Choosing the best Crossfit footwear for your particular workout is no easy task. Although there are only a few major brands making shoes specifically for Crossfit, there is fierce competition.
I remember when the Crossfit craze first began and there were no choices at all. Now, every year manufacturers release multiple products and it gets confusing fast.
I have bought some dud pieces of foot gear before, especially when the movement was first getting started. Because people are so into Crossfit, some companies take advantage by marketing products to us that are not suitable.
Without the right shoes, you won’t reach your peak performance, or even worse, you can get injured more easily.
Luckily for me, with my experience and training as an instructor, I have learned to properly evaluate shoes and I can easily tell which ones are best for Crossfit.
Many inexperienced or untrained people choose exercise footwear based only on looks.
This is a massive mistake!
In order to get the most from your workouts, you need to look at the intricate details of the shoe design.
To help you choose the best gear for your budget, I am going to share my knowledge by showing you the top three models of Crossfit Shoes currently available. I don’t want you to fall for the marketing gimmicks like I did in the past.
There are options out there that look good, but do not measure up when put to the test. With my expert eye and the benefit of lessons learned in the past, I’ll help you purchase the best value pair of shoes to help you get the most out of your workouts.
Now let’s take a closer look at why purchasing dedicated shoes for Crossfit is so important.
Does It Really Matter If you use Crossfit Shoes vs. Regular Shoes?
Good question.
When I first started following a Crossfit program, I was using my regular old gym sneakers and thought that was perfectly fine. What I didn’t realize was using the wrong gear was causing small problems with my stance, body position and technique that were ballooning into bigger problems.
I didn’t even realize it was my shoes causing these problems until I had the chance to observe and correct others as an instructor.
Since realizing how much of an impact footwear can have, I have turned into a bit of a fanatic for gear designed for Crossfit. I buy every new model that comes out and put it through its paces. I can do this because I am investing in my livelihood. I realize buying so many pairs to find the best ones is not realistic for the majority of people though.
Instead of keeping all my hard won knowledge to myself, I have decided to share my top picks with you. I became a fitness instructor to help others and helping hundreds or even thousands of people make better choices and improve their performance is important to me.
I am confident my top three picks for Crossfit shoes will help you to get the most from your workouts. First of all, by keeping your feet secured and in the optimal shape while working out, the frequency of injuries will be reduced.
The shaping and support offered by your footwear also affects your stance and therefore your technique. Also, many people don’t realize how important grip is in Crossfit. These shoes are designed to ensure you maintain a good grip on gym equipment while training.
People are funny when it comes to gear for their feet – often they rely on gut feeling rather than hard evidence.
Many people, like me in the past, don’t believe in dedicated shoes for Crossfit. I completely disagree with this. Crossfit incorporates so many different exercises on such a diverse range of equipment that only dedicated gear can ever give you optimal performance.
Even the people who are convinced of the benefits of specialized equipment often fall for marketing and hype. The reality is the shoe that looks the best or is the most expensive does not always perform the best!
Every year new models are released and the companies are experimenting with marketing ideas. The newest, latest model does not always hit the mark. I still use models that are years old in training because they have not been beaten in quality yet.
Now, let’s look at my current top three picks for dedicated Crossfit shoes.
My Personal Review: Here's my Top Choices for the Best Crossfit Shoes
Now, I’m going to give you my top three recommendations. The competition is fierce and there is not a whole lot separating third place from first place. I have tried a lot of products to get to this point and can guarantee you will not be disappointed with any of these shoes.
1. REEBOK CROSSFIT NANO 7.0
The new Nano from Reebok is eagerly anticipated every year. You could consider it the flagship shoe in Reebok’s lineup. With the Nano 7.0, there have been a number of incremental improvements over the Nano 6.0.
The Kevlar of the Nano 6.0 has been replaced by a new proprietary weave in the Nano 7.0, which helps give you grip while using ropes and other equipment. It also means the shoes are not damaged during these exercises.
The heel height has been increased based on feedback while still maintaining the previous heel to toe drop.
I like the Nano 7.0. Although the changes are nice, they don’t make a massive difference over the previous model.
2. REEBOK CROSSFIT NANO 6.0
As you may have guessed from my opinion of the Nano 7.0’s, I am a big fan of the Reebok Nano 6.0. Even though this is last year’s model, it still ticks all of the boxes when it comes to a top quality Crossfit shoe.
It provides a very high level of stability due to the reinforced toe and heel and the entire upper portion is solidly built, meaning your foot is kept stable in all types of exercises. With the addition of the ‘Powerlaunch’ toe box, it feels as if it gives you extra leverage while lifting and your feet always feel stable and secure.
These shoes are not great for everyone though. There are reports of them being a little tight and not breathing well during extended runs.
I rank these highly and still prefer them over more recent models. The price point of these shoes, combined with their quality, makes them a very attractive option.
3. REEBOK CROSSFIT SPEED TR
The Reebok Crossfit Speed TR is the most versatile and well rounded option currently available. These have been specifically designed for both speed in high intensity cardio, while also providing the support you need for the full range of high-rep bodyweight workouts.
On first impression, you will notice how light the Speed TR’s are. With this lightweight construction, they are also very breathable – making them great for medium distance running. Even though they are light, the Speed TR still holds its shape well during exercise and stands up well to the rigors of training.
The tread is also generous, giving you a high level of control and stability during weightlifting exercises. Although I use many different pairs of footwear to keep up with the latest innovations, I always go back to my faithful Reebok Speed TR’s if I am going to put in a hard training session.
Now that we have looked at the best shoes currently available, I will show you where to get the best deal.
Kick Up Your Workouts with the Right Kicks by Finding the Best Place to Buy
Although the products detailed above could all be improved upon in future iterations, right now they represent the best Crossfit shoes available. Although specialist training foot gear may seem like an unnecessary expense, I cannot stress enough how much they will improve your results and technique.
The shoes reviewed above vary in price, but I wouldn’t include them if I didn’t think they represented good value for money. From the top three, the cheapest option is also my personal favourite, the Speed TR – which comes in at a very budget friendly $74.95.
Both the Nano 6.0 and Nano 7.0 are similarly priced at $109.99 and $99.95 respectively. I own all of these shoes and rotate through them regularly. I know you will get great results with any of them.
You can buy these shoes from physical retailers, but the best deals are definitely online. With a full choice of sizes, styles and models, ordering online is really a no-brainer. Not only do you get the full range of choice, with quick delivery you will have your shoes in your hand in no time at all.
In my opinion – the best retailer for Crossfit training gear is Rogue Fitness. They have great customer service, their pricing is always competitive, and you know without a doubt that you’re getting the real deal.
It is time to take your training to the next level today. Stop risking injury and improve your stability and technique with a new pair of shoes designed specifically for Crossfit training. You will immediately see the difference.
