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!

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.

Going sub-60 in the USA is a very difficult thing to do and puts him in a very small, elite club.

We speak to Rich about his recent training, what he’s figuring out the more races he has, what advice he’d give to athletes looking to get more competitive, and more besides…

Hit play on the video below!

We were keen to speak with the two Pro Women winners from each race, Rebecca Mason who took Barcelona and Vivian Tafuto who took Dallas, to see how they felt after such impressive performances at a pivotal point in the season.

Side note: both are fan favourites and we are delighted to see them bumping themselves up in the Elite rankings

Rebecca Mason – Barcelona Winner

Rebecca Mason is the reigning Hyrox World Champion in the 35-39 division. She is hugely popular within our community due to her bubbly personality, willingness to share workouts and advice, and inspirational performances, made all the more impressive considering she balances her Elite athlete status with being a mother to two young children.

This will be seen by many as Rebecca’s most impressive performance to-date with a time that almost certainly secures her place in the Elite 15 in Manchester.

Here’s our interview with Rebecca shortly after her win in Barcelona:

How was your training going into this event? Anything you changed recently that you feel helped perform so well?

I’m constantly working on being a better runner, unlike many other Hyrox athletes I don’t have a running background nor do I particularly enjoy it! So I’ve really had to work hard over the past year to improve my pace, endurance & speed. Unfortunately this doesn’t happen quickly so it’s the consistency of effort over time that’s now paying off. A more recent change this season is self belief, competing in the elite 15 at Europeans in January was a huge step up & fuelled my fire to be a better athlete, racing next to those amazing ladies is just something else- the bar was raised!

How does it feel to win this event in Barcelona and secure a big PB?

I knew I had to go all in! It was today or never to get a fast time to put me back into the Elite 15 ready for Worlds in May. A win is great but the time/PB was the goal.

Was the Elite 15 the goal for this race? How does it feel to make it in and, very likely, secure a place in the Elite race in Manchester?

It was the ultimate goal, I was definitely racing against the clock & knew I had to go hard to get that position in the elite 15, fingers crossed that it will stick & I will make the elite race in Manchester
(If you told me that in Vegas last year I definitely would not have believed you!) I’m SUPER happy!

Any other observations about the race? Your strategy, the course or your competitors?

My strategy is to build pace throughout the race & not to get too hyped up early on. I knew Felicity & Jezebel are very good runners so I had to keep them in my sights for the first few laps knowing I could push faster in the third part of the race. It was also great to see Sam Bilbie & Kate Davey make the step up to Pro both doing incredibly well, the U.K. are really producing some great Hyrox athletes.
The layout was very good today, super easy course to follow, 2 laps is always a favourite, but the roxzone did feel vast, especially the second half of the race. The sleds were rough & after speaking to some of the other athletes they felt the same. The carpet was very tough & I had to take a lot more breaks than I usually do, but you just have to grind on!

What’s the plan for you now?

My next race is in Malaga, I’m doing mixed doubles with Stuart Tilley which will be a fun one! I’m volunteering in London so I’m excited to see the event from the other side. Training continues as usual, 10 weeks until the WC, then some time off over the summer.

Anything else you’d like to say?

A big thank you to all the support I have received before & after the race, I absolutely love the community Hyrox has built & it’s the people & friendships that really make it. Thank you to the volunteers as well, without them these events can’t happen, they do an awesome job

Vivian Tafuto – Dallas Winner

Vivian isn’t on social media as much as some other athletes, but she’s well-known in the Hyrox community for her increasingly impressive performances. If ever you want proof that hard work and intelligent training gets you results, check out Vivian’s early Hyrox scores and compare them to today’s. You’ll see that she has consistently improved from an athlete logging a 1 hour, 26 minutes and 12 seconds time to an Elite Hyrox athlete fighting for a podium spot in the Elite 15 Championship races. Her time this weekend was 1 hour, 5 minutes and 18 seconds. It’s a crazy improvement and it’s exciting to witness her on the competition floor today.

Here’s our interview with Vivian shortly after her win in Dallas:

How was your training going into this event? Anything you changed recently that you feel helped your performance?

So after thanksgiving I got a coach and have really been working on my running! I think it’s helped a lot because all these girls are super fast lol and the last month I’ve been focusing on the wall balls a lot because that’s an area that I’m really behind the top girls so I think that helped today especially with Kris so close!

