7 Best Crossfit Shoes in 2023

The Under Armour Tribase Reign 5 is the ultimate jack of all trades among Crossfit shoes. With its excellent stability, cushioning, and durability, this all-rounder shoe works very well for just about any WOD we throw at it.

The Tribase Reign 5 is a rock-solid lifting shoe that is more than stable enough to handle heavy squats, deadlifts, and Olympic lifts. Both its lateral and torsional stability are excellent, as we feel firmly planted on the floor whenever we lift in it. We rated its torsional rigidity a 4 out of 5, with 5 being the stiffest, as we really had to exert a lot of effort into getting the shoe to twist side to side.

And despite having a slightly lower midsole stack - it's 2.8 mm and 1.1 mm shorter than average in the heel and forefoot, respectively - it still delivers excellent cushioning. Its midsole has a softness of 26.8 HA, which is very much average for training shoes, and we felt it did a wonderful job of protecting our feet when we did runs, jumps, and other dynamic movements during our Crossfit workouts.

Moreover, the Tribase Reign 5 is also quite a rugged shoe that can handle a beating in the Crossfit box. Its toebox is particularly tough; it got an impressive 4 out of 5 on our durability test, where 5 is the most durable, as our Dremel did minimal damage to it.

However, the Tribase Reign 5's heel to toe drop, which we measured to be 4.8 mm, is 2.4 times higher than its stated drop of 2 mm. So those looking for a minimal-drop Crossfit shoe should be aware.

Given its breathability and lush cushioning under the heel, the Reebok Nano X3 indeed delivered high levels of comfort. The shoe’s pretty stiff and supportive heel counter made this shoe even more suitable for CrossFit. With all these benefits combined, we consider this shoe the most comfortable among all CrossFit shoes that we tried.

After performing a smoke test on the Nano X3 in the lab, we gave it a score of 4 out of 5 for ventilation. In the gym, this meant that our feet were consistently aerated and kept dry.

Our HA durometer also told a very nice story as far as impact protection is concerned. It gave the cushion right under the heel a softness score of 20.5, making it significantly softer than the 27.0 average.

Of course, it’s not enough for a CrossFit shoe to be only comfortable. The X3’s heel counter, which we scored 4 out of 5 for stiffness after manually squeezing it in the lab, was effective in helping keep our feet in place when we did some lifting. 

We just did not like that the Nano X3 got a bit heavier than average. It registered 12.4 oz or 352.0g on the scale, which is higher than the 11.0 oz or 313g average.

Among all the CrossFit shoes that we exercised in, we deem the Nike Zoom Metcon Turbo 2 as the best for short runs because of its running friendly drop and softer-than-average midsole tooling that’s coupled with a pretty bouncy Zoom Air unit. The shoe’s reliably stiff heel counter stabilized not only our running but also our lifting stances.

The discovery that this shoe has a drop of 7.7 mm was quite a surprise since it was advertised to have only 4.0 mm. And for the sprinters among us, this might have been a blessing in disguise because the higher drop made this suitable for short runs.

The running-friendliness of this shoe was further enhanced by the combined power of a softer foam and a bouncy Zoom unit. Using an HA durometer in the lab, we learned that the midsole has a softness rating of 22.4, which is lower (hence softer) than the 27.0 average. The softness helped protect us from impact during our runs.

The reactive Zoom Air, for its part, fueled our strides. It’s not often that a trainer is equipped with a tech for propulsion, so the bouncy experience was a very welcome one.

The heel counter felt stiffer than usual when we put this shoe on. True enough, it got a 3 out of 5 for stiffness after it moderately resisted our squeezes in the lab.

Sure, the heel counter worked well but we had concerns about its durability. We did a Dremel test on it, and it only got a 2 out of 5.  

In the world of training shoes, where the average weight is 11.5 oz (326g), the NOBULL Trainer is a light trainer at just 10.4 oz (294g). But the shoe is far from lightweight when it comes to its performance in a Crossfit box, as its fantastic flexibility, solid stability, and outstanding durability make it our top lightweight Crossfit trainer.

The NOBULL Trainer features tremendous flexibility, which makes it a fabulous shoe to wear for HIIT workouts and agility drills. After putting it through our 90 degree bend test, we found that it is 16.9% more flexible than the average training shoe. 

But the shoe still has enough stiffness to be a stable lifting shoe. Its midsole is 24% firmer than the average training shoe, and we felt it hardly compressed when lifting moderate weights on our power and Olympic lifts. Moreover, the shoe has a fairly flat platform, offering optimal ground contact.

