Hyrox asks one pair of shoes to do two contradictory jobs. You are running 8km, which wants a cushioned running shoe, and you are pushing a loaded sled, which wants a flat stable platform. Almost every shoe choice is a compromise between those two.
The short answer
Most people are best served by a lightweight, firm, relatively flat running shoe with good outsole grip. Not a maximal cushioned trainer, not a carbon plated racer, and not a rigid lifting shoe.
Why not a carbon plated racer?
Carbon plated shoes are built to return energy during forefoot running on the road. On the sled push you are driving forward at a steep angle with your whole foot loaded, and a curved, unstable, highly cushioned sole is exactly the wrong platform. The plate can also feel unpleasantly unstable during lunges and wall balls.
They will make your runs marginally faster and cost you more than that back across the four loaded stations.
What actually matters
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Outsole grip. The single most important feature. Race floors get sweaty, and slipping on the sled is both slow and demoralising.
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A firm, stable midsole. Enough cushioning for 8km, not so much that you sink when you load it.
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A modest drop. Something around 4mm to 8mm suits most people. Very high drop shoes feel awkward in a deep wall ball squat.
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A secure upper. Your foot should not slide forward on the sled pull or sideways in the lunges.
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Light. You are carrying them for 8km.
What about dedicated Hyrox shoes?
Several brands now market Hyrox-specific footwear, Puma most visibly as an official partner. They are generally well judged for the event, sitting between a running shoe and a cross trainer. They are a reasonable choice, but they are not a requirement, and a good firm road shoe you have already run in will beat a brand new specialist shoe you have not.
The rule that matters more than the shoe
Do not race in anything new. Whatever you choose, put at least three sessions through it including one that involves a sled and one that involves lunges. Race day is not the day to discover where a shoe rubs at kilometre six.
What to wear with them
Compression race socks at 25-30 mmHg are the standard pairing, because the calves take load from the runs, the sled pull and the wall balls all at once. If you race in shorts rather than tights, calf guards do the same job while leaving your feet free to choose any sock.
Frequently asked
Can I wear my normal running shoes? Usually yes, provided they are not maximally cushioned or carbon plated.
Do I need trail shoes for grip? No, the event is indoors. Aggressive lugs are unhelpful on a hard floor.
Should I change shoes mid-race? No. The clock does not stop and it is not worth the roxzone time.
Racing soon? Our compression tights for Hyrox use 15-20 mmHg graduated compression in a 225 GSM knit built to hold shape through sled and sandbag work, and our compression race socks run at 25-30 mmHg. Free UK delivery over £50.
Hyrox Trainers: What to Race In and Why
Hyrox asks one pair of shoes to do two contradictory jobs. You are running 8km, which wants a cushioned running shoe, and you are pushing a loaded sled, which wants a flat stable platform. Almost every shoe choice is a compromise between those two.
The short answer
Most people are best served by a lightweight, firm, relatively flat running shoe with good outsole grip. Not a maximal cushioned trainer, not a carbon plated racer, and not a rigid lifting shoe.
Why not a carbon plated racer?
Carbon plated shoes are built to return energy during forefoot running on the road. On the sled push you are driving forward at a steep angle with your whole foot loaded, and a curved, unstable, highly cushioned sole is exactly the wrong platform. The plate can also feel unpleasantly unstable during lunges and wall balls.
They will make your runs marginally faster and cost you more than that back across the four loaded stations.
What actually matters
What about dedicated Hyrox shoes?
Several brands now market Hyrox-specific footwear, Puma most visibly as an official partner. They are generally well judged for the event, sitting between a running shoe and a cross trainer. They are a reasonable choice, but they are not a requirement, and a good firm road shoe you have already run in will beat a brand new specialist shoe you have not.
The rule that matters more than the shoe
Do not race in anything new. Whatever you choose, put at least three sessions through it including one that involves a sled and one that involves lunges. Race day is not the day to discover where a shoe rubs at kilometre six.
What to wear with them
Compression race socks at 25-30 mmHg are the standard pairing, because the calves take load from the runs, the sled pull and the wall balls all at once. If you race in shorts rather than tights, calf guards do the same job while leaving your feet free to choose any sock.
Frequently asked
Can I wear my normal running shoes? Usually yes, provided they are not maximally cushioned or carbon plated.
Do I need trail shoes for grip? No, the event is indoors. Aggressive lugs are unhelpful on a hard floor.
Should I change shoes mid-race? No. The clock does not stop and it is not worth the roxzone time.
Racing soon? Our compression tights for Hyrox use 15-20 mmHg graduated compression in a 225 GSM knit built to hold shape through sled and sandbag work, and our compression race socks run at 25-30 mmHg. Free UK delivery over £50.