Adidas Adizero Dropset Pro Trainer
Ftwr White
£130.00
Grippy on the sled, stable under load for lunges and wall balls, light enough to run in.
Kit & shoe advice from the RunActive team
Hyrox: what shoes should you actually wear?
Eight runs, eight stations and one pair of shoes. We get asked about Hyrox footwear a lot, so here's the honest chat we have with customers in store, plus our pick of trainers for men and women.
- Running
- 8km
- Stations
- 8
- Pairs of shoes
- 1
Can I just wear my normal running shoes for Hyrox?
RunActive team
Maybe, but it depends on the shoe. Let's talk it through…The short answer
Our top three picks for Hyrox
Short on time? These are the three we recommend most in store. Choose men's or women's below.
Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Hyrox
Intense Mint/Light Lavendar
£150.00
The official Hyrox shoe. Plated for pace on the runs, which also offers stability on the stations, so best for people who’ve already done some training and want one shoe for the day.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
White/Black
£180.00
More spring for the 1km runs, without giving up the stability you need on the stations.
Adidas Adizero Dropset Pro Trainer
Ftwr White
£130.00
Grippy on the sled, stable under load for lunges and wall balls, light enough to run in.
Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Hyrox
Intense Mint/Light Lavendar
£150.00
The official Hyrox shoe. Plated for pace on the runs, which also offers stability on the stations, so best for people who’ve already done some training and want one shoe for the day.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5
Black/White
£180.00
More spring for the 1km runs, without giving up the stability you need on the stations.
Station by station
The eight stations and what they mean for your shoes
-
1
SkiErg 1,000m
You're braced and pulling down through your whole body. A firm, flat sole feels more secure than a squishy heel.
Firm, flat sole
-
2
Sled push 50m
Hard on shoes. You're driving off your toes with your heel lifted, so you need grip on the turf and a forefoot that doesn't collapse. A slippery outsole means wasted effort.
Forefoot grip
-
3
Sled pull 50m
You lean back with your heels planted. A secure heel and a good lockdown stop your foot sliding forward. Heavily rockered soles can feel unsteady here.
Heel lockdown
-
4
Burpee broad jumps 80m
Lots of landings. A wider, stable platform and some forefoot cushioning make them kinder on your feet. Narrow, race-day shoes can feel twitchy.
Wide, stable platform
-
5
Rowing 1,000m
Not demanding on the shoe. A bit of flex in the forefoot helps at the catch.
A little forefoot flex
-
6
Farmers carry 200m
Heavy weight through your feet. You want a firm midsole and a secure fit, with no foot movement inside the shoe.
Firm midsole, secure fit
-
7
Sandbag lunges 100m
Your back foot bends hard at the toes on every rep, so the shoe needs to flex at the ball of the foot. A stiff plated shoe fights you here. Stability underfoot matters too, because the load sits on your front leg.
Flex at the ball of the foot
-
8
Wall balls 75 or 100 reps
Depending on your category. Deep squats need a stable heel and a flat base. A tall stack of soft foam makes it harder to sit down and stand up cleanly, and then you still have to run to the finish on tired legs.
Stable heel, flat base
Plus the runs
8km of running, on a hard indoor loop
There are 8km of them, usually on a hard indoor loop with plenty of corners. This is why a pure gym trainer isn't the answer. You still need proper running cushioning and some bounce.
Proper running cushioning
What we recommend
Our Hyrox shoe picks
Brilliant, that makes sense. So which shoes would you go for?
RunActive team
Have a look through our Hyrox range. Pick men's or women's below. Think about where you lose the most time, the runs or the stations, and choose the shoe that suits it.
Still torn between two pairs?
Have a browse of the full Hyrox range. If you're still stuck, get in touch and we'll happily talk it through with you.
FAQ
Hyrox shoes: your questions answered
Do I need a gait analysis?
You don’t need one, but we’d recommend it. Most people who come to us for Hyrox shoes have done plenty of gym work and very little running, and 8km of running on tired legs is where a poorly matched shoe shows up.
A gait analysis tells us how your foot moves, so we can pick a shoe that suits your running and still holds up on the stations. We offer gait analysis in all our shops as part of our shoe fitting service.
Can I wear my normal running shoes?
Often, yes, especially for your first one. If you have a stable daily trainer that you’re comfortable in, it’ll probably do the job.
The ones we’d steer you away from are very soft, high-cushion shoes and carbon-plated racers. They feel great on a long run, but they can feel wobbly under a sandbag and less secure on the sled. Bring them in and we’ll tell you honestly whether to keep wearing them or upgrade.
What makes a good Hyrox shoe?
You need a shoe that does two jobs. For the stations, you want a stable, fairly low base, a grippy outsole for the sled push, and a secure heel for the sled pull. For the runs, you need enough cushioning and spring to make eight 1km efforts feel like running.
Very few shoes do both well, which is why fitting matters more than the name on the side. Our three starting points are the Adidas Adizero Dropset Pro Trainer for the stations, the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 Hyrox as an all-rounder, and the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 if you want more pace.
What do customers normally ask for?
The one we hear most is the Adidas Adizero Evo SL. It’s a lovely, light shoe for running, and we understand why people ask for it. In our experience, though, it’s not very sturdy once you start pushing, lunging and squatting under load, because there’s a lot of soft foam underneath you.
For Hyrox we’d steer most people towards something more stable, such as the Adizero Dropset Pro Trainer, which is built for gym-style work and still runs well. If you’re set on the Evo SL, pop in and try the two side by side.
Are there any local events I can try out?
Official Hyrox races take place at big venues, so the easiest way to try it locally is a class or session at a Hyrox-affiliated gym.
Letchworth
Eleven Athletic has its own dedicated Hyrox space with the equipment you need to train or simulate race conditions, and it’s on Ascot Industrial Estate in Letchworth. Just up the road, Jones’ Fitness in Biggleswade is an official Hyrox gym with certified Hyrox coaches.
Essex
In Chelmsford, Training Space describes itself as the city’s first affiliated Hyrox gym, and The Training Design on Montrose Road is an approved affiliate offering coach-led Hyrox classes. Virgin Active Chelmsford is also an official Hyrox Training Club.
Class times and drop-in rules change, so check with the gym first. For official race dates, the Hyrox website has the full calendar. Wherever you train, bring your shoes in for us to look at beforehand.
Do I need a hydration belt?
Almost certainly not. There are hydration stations at the events, so you only need to carry what you’d take for a 5k. Check your event’s athlete guide for where they are on the course.
Bring a bottle for training sessions, but there’s no need to wear a belt on race day.
