Grip & Stability

CrossFit shoes need to be firm and stable to deliver an acceptable lifting experience. It’s crucial to maintain a steady grip on the floor's surface at all times. Otherwise, lifters are susceptible to slipping.

The grip depends on multiple factors. For instance, your training surface has a direct impact on the effectiveness of the grip. The materials out of which the outsole is made of also play a crucial role. The best ones need to have a grip that supports lifting, rope climbing, jumping and a good stance for battle ropes. Your pair must maintain a grip on any dry or plain surface, excluding grass and dirt.

Stability is important to optimize the range of motion in each exercise. The lack of stability in a shoe will cause undesired lateral and frontal swings. This is another huge no for weightlifters. Stability is essential during lifts; the trainers should act as a steady platform on the way up, and a firm cushion on the way down. Thus, they must be able to maintain a stable stance during every stage of a training session.

During intensity workouts, such as box jumps, the sneakers must be able to deliver a stable landing as well. A pair of shoes that can’t adequately support jumps defeats the purpose of cross-training.

Traction

This sport involves a wide variety of physical motions and exercises. Thus, the best shoes for it must allow you to move around freely and perform these movements adequately. This is where traction comes in.

The amount of traction generated between two surfaces is basically the quality of the grip they have in conjunction with one another. Many factors determine adhesion, such as the exercising surface and its state (wet, dry, moist, etc.). The outsole of your footwear is in charge of generating traction when performing your exercises as well. Even though the shoes for men are designed differently than those for women, they often share the same outsole design.

The outsoles include carefully designed patterns that grip and grab the texture on the floor's surface. Believe it or not, there’s a whole science going on behind the blueprint of these outsole patterns. Even those with stylish outsole designs are crafted to maintain a steady balance between style and function.

To distribute traction correctly, the outsoles are designed based on three parameters: impact, biomechanics, and multidirectional movement. These factors help calculate the surface ratio of a shoe during training (the amount of time each part of the outsole is in contact with the surface). When running, for example, only the third quarter of the shoe is in contact with the surface. Thus, such part of the shoe must be designed to generate traction on its own.

Anyone who has done this type of exercise (or any aerobic activity for that matter) knows how important shock absorption is in their footwear. The only protection we have from receiving the full impact of when our feet hit the ground is the shock absorption system a proper design incorporates. A pair of these that fails to diminish impact during workouts is as good as a pair of sandals, and certainly not adequate.

The best pair must be able to absorb shock from the basic to the most intense of exercises.

Those doing High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), for example, rely on adequately performing HIIT shoes. If their footwear lacks impact absorption, their feet will take a toll after the first 10 minutes. Not to mention, soreness the day after working out will be intensified from the unnecessary beating. The same goes for runners, sprinters, jumpers, and even weightlifters.

During jump exercises, such as box jumps, this product utilizes shock absorption technology to make landings softer. If jumps are consecutive and quick enough, users can also turn impact into impulse with the proper footwear.

But, shock absorption isn’t necessarily limited to direct shock (from running, landing from jumps, etc.). In the case of weightlifters, cushioning is used to reduce tension in the heel area when performing heavy lifts. Additionally, the compression generated by the weight against the specially designed midsole acts as an impulse.

Squats are an example of this when most of the tension from the exercise builds at the midsole. When going back up, the same pressure is released, assisting the user through the motion.

Depending on the design, the heel and outsole might also assist in shock absorption. If no such qualities were present in the shoes, our heels would be responsible for absorbing any and all impact or pressure. Think of your heels absorbing 300lbs+ of squat tension; sounds painful doesn’t it?

Comfort may seem secondary to performance, but it’s just as important. Imagine trying to work out with a pair of these that are constantly smashing your toes. Or, a pair with excess space causing your feet to dance around every time you take a step. Your performance would be greatly hindered.

Multiple factors determine the comfort levels of a shoe. Each of these factors must be on point, as the lack of a single one will considerably reduce performance.

The toe box should be wide enough. Compressed toes will hinder running and jumping, as well as cause irritation from friction. Aim for the right size, and the right fit. Avoid footwear that lets your feet wiggle around; it's hazardous when dealing with weights. Last but not least, flexibility is important when performing various aerobic exercises.

True, the platform of cross-trainers must be rigid for lifting. But this doesn’t mean they must be completely stiff. These products are not intended exclusively for weightlifting. Without flexibility, you wouldn’t be able to perform box jumps, rope jumps or sprints. Look for a shoe that bends into the exercise.

When we talk about flexibility, we don’t mean just the vertical running flex. The best cross-training sneakers must support lateral flexibility as well (when engaging laterally). We don’t want them to flex to the sides with each step. Trainers that imitate the ankle flexion allow users to have a wider range of motion.

Breathability is another factor that affects the overall training. A completely sealed-off design just can’t be called a quality one. Not only will it decrease comfort, but also many other aspects of training.

The accumulation of heat in the inner sole can produce excessive sweating. This triggers a list of side effects that will decrease performance. To start off, it makes feet more susceptible to irritation (and becoming an irritating factor on its own). In some cases, it may also disturb the grip between the feet and the inner sole. Additionally, it generates unwanted odors later on.

When training under the sun, breathability becomes a critical factor. These products must include breathable materials that allow enough air to flow through the design.

The best cross-training sneakers strategically place their breathable zones. Quality manufacturers, such as Reebok, Nike, and Adidas know where heat is more likely to accumulate. Thus, they apply breathable technology where feet need it the most. Look for a pair that contains breathable materials, preferably mesh. Usually, heat accumulates the most on the upper side of the feet and the heel.

The best options are those that come with perforations around the top, heel, and lace area.

Lightweight materials are usually much more breathable and comfortable than heavy ones. Aim for a light design that allows air to flow. If buying them from a store, feel free to step in front of the ventilation systems or air conditioners. Assume a pose that lets the ventilation hit the shoe, and evaluate the amount of air that goes in.

The best CrossFit shoes are far from cheap. We know no one wants to have to buy a second pair of $100+ after just two months. That’s why we made sure to feature only those that are durable on this list. One would expect that a product with a big price tag is durable, but that’s not always the case, unfortunately.

The durability of a shoe depends on multiple factors.

For instance, the materials the cross-trainers are composed of must be able to endure high-intensity training. While we didn’t look for bulky, heavy materials, we didn’t select short-life materials either.

The technologies incorporated into the shoe should also be durable. If these systems deteriorate before the shoe does as a whole, it will defeat their purpose. Keep in mind that not all of them are protected against water damage.

We kept in mind that the durability depends on the use. Powerlifting footwear won’t last if not given the proper use. Thus, we emphasized the particular purpose of each item on this list. If a design shows signs of degrading after heavy workouts, it's not a good option. The best cross-training footwear can keep up with the most intense and heaviest of workouts.