What shoes to wear to Hyrox? Ask the Hyrox veterans

Any new fitness activity starts with a fresh pair of shoes. As if being a gym rat or a Pilates princess wasn’t enough, now there’s a new occasion to shop for: Hyrox. Finding the right pair of shoes specifically designed for this Herculean race that combines running with eight strength and functional activities—weighted sled pulls, rowing, and burpees, among others—is a process of trial and error. Your shoes must be durable, lightweight, and come with a good grip so you don’t slide around during the gladiator-like course. Luckily, for those of you who clearly enjoy suffering and have signed up for the India race that’s coming up in a month, we went straight to the true-blue Hyrox veterans themselves to get their recommendations. While Puma was the clear winner of the lot (it featured in almost everyone’s list), there were a few surprise entries from Adidas, Asics, Nike, and even Hoka for you to consider. Scroll ahead to see which shoe to buy next.

Ishaan Trehan, digital marketing strategist

Why Hyrox?

“I was an avid football player. An injury kept me away from it and then Hyrox entered the chat. It keeps me competitive and sane.”

What makes the perfect race-day shoe?

“Functionality takes precedence over aesthetics always. The recently launched Puma Deviate Nitro has a carbon plating and is versatile and has enough grip for sleds while being lightweight enough for speed.”

And for pre-race training days?

“Honestly, I need an excuse to buy a new pair of shoes. I switch between my classic Vans for strength days, Asics Gel-Kayano for easy recovery, Adidas Adizero Boston 12 for speed workouts, and the Nike Pegasus for runs.” 

Joel Eric Pinto, fitness coach and co-founder of Knox

What drew you to Hyrox?

“Hyrox sits at the intersection of running and strength, two things that make me the happiest. Unlike other races, Hyrox rewards you as a complete athlete, and that challenge is what appealed to me the most.”

A check mark you make before buying a new shoe?

“Your Hyrox shoe must find the sweet spot between a running shoe and a training shoe. Good grip, stability, and cushioning are a must, along with being lightweight.”

Do you prefer a different type of shoe for training days?

“I save my race shoes for simulation days and D-day only. For training, I prefer the Puma Hybrid or the Puma Velocity. They complement my training style and activities.”

Your current favourite Hyrox shoe?

“The Puma Deviate NITRO Elite is my current favourite. Developed specifically for the demands of the sport, the Pumagrip outsole makes it versatile for both running and weight segments.” 

Lavanya Mohan, chartered accountant and author

When was your first Hyrox and how has the journey been?

“My first was this April in Bengaluru and I only started training for it around December end. Honestly, the journey has been really exhausting.”

What are your non-negotiables while picking the right shoe?

“The shoe must be extremely stable and lightweight, the only two benchmarks for me. It is easy to get overwhelmed, but sometimes the most obvious choice is the most ideal as well.”

Your go-to shoe for training days?

“The Puma Velocity NITRO 4 were my best friends for training days. For long runs, the Hoka Bondi 8 worked amazingly well.”

Do you keep separate shoes for race days?

“No, I like to break into my actual shoes to avoid discomfort and surprises on race days. Comfort is key, always.”

Ashu Jain, content creator

How did you find your feet in Hyrox?

“I love to take up challenges. Working out started as a form of self-care and relief from household chores, but now I look forward to it. My fitness coach nudged me towards the idea of Hyrox, and there’s no looking back.”

Does the right pair of shoes matter?

“Training takes precedence over shoes. My five-year-old Adidas does the job as well as the Puma Hyrox.”

Do you have separate shoes for training days?

“I trained on my daughter's hand-me-down pair of Adidas Ultraboost. They’re five years old but do the job. For the race, I did purchase the Puma Hyrox shoes and I only use them on simulation days.”

Your current favourite shoe?

“The Puma Hyrox—extremely comfortable and a safe pick for beginners.” 

Neha Aggarwalla, fitness coach and founder, The Training Room by Neha

How did you discover Hyrox?

“I started my fitness journey with CrossFit, and Hyrox felt like a natural extension. I have always loved the mix of strength training with conditioning, and I like to push myself physically. Hyrox gave me just that.”

What qualities do you look for in a shoe?

“The ideal Hyrox shoe must give me enough support and responsiveness for running but should not feel too soft, unstable or bulky during the workout stations.”

Do you keep separate shoes for running versus strength-training days?

“Yes, for my regular runs I’ve been using the Asics Novablast 5 and Nike Vomero; I rotate between them. I recently got my hands on the Asics Magic Speed 5 for Hyrox-specific simulations and I’m really excited to try them out. The Nike Metcons are for regular strength training since they feel more stable for lifting.”