The Best CrossFit Shoes of 2024

For our latest testing round, we looked at a different Nike Metcon — the Free 5. We thought that it was a significantly better all-rounder than the Metcon 8 because it runs much better and its lifting prowess is just about on par with the Metcon 8, making it a better all-around shoe for variable training conditions (i.e. CrossFit).

At $120, this iteration of the Metcon is cheaper than the other one, and we think it looks better, too. The mesh upper is very comfortable and breathes well, and the toe box is nice and wide — a huge upside for our tester, who has wide feet. Much like the Metcon 8, the heel on the Free 5 is still huge, boxy, and clunky feeling, but overall, this shoe feels much more lightweight and dare we say… agile. Running, jumping, and cutting are much better in this shoe than in the Metcon 8, thanks to its lighter and more flexible sole, but it’s still not a dedicated runner.

In the weight room, we thought the Free 5 was a decent shoe for squatting, but due to its drop, we wouldn’t suggest wearing it for your heavy deadlift days. Folks in the know will tell you that barefoot is the way to go for heavy deads — or find yourself a true minimalist shoe like the Vivobarefoot Primus Lite III.  

Those of you in the CrossFit camp will no doubt be wondering how it does as an Oly shoe, and the answer here is, “They’re okay.” If your programming for the day involves smashing out round after round of cleans or snatches for time, you’ll likely get along just fine with the Free 5. But if you’re in a dedicated Olympic cycle and the name of the game is technique work and big weights, you’d be better served with a dedicated lifter like the adi-power shoes on this list.

On the whole, the Free 5 does a great job of providing support and cushioning without feeling spongy or unstable. The heel does well cradling your foot, and the drop will put most people in a good position to squat full range. The Free 5 passes the test during lunges, box jumps, and push presses, and they’ll happily bang out a mile or two run in comfort if that’s what Coach says you’re doing today. If you’re in the market for a new CrossFit shoe and you’ve been curious about the Metcon line, we’d suggest taking a second look at the Free Metcon 5. 

GORUCK is known for its gritty, stripped-down styling, and the Ballistic Trainer ($140) epitomizes those traits. With the durable Cordura ballistic nylon upper and subdued styling, the shoe looks like it was made to go through hell. So, we put it to the test. 

We took the Ballistic Trainer through months of testing, exposing it to weightlifting, high-rep, heavy deadlift sessions, sprints, gymnastic movements, and the dreaded Murph workout — a 1-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, and 300 air squats, followed by another 1-mile run, all wearing a 20-pound weight vest. 

The midsole provides what all CrossFit shoes offer, but rarely deliver — equal performance across various workouts. The platform felt secure and steady during Olympic lifts, and the elevated heel gave the shoe a lifter feel during heavy back squats. With movements like burpees and box jumps, the forefoot provided more than enough flexibility to enable a full range of motion. 

Running is the bane of most CrossFit shoes, but the Ballistic Trainer shined during run WODs. The elevated heel helped facilitate a rolling gait, and the midsole helped minimize the “clunky” feel that most CrossFit shoes deliver during runs. And when running with a weight vest, the stable heel helped our tested feel more sure-footed, especially towards the end of a workout. 

One of the most noticeable aspects of the Ballistic Trainer is its durability. It looks like a tough shoe, and man, does it perform like one. After tests that included runs, jumps, burpees, and shoe-wrecking rope climbs, a quick wipe-down with a wet rag had our test pair looking like it just came out of the box. 

At almost 11 oz, however, you won’t be mistaking these for running shoes any time soon. Also, the sole is fairly stiff on arrival and requires a short break-in period to really deliver. But if you’re willing to put in the work, the Ballistic Trainer will more than meet you halfway.

TYR is better known as a swimwear company favored by competitive swimmers and athletes. The company’s first foray into workout shoes is an extremely strong start. The CXT-1 Trainer ($140) is on the larger end of the CrossFit shoe market, but it feels a lot lighter than it is. 

Made with a breathable textile upper and aggressive sidewall reinforcement for rope climbs, the CXT-1 is a burly-looking shoe. However, it is a bit larger than a lot of competitors, thanks to its 9 mm heel-toe drop and comparatively hefty 350 g weight. 

What do you get with that extra weight? You’ll feel it as soon as when you slide your feet into the shoes. A padded tongue and cushioned ankle cuff provide a luxury feel you don’t get with more spartan CrossFit shoes. The firm heel cushioning and elevated rope guards also make this shoe feel extremely stable. 

The good news is that it doesn’t feel heavy on the feet. During workouts where fleet feet are ideal (box jumps, shuttle runs, toes-to-bar, etc.), the shoes felt light and comfortable. And that 9mm drop actually comes in handy for weightlifting, since it’s comparable to the drop you’ll find on many lifting shoes. Plus, the flexible forefoot cushioning was plenty flexible for runs of short and moderate distances. 

