Gym, Crossfit or Hy...
 

Gym, Crossfit or Hyrox Shoes - Recommendations please!

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Its time for me to ditch the road running shoes when in the gym and doing weight training, I also do some Rower too, no running. 

What would people recommend? I like the look of the Adidas dropset 4's or the Reebook Nano X5's but is there anything I am missing? 

I wouldn't say I have a wide foot, more at average but recently I have been finding shoe brands on the bike and off getting narrower which is annoying! I assume its some sort of cost cutting measure and not actually about the fit...


 
Posted : 09/02/2026 9:25 pm
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I have some Nike Metcon, probably been updated since I bought mine for CrossFit and weights.  I find them good for lifting, fine for most other stuff but they have a very solid heel and are horrible for running even the occasional 400m per circuit I am forced to run.


 
Posted : 09/02/2026 9:49 pm
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I have wide feet and get on much better with Reebok Nanos, they have a wider toe box.  The current version is the X5, but you can pick up the X4 much cheaper.  Not great for running but you don't care about that.   They do a "Nano Gym" now which looks less good for lifting but I have tried it.

They last for ages too.


 
Posted : 10/02/2026 10:37 am
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Reebok Nano or Nike Metcom are your default options. Either will work. 


 
Posted : 10/02/2026 11:37 am
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I've been looking to replace my old gym shoes. As above, research has pointed me at Metcon 10 or Nano X5 shoes. I wouldn't want to run in either of them but they look ideal for lifting and plyometric exercise. Where to try them on though?!


 
Posted : 10/02/2026 12:44 pm
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The new Dropset 4 looks good, and there's probably deals to be found on Dropset 3.

I'm currently using Tyr CXT-2 which I really like (more comfortable than the old Metcons they replaced). I bought them direct from Tyr France and worked out a decent price.

Admittedly they get a good discount which will influence, but most of the coaches at my gym train in Rad One and like them. Bit too trendy for my liking though!

Inov8 F-Lite also an option to look at away from the usual go tos.

If you're not planning on running in them, I'd steer away from Hyrox shoes and go for something with a more solid base.

 


 
Posted : 10/02/2026 12:53 pm
 MSP
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I swap between vivobarefoot motus or vibram 5 fingers v-alpha, I like to feel the ground when I am lifting weights. But I have been wearing zero drop shoes for quite a few years now in everyday life as well as for sports, so it just feels weird to me to have any kind of raiseed heel.


 
Posted : 10/02/2026 1:09 pm
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I've been looking to replace my old gym shoes. As above, research has pointed me at Metcon 10 or Nano X5 shoes. I wouldn't want to run in either of them but they look ideal for lifting and plyometric exercise. Where to try them on though?!

This is the new issue, in the SW you no clue what stores would carry them, so now need to go check who does free returns! 

 

Thanks all for the info, I think I am airing towards the Reebok NanoX5, they have a retro look to them, now to pick a colour and order them! 

 


 
Posted : 10/02/2026 3:11 pm
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Bought Nanos when I was doing a lot of Crossfit and wore them to death. Actually bought a pair for "casual" when I was in the US in 2019 and, wore them to death too. Liked the earlier models (fitted my feet well), less so the later models.

Switched to very light Innov8s with zero drop after that and only have one pair left after I wore the previous pairs to death.


 
Posted : 10/02/2026 4:09 pm
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Running aside, converse hi-tops. Thin soles with no padding makes lifting things off the floor that bit easier.  If you need some heel lift, just stand on some 1.25 plates.

Or 

https://www.strengthshop.co.uk/products/riot-deadlift-slippers or just deadlift socks, depends what movements you're doing, some people just wear grip socks.

 


 
Posted : 11/02/2026 3:00 pm
 jfab
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I found Nano's a bit long and thin for a given size and changed to Inov8 Bare XF training shoes which I prefer (I have fairly wide & flat feet) but they're definitely not suited for much running as the soles are pretty thin and not cushioned. Fine for a warmup or a gym floor if it's matted, but wouldn't want to run on a treadmill or hard surface in them past maybe a short sprint down the gym floor as part of a circuit.


 
Posted : 12/02/2026 3:41 pm
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For lifting:

Hobibear bare foot shoes are okay and cheap on Amazon. I do add another insole in mine for some more comfort.

Karrimor Ithaca sandals are supportive underfoot for gym work and about £15 at Sportsdirect. Keen Newport sandals were also nice to train in.

I don't like squishy shoes for strength work.

 


 
Posted : 12/02/2026 10:23 pm
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If you don't run at all, I think a good step would be to switch to road shoes. For example, if you do strength training and rowing, then you will mostly benefit from a flat, firmer sole and a stable base, rather than soft cushioning. Therefore, shoes like Dropset or Nano are a good fit. Since they don't compress under load and feel much more stable during squats or deadlifts, they also sit well on the rowing machine.


 
Posted : 13/02/2026 8:43 am