively small piece of the overall OCR/Hybrid Racing puzzle, and so if that’s your only interest there may be limited episodes you choose to listen to, but there are some great episodes previewing the season and reviewing record-breaking performances that you should make time to check out.

Who: Brakken Kraker, Jack Bauer, Kirk DeWidnt, and Rich Ryan

What: OCR & Hybrid Racing Coverage by top level athletes and creators

Back Catalogue: 38 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | Buzzsprout

OFX Podcast

This is an enjoyable, professional-level Podcast that covers Hyrox when there’s a race on in the US, but focuses primarily on the Spartan branded events such as Spartan OCR and Deka. The hosts are Dave Claxton (VP of Obstacle Sports Canada) and Bethany McChesney (an accomplished Spartan Pro).

Many of the Podcasts on this list are based here in the UK and primarily cover the European scene. OFX, being based in Canada, covers mostly North America. What’s quite nice about this is that Dave and Bethany often invite guests onto the show and these guests often include some of the Elite 15 Hyrox Athletes you don’t regularly hear from on the European Podcasts – even if they are mostly talking Deka or Spartan.

Bethany and Dave have a great dynamic and are incredibly knowledgeable on the OCR and Hybrid Racing scene. Episodes are often over an hour, but never seem to drag, so make perfect listening for your longest run of the week.

Who: Dave Claxon and Bethany McChesney

What: North American Hybrid Racing coverage by an industry pro and pro athlete

Back Catalogue: 109 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | PodcastRepublic

Obstacle Racing Media

Matt B. Davis is one of the most well-known commentators on Obstacle Course Racing and his Podcast has been running seemingly forever. If you think of Rich Ryan as a Podcasting veteran, with over just over 250 episodes in the bag, Matt dwarfs that with over 850!

This Podcast certainly isn’t Hyrox specific, in that it covers news related to all kinds of OCR and Hybrid Racing events, but many episodes will mention and cover Hyrox. You also have regular interviews with athletes, event organisers, industry professionals (e.g. there’s a great episode with Lauren Rantala and Marc Howe of Hyrox America for example).

Because Matt is so experienced as a host and knows many athletes personally, his podcasts always flow seamlessly. When it comes to interviews, Matt can ask questions to athletes others may feel intimidated to ask and often has a more open conversation with them.

If you want a news show in the style of a show you’d find on talkSPORT Radio then this is it.

Who: Matt B. Davis

What: The longest-running show for OCR & Hybrid Racing coverage

Back Catalogue: 859 Episodes

Where: Apple | Spotify | RadioPublic

Attributes

Image of woman running in snow by gpointstudio on Freepik

So, what was the problem?

In the 2022/2023 season there were two ways to qualify for the Elite 15 World Championships. The first was to set one of the fastest 9-12 times of the season at any Hyrox course in the world (I will explain the 9-12 in a moment). The second was to podium at a mid-season Elite 15 race (either the European Championships or American Championships), where you qualified by holding one of the 15 fastest times of the season two weeks before that race. The podium spots for these two Elite 15 Championship races gave automatic qualification to the Elite 15 finals – so up to 6 athletes could land their spots this way. Any remaining spots are then given to the 9-12 athletes with the fastest times globally on any course on any date as described above.

During the season, there were a number of concerns raised by top athletes about this system of qualification to the Elite 15 Championship races. Mostly, this was around there being less chances for American athletes and athletes outside of Europe to qualify, and the suspicion that certain courses leant themselves to much faster times. So, as an example, Hyrox Dave may have beaten Hyrox Chris by over 2 minutes at a race in London, but Hyrox Chris went to a race in Amsterdam a week later and set a much faster time than Hyrox Dave and so qualified to the Elite 15 race when Hyrox Dave‘s London time saw him miss out.

