The 6 Best Shoes for Hyrox in 2026: Chosen for Speed, Grip and Stability

If you want a fast running shoe for Hyrox that still has an element of comfort, it's worth taking a look at the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5. Featuring a semi-rigid nylon plate and two layers of PWRRUN PB foam, it's geared up for speed and racing, but without the aggressive stiffness that you get with carbon trainers.

Fundamentally, that's what makes this such a good Hyrox shoe. It injects energy into your strides on the runs, without limiting your ability to lunge and squat by being overly stiff. It's also far more forgiving on your feet than carbon-plated shoes, providing more in the way of comfort and cushioning during longer efforts. Much of that comes courtesy of two layers of Saucony's lightweight PWRRUN PB foam, which sandwich the nylon plate and provides a bouncy, responsive and stable ride.

Other areas of the shoe also lend well to the requirements of a Hyrox. The padding around the heel and collar gives support on lunges and squats, the breathable mesh upper promotes airflow in hot indoor venues, and the full-length grooves on the rubber outsole take care of the grip you need on sled carpets.

Overall, the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 is a versatile shoe that will suit plenty of athletes, regardless of experience. It sits in the same category as super shoes, providing plenty of speed, without negating comfort, stability and durability. For under £150, it's a versatile option that you'll be wearing long before and after race day.

With the Puma x Hyrox Deviate Elite 4, Puma has taken one of the fastest road racing shoes on the market and injected it with extra stability and grip to make it more usable during lunges and wall balls. The result is a shoe that still feels every bit 'super' on the run, but with extra grip and a more stable midsole and heel design so that it can better handle Hyrox-specific movements.

Built from the same blueprint as the Deviate Nitro Elite, this Hyrox edition uses Puma’s Nitrofoam Elite midsole, which consists of two layers of nitrogen-infused foam that Puma says have been made slightly firmer to enhance stability. The carbon Pwrplate is there to provide a highly efficient ride while running, while also delivering balance underfoot during strength movements. On the run, they feel excellent: light, responsive and like they were eking every marginal gain out of me.

Where it becomes more of a compromise is during heavier strength work. The high stack and race-shoe geometry are brilliant for running economy, but they don’t always inspire the same confidence under load. In testing, it felt secure enough for burpees, ski ergs and general transitions, but less convincing for heavier dumbbell work and overhead movements – though that's perhaps an unfair critique for a Hyrox-specific shoe.

The Deviate Elite 4 was first designed as a running shoe, and it’s still in that capacity that it shines. It’s also one of the best-looking Hyrox shoes out there. With its neon pink colourway, it’s sure to stand out come race day.

Reviewed by: Daniel Davies

Read More: PUMA x HYROX Deviate Elite 4 Review

A carbon plate shoe isn't essential for Hyrox. For most athletes, a pair of normal daily running shoes, which you can wear long after you finish your final wall ball rep, will do just fine. That being said, there are some daily trainers that are better suited to Hyrox than others. The Hoka Mach 7 is one of them.

Firstly, it has a fast ride for an everyday shoe. It features Hoka's Meta-Rocker technology, which helps to propel you forward on the 1km efforts, without being so aggressive that it feels uncomfortable at slow and easy paces.

The single-density supercritical EVA foam midsole also contributes to its speed, providing a good amount of energy return and cushioning when you pick up the pace. It feels lightweight and performance-oriented, which means you can comfortably wear it across a range of paces – ideal for the ebbs and flows of a Hyrox race.

For stability, the 5mm drop encourages more of a natural foot placement and the midsole isn't overly cushioned, with a firm and balanced feel. Other selling points for Hyrox are the rubber outsole, which has been upgraded on this latest version, as well as the padded heel and collar for comfort and stability.

If you're looking for a lightweight daily trainer for Hyrox that leans into speed without excessive cushioning, while also retaining an element of ground feel and stability, the versatile Hoka Mach 7 is a great choice. Similar shoes include the Adidas Adizero EVO SL and Puma Velocity Nitro 4.

In 2024, Puma became the official apparel and footwear partner for Hyrox, after which the Puma x Hyrox line-up was adopted by many of the sport's best athletes, including 2023 Men's World Champion Hunter McIntyre and 2024 Women’s World Champion Meg Jacoby.

Though it has since been replaced by the Deviate Nitro 4, the Deviate Nitro 3 isn't suddenly a bad shoe. It's fast, grippy and somewhat stable, and if you can find it in stock, you can land a pair for well under £100 – a steal for a carbon-plated running shoe.

The Deviate Nitro 3 was once a popular pick for Hyrox because of its versatility as a carbon-plated shoe. It features Puma's PWRPLATE and NITROFOAM Elite foam midsole, which combine to provide a fast and responsive yet cushioned ride, while still retaining a relatively lightweight feel. The 39mm stack height and 10mm drop are high, but any instability is mitigated by a robust heel counter, while the rubber PUMAGRIP outsole offers excellent traction on a range of surfaces.

Adidas’ first dedicated hybrid racing shoe merges the lightweight, propulsive feel of the Adizero running shoe line with the grounding and stability of the Dropset strength training collection.

Built from scratch using no pre-existing technology for the unique demands of hybrid fitness racing, it pairs a dual-density LightStrike Pro midsole with an ‘Energy Rim' plate that runs around the edges of the shoe rather than directly under the forefoot to centre your feet at the bottom of lunges and squats. The result is a ride that feels lively and cushioned on runs, but less rigid and stiff than a traditional carbon racer when you hit down into lunges and wall balls.

Though it looks aggressively quick, the geometry and heel drop favour stability. The high 12mm drop puts your foot in a secure, locked-in position reminiscent of a weightlifting shoe, which makes squats and wall balls feel more controlled than you might expect from such a tall shoe. Continental rubber on the outsole also adds plenty of traction and grip, which is essential for strong footing on Hyrox carpets.

The main drawback I found was the tongue, which feels a little flimsy when pulling the shoe on and tightening the laces. Because of the high foot position, I also found myself slightly off-balance between burpee broad jump reps.

Ultimately, if you want a fast shoe that's rapid on the runs and inspires confidence on the weighted elements of Hyrox, this is a good money-is-no-object pick. If you're doing an Open event, or your race goals don't require a super fast shoe, then it's probably overkill.

Read More: Adidas Adizero Dropset Elite Review

The Brooks Ghost 17 is a neutral daily trainer that would suit a recreational Hyrox athlete looking for a dependable shoe to get them round the course, without keeping too close of an eye on the clock.

Designed to feel balanced and supportive regardless of your foot strike, it's a shoe that your feet and legs will enjoy over the extended period of time you may spend out on a Hyrox course.

Though the controlled cushioning and stable structure are perfect for easy runs – and certainly lend better to lunges and squats than max cushion daily trainers – those wanting to pick up the pace might be better off looking elsewhere. There’s a lack of stiff feedback compared to shoes with carbon plates and super foams, and they feel a touch heavy when you pick up the speed.

But speed is not what you're buying this shoe for. Its magic lies in its dependability as a workhorse trainer that you can put a lot of miles into time and again. Much of that comes courtesy of its durability. The mesh upper provides breathability while also delivering structure and support, while the grippy outsole lends well not only to repeated wear, but also provides sufficient traction for indoor racing conditions.

All in all, the Ghost 17 is a great option for runners wanting a comfortable, reliable and durable trainer to support them through weekly training, race day and beyond, who aren't too concerned with speed.