If you are going to purchase only one item of clothing for CrossFit, make it a pair of CrossFit-suitable shoes.

Good shoes for CrossFit are essential addition to your collection of CrossFit-optimized gear.  And while you are right in thinking that any shoes can be worn to participate in your CrossFit WOD, there are certainly some attributes you should look for in a true pair of shoes for CrossFit.  You don’t wear wrestling shoes to play basketball.  Why would you wear your old-school running shoes to your WOD?

What to look for in shoes for CrossFit

While there are many characteristics you might look for in a Crossfit-optimal shoe, there are three essential qualities:

1)    Lightweight with maximum breathability.
It’s obvious that you don’t want to be weighed down by cumbersome heavy shoes when you’re trying to be quick and powerful in a WOD.  And it also goes without saying that you’re going to get hot and sweaty, so you want your CrossFit-optimal shoes to be breathable. Basically, if it’s lightweight and breathable, it’s going to be comfortable – and that’s something you want in a shoe for CrossFit. There are some great Reebok CrossFit shoes out there, and a good example of a lightweight, breathable Reebok CrossFit shoe is the Reebok Crossfit Nano.

Get the breathable and lightweight Nano so you can get the most out of your WOD!

2)    Durable.
You don’t want to spend good money on shoes, only to find that they’re ripped to shreds after a month! Let’s face it, if you’re serious about CrossFit (and I hope you are), you’re going to put these shoes through the ringer.  Therefore, you want a shoe that is quality made.  One of the guys at my box paid good money for shoes for CrossFit only for the tread to wear out in a few weeks! Not acceptable.

Reebok are the official clothing company for CrossFit and the Reebok Cross Oly is a high quality shoe CrossFit shoe.

Reebok CrossFit shoes are specifically designed for CrossFit and is the #1 shoe used at the Crossfit Games!

3)    A nearly-neutral or zero drop from heel to toe.
There has been a lot written about this, so I won’t go into it into too much detail. But essentially, heel to toe drops can cause a raft of problems such as ankle and knee instability, eventually leading to injury.  Just like the Paleo diet (which works on the idea of natural is better), you want a shoe for CrossFit that is as close as possible to your natural state – being barefoot.  This means, as flat as possible.

The Merrill Barefoot Trail Glove have zero heel to toe drop and are an excellent shoe for CrossFit.

Merrill barefoot trail glove – Notice the zero heel to toe drop

Click on the picture to purchase.

Click the picture to purchase.

The best shoes for CrossFit of 2012

So now that you know what you are looking for in a shoe for CrossFit, let’s take a quick look at the best options available to you.   I’ll start with a couple of examples of men’s shoes for CrossFit and then follow those with a couple models for women..

New Balance MX20

The New Balance Men’s MX20 training  shoes (as mentioned above) are an excellent shoe for CrossFit.  New Balance engineered these shoes to give you the feel of being barefoot during your WOD.  The ultra-light mesh is extremely breathable and will keep your feet comfortable and cool during the toughest of workouts.

New Balance MX20

Click the picture to purchase

CrossFit Nano

The is described as “world’s first shoe designed and developed by and for CrossFitters.”  This Reebok CrossFit shoe provides stability for your lifts and extra cushion to lesson the impact on your feet.  These shoes also have Reebok’s U-Form technology which provides a custom fit and aids in the shoes’ durability.

Crossfit Nano – the first shoe made for crossfitters by crossfitters

Click the picture to purchase

Inov-8  F-Lite 195

The Inov-8 F-Lite 195 have multiple features that you look for in footwear for CrossFit. Comfort and durablity are the biggest benefits of these shoes from Inov-8.  However, the soles also provide extra grip on slick, perspiration-covered surfaces and they have features to help prevent fatigue so you can blast through your WOD with extra effort.

Inov8 F-lite-195

Click the picture to purchase

No matter what shoes for CrossFit you choose, take the time to do a little research and choose the footwear that is right for you.  After a brutal WOD, your feet and body will thank you for choosing the right shoes for CrossFit..

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