Metcon 9
Sled ยท wall balls ยท burpees
Wider heel base than the 8, drop stays at 4mm. Workhorse pick if your race has heavy sled.
View on Nike.com โIndependently reviewed. Tested in actual races, not in unboxing videos. Any paid placement carries a Sponsored label, and our verdicts are not for sale.
A HYROX race is one shoe, eight stations, and 8km of running. We tested the six most-asked-about trainers across sled push, wall balls, sandbag lunges, and the run between stations. No category winner: picks by what you're trying to fix.
Sled ยท wall balls ยท burpees
Wider heel base than the 8, drop stays at 4mm. Workhorse pick if your race has heavy sled.
View on Nike.com โAll-around HYROX
Minimalist outsole that grips on rubber and turf. Most-spotted shoe at the 2025 World Champs.
View on NoBull.com โMixed runs + lifts
Slightly more cushion than Metcon, better for the 8km of running between stations.
View on Reebok.com โGrip-critical stations
Graphene-grip outsole. The shoe to wear if you keep slipping on the lunge mat.
View on Inov-8.com โHeavy lifting + erg
Stable platform, popular with Pro Division athletes who row competitively.
View on TYR.com โBudget all-around
Newest entrant. Not as proven, but the best value in the category right now.
View on PUMA.com โSled push + lifting
Firmer midsole than the Metcon line, flatter platform under load. Favored by athletes who prioritize sled and rack work over running.
View on Adidas.com โLateral stability + burpees
Wide forefoot base built for lateral loading, holds up well through repeated burpee broad jumps without the outsole rounding over.
View on Under Armour.com โFull per-shoe reviews ship in wave 2 with weight, stack height, and side-by-side station-time data from our test races.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It funds the testing budget. Every shoe is bought retail; nothing on this page was sent to us by a brand.