This led to some criticism from Hyrox athletes and even campaigns supporting the likes of Ryan Kent and Rich Ryan when it looked likely they’d be unable to compete in the Hyrox American Championships race – which was filled by athletes which had set fast times in courses across Europe. You then had athletes such as Tom Hogan who had to deal with the mental, physical and financial stress of having to fly to Hong Kong less than 2 weeks before the Elite 15 World Championship race to seek qualification after being bumped last minute. And how about James Kelly who most people agreed deserved to be in the Hyrox Elite 15 race and yet was knocked out of the World Championships until literally minutes before the Elite 15 race when an athlete was forced to withdraw, then ended up placing inside the top 10.

It should be noted that most people agree Hyrox has done a very good job at trying to ensure every course is the same. It’s not negligence or a lack of caring for athletes on their part, it’s just an impossible task when you consider the multitude of factors that can impact how fast an athlete can complete a race – from building layouts/shapes to equipment brands to weather to humidity and so on.

I think the main concern athletes had was that theoretically athletes could qualify to the Elite 15 World Championship race without proving they deserve to be there by beating other top athletes on an equal playing field.

So, what’s Hyrox’s solution?

For the 2023/2024 season, Hyrox has announced the only way to qualify to the World Championships is by placing at a Major Championship or Last Chance Qualifier event. This season, there will be no direct qualification to the World Championships by setting a fast time in a regular season race. 

This years HYROX Elite 15 Series will consist of:

• 4 Regional Major Races (HYROX, European, Scandinavian and US)– Qualification to the Majors is earned via time placings in the year 2023, top 3 times at each Major qualify for The HYROX World Championships
  
• 2 Last Chance Qualifiers – Open Field events at the end of the Major’s season schedule to fill any spots still available for The HYROX World Championships
  
• The HYROX World Championship – The pinnacle of the HYROX race season

This is a big step forwards for Hyrox, who have always remained quiet when athletes have raised concerns about certain courses being faster or slower. It is clear that Hyrox wanted to create a test that was exactly the same for me in the UK as it is for someone in Italy or Hong Kong or America, so we could compare times to see where we rank against each other. It was a big part of their sales pitch. And, actually, I think at the non-Elite level they are about as close as possible to doing this. Similar to how me and my friends don’t argue our 5000m times based on where we set them, not too many athletes outside of the Elites argue about which course they set their best times on… seconds matter much less to the majority of us than it does to these top performers.

What are the Majors? How will they work?

The Majors are 4 regional events that provide the first opportunities for athletes to qualify for the World Championships. The 4 Majors are the Scandinavian, European, HYROX and US Majors. Each race will host a Male and a Female Elite 15 Event.

Qualification for these Major events occurs via a combination of:

• Auto Qualification via 22/23 Season Elite 15 results – 1st, 2nd, 3rd from the World Championships and 1st place from the North American and European Championships in season 22/23 will be auto-qualified for all Majors.
  
• Time Qualification – The remaining slots shall be awarded to the fastest recorded times from Jan 1st 2023 – to the end of the 23/24 season, if a prequalified athlete chooses not to accept their invite that slot shall be rolled down to the next fastest qualifying time from a qualifying race starting Jan 1st 2023. Qualifying times must be recorded at least 2 weeks prior to each race.

15 Male and 15 Female athletes will qualify  to race at each Major and each Major race shall qualify up to 3 athletes to the World Championship race (1st, 2nd and 3rd in the relevant Major)

If an athlete who has already qualified for the World Championships occupies a qualifying place in a subsequent Major race that qualification shall roll down to the next placing in that Major, qualification shall only roll down to 5th place in any Major.

All Majors hold a total prize purse of $42,000 each ($21,000 Male and $21,000 female), all majors will be Grid Format races and will be live-streamed.

What are the Last Chance Qualifiers?

Once all World Championship qualification slots have been assigned via placings in the Major Championships all remaining World Championship slots will be competed for at open invite regular format races – the Last Chance Qualifiers.

Depending on how many slots have been occupied via Major placings (theoretical maximum of 12 places) the remaining slots will be divided equally between the US and European Last Chance Qualifiers. 

Anyone can compete by signing up to the Pro Category division at the appropriate race, but no athlete who has already qualified for the World Championship can compete/register a time in this race.

