5 Best Cross-training Shoes For Men in 2023

Nicholas Rizzo
Nicholas Rizzo on
5 Best Cross-training Shoes For Men in 2023
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Working out is an addiction, and it’s the only type of addiction that we approve of. It not only makes you healthier, it also makes you look better and feel happier about yourself. These benefits, of course, do not come without effort. After all, it’s still a no-pain-no-gain world here.

Fortunately, pain becomes more bearable when you work out wearing reliable cross-training shoes for men. Hence, in this article, we share the training shoe models that perfectly correspond to the unique needs of the male foot anatomy and the masculine style of working out. As expected, many of these picks are from top brands like Nike and Reebok.

How we test training shoes

Our claims are bold, and our reviews are brutally straightforward. We are aware that we need to maintain our integrity to be believable, so we do the following:

  • Buy men’s cross training shoes using our own funds
  • Use the shoes in actual workout sessions
  • Whenever possible, share our individual experiences with the shoes with each other

Doing such things makes our assessments not only truthful but also free from bias. Through our exchanges, we are also able to paint a more comprehensive picture for you, which we hope will help you make a more dependable buying decision.

Best cross-training shoes overall

Reebok Nano X1
88
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Nano X1 lives up to the level of quality expected from the Nano series but strays away from its predecessors’ Crossfit-centeredness. Reebok now describes it as the shoe for "ultimate fitness." It is designed for people who love to train hard and don't want to be limited by just one type of workout.

Pros

  • Versatile, less Crossfit-specific
  • Upper hugs the foot
  • Lighter than Nike Metcons
  • Cushioned for short runs
  • Great traction on gym floors
  • Secure lockdown
  • Plenty of toe space
  • Very breathable
  • Stylish for casual wear

Cons

  • Collar rubs the heel
  • Tongue slides a bit
  • Not the best for weightlifting
Full review of Reebok Nano X1

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Dynamic Red/White/Black (FX3244)
White (FZ0634)
Pure Grey 3/Vector Navy/Vector Red (GW8891)
Negbás Ftwbla Margol (GW4303)
Footwear White/Vector Navy/Classic Teal (FZ5680)
Black (FZ0633)
Court Blue/Dynamic Red/Vector Navy (FY3534)
Black (FZ5683)
More colors

Best lightweight cross-training shoes for men

What makes it the best?

Belonging to Nike’s cheapest training shoes, the Legend Essential 2 manages to offer that essential comfort and support for moderate gym workouts as well as recreational use. If you take it easy at the gym, you'll make the best out of this superb deal.

Pros

  • Insanely cheap
  • Doubles as a casual sneaker
  • Lightweight
  • Breathes well
  • Snug fit
  • Very flexible
  • Reliable grip
  • Looks great

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Not the most durable
Full review of Nike Legend Essential 2

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White (CQ9356002)
Black (CQ9356001)
Black (CQ9356034)
Black (CQ9356004)
Old Royal Black Racer Blue Dk Smoke Grey (CQ9356403)
Cargo Khaki Light Bone Safety Orange (CQ9356300)
Black (CQ9356005)
Iron Grey/White-dk Smoke Grey (CQ9356016)
More colors

Best slip-on cross-training shoes for men

What makes it the best?

The Nike Free Metcon 4 is a great shoe for an all-around application. If you want to buy one shoe to do most of your exercise needs, I don’t think you would regret the Nike Free Metcon 4. They are not running shoes, but they will get it done in a pinch if you need to pump out a mile or two at the end of your routine.

Pros

  • Comfortable in-shoe feel
  • Unbelievably flexible
  • Solid platform
  • Grippy outsole
  • Highly breathable
  • Durable
  • Unique design

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Not suitable for running
  • Expensive
Full review of Nike Free Metcon 4

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Red (CT3886600)
Mint Foam Ghost Green Barely Green (CT3886300)
Iron Grey Black Grey Fog White (CT3886011)
Team Red Bright Crimson Cave Purple (CT3886601)
Crimson/Grey (CT3886602)
Rattan/Thunder Blue-Sandalwood-Green Strike (CT3886234)
Black White Black Volt (CZ0596010)
Green (CT3886393)
More colors

Best Nike cross-training shoes for men

What makes it the best?

