I’ve said this many times in my articles that living a lifestyle of being prepared for whatever comes your way isn’t just about having all the greatest tactical gear you can get your hands on. Whether you’re serving in the Armed Forces or not, we should always be ready for whatever comes our way in life. If you have the most durable backpack, the lightest tactical boots, the most rugged fixed blade knife, but you can’t carry your unconscious wife and kids out of a burning house or out of harms way, then something isn’t right. This is why it’s imperative that we do some form of physical training in our daily lives. If you don’t know where to start, I have a workout plan for those preparing to go to Basic Training that anyone can benefit from.
In my opinion, the most important piece of gear when it comes to doing physical is your footwear. Of course it’s nice to have comfortable shorts or a moisture wicking shirt, but the shoes you wear during your training sessions will have a direct impact on how you train and what you get out of it. Not only will having proper footwear protect your feet, but everything else from there like your knees, hips, etc. If your feet are not getting the most support and stability they can, then everything else will eventually be out of sorts!
Here is my list of the 5 best training shoes for doing physical training to stay in tip-top tactical shape!
GORUCK Ballistic Trainers
Specs
Upper materials: Engineered Knit, 1680D CORDURA®
Gradient Density™ EVA Midsole
Triple Compound Rubber Outsole
Two inserts included – Custom High Density Insert & optional thinner insert
8mm heel-to-toe drop
Weight (size 9): 0.675 lbs (10.8 ounces)
Lace-Lock eyelets
Built in Vietnam
Pros
Tough
Durable
Lightweight
3X Arch Support
Water Resistant
Cost effective
Cons
Not built in USA
Overview
The GORUCK Ballistic Trainers cost around $125 at the time of this article. GORUCK also has a few pairs at a reduced priced depending on colorway and quantity available.
On GORUCK’s website, users have given the Ballistic Trainers a 4.8/5 Stars with over 1300 reviews!
The Ballistic Trainers we the Official Shoe of the ROGUE Invitational, where the top CrossFit athletes compete against one another for a large prize, bragging rights, and also a ticket to the CrossFit Games. CrossFit is a sport in which people train not just one style of fitness, but many, and sometimes all at once. You could start with a run, transition to a power lift, and finish with a heavy ruck march. With this in mind, GORUCK built a shoe designed to tackle anything thrown at it!
Being a jack-of-all trades shoe, it’s not the best at one thing. Runners have specific running shoes, lifters use specific lifting shoes, and the casual gym goer used a low-end fitness shoe not really good for anything. The Ballistic Trainers use an 8mm Heel to Toe drop to help with lifting, running, and the 1680D CORDURA is extremely durable to withstand the tough terrain its used on. The Ballistic Trainers also have a triple compound rubber outsole, meaning there are 3 different grip and hardness for specific reasons. The forefoot is grippy for better traction, the midfoot is hardened for rope climbs, and the rearfoot is hardened as well to withstand the countless miles of running and prevent wearing down.
The Ballistic Trainers don’t give the appearance of being a gym-only shoe either. It can be worn with a casual outfit or worn while going to the gym or CrossFit Box. This is great so that you don’t have to switch shoes depending on the situation. I wear the Ballistic Trainers every day.
Nike Metcons
Specs
Men’s Cross-training shoe
Lightweight Mesh w/ textured overlays in high-wear areas
React Foam for a comfortable, cushioned base
Grooves in sole let forefoot bend naturally
Rubber Wraps along arch for rope climb grip
Tab Locks down laces with hook-and-loop closure
Flywire Cables integrate with laces to secure midfoot
Wide Flat Heel with inner plate for stability on squats, snatches, cleans
Handstand Clip – minimizes wall friction for fast HSPUs
Color: Black / Anthracite
Pros
Comfortable
Good Stability
Lightweight
Great for CrossFit
Customizable
Affordable
Cons
Worn out quickly
No lace lock
Overview
At the time of this article, the Nike Metcons cost between $110 and $150 over on Nike.com. Some of the older models or certain colors are reduced though. You can also check out Amazon for the latest pricing.
The Nike Metcons have been known as one of the most popular shoes worn in the CrossFit Box. The Metcons are notorious for their support when lifting, lightness for jogging, support for quick movements, and now Nike has integrated rubber wraps to help during rope climbs.
Whenever I go to the gym on the military base I’m currently at, I can usually spot a couple pairs of Metcons. Jogging, box jumps, squating, deadlifting, rope climbing, the Metcons are designed to tackle it all.
5-time fittest man on earth, Mat Fraser, has worn the Metcons whenever he trains or when he competed at the CrossFit Games. If it worked for him, then they’ll work for you!
Surprisingly, the Metcons have a rating of 3.8/5 stars on Rogue Fitness, but I’ve heard really good things about these shoes.
Reebok Nanos
Specs
Men’s Cross-training / Weightlifting Shoe
Regular Fit
Flexweave Woven Textile Upper
ROPEPRO Outsole Midfoot teeth
Floatride Energy Foam
Durable rubber outsole with targeted lug pattern
Supportive heel clip
Strong Foundation with wide, anatomical toe box
Lace Closure
Comfort Collar for all-day locked-in feel
Pros
Great for CrossFit
Lightweight
Breathable
Durable
Cost effective
Look sharp
Cons
Not the best for lifting
Could have wider toe box
Overview
At the time of this article, the Reebok Nanos cost around $135 over on Rogue Fitness, but some of their prices are usually reduced. They’re also available on Amazon! Click here for the latest prices.
At the time of this article, the Reebok Nanos have an average rating of 4.5/5 stars with thousands of customer reviews!
Rich Froning, who has come first place at the CrossFit Games as an individual and as a team for a total of 10 times, has been wearing Reebok shoes for over a decade. The Nanos are extremely versatile and still one of the most popular shoes worn in the sport of CrossFit.