When will this all take place?

Hyrox have already released a calendar with dates for each of the Major races and Last Chance qualifiers, which will allow athletes to begin planning their season.

New financial incentives and exposure via live-streams

All Majors hold a total prize purse of $42,000 each ($21,000 Male and $21,000 female), all majors will be Grid Format races and will be live-streamed.

What do athletes think?

Hyrox says they have “engaged the community, the athletes, coaches and media in a wide-ranging consultation process to identify lessons learnt from 22/23 and implement a season structure we felt reflected the increased size and importance of the sport. The new season structure massively increases the number of opportunities to engage in an elite season both for athletes to compete and for fans to spectate. It also ensures that every athlete at the World Championship has won their spot via in-person competition with a field of their peers.“

I was keen to speak with athletes to see whether they agreed that this is a positive step forwards by Hyrox. Here’s some thoughts from the 2022/2023’s Elite 15:

Lauren Weeks: “I think that the Hyrox team is really putting a lot of time and effort into making the season as fair and as practical as they can. They have listened to and taken feedback from the athletes more than I have seen from any other company. I don’t think it’s possible to make it fair to everyone as we all live across the globe and the sport is ever expanding […] I don’t think I have any right in telling someone else how to run their business. I think it’s great that they are continuing to find the best way to structure a season, and they are willing to see past mistakes and try to move forward and make it better in the future.”

Tobias Lautwein: “I think it’s a good mix of last season’s performances and the new season. A good performance must now also be achieved at several events. The lucky punch is eliminated.“

James Kelly: The new structure is the new structure and if I want to be apart of their sport, I must play by their rules. The financial incentives sound as if they are going in the right direction in relation to becoming more of a professional sport, which is great! But I don’t get motivation from finance incentives at all. So long story short, Hyrox Sydney can’t come soon enough! That’s all I care about!

Florian Gast: to me its 100% fair as they published it early enough every athletes knows the rules now and can push to personal limits!

Note: Athlete’s thoughts are still coming in and we will update this post as they come back to us

In the third episode of THE HYBRID EXPERIMENT, we speak with Ryan Gibney about how Hyrox athletes can improve their strength. In this interview, Ryan tells us why strength and explosiveness is so important to even a running dominated sport like Hyrox and how to program for the best results on each station.

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…

In this interview, James tells us why he’s such a huge advocate of coaching and the many benefits it can offer many Hyrox athletes over programming.

Perhaps even more importantly, James gives advice to upcoming Hyrox athletes on how to decide whether coaching or programming is right for them and how it could boost their Hyrox performance.

In our first episode of The Hybrid Experiment, we speak with the winner of the HYROX Virtual Championships, Elite Hyrox competitor and hugely popular coach: Markus Frison.

Drawing on his experience not only from Hyrox, but competing as part of the German National Cycling Team and as a top-level powerlifter, Markus joins us to discuss what an off-season is, why it’s vital to improving your Hyrox performance next season, and how exactly to train during it.

To check it out, just hit the play button below!

We were keen to catch up with Hunter the week of the Hyrox season’s main event, the Elite 15 race in Manchester, to find out his thoughts about Hyrox’s growth as a sport and hear how he’s feeling going into the race.

Here’s the interview!

Having followed your career through OCR and CrossFit, it almost seems like Hyrox was made for you: strength, speed, and quality movement. Can you remember your thoughts and feelings when you first heard about Hyrox and eventually completed your first race?

There have been many attempts of events like Hyrox but nothing is as hard as Hyrox. When I first completed one I was rocked by the length and intensity of the race. I have been racing them ever since. It really is an incredible test. I find it gets the most out of me when I am peak form for this race. 

You’ve always trained hard and with plenty of volume, but I heard you say a few days ago that you’re training more volume than you ever have in your life. What specifically is it you’re doing more of and why?

I increased my volume by 300% from last year. Mostly because I had limited time to train for this season. Most of it was done on the bike. A lot more ski erg too. Eventually I reached a point when I broke myself in the process but now I’m back to good place and faster than ever.