How does it feel to win this event with such a good level of competition?

Really good, this is actually my first win ever! I’m just really excited about all the time I’ve been dropping and having good girls around me pushes me to be my best and if there weren’t so many legit athletes this wouldn’t be worth doing.

You already have a time in the Elite 15. Did you run this race for fun or training or were you trying to improve your time?

I thought I would be on the border with that time and thank god I raced today or I would be out!

It was a very, very close race. I saw around the rower you began closing in. How do you feel close races like this impact your performance? Is it easier to push yourself or does it pull you from your strategy?

I like to key off of people so I’m always up for a close race. I think depending on how I’m feeling it can be motivating or draining but today I had enough that it was a great push.

Any other observations about the race? Your strategy, the course or your competitors?

I was out a little aggressive lol. I came in and was like hopefully there’s a rookie who will go out fast and I can pace off of them, but nope it was me. I’m really happy I pulled it together towards the back half though I think I raced that perfectly. My only other observation was that sled felt TOUGH

What’s the plan for you now?

I have The GORUCK Games in April but I really just want to train all I can and try to make more improvement before May!

It’s interesting though that, having interviewed a good number of winning athletes these past few months, few of them are really trying to set new PBs or even bump themselves up the Elite rankings necessarily at this point in the season. Instead, they are seeing where their training is at (with a little less pressure and outside factors when compared to the Championship races) and generally taking the opportunity to get more race experience under their belt.

This weekend, in Karlsruhe, we saw Tobias Lautwein take the win in the Men’s Pro race, an athlete almost certain to be in that Elite 15 race, and Jacqueline Lippenmeyer, another Elite 15 Athlete, secure a dominant win in the Women’s Pro race.

Tobias Lautwein

Tobias Lautwein is a great example of an athlete who makes no excuses. He is also an inspiration to many people out there with busy working and family lives. Tobias has four children and a full-time job, yet not only is he a staple in the Elite-15 rankings, but he was the Hyrox 2021 World Champion and Hyrox 2022 European Champion. Currently he has the 6th fastest time of the season with the 58:06 in Karlsruhe.

Here’s our interview with Tobias shortly after his win in Karlsruhe:

How was your training going into this event? Anything you changed recently that you feel helped perform so well?

Training went very well in February. Except for the last four days before the race I got very little sleep as my twins got sick.

My training focus was on running, sled push and wallballs.

How does it feel to win this event in your home country with such a strong field?

That was my third win this season. Winning always feels good. I am very proud to deliver such an achievement with a job and four children. That’s a dream.

Did you feel you needed to run a good time for this race to keep a place in the Elite 15 or was this race more for training?

It was a race to see how my performance is in preparation for the World Championships in Manchester.

Any observations about the race? Your strategy, the course or your competitors?

Very impressive performance by Beau Wills. I felt the running track was slow.

What’s the plan for you now?

My first plan is to reconcile family, training and work. Continue to focus on training to be in good shape in Manchester. After the world championship title in 2021 and the European championship title in 2022, this is all an encore.

Jacqueline Lippenmeyer

It’s clear from Jacqueline’s social media that she loves sports… of any kind. Triathlons, CrossFit, OCR, and now Hyrox. She’s training and/or competing in all of them.

In terms of the Hyrox season, Jacqueline put in a solid performance at the European Championships in Maastricht a few months ago, setting a time that currently places her 11th in the Elite 15 rankings.

Despite struggling with a slight injury, Jacqueline managed to win in Karlsruhe with a buffer of over 5 minutes compared to second place, a pretty amazing feat in the Pro Division!

Here’s our interview with Jacqueline shortly after her win in Karlsruhe:

How was your training going into this event?

I had a little bit less time for Training the Last few weeks, which showed up in my performance last Saturday. Especially in my Running Performance.

I had a lot to do at work and I also have a little issue with a runners knee Right now. Because of that I also had and have to reduce the Running in my Training.

Despite these circumstances I am still happy with my Performance and to pull out a win.

What was your goal going into Karlsruhe? Any observations about the race?

Because of the circumstances the last few weeks I took the Race for a good Training and didn’t put too much pressure on it.

I knew I couldn’t go for a new PB and as I realized I had a big gap to the second Place I didn’t push myself too hard.

It was a great Event like always.

The support of the Judges and the other athletes were amazing. I just love the atmosphere.

