7 Best Training Shoes

Nike Free Metcon 6 has a versatile yet supportive midsole, making it our top HIIT trainer among lab-tested shoes. In our workouts, it's undeniably flexible and weightless, allowing us to move liberally with less effort. It offers reliable stability that instils a sense of security as we perform various exercises.

At the forefront is the agile midsole, further enhanced by deep cutouts in the outsole. From twisting to bending, Free Metcon 6 surrendered with ease. Further testing confirms it needs 76.9% less force than average to bend to 90 degrees. Meanwhile, in our torsional rigidity assessment, it received a low 2/5 score.

The stack had a good mix of cushioning and ground feel, infused with velvet foam for comfort. Our durometer reveals it’s 17.9% softer than average, ensuring a zero-pain experience for heated sessions. This shoe has an extended midsole width of 113.9/94.4 mm and has a firmer 27.8 HA foam under our heels for secure landings. We felt surefooted as we did jump ropes, burpees, planks, and lunges. 

This trainer's exceptional airflow and weightlessness deliver an energising lift. Our scales confirm a mere 9.7 oz (274g), while we awarded it a 5/5 breathability score in our smoke test. Unfortunately, the delicate upper compromised durability. We recommend avoiding rope climbing and other abrasive surfaces to preserve the shoe’s life.

It’s not surprising that the Reebok Nano X4 is the best out of all the training shoes that we tried. This shoe offered pampering from all directions. Its cushioning is plush so impact protection was always there. Aside from having a breathable upper, it also has an inner sleeve that truly felt great. Finally, it had an outsole that was big on durability.

After measuring its softness using a calliper, we learned that the midsole at the heel of the Nano X4 has a softness score of 30.0. This was just around the 27.3 average. This setup delivered a nice balance of softness and ground feel, which we truly appreciated.

After conducting a breathability test in the lab, the upper got a score of 4 out 5. This means that it allowed air (we used smoke during the test for more visibility) to go out of the shoe quickly. Indeed, it kept our feet dry and comfortable.

The outsole, which felt sturdy to the touch, made this shoe truly fit for the outdoors. We rubbed our Dremel against it, and our assault only left 0.5 mm of damage–far from the 1.0 mm that we would have seen in the typical outsole.

We just don’t like the fact that the Nano X4 couldn’t accommodate the wide-footers among us. It did not offer more space than a typical trainer. At its widest point, the toe box is 99.4 mm while the average is 99.9 mm.

Among all the training shoes we exercised with and cut open in the lab, Metcon 9 is undoubtedly the best for Crossfit. With its sturdy base, and amazing foothold and grip, it performs any WOD exceptionally and shines best in lifting.

We did heavy squats, snatches, and deadlifts and the Metcon’s base assisted us very well even without a raised heel. Our calliper measures its below-average heel and forefoot stack at 21.5/16.0 mm, making us more sensitive to ground feedback. It offers superb lockdown thanks to its supportive upper and raised sidewalls.

Since Crossfit isn’t all about lifting, we tested Metcon 9 against box jumps, burpees, rope climbs, and lunges. It proved itself versatile in most CrossFit activities, with an unresisting midsole that flows with our movements. Upon checking with our bend test, it emerged 15.0% more flexible than average.

Metcon 9 provides excellent stability and grip. This boosted our confidence, making us enjoy the WOD even more. With a calliper in hand, we measured the forefoot and heel to be 6.9/7.7 mm wider than average. Such a large contact area, together with the non-compressible Hyperlift under the heel, helps us stabilise our feet while lifting heavy loads. 

We discovered the forefoot lacks cushion for repetitive rope jumps. We recommend exploring more cushioned shoes for this type of workout.

When it comes to lifting, the Nike Romaleos 4 easily rose above other training shoes because of its amazingly firm midsole, impressively wide base, and totally firm structure. Our feet were surely kept in place no matter how heavy we were hoisting above our heads.

We learned through our HA durometer measurements in the lab that the midsole is a lot firmer than average. While the average HA durometer rating is 75.0, the Romaleos 4’s score was as high as 97.0! There really was no wobbliness because of this much firmness.