I know that you advocate the Norwegian Method of training for Hyrox. Can you tell us a bit about what this is and how it has helped you set records and also helped many of your athletes hit PBs?

It was an style that I read about from the sport of cross country skiing. I think this sport closely replicated our style of sport. I took a formula that they used then applied the multi sport training application of Hyrox. By mixing endurance and intensity properly I was able to increase both at the same time. 

Looking ahead to Friday’s race, what’s your goal? It feels strange to ask, but would winning be enough for you? 

At this point in my career I race to learn more about myself. I have gold medals, I have money. When I push myself to my absolute limits I arrive to a place where absolute chaos meets peace. It is a rare thing that I cherish the opportunity to experience. 

Do you prefer the Championship races where you get to go head-to-head with the best in the world compared to the qualifiers, like Spain where you set the World record? Do you approach them any differently?

I race for world records in the offseason. I take risks on open level courses. In championships I race at a pace that will set me up with the win. Both have different styles and paces.

I think many people believe that top level athletes (such as yourself), find training and competing physically/mentally easier than they do. How much do you suffer in training and in a race to perform the way you do?

I train at a level of pain and performance that no else does. That’s why I’m the one holding the world record. 

What is it that you believe allows you to push yourself so hard so consistently and find success across so many disciplines? 

I haven’t ever stopped learning. I will sit in any and all rooms that push the limits of human performance. I read constantly. I look myself in the mirror all the time, judge my weaknesses and praise my strengths. Then I go back to the drawing board. 

What’s the worst workout you’ve done this training camp?

The hardest workout I did was participating in an 8 hour bike ride with 10000ft of climbing in Cyprus. I didn’t know we were going this far. I didn’t bring enough fuel or water. I did it on my bday. It will be one of the most memorable rides of my life. 

Some friends of mine are involved in HAOS and love it. I know you take great pride in the performances of athletes you’re training. Would you say that being a coach and a leader has impacted the way you train and perform?

I learn so much for seeing the daily feed back of athletes around the world. It helps me rethink my own training. You always have to have an open mind if you want to be a top level performer. Leave no stone left unturned. 

What’s one thing, from your experience, that Hyrox athletes should be doing more of to get their times down?

Cardio is the most underrated aspect of a successful time in Hyrox. More running, biking, skiing and rowing. It will change the game if you level up here.

Don’t miss Hunter in action at the Hyrox World Championships this Friday evening from 5:20pm. Hyrox have teamed up with Spontent to deliver a top quality live stream of the event with full commentary through Twitch. More here: The Fitness Competition for Every Body | HYROX

In Hyrox, your feet and legs are always working. Whether it’s during your runs, your lunges, your wall balls, rowing or even farmers carries… they never get a break.

So, 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.

There is some evidence that leading super shoes can improve running economy by as much as 3%. However, this research is obviously focused on fast-running individuals in distance racing scenarios.

In Hyrox, we need to consider not only how fast a shoe can allow us to run, but how stable it is for exercises such as lunges, what kind of drop it has for wall balls, how it allows us to press through our forefoot on the row, and whether it helps/hinders our jump and balance in the burpee broad jumps too.

What we wanted to achieve with this article is to let you know what shoes the best of the best Hyrox athletes are using and why. We also wanted to get their opinion, as elite athletes, on whether shoe choice makes a difference. As you will see, some athletes had lots of thoughts and opinions on their shoes. Others didn’t really care too much about shoes at all. The takeaway for me is that any shoe on this list has proven itself capable of running a sub 1:02 Hyrox… So, at very least, if you pick a shoe from this list then you know the shoe isn’t your limiter for the Top 30

This is the first in a series of 4 planned articles. This one is the shoe choices of the male elites, the second will be 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: We invited all male athletes with a time in the Top 30 of the 2022/2023 season to take part. 26 of 30 replied. If any of the top 30 end up reading this and aren’t on the list… check your Instagram DMs

I’ve chosen these shoes because I’ve been on the lookout for a super shoe. A super shoe is a shoe which has a PEBA foam (polyether block amide foam) compared to conventional EVA foam (Ethylene vinyl acetate foam).

