The Best Gym Trainers to Supercharge Your Workouts in 2024

Now synonymous with CrossFit’s global popularity, there’s a reason five-time CrossFit games champion Mat Fraser swears by the Metcon. This versatile shoe provides a strong, stable base and is just as durable when it comes to functional training — think sled pushes, rope climbs and battle ropes — as they are with traditional training and Olympic lifts.

For lifting, the heel is stable and rigid, and it’s fitted with a plate that allows you to achieve the correct positioning when performing barbell exercises like squats and dead lifts.

For more dynamic movements, the wide toe box allows your feet to spread, while the rubber wrap-around at the centre of the shoe provides additional grip.

It’s not the most flexible, so if you’re a CrossFitter who prefers a more pliable shoe, or you’re someone who incorporates a lot of running into their gym sessions, the Metcon 9 may not be a good fit. Otherwise, it can handle pretty much anything you through its way.

Similar shoes: Reebok Nano X2, Under Armour TriBase Reign 6

If you’re on a hybrid run and gym plan in search of an out-and-out running shoe that you can wear for intervals and basic strength training, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 can seamlessly transition between the road and the weights section.

It’s one of the most popular shoes for Hyrox (and is worn by 3 x Hyrox world champion Hunter McIntyre) thanks to its grippy sole, heel counter (for a secure fit), and lightweight feel.

As you’d expect from a carbon plated running shoe, it’s not the most stable shoe for the gym, not least because of its lofty 36mm stack height (or cushioning). So while it’s fine for run-heavy workouts and something like a Hyrox race where speed is important, it’s not the best by any means if what you’re mostly doing is lifting or functional training.

Similar shoes: Hoka Rocket X 2, Saucony Endorphin Pro 3, Brooks Hyperion Tempo

For something with a little more cushioning and greater flexibility than the Metcon 9, while still retaining some stability at the heel, consider the Nike Free Metcon 5.

Better suited for HIIT-style training, it’s a more versatile shoe than the Metcon 9 for anyone whose workouts combine strength exercises with short bursts of cardio and when your workouts entail quick changes in direction.

The Free Metcon 5 has traction and grip in abundance, offering great stability on different surfaces, and ensures you have both a stable base for weightlifting and confidence during multidirectional movements.

As Nike puts it, the Free Metcon 5 is ‘perfect for flying through a cardio day or enhancing your agility’.

Similar shoes: Inov8 F-LITE G 300

For well over a decade, Reebok’s Nano range has a been a go-to for fitness types in search of a well-rounded gym shoe, and the newest iteration, the Nano X4, is no exception.

A true cross training shoe, it’s capable for tackling heaps of workout scenarios, from weightlifting to CrossFit-style training, and even some short cardio efforts, thanks to its responsive midsole, heel plate, grippy rubber tread on the outsole, and flexible upper.

Similar shoes: Reebok Nanoflex TR 2, Nike Metcon 9

The Under Armour Reign 6 is another gym shoe that positions itself more towards weightlifting and CrossFit-style training than cardio-heavy workouts.

The Reign 6 has three points of ground contact and a 2mm offset at the toe (positioning the shoe as one of the more flat options) for a stable base when weightlifting.

The Reign 6 also features a removable, drop-in midsole, which is softer in the forefoot and firmer in the heel. This gives the shoe great flexibility for lower body exercises and multi-directional movements, while maintaining stability in the heel for weightlifting.

Similar shoes: Nobull Gum Trainer, Reebok Nano X4

Another versatile cross training shoe, the TYR CXT-1 is one of the most popular footwear choices among CrossFit athletes and the preferred shoe of 2023 CrossFit Games winner Jeffrey Adler.

The CXT-1 has a responsive foam midsole for things like box jumps and other plyometric exercises. It also has flexibility in the forefoot for explosive movements and agility training.

In terms of stability, the CXT-1 has a wrap-around side gripper around the heel for recreational lifting. However, it also has one of the highest heel drops compared to similar CrossFit shoes, at 9mm. This won’t be to everyone’s liking, but if you’re tall you may benefit from the extra ankle mobility.

Similar shoes: Nike Metcon 9, Reebok Nano X4, NOBULL Trainers

It may well be one of the newest footwear brand to arrive on the fitness scene, but the R.A.D One is already receiving a lot of praise for being a dependable all-rounder training shoe for pretty much any kind of strength training.

With a cushioned foam midsole for plyometrics, a rubber sole with plenty of traction, a spacious toe box and secure heel lock for lifting, it not only looks the part, but will perform just as well, too.

Similar shoes: Nike Metcon 9, Reebok Nano X4

A brand that’s closely associated with CrossFit, the Nobull Gum Trainer is a popular choice among CrossFit athletes thanks to its versatility and durability.

The Gym Trainer+ is similar to the standard Gym Trainer, featuring the same general shape and breathable upper, but instead of a circular tread, the Trainer+ has a herringbone outsole pattern which provides more traction for multi-directional movements.

The stack height and cushioning on the Trainer+ is also noticeable bigger than the Gym Trainer’s, making it a better (albeit more chunky) option for high impact exercises.

Barefoot shoes have become popular for working out in thanks to their zero heel-to-toe drop for stability, a wide toe box for balance, and thin soles that bring you closer to the ground. The Vivobarefoot Motus Strength has all these qualities as well as extra support on the sole for added protection during strength training.

If the squat rack is your second home, this is the shoe for you. The Romaleos is Nike’s out and out weightlifting shoe, designed specifically to support the demands of lifting heavy weights. The Romaleos 4 draws upon the popular Romaleos 2, featuring two adjustable straps for support, a TPU rubber sole for stability and spacious front section to allow you to spread your toes.

Named the ‘best overall weightlifting shoe’ in our guide to the Best Weightlifting Shoes, we found the shoe’s rigid midsole and rubber tread provided great traction when performing heavy barbell lifts such as squats and deadlifts.

In an ideal world, you’ll only use your gym shoes when you’re actually at the gym. For a lot of people, that just isn’t practical. In the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 you get an outdoor running shoe that will also do a job in the weight room.

Designed with winter workouts in mind, think of this as a transitional gym shoe. It has a sturdy mesh upper, an abrasion resistant outsole for regular cardio commutes and a grippy bottom for a confident HIIT workout.

Let’s change things up here. Powerlifters love Converse. It’s not uncommon to see experienced weightlifters rocking a pair of Chuck Taylors, and there’s a simple reason why. The next best thing to lifting barefoot, the flat sole of Converse Chuck Ts mean that you can keep your foot extremely close to the ground, helping you drive the weight more efficiently and remain planted more effectively. Similarly, there’s no heel cup in Converse, meaning that you can drive your energy straight into the ground.