SIZING UP THE BEST KICKS

The latest do-it-all gym shoes will let you do CrossFit battle without compromise. The MH team lace up the best footwear

The latest CrossFit trainers, tried and tested across a range of disciplines

Whether you’re a competitive CrossFitter or you just include box-style drills in your training, you need versatile kicks that can handle a range of disciplines. Deadlifts and explosive box jumps one minute, clambering up ropes and 400m dashes the next.

The right footwear can also help you prevent injury – and your regular go-to workout shoes probably won’t cut it. Comfy as they might be for cardio, squishy-sole running shoes don’t provide a stable base for those ass-to-grass squats and heavy cleans. Unresponsive lifting shoes, meanwhile, lack the propulsion and power needed for more dynamic drills.

What makes a good all-rounder training shoe? In a word: balance. A killer cross trainer needs to be comfortable, agile and supportive, flexible but firm, light but durable. You want rock-solid stability for lifts, responsiveness for explosive push-offs and reliable grip for landings and hitting the breaks. Like any CrossFit athlete, they also need to be robust enough to withstand serious wear and tear.

It’s a lot to ask for. So, before you throw down your hard-earned pounds on a pair of do-it-all daps, the MH experts worked out for time in some of the latest shoes to find you the best options for crushing your next WOD.

SIZING UP

Here’s how the MH lab rats pushed these shoes to the limit.

01 FOOT FEEL

We judged each shoe on secure fit, reliable support and looked for instant step-in comfort.

02 BOX TICKER

Each shoe had drills to test balance of speed, agility and support, stability, grip and lock-tight security.

03 TOUGH

The best shoes need to hold up in the durability stakes, including the toughest on the gym floor – rope climbs.