These new foams absorb a lot more shock and give a lot more response back, so they’re a little bit bouncier, they have good cushion, and feel really good on the floor.

In addition to the foam, there’s a carbon plate in the shoe that helps compress the PEBA foam, which further helps with the energy return and propelling you forward.

Just in general, I’ve found I work really well with super shoes, I’ve raced pretty fast in them and just generally enjoy the experience.

Until the Pro 3s, I actually hadn’t had much luck finding a super shoe that has enough stability for the corners and grip for the carpets, but this shoe seems to fit the mold for both. I’m also testing our a pair of HOKA Rocket Xs, but I don’t think I’m going to change out of the Endorphin Pro 3s this year.

I think the difference a shoe makes is minimal to a certain point. As long as you meet the requirements of having enough rubber on the bottom that allows you to move the sleds and grip the concrete. Where there’s a big difference is if your shoes are inappropriate for the carpet, because then you’ll find you cannot grip or move the sleds and that’s where the difference really is.

So, the right shoe isn’t necessarily going to make you that much faster, but the wrong shoe could end up making you much slower.

I recently made the switch to this shoe (from the New Balance RC Elite V1s); in part because I train in the Saucony Endorphin Speeds for the majority of my run training and also because I feel the shoe has a little more bounce. It feels as though it runs closer to a Nike Vaporfly than any other shoes does: I like the high stack (and it’s a very high stack!), and it really feels like I’m getting some extra propulsion out of it. Also, the grip, unlike the previous model, really suits the run course.

This shoe for me has been very successful. In part, this is because I’m comfortable running in a shoe like this. I have not lost in this shoe yet. But, I will point out and caution people that if you’re not used to a high stack shoe it can be challenging, because cornering and doing functional fitness exercises won’t feel natural in a shoe like the Endorphin Pro 3, so that’s something you need to be prepared for.

I really think you want a shoe with a Carbon plate. It takes some of the beatdown off your legs, which really makes a difference, and lets you be really springy. But, at the same time, you want a shoe with a somewhat low profile that lets you do lunges and such without feeling feeling awkward.

If you’re a person racing in trainers: you’re doing it all wrong. Every shoe has a purpose. There are shoes that are meant for training and there are shoes that are meant for racing. Get yourself a race shoe so that you can feel like a streamlined butterfly when you’re full go and ready to race. It really makes a huge difference when you slap on a light shoe with a carbon plate. There’s a physical advantage, but also a mental advantage knowing you’re throwing on your fast shoes.

I have tried a few different shoes (Nike Pegasus; Adidas Takumi Sen; Nike Vapor Fly; Saucony Endorphin Pro. All, except the Pegasus, have very little grip for a 70-72kgs athlete but I know they work for heavier athletes. The Pegasus are “heavy” and slow).

It is a difficult compromise between speed and grip (On any type of “non-long” races I take comfort out of this equation. High level, high intensity sports are never comfortable).

After a few tests I have been using the New Balance RC FuelCell Elite Version 1 (4 races now); they are medium-fast shoes with a carbon plate but unlike the other carbon plate shoes, they have a great grip that works both when moving forwards and backwards.

Running shoes are made for running. The grip on the outsole is designed to help on that frontal dislocation movement. On a sled pull we are walking backwards. So it is very difficult to find shoes with a good grip to Hyrox.

A good carbon running shoe can take 4-5 seconds off of each KM on a good/fast runner (sub 4´/km).

But a bad grip can make a lighter athlete lose 30-45 seconds on each sled and waste lots of physical and mental energy.

We also need to consider that on Hyrox events the floor is usually is slippery, especially around aid stations and on the corners.

If one has to opt: Grip over speed without any doubts.

I prefer to feel the ground when I run vs a big stack height. And the rubber bottom is pretty nice too.

Proper shoes will help some, but it’s your fitness that really separates the athletes from one another.