The Nanos are durable and should last you a while, depending on the intensity of your workouts. If you’re a casual gym-goer and mainly doing weight lifting and resistance training, you could get a few years or more out of these shoes. If your workouts consist of box jumps, deadlifts, cleans, runs, burpees, and rope climbs, then the lift of these shoes may be limited to a couple years at most.
The Reebok Nanos are a great shoe for doing many different styles of workouts, but are not as good as the Nike Metcons when it comes to deadlifts or squats (could be due to the Metcons insert). Still, the Nanos have been the go-to shoe for many CrossFit athletes, and since NOBULL took over as the Official Sponsor of the CrossFit Games in 2021, Reebok offered athletes $5000 for winning an event in their shoes. Many athletes took advantage of this opportunity, competed in the Reebok Nanos, and won events!
NOBULL Trainer+
Specs
Upper: Seamless one-piece construction of SuperFabric®
SuperFabric® guard plates are applied on a highly flexible mesh base layer
The outsole lug pattern was designed for multi-environment usage, allowing for an easy transition between inside and outside with the right blend of flexibility, traction and support.
High carbon lateral and medial guards for added protection on sidewalls.
Reflective NOBULL logo for visibility when you need it most.
Breathable perforated microsuede tongue.
Molded, anatomical sockliner.
Medial rope grip.
4mm heel to toe drop.
Pros
Breathable
Durable
Abrasion Resistant
Good grip
Reflective material for safety
Can be worn as casual shoe
Cons
Some models are expensive
4mm Heel to Toe drop
Overview
At the time of this article, the NOBULL Trainers cost around $129 on NOBULL’s website. The prices vary a lot depending on the style and colorway.
Check out NOBULL’s website for their latest pricing.
NOBULL is the current Official Sponsor of the CrossFit Games, which annually hosts an event to deem who is the fittest man and woman on earth. The entire sport of CrossFit is based on functional fitness movements, which demands a shoe that doesn’t perform the best at only one style of fitness, but very good at many.
The ratings these shoes receive is amazing, getting nearly 5/5 stars with thousands of reviews on NOBULL’s website. Even over at Rogue Fitness, where I find shoe ratings are usually lower around 3.5/5 stars, the NOBULL Trainers have a rating of 4.5/5 stars! That’s saying something.
Runs, box jumps, lifts, rope climbs, the NOBULL Trainers can do it all! I would like to have a slightly higher Heel to Toe drop for doing heavy lifting, like squats and deadlifts. Other than that, the NOBULL Trainers are an excellent shoe for cross training style fitness. The other good thing about these shoes is that they don’t give off the appearance as being a gym-only shoe, so you could wear them with a pair of jeans or casual pair of shorts.
NOBULL is worn by some of the biggest names in the sport of CrossFit. Tia-Clair Toomey who has now won 6 consecutive CrossFit Games as an individual
Under Armour TriBase Reign
Specs
Lightweight, breathable mesh with built-in durability & abrasion-resistance material
External heel clip & internal heel counter for added stability & support
Strategic zones of flexibility & traction in the forefoot
Full-length Micro G® foam midsole for the ultimate in responsive cushioning
UA TriBase™ maximizes ground contact, promotes natural motion & provides flexibility to grip during lifts
Full-rubber outsole wraps up the sides for durability & added abrasion resistance with medial rope grip
Strategic rubber build under the toe box for a more powerful floor grip
Low to the ground build allows for greater feel & power transfer
Pros
Great mobility
Good traction
Lightweight
Breathability
Abrasion-resistant
Cost effective
Cons
Not very well known or used by CrossFit athletes
Not water-resistant
Overview
At the time of this article, the UA TriBase Reign 4s have a rating of around 4.5/5 on Under Armour’s site, and a similar ranking on Amazon, with hundreds of reviews on the Reign 3’s (Check Amazon for latest pricing on Reign 3s).
Under Armour has come on the cross training scene with a shoe of their own. On their website they even state that the TriBase Reigns will help you through every rep, set, and WOD. Just looking at this shoe, it looks like a mix between the Reebok Nanos and the Nike Metcons.
The cost of the TriBase Reigns starts at around $125, but increases if you decide to go with the Pro version, which can go above $150 (similar with the NOBULL Trainers).
People who have worn the Reigns have said just how comfortable they were on their feet all day long. One of the biggest comments I’ve seen is that they’re extremely good at giving you stability and grip for doing heavy lifting, like deadlifts and squats. They’re also light enough to do some quick work and mobility training. Also, they’re very snug and secure on the foot while also having a wider toe box for added comfort.
All-in-all, Under Armour has developed a cross-training shoe that is very competitive against the four shoes mentioned above. One CrossFit athlete that has promoted the TriBase Reigns is Australian James Newbury, who recently hasn’t competed at the CrossFit Games since back in 2019, coming 5th.
Conclusion
The best training shoes are ones that will allow you to tackle an array of workouts without sacrificing performance.
The most popular training shoe I would say is a tie between the Nike Metcons and the Reebok Nanos.
The most up-and-coming and durable training shoe is the GORUCK Ballistic Trainers.
All of these shoes are Jack Of All Trades, but Masters Of None. They all perform decently at lifting, running, jumping, you name it, but if you put them against a shoe that was specifically designed for that specific style of workout, then these shoes won’t do as well. If your main concern for training is only lifting or only running, then go ahead and buy a shoe for that specific sport.
That being said, if you’re like most of us out there and your training can look different day-to-day, then buying a shoe that can do well in all these areas is worth getting.
Remember, being tactical isn’t just about what you carry on your chest, but is also about the chest that carries the gear.
Stay fit. Stay ready. Stay tactical.