The wide midsole platform contributed a lot to the shoe’s overall stability. Our calliper measurements revealed that the platform is 111.5 mm (average is 107.1 mm) wide at the forefoot while it’s 91.3 mm (average is 87.1 mm) wide at the heel.

The shoe’s minimal flexibility also did so much in keeping our feet in place and ensuring that we got the support that we needed. Using a digital force gauge, we uncovered that we needed to exert 40.4N of force to bend this shoe at 90 degrees. The typical trainer would need only 26.0N.

We just didn’t like that our feet were sweating a lot when inside this shoe. There was not much ventilation! True enough, this shoe only got a 2 out of 5 when we subjected this shoe to our smoke breathability test in the lab.

Nike Air Zoom TR 1 has an explosive yet supportive midsole that easily makes it our top cardio trainer among lab-tested shoes. In our workouts, its energy return is undeniable allowing us to sustain repetitive jumps with less effort and pain. It offers reliable traction and stability that instils a sense of security as we perform various exercises.

At the forefront is the lively midsole that includes an Air Zoom unit for consistent power and energy. The stack had a good mix of cushioning and ground feel, infused with a bouncy and velvet foam for comfort. Our durometer reveals it’s 24.6% softer than average, ensuring a zero-pain experience even if we extend our workout.

We felt surefooted as we did jump ropes, burpees, planks, and lunges. The outsole bit slippery gym floors impressively, and our durometer reveals why: the rubber is 10% softer, and therefore stickier, than average. Surprisingly, it didn’t sacrifice durability as it performed the same as our current average in our Dremel test.

What also impressively resisted our brutal Dremel is the toebox which scored a flawless 5/5 rating. While most shoes wreak havoc, this Nike only showed an insignificant scratch. Unfortunately, durability was prioritised at the expense of a breathable upper. The lack of airflow adds fuel to the fire of our already-heated workouts. We recommend trying another shoe for summer training.

After working out in it for many sessions, we concluded that the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure is the most suitable for outdoor use among all the training shoes we tried. Aside from having a pretty comfortable midsole, it also delivered a stiff and largely supportive structure. The really durable upper was also an important part of our great outdoor experience with this training shoe. 

Using an HA durometer, we realise just how much softer the midsole of the Nano X3 Adventure is than that of the typical trainer. Its midsole registered a rating of 21.9 while the average is only 27.0. The soft cushion gave us much comfort and helped keep pain at bay.

To test just how unrelenting this shoe is, we did manual manoeuvres on it in the lab. We gave the heel counter a good squeeze while we bent and twisted the whole shoe to target its base. Both the counter and base got a 3 out of 5 for rigidity, making them firmer than the average trainer which gets 2.8 and 2.7, respectively. Because of the firmness that these shoe parts bring, we felt that our feet got the support and lockdown that they needed.

We were so impressed with how durable the upper was. After twelve seconds of high-pressure Dremel drilling, only a scratch was seen. It truly deserved the perfect 5 that we gave it.

We were just not big fans of the shoe’s weight. The Reebok Nano X3 Adventure weighed 12.45 ounces or 353g when the average was only 10.79 ounces or 306 grammes.

We got the Nike MC Trainer 3 for only £80 when the average trainer costs £120. Despite its lower price, the comfort it delivers felt luxurious during our workouts—from its breathable upper to its plush cushioning. Our lab tests also confirm its flexibility, making it a highly versatile shoe for most workouts. Therefore, it’s our best budget training shoe.

Every jump we made and every stride we took during treadmill runs felt well-protected from impact. Our calliper shows an above-average stack height of 30.6/21.8 mm, while our durometer confirms the foam is 13.0% softer than average.

MC Trainer 3 bends with our feet as we perform burpees and lunges, highlighting its forgiving ride. The flex grooves in the outsole surely proved their purpose when the midsole only needed 20.2N of force to bend to 90 degrees.

Our heated sessions always felt manageable thanks to the porous upper that refreshed our feet. When we checked for its transparency, the mesh instantly lit up under the light, explaining its perfect breathability rating in our smoke test—however, the delicate upper wreaked havoc against our Dremel. We recommend finding another trainer for abrasive activities like rope climbing.