It’s a very important question actually, one I’ve obsessed over in the passed and one I’ll continue to obsess over…

At the end of the day what you really want is a fast running shoe for running and a stable, grippy shoe for everything else.

Obviously those two are mutually exclusive.

So then it’s a calculation, how many seconds is a particular shoe going to eat from what, and is it worth it in terms of what it’ll gain me back somewhere else?

Which boils down to an estimation because if you’re just one person that’s going to be next to impossible to measure.

Anyway, more than half of the race is running + roxzone (in the Elite field anyway) so any % gained there will have a bigger impact than a % gained somewhere else.

In my experience a shoe that isn’t grippy / stable will hurt you the most on the sleds and perhaps the lunges, and it’s somewhat annoying on the farmers carry.

But they’re really small penalties… which is why you’ll see most of the field in super shoes, because they offer a proven advantage while running, and subjectively I find them even more beneficial if you’re running on wobbly legs

So then you’re just looking for a shoe that’s good _enough_ so you won’t bleed too much time on the sleds

So basically a super shoe with appropriate grip so you won’t slip on the sleds

I did my first few races in the New Balance RC Elite V1, which is still a good choice, though it’s not made anymore so basically impossible to get now

I made the switch to the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 a few months back, which has enough rubber and a bit of a tread pattern that grip isn’t really an issue, and it has a super bouncy foam and an aggressive rocker that I really like.

Oh and there is a station where a super shoe might actually be an advantage: I don’t mind an extra 39mm under my heel when I’m doing wall balls…

I already have and will use the Adidas Prime X Strung in the future.

The sole is very grippy (Continental). That’s an important factor. But the shoe also has a carbon plate. This definitely makes you faster. In addition, there is good cushioning that absorbs tired muscles. The damping is also a small disadvantage. The shoe is not that stable. Running in turns and lunges can become unstable. But that is also a matter of getting used to.

I chose the Endorphin Pros as they have a carbon plate and are very grippy on sleds.

In terms of difference, I’d say around 2-5 secs per km faster.

I’ve started using the Puma Nitro Elite, because it’s a light and stable shoe.
Before, I used to run with the Nike Vaporfly, which was very good for running, but not very stable for stations like the lunges or wall balls.

I work in sales for a sporting goods manufacturer. So I don’t have much comparison to other brands as I haven’t experimented and tried much.

I did my first races with the Cloud X. For the workouts optimal, when running I lacked cushioning.

I then switched to the Cloudflow. Unfortunately, my feet fell asleep during two races, which is very disadvantageous when running.

So I then came to the Hyperion Tempo from Brooks, with which I have contested most competitions to date.
The shoe is for me a perfect blend of comfort and dynamics with low weight. And during the workouts, the shoe offers sufficient grip and stability.

This season I have completed a few races with the Cloudmonster, with which I have also gained good experience. The comfort compared to the Brooks is significantly higher. However, I do not have the impression that I lose energy. In the workouts it lacks a little stability, but that does not really bother.

I’m eagerly awaiting the Cloudboom Echo 3 – I think the shoe is the perfect blend of the Hyperion Tempo and the Cloudmonster.

I think that the choice of shoes can make a difference of maximum 20-30 sec – considered on the whole race.

You need a shoe where you have grip, good stability and also a good feeling whilst you run.

I think one point to consider is that an individual will like different things about different shoes for him/herself specifically.

I’ll start by saying when I was young and could run fast I was sponsored by brooks so I’m slightly biased to them as I’ve worn almost solely brooks for 20 years. But they are also the best shoes!

So my hyrox shoe of choice is the Hyperion tempo for a few reasons:
1) it’s light and feels super fast, basically an old school type racer before carbon was a thing
2) it’s really grippy which is essential for the sleds
3) it’s small stack height makes it ideal for lunges and wall balls where stability is what you need.
4) and I think this is important brooks don’t tend to change much I’d be confident you’ll still get this shoe without changes for a few years yet.

The big with shoes that’s rarely addressed is athlete weight. The only elite athletes wearing carbon shoes are those who are physically the biggest. The reason they can get away with them is their weight in relation to the sled. They don’t need the grip to push that a smaller athlete needs.