That extra height can be a boon for people with trouble hitting the bottom of squats or cleans. The extra-firm cushioning in the heel also provides excellent stability during explosive lifts — our tester matched his snatch PR in these shoes. 

On rope climbs, the ridged protection on the sides of the shoe provides excellent grip and helps minimize the abrasions that often occur when sliding down the rope. 

Plus, these shoes just look good. There are various colorway options available, and the design is sleek without seeming too sporty. The CXT-1 looks at home in the gym, out running errands, or grabbing a few drinks with some friends. 

If you want a lightweight shoe with a negligible heel-toe drop, this isn’t the shoe for you. But if you’re looking for a shoe that’s comfortable no matter what your workout of the day is, the TYR CXT-1 is worth a good, hard look. 

Reebok has refreshed and updated the newest version of the Nano, the X4 ($140), and we’re big fans. For this iteration, Reebok has stripped down some of the upper material, and while we didn’t notice a big difference in weight, the shoe feels much more breathable. 

Happily, the Nano X4 still retains all of the stability that the Nano line is praised for. These shoes offer heaps of support for lifting-based WODS. The X4 retains the same 7mm drop as the X3, and the reinforcement on the instep for rope climbs.

As for its running capabilities, we found that the Nano X4 feels significantly clunkier when running during a workout. The stable heel that is so helpful in big lifts turned out to be a hindrance when it was time to hit the road. 

While it’s workable on runs of 200-400 m, the stompy feel gets really old, really fast. Luckily, that stiffness didn’t apply to gymnastics movements like burpees or explosive movements like box jumps. In fact, the added stability made landings feel more steady, especially on 30-inch box jumps. 

Running aside, the Nano X4 is a great all-around shoe for any WOD that doesn’t include running outside the gym. For most days, the shoe can take the wobble out of dynamic movements and provide lifter-like stability under heavy weight. 

One of the surprise perks of the Nano X4 is how well it works as an everyday shoe. The varied color options and low-profile styling made it an all-star for traveling (you won’t have to pack an extra pair of workout shoes). Plus, the stable midsole is supportive and comfortable enough to wear to a coffee shop or wandering around a farmer’s market.

While it’s not the best runner on this list, the Reebok Nano X4 is a solid option for athletes who want a shoe to wear both in and out of the gym.

Vivobarefoot has been in the minimalist shoe game for quite some time now. We tested the brand’s Primus Lite 3 in this round and found these shoes to be well-made, good-quality shoes — right out of the box. At $170, the Primus Lite 3 is an expensive option, but we are confident that buyers will be satisfied with the top-quality construction of this shoe. 

The Primus Lite 3 is an excellent option for the functional training crowd. It is also a superb deadlift shoe, and barefoot runners will value it for its wide fit, natural feel, and good grip. That being said, the Primus Lite 3 comes with a caveat. If this is your first minimalist shoe you should be aware that it’s generally recommended to ease into your runs and workouts while wearing them. 

Zero drop and zero padding mean zero support, so it might be a rough transition for folks switching to the minimalist shoe situation. However, this shoe is great if you’re interested in strengthening your feet and ankles or prefer to feel more tuned into your feet when lifting. Our tester especially valued the bio-feedback of this minimal shoe during kettlebell conditioning. 

Sizing can be a little tricky with the Primus Lite 3 — they run a bit big. Vivobarefoot has a helpful guide on its site for choosing your appropriate size, so be sure to check that out before pulling the trigger. Our tester, normally an 11, is a 10.5 in the Primus Lite 3. Otherwise, these shoes are lightweight, breathable, wide, & flexible — making for a great summer training shoe.

We had a couple of hangups with Primus Lite 3 during testing. The laces are slick and tend to untie easily, and that’s not the only thing about them that’s slick. Our tester found the grip in the wet almost non-existent, so keep that in mind if you think you might encounter water on your run.

Another consideration as far as squatting and Olympic lifting go, is that there are much better options out there. We’d strongly recommend purchasing a dedicated lifter like the Adi-Power or Rogue Lifter to give you the positioning and stability you need for big lifts. 

If, however, you are looking for a minimalist cross-trainer to do some running, some functional training, a little kettlebell work, and the occasional deadlift session, we are hard-pressed to find a better option. The Primus Lite 3 is quite a decent shoe on its own and a very good minimalist shoe on top of that.

The last time we reviewed a NoBull shoe it scored well in durability, stability, and versatility. The newest version of NOBULL’s crosstraining shoe, the Trainer+, retains all these features while beefing up the shock absorption and dialing up the durability even further.

The Trainer+ ($139) is a great no-frills cross-trainer perfect for the after-work CrossFit crowd. One of our complaints about the previous model was the lack of cushioning. We’re happy to report that NoBull added a little more heft to the EVA midsole for improved cushioning and widened the toebox just a smidge. Our tester skews towards a wider shoe, and this change definitely scores the Trainer+ a few more points in the fit category as far as he’s concerned.