The SuperRep has got to be Nike’s most flashy training shoe series. The third iteration receives some design tweaks to give you the right balance of cushioning for jumps, flexibility for planks, and support for side-to-side and other movements involved in HIIT. The shoe’s unusual design is not only there for looks, it enhances performance when it comes to high-impact exercises.

Pros

  • Perfect for HIIT
  • Light on the foot
  • Bouncy cushioning
  • Great flexibility
  • Stable side support
  • Snug, locked-down fit
  • Breathable

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Arc catches debris outdoors
Full review of Nike Air Zoom SuperRep 3

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black (DC9115001)
Cargo Khaki/Alligator (DC9115300)
Cool Grey Metallic Silver 004 (DC9115004)
White/Metallic Silver/Volt/Bla (DC9115107)
Pro Green Multi Color Washed Teal Black (DC9115393)
White (DC9115109)
Light Orewood Brown (DQ5357181)

Best value

PUMA Enzo 2
84
Great!

What makes it the best?

PUMA Enzo 2 is a great gym shoe option with an affordable price tag. However, its elastic straps may get in the way of fast-paced workouts. It won't be a problem if you mostly do stationary exercises such as lifting, rowing, and other types of weight training. But it's better to stay away from this PUMA shoe if you jump, sprint, and lunge a lot.

Pros

  • Plush comfort
  • Solid base for heavy lifts
  • Little to no break-in time
  • Grippy
  • Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Breathable
  • Cheap

Cons

  • Narrow
  • Poor lockdown
  • Not for running or cycling
Full review of PUMA Enzo 2

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
White (19324908)
Red (19324905)

Comparison of the 5 best cross-training shoes for men

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What to look for in cross-training shoes for men

Your gym workout demands a lot from your lower body. The stresses you expose your feet and lower legs to are varied and severe and approaching them with shoes built for a leisurely jog in the park is a not wise thing to do.

What you need on the gym floor is support, versatility, stability, and grip, and if your current shoes aren’t providing all of those things you need better shoes.

A quality cross-trainer has to be, above all, versatile:

Stable Lightweight Flexible
for weightlifting and multi-directional movements for running, jumping, and plyometric training for jumping, lunging, and stretching

nike-legend-essential-2-review.JPG

Is there a difference between cross-trainers for men and women?

Yes, there is a difference. While both types of cross-trainers are designed for multi-sport activities and provide similar levels of support, cushioning, and stability, there are some key differences between men's and women's models:

FIt Women's cross-trainers are designed with narrower heels for a more comfortable and secure fit.
Size Men's sizing scheme runs about 1.5 US size larger than women's.
Style Designed in different styles to appeal to the different fashion preferences of men and women. Women's cross-trainers may come in more colorful or feminine styles, while men's cross-trainers may have a more neutral or sporty look.
TIP: Guys with narrower feet can benefit from getting a women's version of the shoe. Just make sure to get 1.5 US size larger from your regular men's size.

Should I buy cross-trainers or weightlifting shoes?

If you’re a general fitness gym goer who wants a decent shoe that you can train in then a pair of cross trainers may well suit your needs. A weightlifting shoe is geared more towards the serious lifter who wants to lift heavy under premium conditions.

So, if you are a person who spends the majority of your gym time on the squat rack or doing weightlifting moves, you should invest in a pair of dedicated weightlifting shoes.

On the other hand, if your workout sees you doing a range of machine and free weight exercises, possibly including squats, and you don’t want to carry a second pair of shoes in your gym bag, then go with cross trainers.

The pros and cons of weightlifting shoes and cross-trainers

Weightlifting shoe

adidas-adipower-2-weightlifting-shoes.png

Cross-trainer

reebok-nano-x-lifting-shoes.png

Elevated Heel

PROS

  • Better knee tracking
  • More upright torso when squatting
  • Can squat with more depth
  • Less ankle joint stress
  • Not recommended for deadlifts

CONS

  • Not ideal for general gym workouts
  • May conceal ankle flexibility issues

Flat Heel

PROS

  • Suitable for general gym workouts
  • Enhances ankle flexibility
  • Suitable for moderate-weight squats and Olympic lifts
  • Ideal for deadlifts

CONS

  • Won’t promote an upright torso
  • Limited knee tracking
  • May not allow deep squat