I have tried the brooks Hyperion elite which is brooks carbon shoe but the sled takes so much energy that I end up losing time wearing them.

These are a directly, fast, lightweight trainer with good grip.

Shoes make a big difference. You need to decide what you need. Speed or grip!

I love talking about shoes, especially when it comes to Hyrox! I’m using pretty special shoes: S/Lab Pulsar 2s, which are a kind of trail running race shoe. It’s a very, very light shoe. Probably one of the lightest, but it still has many of the abilities of a trail running shoe. For example, it does very, very well on the sleds.

I have tested a lot of them. I own many, many shoes and have Soloman as a sponsor. Before that though I’d tested many Under Armour shoes, Nike shoes like the Vaporfly, and others too, but I am happy with the S/Lab as it’s the lightest and most stable with the best grip of all the elite shoes.

On whether it makes a difference… I think it depends. I think for average athletes completing their Hyrox in around 90 minutes to 2 hours, it’s not going to result in a huge difference. You have many other things you can work on to boost your potential. But, when it comes to the elites, every percentage and every second counts. A few seconds can be the difference between 1st and 2nd place, a spot on the podium, or in elite races it can even mean winning prize money or not.

These are a light, fast and direct shoe with a lot of grip.

In terms of how much difference a shoe makes: not so much. Maybe 5 %. The sled push is most important for which shoe you should wear.

I chose the Winflos because they have a good mix of being a comfortable shoe to run in, not too heavy, and a pattern on the bottom that I like for sled pushing. I love for small ridges and triangle or pyramid patterns for grip.

I think poor shoe choice with the sleds can kill your race and you have to be smart to look at the sole pattern. Being comfortable on the runs matter but the sleds are the biggest place a shoe can really mess you up.

Right now I’m wearing Brooks Ghost 14. It’s my second pair and I’ll stick to them, at least for this season. They have good grip and are light with a big heel, so perfect for fast running. What was very important for me, was the perfect fit and I need them to be very tight at the front part of my foot, so they deliver my whole strength directly on the floor!

A good shoe is very important, especially for the Sleds/Carpet and if you are racing Pro (heavier weights). For the Open category you can choose just a very good running shoe: a bit of grip is still necessary, depending somewhat on how strong you are, but most grips will be enough for those weights. Any shoe you buy you should test on a run and also test the grip on a carpet (if possible with a sled, or try pushing something).

If you do pro and you get to the sleds without any grip, that could be the end of your race.

Test them both ways: push and pull. Some shoes are just helpful for pushing and you’ll slide on the pull!

Only reason I use these shoes is because I’ve been wearing them for all things fitness for so long, so why change?
To be honest, I don’t know and I don’t care how much difference they make. My shoes aren’t going to make me faster or stronger. My training is!

The main message from me is that everyone should put more energy in there training than shoe wear.

I’ve gone with these because Tom Hogan recommended them and I trust this guy.

They feel light and comfortable for the runs but also stable for lunging and squats, and good traction for the sleds so I’ll be using them again in the future.

For me I think psychologically it makes a very small difference knowing I’ll be comfortable and stable in my shoes. But people definitely blow up the importance of shoe choice. As long as it’s a decent runner it won’t make or break your race so much. My opinion

My general opinion concerning the shoe topic is “back to basics”. As you have to run 8k at a fast pace it is important to wear a running shoe which is very direct and has enough grip for the sled workouts. In my opinion carbon shoes are not very useful for a Hyrox, because most of the tracks have direction changes or square curves. For this most carbon shoes are too spongy, I think these shoes do not fit for most of the workouts (too instable). In general I really like carbon shoes for street races, but not for a Hyrox.

I have chosen the Adidas SL20 for my last race, because of the facts above (direct, good stability for the workouts, good grip for the sleds).

I think the shoes can make a difference (specifically: it can go wrong if you use shoes which are not stable enough), but the most important thing is, that you feel comfortable with the shoes.