What’s the plan for you now?

Hopefully I‘ll get rid of my little issue and can get back to more serious Training again soon.

A big thank you to my Husband and Trainer. He is definitely my biggest Supporter.

It’s an interesting time as, at the top of the sport, some athletes have guaranteed their spot in the Elite 15 race in Manchester, others are only just inside or have been pushed outside (and so are having to race to improve their times), and we’ve still got rapidly improving athletes or even those who haven’t raced this season deciding when to make their move and put in a performance that could shakeup that Elite 15.

This weekend, in Munich, we saw Florian Gast take the win in the Male Pro race, an athlete most will expect to see in that Elite 15 race, and Alita Willnow secure a dominant win in the Women’s Pro race, a definite example of a rapidly improving athlete looking to crack that Elite 15 in the near future!

Florian Gast

Florian is one of the most active and consistent athletes racing this season. He went sub-60 in Frankfurt earlier in the season, which currently has him placed inside the Elite 15, and has raced multiple times in the past few months at Maastricht, Chicago and now Munich.

Here’s our interview with Florian shortly after his win in Munich:

How was your training going into this event? Anything you changed recently that helped you?
Training was focused on my last elite race in Maastricht. I didn’t focus on Munich too much in my overall training plan, but was really looking forward to it, as it is my hometown.

How does it feel to win an event like this in Germany?
Winning Hyrox Munich made a dream come true for me. I set this goal 3 years ago. Last year I was on a totally different fitness level after I couldn’t keep up with my training routines during the pandemic. Last year I wasn’t even close to winning an pro event over all. I had my family, lots of friends, supporters and my running crew in Munich. It was so nice getting pushed hard in a tough race.

I feel you’ve raced a lot this season! Do you enjoy racing regularly? Does it help you?
You need to find your sweet spot! Race enough to gain experience but also have longer times with big training blocks. I did both Championships, as I am a newbie in the elite racing… For me it is pretty different to race vs. 14 elites in the arena mode… So I wanted 2 prep races for Manchester – assuming I still have my qualification spot in May

Any observations about the race? Your strategy, the course or your competitors?
The race was fun but felt slow. In some races I find my own stable and fast “race pace”. Just like a running flow with strong workouts and fast runs. This time it was more like a suffer-game… but a fun suffer-game as it was pretty close between Peter Schiller, Eugenio Bianchi and me until lunges.

Peter and Eugenio are amazing athletes. It was an honor to race with them.

Also, Viola Oberlaender and Tim Wenisch, both elites, didn’t race, but where at the track pushing me and all their athletes. That was awesome. Also my brother did a great Open race.

In the end, Munich was a rather slow race for me, but I am pretty happy I could push to first place over all in the end.

What’s the plan for you now?
I will train for Manchester harder than ever before. 3 months is a lot of time. I think I can reach another level of fitness by then. We will see

Alina Willnow

Alina clearly loves Hyrox and has picked up first place podium spots in Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, the Relay and Individual competitions! She has her sights firmly set on breaking into the Elite rankings and her time of 1:10:44 in Munich left her just one minute away from a spot on Hyrox’s Top 30 Elite Rankings.

Here’s our interview with Alina shortly after her win in Munich:

How was your training going into this event? Anything you changed recently that helped you?
I was at the Athletic Camp in Cyprus at the end of February and actually trained very atypically to my normal rhythm. I got a lot of useful tips on my technique, but also took very heavy legs with me from the camp

How does it feel to win an event like this in Germany?
Of course it feels great to win an event and I’m proud that I was able to fight my way back into first place in the second half of the race. Nevertheless, in every race you realise where you still have weaknesses and that a lot of work is still waiting for me

Any observations about the race? Your strategy, the course or your competitors?
Puh, this time I had planned to time every run lap in order to run the ideal pace for me. But I was far too nervous in my head again and forgot it in 7 out of 8 laps . Besides the sled really challenged me. It was incredibly hard, I didn’t expect it to be like that. Otherwise, I always try to get through the workouts at a constant pace. And with the wallballs I always imagine the moment when you do the last rep and are finally released from the burning shoulders. And the less you put it down, the faster that moment arrives

What’s the plan for you now?
Sub-70 is my goal for the next race. And a lot of sled pull work needs to be done!

Head over to Instagram and give Florian and Alina a follow. Thank you to them both for taking time to share their thoughts with us!