Low Compression

PROS:

  • Greater stability when lifting
  • No energy leaks

CONS:

  • Lacking compression for other aspects of the workout (plyo, treadmill running, etc)

High Compression

PROS:

  • Provides cushioning to reduce impact stress on joints
  • Flexible to enhance movement on agility exercises

CONS:

  • Cushioning provides an unstable surface
  • Absorbs lifting force to affect power output negatively

Very Rigid

PROS:

  • Sturdy construction material to prevent lateral foot movement
  • Secure lockdown system to prevent foot lift
  • Wide toe box to allow toes to spread out

CONS

  • Lack of flexibility not as comfortable
  • Low breathability

Very Flexible

PROS:

  • Flexibility is ideal for plyometric exercises such as step-ups, burpees, and squat jumps
  • High breathability

CONS:

  • Impaired lifting stability
  • Lack of toe box space for toe splay

Cross-training shoes vs running shoes

To many people, athletic shoes all serve pretty much the same purpose; whether you’re running in the woods or heading to the gym, a decent pair of runners or trainers will do the job. That type of thinking, though, is plain wrong.

There are some important differences between workout shoes and running shoes. Those differences make each one ideally suited for a specific type of exercise. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between a running shoe and a workout shoe.

Running shoes are, naturally, designed specifically for running, both outdoors and on a treadmill. As such, they have the following features:

  • Forward propulsion technology
  • Limited side-to-side movement capabilities
  • A mesh upper to allow for greater breathability
  • A relatively high heel-to-toe drop:
    • average drop of running shoes - 8.7 mm
    • average drop of training shoes - 4.5 mm
  • Extra heel cushioning for impact absorption:
    • average heel stack of running shoes - 33.2 mm
    • average heel stack of training shoes - 24.1 mm

Nobull-Ripstop-Runner-heel-stack.JPG

NOBULL Runner stack height - 31.3 mm

Nobull-trainer-heel-stack

NOBULL Trainer stack height - 18.6 mm

Workout shoes are created to meet the workout needs of the average gym goer. As such, they need to be able to do a bit of everything, including weight lifting, cardio, machine and free weight exercises, and fitness class workouts.

Unlike running shoes, workout shoes need to allow for lateral movement and sudden changes of direction. The cushioning is not as great as on a running shoe in order to get a balance between the rigidity needed for heavy lifting and the cushioning required for plyometric jumping exercises.

nike-free-metcon-4-price.JPG

The toe box on a workout shoe is roomier than that on a running shoe. That’s because it needs to provide space for the toes to splay out as they naturally do when pushing a weight overhead or when squatting. The wider toe box also allows for more efficient movement changes.

Even though some running shoes can be wider in the toebox than cross-trainers, the latter are on average 1.5 mm wider.

reebok-nano-x1-toebox-width.JPG

8 things to consider in a pair of men's cross-training shoes

To make sure you feel your best when reaching your peak performance at the gym, pay attention to the following characteristics when choosing a pair of cross-trainers:

Heel Support

A good workout shoe offers additional heel support to provide rigidity when lifting and prevent lateral movement. This is usually in the form of a plastic insert in the heel.

reebok-nano-x1-foothold.JPG

Flexibility

A flexible shoe makes it simple to change directions and move in every direction without compromising your agility or balance.

Flexibility level can vary a lot across training shoes. Depending on your typical workout, you might prefer either a more pliable shoe or a stiffer one.

Nike Free Metcon 4: one of the most flexible trainers (better for HIIT, aerobics, etc.)

NOBULL Trainer+: one of the stiffer shoes (better for weightlifting)

Toebox

The toe box of your workout shoes should provide a few centimeters of extra width to allow for the natural toe spreading that occurs when lifting weights when your feet are planted on the ground.

nike-flex-control-4-toebox.JPG

On average, the widest part of the forefoot measures 99.2 mm in cross-training shoes. For reference, here are the averages in other categories:

  • cross-training shoes: 99.2 mm
  • hiking shoes: 98.9 mm
  • trail running shoes: 98.9 mm
  • road running shoes: 97.7 mm
  • basketball shoes: 97.5 mm

nike-flex-control-4-toebox-width.JPG

The material used to make the toebox should also be flexible, allowing for the toes to bend easily. This makes it possible for your foot to push off with the help of the forefoot, or the base of your toes.