The Saucony Pro 3s are light, carbon fiber and feel fast. I think they make a big difference.

When competing as an elite it opened up my eyes to other shoes that are available. I was using Brooks launch 9 and they are comfortable, but I don’t believe they are as fast. So I changed.

The reason why I have chosen this shoe is because of the robustness and support they provide along with its light weight and sole with studs that help traction on sleds.

The sole of the shoes can be decisive, and I think these have the ideal sole for Hyrox race.

Until now I have always given more priority to having a shoe that holds well, especially in the heel, arch and toecap, condemning a bit the lightness and propulsion.

For running I have always used the Asics Kayano and this is the first time I have tried Mizuno, and I have to say that I am very happy.

I have never used shoes with a carbon plate, but it is an option that I am considering for next season.

Shoe choice is very personal and in my case I think I will continue giving priority to the stability to perform better and more comfortably the stations, losing some speed and lightness on the run.

There are athletes who have other priorities when choosing the characteristics of their shoes.

I chose this shoe as I prefer a shoe with a carbon plate and feel like I get more of a bounce forward.

It’s always down to the athlete on how the performance goes, but if you find a shoe that you think you can run faster in, then that’s what counts. Hyrox is a head game as much as a fitness game. I’ve just got it in my head that a carbon plated shoe makes me run faster, so it’s good for my mental state for the race. Ha!

In the pro division it can come down to a shoe when it comes to shifting the prowlers. You could lose seconds with the wrong choice of shoe, and that can be the difference of winning or losing. So something grippy as well as bouncy suits me personally.

With the Open category, I’d say pick a shoe that you like.

These are fast shoes with great stability and very good grip.
I think they are very good shoes for the running but the huge difference with others shoes is the great stability. This makes a difference with the lunges and wallballs.

I have been competing in Nike Zoom Fly 4, but recently I bought Zoom Fly 5 and have just done one race in them. I am not sure if the Zoom Fly 5 are better than the Fly Zoom 4 though. Definitely the shape of the heel is not very good for rowing. Both shoes will helps you run faster for sure and the 5s are more stable for lunges.

Both shoes have solid uppers which helps with pushing and pulling: they’re not just socks with a sole. And both are enough comfortable and soft when your running style goes to hell

Well balanced shoes. Good grip for sleds while providing good stability for wall balls and lunges. Probably not the best for running, but a balanced choice
Shoes make a difference at the elite level, especially on the running due to the carbon plate. Might improve your 1km by 3-5 seconds

I use the SCOTT Speed Carbon RC as it’s a shoe that offers me plenty of comfort during not only the running (due to the full Carbon), but also as a result of the super nice stability during the exercises. It also has amazing grip!

I used a Nike shoe for the first time in the World Championships in Las Vegas last year, and on the first sled push I broke them! I looked for a light shoe with a sole with good grip for the sled and that is the Puma Deviate Nitro. I’ve found this shoe very good for sleds and running, although it is a bit unstable in the lunges and the wallballs. I think this shoe helps me cut 2-3 minutes overall.

Hunter said he is currently using the Puma Deviate Nitros and he feels shoe choice “makes a big difference”.

The Puma Deviate Nitros are a change from what he has previously worn: the Brooks Launch 8.

In a YouTube video, Hunter said: “When it comes to racing and training, it’s all about the shoes that I wear. I want to have the best performance in my body, and this transfers all the way into the ground where I’m going to get most of my performance from.”

On the sleds specially, he added: “The most important thing is to have as much rubber contact as possible, just because the carpet lifts up and if you don’t have maximum surface area on it then you have less traction.”

He also warned: “I showed up for my first ever Hyrox in a trail shoe. Because of the sleds, I thought for sure ‘this is gonna have so much grip. I’m gonna be the tough guy.’ But, they did not stick at all and I had the slowest sled time of almost anybody from the pros. So one tip: don’t wear a trail shoe!”

And that’s it! 18 shoes by 28 different Elite athletes.

Before you go though, let us know in the comments which shoes you’re using for your next Hyrox and why.