Hyrox Shoes: How to Choose the Right Pair for You

Hyrox asks two things of your shoes that don't play well together: 8 km of running and stations where grip and stability call the shots. Pushing a 152 kg sled on carpet or doing 100 m of lunges in tall, soft shoes is a waste of time. There's no perfect shoe — the right one is whichever matches where you personally lose the most minutes.

What a Hyrox shoe needs to have

Three profiles, three types of shoe

If you're a runner chasing time

This is what most of the elite wear: carbon-plated running race shoes with fast foam, but with rubber across the whole outsole so they don't slip on the sled. PUMA has a version built with Hyrox based on its Deviate Nitro with exactly that approach. The trade-off is a taller sole, so test it on lunges and wall balls before racing in it.

If this is your first Hyrox or you want an all-rounder

For most people, the smart move is a daily training running shoe with good rubber and not too much stack height, or a gym hybrid built for short-distance running. The first runs better; the second is more stable at the stations. If you're unsure, think about which part of the race hurts you most.

If you're coming from strength training or CrossFit

Flat, firm training shoes like Metcons grip best and are the most stable on the sled. The problem is the run: 8 km in a hard sole gets long. They make sense if you're fast at the stations and run at a comfortable pace; if you're chasing time, pair them in training with a running shoe.

What not to wear

• Trail shoes with lugs. Hyrox runs on smooth indoor track — lugs don't add grip and just add weight.
• Tall, soft shoes with exposed foam. They run great, but they slip on the sled and feel unstable in lunges.
• Weightlifting shoes. Rigid heel and hard sole — great for lifting, bad for running.
• Breaking them in on race day. Any new shoe, even the right one, needs to pass through at least one dress rehearsal first.

How to test them before race day

1. Do a sled push in them. If you slip on your gym's surface, it'll be worse on race day.
2. Run 1 km right after a set of lunges. That's where you'll feel if the shoe is unstable.
3. Run a full or half dress rehearsal wearing the shoes and socks you'll use on race day. You'll find sessions in Hyrox training plans.
4. Check where you're losing time with the Hyrox splits calculator: if it's on the run, prioritize a running shoe; if it's at the stations, go for a more stable one.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do Hyrox in carbon-plated shoes?

Yes, and that's what many elite athletes wear. Pick one with rubber across the whole outsole and test it on lunges and sleds first — some are tall and unstable at the stations.

Are Metcons or Nanos good enough for Hyrox?

Yes. They're very stable and grip well on the sled, but they're less comfortable for running 8 km. Nanos run a bit better than Metcons; both fit best if your strength is the stations.

Can I take my shoes off during the race?

Only during wall balls. For the rest of the race you must wear closed footwear.

Do I need specific shoes for my first Hyrox?

No. If you already own running shoes with rubber across the whole outsole and not too much stack height, they'll work. Test them on a sled first, and if they slip, then it's worth switching. You'll find the rest of the gear in training for Hyrox at home.