Like the previous iteration, the Trainer+ also features a 4mm drop. The outsole has also been reworked to improve traction in a variety of conditions by way of a herringbone lug pattern through the entire sole. The Superfabric upper is incredibly abrasion resistant and breaths very well. This is the kind of shoe you can truly beat the hell out of and expect it to keep performing day after day. 

As far as weight room performance goes, the Trainer+ lands in the upper middle of the field. It’s a stiff shoe that provides a solid platform and support for lifting and good cushioning for jumping and plyo-based (jumping) workouts. It lifts considerably better than the MetCon 9 but doesn’t run anywhere near as well, and that really says something because the Metcon 9 doesn’t run well to begin with.

This is not a running shoe. It’s far too stiff and much too flat. Some other reviews of the Trainer+ mention that it has a lengthy break-in period — and we’d have to agree. We’ve had this shoe in testing for a few weeks now and it’s finally starting to soften up. It is possible that after a proper break-in, the Trainer+ will be more comfortable to run in, but at the time of this review, we’re going to stick it firmly in the lifting-focused and non-running WOD category.  

We were impressed by the craftsmanship, fit, style, and performance of the Trainer+. This shoe just feels well-made, and we’re confident that it’ll last significantly longer than most other gym shoes. If you value high-quality shoes that stand up well to abuse in the weight room, like lifting heavy weights, and don’t care too much for running, the Trainer+ just might be the shoe for you.

Weightlifting shoes (aka “lifters”) are exactly what they sound like. They are great for movements like clean and jerks, snatches, and squats, but they offer zero shock absorption.

This means that they aren’t ideal for much else. The unforgiving stiffness of the heel feels brutal if you try to run with them. It can also damage the heel’s integrity. That said, weightlifting is a major part of CrossFit. You can lift with a regular shoe, but most athletes have a pair of lifters in their gym bags.

The AdiPower series holds a special place in the hearts of many lifters. For this iteration, Adidas has completely reworked the AdiPower weightlifting shoe with its AdiPower Weightlifting 2 shoe ($189). A previously hard, rigid plastic heel has been replaced with a smoother sidewall made of non-compressive TPU (plastic). This prevents loss of power and provides plenty of support under heavy loads.

The most noticeable difference in performance with the AdiPower 2 is the upper. Adidas replaced the solid upper with a woven textile upper for more ventilation and breathability. It also provides a bit more sidewall stretch to let your foot expand under load.

NOBULL’s Trainer ($129) is pricey, but the shoes are so durable that you may never need to buy another pair. Firstly, the shoe features a one-piece upper, so there are fewer weak points in the shoe. That one piece is made of SuperFabric, made by applying a layer of protective guard plates to a fabric.

These guard plates are basically tiny pieces of hard plastic. The plastic acts as a shield over the fabric, making it resistant without sacrificing breathability or flexibility. This also gives the shoes a distinct dot pattern.

The low-profile lugs on the outsole provide both traction and a stable platform, while the firm midsole provides ample support during heavy lifts (though some athletes find them clunky on runs).

NOBULL takes pride in being an understated company. Its shoes are solid, stable, and durable, without any of the extra bells and whistles. They may not be flashy, but they’ll get the job done — and they’ll do it for years without showing any wear.

The New Balance Minimus TR ($130) is one of the more stylish shoes of this round’s additions. Multiple folks at our tester’s gym commented on their appearance during testing. Looks can be deceiving, however, as our tester had some trouble getting along with this shoe. 

Normally a size 11, our reviewer literally could not get his foot into the shoe due to its small sizing and extremely narrow toebox. After sizing up to a 12, he was able to slip his foot in with reasonable comfort but still had issues with the width. The fit caused some substantial toe overlap and one of his toenails cut into/rubbed the others even after clipping and rounding off — not ideal. Potential buyers should be sure that they need a narrow shoe before purchasing, and definitely consider sizing up. 

We are generally big fans of zero-drop shoes, especially those with good stability and traction like the Minimus TR. The minimus is an excellent deadlift shoe because of its 0 mm drop and excellent floor contact, but users with limited ankle mobility may notice issues in their squat depth with this shoe — especially if coming from a shoe with more drop. 

One of the cool features about this shoe is the integrated tongue, making the Minimus a good option for wearing without socks. Also a great functional fitness shoe, our tester really enjoyed his kettlebell workouts in them.

The Minimus TR makes a decent runner, though it’s worth noting that folks not used to running in zero drop or minimalist shoes should exercise caution and gradually build up to running more than a mile or two at a time. Lightweight and highly breathable, with great traction and excellent style, the Minimus would make an awesome transition shoe for narrow-footed folks interested in a zero-drop or minimalist shoe. Those of you who need a wider CrossFit shoe might be interested in the inov8 F-lite 260 or the NanoX3.