Cushioning

Look for workout shoes that offer some cushioning but not too much. In multidirectional movements, excessive cushioning could make you land incorrectly, putting you at risk for knee or ankle injuries. When pushing the weight with your feet on the ground, too much cushioning will also rob you of a stable base.

An optimal cushioning setup would be a firm heel and a moderately soft forefoot.

Lower heel-to-toe drop 

A high heel-toe drop could make lateral motions more likely to cause an ankle injury. The reduced cushioning of the heel that is needed in a workout shoe will naturally contribute to a lower heel-to-toe drop.

The average drop in cross-trainers hovers around 4 mm.

nike-legend-essential-2-drop.JPG

Nike Legend Essential 2 (5.1 mm drop)

A 4-mm is barely visible to the untrained eye and feels a lot like zero drop. This helps the wearer feel more planted and grounded.

Grippy and hard-wearing rubber

Pick training shoes with enough traction on the sole to enable safe and swift motions. When trying to slide your feet across a surface, the shoe should feel secure on the floor. At the same time, the outsole should provide you with a secure ground connection.

reebok-nano-x1-rubber-firmness.JPG

The rubber outsole in cross-training shoes is about 5% harder than in road running shoes.

If rope climbs are part of your routine, make sure the trainer has rubberized side walls too.

nobull-trainer-plus-rope-climbs

Material

Personal preference should play a big role in determining the material to use. The materials used in training shoes are frequently a mix of mesh, plastic, leather, and synthetics.

Depending on your climate and training environment, you may want to opt for more breathable trainers.

Nike Air Zoom SuperRep 3 (breathability: 5/5) vs. NOBULL Trainer (breathability: 1/5)

Frequently asked questions about cross-training shoes for men

Do I really need to wear cross-training shoes in the gym?

Wearing the right shoes for your workout is important for several reasons, including:

Your feet are supported and protected Wearing the right shoes can help to prevent injury by providing the support, stability, and cushioning your feet need for your activities. Cross-training shoes are designed specifically for multi-sport activities and can help to reduce the risk of injury by providing the right level of support for your feet.
You can perform your best Wearing the right shoes can also improve your performance by providing the right level of traction, stability, and support for your activities. Cross-training shoes are designed to provide the right level of support and stability for a variety of activities, so you can perform at your best.
You feel comfortable Wearing the right shoes can also help to keep your feet comfortable during your workout. Cross-training shoes are designed to provide good cushioning and support, so you can stay comfortable during even the most intense workouts.

nike-flex-control-4-grip.JPG

Is it ok to train barefoot in the gym?

Training barefoot in the gym can have both benefits and drawbacks. Here are some of the things to consider:

Benefits:

  • Improved balance and stability: Training barefoot can help improve your balance and stability, as your feet have to work harder to maintain your balance without the support of shoes.
  • Better sensory feedback: Training barefoot can also provide better sensory feedback, as your feet have direct contact with the ground, allowing you to feel and respond to changes in your environment more quickly.

Drawbacks:

  • Increased risk of injury: Training barefoot can also increase the risk of injury, as your feet are not protected from sharp or hard objects on the floor. This can lead to cuts, bruises, or other foot injuries.
  • Decreased protection: Training barefoot also provides less protection for your feet, as there is no cushioning to absorb shock or support for your feet. This can lead to increased stress on your feet and legs, particularly if you're doing high-impact activities like jumping or running.

When in doubt, go for a minimalist trainer from brands like Inov-8 and Xero Shoes.

Author
Nicholas Rizzo
Nicholas Rizzo

Nick combines 10+ years of experience in the health and fitness industry and a background in the sciences in his role as the Fitness Research Director. During his competitive powerlifting years his PRs have him sitting in the top 2% of bench presses (395 lbs), top 3% of squats (485 lbs) and top 6% of deadlifts (515 lbs) for his weight and age. His work has been featured on Bodybuilding.com, LiveStrong, Healthline, WebMD, WashingtonPost, and many more. Along the way, collaborating with industry leaders like Michael Yessis, Mark Rippetoe, Carlo Buzzichelli, Dave Tate, Ray Williams, and Joel Seedman.