Meanwhile, the SuperFabric upper lives up to its name as it is extremely durable. Even rope climbs barely scratch the incredibly tough material, so it will take some serious abuse inside the box to wreck the upper.

However, that super-durable upper comes at the cost of breathability as our feet got quite hot, particularly after high-intensity workouts. Neither smoke nor light could pass through the upper in our lab tests, which is why we graded the shoe's breathability the lowest score of 1 out of 5.

The Reebok Nano X2 TR Adventure is our top Crossfit shoe for taking on workouts outside as we found out it has excellent durability and traction to handle all the outdoor action, while still being a superbly stable gym shoe.

The Nano X2 TR Adventure offers top-notch durability. The upper features reinforced ripstop nylon, which does a brilliant job of resisting abrasions during rope climbs as well as rocks and other debris. That heavy-duty upper also held up remarkably well in our lab durability test, as our Dremel only did minimal damage to it.

The outsole is also more than rugged enough to handle workouts out in the open. Its 85.5 HC outsole hardness and 4.4 mm outsole thickness are slightly above the training shoe averages of 84.4 HC and 4.00 mm, respectively. We also found it to have great grip while using it for trail treks, sprints, or riding a bike.

We also have no hesitation in using the shoe for heavy lifts and other Crossfit movements thanks to its excellent stability. Its midsole is 18.5% firmer than the average training shoe and hardly compresses even under heavy load. Moreover, it capably keeps our feet firmly in place during jumps and other dynamic movements. And our lab tests affirmed the support we felt in the shoe, as it scored a 3 out of 5 for both torsional rigidity and heel stiffness.

However, the firm base that helps give the shoe its rigidity does significantly add to its weight, which comes in at a heavy 12.2 oz (345g). That is 1.1 oz (30 g) heavier than the average training shoe.

We discovered Metcon 9 offers the best features for CrossFit, deserving to be crowned as best overall among CrossFit trainers in our lab records. It's a confidence booster with the superior stability and grip it offers, holding down our feet well when it’s time to lift. It displays signs of durability and offers flexibility for various WODs.

Despite the absence of a raised heel, Metcon 9 shines in weightlifting. We measured a 5.5 mm drop in the lab, more leveled than the 6.1 mm average. Its wide and supportive base keeps us planted to the ground, whereas its sturdy sidewalls and protective upper establish a firm foothold for stability. It even has Hyperlift — a sturdy, non-compressible TPU plastic under the heel for extra support when lifting heavier loads.

Metcon 9 gives the flexibility and grip we need for burpees and plyometrics. In our bend test, it's 15.0% more flexible than average. Meanwhile, the outsole bites through the gym floor, ensuring we can focus on our workout without wobbles. It shows no signs of wear, so we expect it to be durable. Our durometer confirms the 91.0 HC rubber is harder than the 85.2 HC average. A tougher outsole means it can take a lot of beating.

Unfortunately, Metcon 9 missed out on breathability. It feels too stuffy for tropical weather and sweaty indoor sessions.

At $120 per pair, the Reebok Nano 2.0 is just around the average price for CrossFit shoes which is $124. But the performance of this shoe isn’t average at all. Its amazing breathability truly left no chance for sweat. Its intense flexibility allowed us to move with much more ease, especially when there was a need to twist or go around bends. Finally, its nicely firm midsole gave us the chance to speed up without exerting so much effort. 

We dissected this shoe in the lab and placed its upper material on top of a light source. The moment the light shone from below it, we saw gigantic ventilation holes, perfectly explaining the immense amount of breathability that we enjoyed. Hands down, the Nano 2.0 is a perfect 5 for ventilation.

A typical trainer would need 22.5N of force so it’s bent at 90 degrees. Our digital force gauge showed that this shoe needed much less than that, 11.3N to be exact. Its flexibility allowed for more natural flexions of our feet, making this shoe such a pleasure to wear.

The midsole of this shoe registered a 31.0 on our HA durometer, significantly higher (therefore firmer) than the 27.0 average. This firmness not only helped with acceleration because of its springy effect in motion, but it also aided us in attaining stability during lifting because of its inherent anti-wobble properties.

It’s just too unfortunate that the durability of the upper was not able to keep up with the greatness of the Nano 2.0 from Reebok. There was already significant damage after a couple of seconds of Dremel drilling.