This will be simple post. The world will not change as we know it. However, it may give you some clarity on the dilemma of the CrossFit shoe. I use the word dilemma because for a organization with a lot of strong opinions, I have yet to find a definitive stance on what is the best shoe to wear as an all around CrossFit sneaker. So, soccer, football and golf all are predisposed to shoes with cleats. Tennis, basketball and walking shoes demonstrate a penchant for a thick yet springy sole. And, running shoes once designed for cushion and lightness, are now moving toward a lightweight, flat soled shoe.

Now, if you google “crossfit shoe,” “crossfit sneaker,” or “best crossFit shoe,” you have no chance in hell of finding a definitive answer. Not to mention, there is very little written about shoes and CrossFit.  Most likely you will be directed to the CrossFit forum where you will land on a page with a bunch of people just listing what they wear. So, with this general nebulous topic, I took it upon myself to ask a bunch of Box owners from around the country which sneaker they preferred. These were their responses.

Joe Petrusky from CrossFit Love muses: “I always wear my limited edition sambas, they been through war with me. They are great for all the strength and power training I do. And anytime there is a larger amount of running and jumping I’ll switch it to my Inov-8’s.”

Ben Bergeron from CrossFit New England writes:

“Here’s my 2 cents:

In first place is the Inov-8 f-Lite 230: It’s light, super lite which is great for box jumps, burpees and pull ups.The low heel (almost no toe to heel deferential, it’s close to being bare foot) promotes proper POSE running. 2nd Place: Inov-8 f-lite 301 PK higher heal, but better lateral support and more protected toe (which is nice when you miss a double under). 3rd Place: New Balance 805 has a lower heel more than most running shoes, good support. And, 4th Place is: Chuck Taylors…”

Keith Wittenstein from CrossFit Virtuosity reports:“Personally I love being barefoot so Vibram 5 fingers are the next best thing.  However, they are ugly as all get out.  They are embarrassing to wear. I think Nike Frees are really comfy and like them for everyday wear.  And they look normal. I dislike Chuck Taylors are too narrow for me and smell gross after a week. DCs are too heavy and also smell like death after a week. And, while I love to lift in lifting shoes, I hate to do Metcons in them.

Nicholas Hahn from CrossFit Oahu offers: If I’m doing a running-centric workout, I’ll always go for my running flats–Saucony.  Otherwise, I usually use my Adidas Sambas.  I like the flat sole and I like dead lifting in them.  Then again, since we’re in Hawaii, I often just work out barefoot.  I personally think barefoot is the best “shoe,” if you’re not running on pavement.  I haven’t gotten a pair of Vibrams yet, but they seem like they’d be the best choice for everything except Olympic lifting.  I’d say you’d definitely be better off with a pair of lifting shoes like the Do-wins or the Adistar for the Olympic lifts and even workouts like Grace or others with a significant Olympic portion.”

Steven Shrago from CrossFit London channels from across the Pond: “My top two shoe tips for CrossFit are:1. Barefoot/vibrams – the same thing, really. The Vibrams are just a little more hygienic than prancing (yup) around in bare feet in most gyms/parks/pavements. Plus they give a little bit of protection from the broken glass, syringes, and razor wire that litter the streets on London (not really!) But why? Barefoot gives the best connection to the ground and works best to develop a sense of balance and coordination. It automatically improves your running (no heel striking, shorter strides), and gives a kind of ‘lightness of foot’ than shoes somehow mask.

2. Oly lifting shoes – Solid, slightly heel-raised platform make getting into deep squats (and pistols) much more stable. Plus they make a really cool banging sound when you stamp your feel down. But why? So much of CrossFit relies on the squat, and being stable in the bottom position. Oly shoes combine the connectedness of barefoot with a bit of extra stability. They are pretty good for most workouts, except running.”

What do you think? Leave us a comment on your favorite CrossFit shoe!

Amanda Uncategorized adidas sambas, Adistar, barefoot running, ben bergeron, chuck taylors, crossfit london, CrossFit Love, crossfit newengland, CrossFit Oahu, crossfit shoes, crossfit sneakers, crossfit virtuosity, inov-8, Joe Petrusky, keith wittenstein, new balance 805, nicholas hahn, nike frees, pose running, sambas, saucony, vibram 5 fingers