Walk into a HYROX event and you’ll see athletes with $500 shoes, full compression kits, GPS watches, and bags full of gear. You’ll also see athletes who finished faster wearing basic training kit. This guide separates the essential from the optional.
1. Shoes — The Most Important Purchase
You need a shoe that grips on gym flooring, provides stability for heavy station work, and offers enough cushioning for 8km of running. The sled push on polished gym flooring requires a full rubber outsole — exposed foam will slip.
Our top picks:
- Best overall: PUMA Deviate Nitro 3 — official HYROX partner, exceptional grip (~$180)
- Best value: NOBULL Trainer+ — balanced performer ($129)
- Best for stations: Nike Metcon 9 — maximum stability ($130)
- Best for running: Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 — carbon plate speed ($225)
- Best for wide feet: Reebok Nano X4 — widest fit ($130)
Full breakdown: Complete HYROX shoe guide →
2. Training Clothing
Technical breathable kit — polyester or nylon. Non-restrictive for lunges, burpees, carries. Test all clothing in training before race day — anything that rubs will rub much worse over 90 minutes.
3. GPS Watch
The most useful piece of equipment beyond shoes. Lets you pace your 1km runs precisely — the most critical skill for a well-executed race. Look for GPS with 1km lap alerts, wrist HR, and 4+ hour battery life.
4. Gloves or Gymnastics Grips
The sled pull, farmers carry, and wall balls are hard on your hands over a full training block. Gymnastics grips (leather palm protection) are the most popular choice. If you use them race day, train with them consistently.
Home Training Equipment
High Priority
- Kettlebells — essential for farmers carry and general conditioning. Kettlebells on Amazon →
- Sandbag (adjustable) — for lunge practice at race weight. Adjustable Sandbag on Amazon →
- Wall ball — essential for Station 8 practice. Wall Ball on Amazon →
High Impact, Higher Cost
- Concept2 RowErg — exact machine used at every HYROX event. Concept2 RowErg on Amazon →
- Concept2 SkiErg — replicates Station 1 exactly. Concept2 SkiErg on Amazon →
Race Day Bag
| Item | Priority |
|---|---|
| Race shoes (broken in) | Essential |
| Technical kit (top, shorts, socks) | Essential |
| GPS watch (fully charged) | Essential |
| Gloves/grips (if you use them) | If trained with |
| Pre-race snack | Strong recommend |
| Electrolyte drink or tabs | Strong recommend |
| Change of clothes | Optional — you will be drenched |
Budget Guide
| Item | Budget |
|---|---|
| HYROX shoes | $120–$180 |
| Technical training kit | $60–$120 |
| GPS watch | $200–$350 |
| Gloves or grips | $20–$40 |
| Total sensible spend | $400–$700 |
What to Skip
- HYROX-branded apparel — costs 2–3x equivalent performance kit
- Foam rollers and massage guns — useful for recovery but won’t make you faster
- Heart rate chest straps — wrist HR on modern GPS watches is accurate enough for pacing
