8 Best Crossfit Shoes, 70+ Shoes Tested in 2023

WOD entails a lot of different movements: lifting, jumping, sprinting, and more. That’s why Crossfit shoes must live up to a large span of expectations. We have tested over 40 trainers from 7 different brands to select the best options in five different categories.
The best overall Crossfit shoes host all the necessary features to face the most demanding training sessions and competitions. Highly stable for lifting exercises, they are just as versatile for box jumping, agility, rope climbing, and other activities. As for the other categories, they highlight some features slightly above being versatile.
And if want to know why regular trainers don’t always make a good Crossfit shoe, scroll down to the guide below.
How we test crossfit shoes
- We’ve gathered and read reviews from 84 experts and 7,413 users
- We applied our CoreScore on them: to filter out spam and add more weight to the reviews of proven and experienced experts
- That’s how we were able to create the collection of the most dependable crossfit shoes out there
Best Crossfit shoes overall
Corescore
Pros
- True to size
- Stable
- Awesome grip
- Very comfy
- No break-in period
- Lightweight
- Very breathable
- Amazing durability
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- A bit pricey
What makes it the best overall?



Best medium toebox training shoes for crossfit
Pros
- Great support for bodyweight workouts
- Comfortable for casual wear
- Good for short runs
- Reasonably priced
- Feels light despite the bulk
- Athletic look with an oomph
- Snug fit
- Breathes well
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- Not for weightlifting or serious Crossfit
What makes it the best medium?
Best lightweight training shoes for crossfit
Corescore
Pros
- Wraparound comfort
- Effective lacing system
- Heel clip ensures stability
- Balanced cushioning
- Great traction
- Ready for rope climbing
- Durable
Cons
- So-so breathability
- Non-snug forefoot fit
What makes it the best lightweight?
Best extra wide toebox training shoes for crossfit
Corescore
Pros
- Versatile gym use
- Stable for lifting and squats
- Great for all-day wear
- Instant comfort
- Easy-to-adjust lacing
- Appealing design
- Fairly light
Cons
- Too long laces
- Loose-fitting
- Bad for rope climbs
What makes it the best extra wide?
Best low drop training shoes for crossfit
Corescore
Pros
- Amazing trainer overall
- Functional versatility
- Dependable grip
- Allowance for toe splays
- Flat and highly stable for lifting
- Incredibly light
- Super comfortable
- Fairly durable
Cons
- Not for narrow feet
- Has to be broken in
What makes it the best low drop?
Best minimalist Crossfit shoe
Pros
- Feels like being barefoot
- Planted for lifting
- Highly abrasion-resistant
- Featherweight
- Breathable
- Tacky grip
- Good-looking
Cons
- Upper lacks support
- A bit pricey
What makes it the best minimalist?
Best value
Pros
- Awesome fit
- Extremely comfortable upper
- Cloud-like cushioning
- Good stability for moderate lifting
- Nice bounce for take-off
- Great for rope climbing
- Scene-stealing appearance
Cons
- Still has to be broken in
- Quite heavy
- Not for heavier weightlifting
What makes it the best value?
Most popular shoes for Crossfit
Pros
- Great for daily all-around training
- Good for short runs
- Generous cushioning
- Stable for moderate lifting
- Explosive forefoot
- Dependable traction
- Stylish looks
Cons
- Sucks at rope climbing
- Performs too similar to its predecessor
What makes it the most popular?
Features of crossfit shoes
We will cover the features of crossfit shoes in comparison to running shoes. This will give the answer to the “can I use running shoes for crossfit” question.
As with any other training shoe, comfort is imperative. Crossfit shoes should feel comfortable when lifting weights but also during the HIITs.
- Cushioning and heel drop: minimal
Cushioning and mid or high heel-to-toe drop are usually great for running. However, they are not a desirable feature in Crossfit. When pressing a barbell over your HEAD, you want your heel firm on the ground, or as close as possible. Look for heel drop that’s in the 0-4mm range.
- Rigid soles
Softer shoes are usually good for running. In Crossfit, you want them firm - this will allow for stability during squatting, cleaning, deadlift, snatching. This also means you should not expect crossfit shoes to work well for running. They will enable you to do some short warmups but are not intended for longer runs, especially outside.
- Wide toe box
When running shorter distances competitively, racers tend to look for a more snug feel. In crossfit, it’s important to have a wide toe box that allows your toes to wiggle and spread. This way you’re more stable because weight is distributed evenly throughout the feet. In competitive running, this extra space might cause trouble, especially on downhill trails.
- Durability features
There are a few durability features that usually come with crossfit shoes:
- a rope-guard to shield the midfoot from rope burn with a good rope grip
- a thick toe cap also protects the toe area during burpees, pushups, and weighted planks
- a sturdy heel counter protects the heel and ankle-end part of the shoes from abrasions due to headstand pushups. It also ensures that the rear is held firmly in place throughout the training session.
These features are usually lacking in running shoes, since their upper is usually highly breathable. It might offer toe protection in trail running shoes, though.
Crossfit shoes vs. other workout shoes
To understand the features of crossfit shoes, the best thing to do is compare them to other workout shoes.
Short runs (< 5km) | HIIT & Agility training | Weightlifting | |
moderate | heavy (using weight that you can only lift for 1-5 reps) | ||
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Best for: intermediate to advanced gym sessions flat and firm sole more durable better side support better ground feel low drop (0 - 4 mm) has protection for rope climbs |
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Best for: moderate gym workouts; can double as casual wear cushioned sole high impact protection lightweight (~200 - 300 grams/shoe) |
Best for: Olympic weightlifting very durable heavy (~400 - 500 grams/shoe) elevated heel (15 - 25 mm) non-compressible platform |
How will I know if a training shoe is appropriate for CrossFit?
Most brands don’t usually market their shoes using the CrossFit name because Reebok is the only brand licensed to do so. But they have found a way to work around this restriction by naming their CrossFit-dedicated lines of shoes after specific terms used within the CrossFit community like Nike’s Metcon line. Brands like Inov-8 tend to market their CrossFit trainer shoes as functional fitness shoes as opposed to everyday training shoes.
As for the construction, a surefire way to tell if the footwear is ideal for CrossFit is if it has a rope-guard in the midfoot. It also has a more robust exterior thanks to the toe guard, midfoot rubber cage, and heel counter.
FAQ about crossfit shoes
How much do crossfit shoes cost?
Here’s an overview of the average MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of the most popular crossfit shoes (brands) in the RunRepeat database.
Keep in mind that MSRP is only a listed price, so if you’re not eager to get the shoes the moment they hit the market, you can always look for a good deal. We’ve covered this process in our guide on finding cheap shoes.
Can I wear crossfit shoes every day?
Given their features, crossfit shoes aren’t intended for everyday use. They might be too expensive as well to wear casually.
Do you wear socks in crossfit shoes?
You do. Preferably the long ones. They protect your shin during rope climbs, but also during activities where you keep the bar close to your shin (deadlifts, clean, snatch).
Metcon 5 hype - what’s that about?
These shoes have caused great hype within the crossfit community. The most innovative feature they offer is the Hyperlift - foam risers you can insert in the shoe when needed. These inserts are also compatible with previous Metcon versions. They offer a good boost on heavy lifts, thrusters, pistol squats. Unfortunately, they aren’t sold separately.
Which Reebok Nano is the best?
Reebok Nano was the first official crossfit shoe, released in 2011.
Here you can see all the current Nano models ranked by their score. When you choose a certain model you can also see how it compares to the most similar ones.