We put together this guide to the best gym shoes to help you pick the perfect sneaker to handle almost any type of workout you can think of. Most gyms feature diverse equipment that requires different athletic movements and abilities. You may encounter anything from traditional squat racks on rubber floors, deadlifts on wooden platforms, weight sleds or sprinting areas on turf, and good old treadmills, ellipticals, or stair-masters.
Ideally, you’d use a different shoe for many of these different surfaces and types of exercises in order to ensure the correct amount of support or comfort…but that’s not efficient or cost effective. In this article, we’ll cover our top picks for most, if not all, of the different exercise modalities you’ll find in an average gym, as well as provide several options of versatile shoes that can handle a wide variety of athletic movements. We look for shoes that feature great traction, solid support, and enough cushion to keep you pain-free after a hard session.
We put every shoe on this list through rigorous testing. Each pair is tested for approximately 2 weeks and a range of workouts before a performance review is written. This process allows us to push every shoe to its limits, find any weaknesses or shortcomings it may have, and identify any stand-out features or highlights.
With that being said, check out our best gym shoes guide!
Last updated 06.14.2024
Best Gym Shoes Show
Best Best Gym Shoes in 2024
Most Versatile Gym Shoes
Puma PWR Nitro Squared
The Puma PWR Nitro Squared isn’t built for heavy lifting or CrossFit, but it’s built to handle anything your HIIT workout will throw at you including normal lifting. It’s comfortable and bouncy which makes it great for basketball training or any jumping exercises like plyometrics. Single-leg exercises aren’t ideal but this shoe can handle large amounts of cardio, something you don’t see often in this category. See the full review. Price: $120
Reasons to buy: Bounce, comfort, accommodating fit
Reasons why not to buy: Stability on heavy lifts
GORUCK Ballistic Trainer
The GORUCK Ballistic Trainer’s upper is tough and soft at the same time. Cordura nylon is used on very few shoes, mostly for cost reasons. It gives off a vibe that the shoe is ready for anything. The knit toe box and tongue are one seamless piece that flexes great and feels minimal on foot. In terms of cushioning, the shoe features GORUCKs Gradient Density EVA. The shoe is more cushioned and better at rebounding in the forefoot to accommodate jumping, running, and explosive movement. The heel of the shoe is denser and stiffer to provide a stable platform while doing various lifting movements like deadlifts and squats.
On the bottom, what looks to be an outsole made of one type of rubber is actually made of 3 different rubbers. A grippy forefoot, a harder more durable midfoot made for climbing ropes, and a denser heel to endure heel strikes while running. But remember that the Ballistic Trainer runs “about a half size larger than other athletic trainers.” We recommend going a half size down from your normal shoe size for the best fit. Read the full review. Price: $125
Reebok Nano X4
The Reebok Nano X4 isn’t only a great weightlifting shoe it’s also our favorite Reebok Nano to date and one of the best training shoes of the year. It’s not great for cardio but it can handle enough plyometrics and sprinting to work well for CrossFit. It’s a versatile shoe that’s dependable and should be on the shortlist for any hard-charging gym goer. See the full review. Price: $140
Reasons to buy: Stability, forefoot cushion, comfort, durability
Reasons why not to buy: Not great for cardio
TYR CXT-1
The TYR CXT-1 is in the top tier of weightlifting shoes and one of the better CrossFit options on the market. The upper is basic but built well for comfort. Cardio work could be better but it can handle jumping rope and sprinting without issue. The real star of the CXT-1 is the stability. It has an impressive ability to be a strong base for heavy lifts, one-legged movements, and other exercises requiring multiple foot positions. See the full review. Price: $140
Reasons to buy: Stability, responsiveness, comfort
Reasons why not to buy: Not great for cardio
Inov-8 F-Fly
The Inov-8 F-Fly will provide a different experience for gym goers that sits squarely between a beefy cross trainer and barefoot trainers. It’s versatile, flexible, and comfortable with a surprising amount of cushioning thanks to their Powerflow Pro system alongside elite level ground feel. The outsole grips everything, and though the upper is a basic engineered mesh, it’s flexible and comfortable. It’s a shoe that gives your feet the freedom to both handle big PR lifts and a few miles on the treadmill. See the full review. Price: $130
Reasons to buy: Stability, ground feel, cushion, versatility
Reasons why not to buy: Minimalist feel, basic upper
RAD One
The RAD One uses nicer than average materials, has a stable base with impeccable traction, and can handle any type of weight room exercise you throw at it. Running in the RAD One isn’t ideal, but it can handle everything else you want to do. It’s a great-looking but super functional weightlifting and cross-training shoe that provides enough old-school shoe vibes to be different than what anyone else is wearing at your gym. Read the full review. Price: $150
Reasons to buy: Herringbone traction, high-quality materials
Reasons not to buy: Running in it feels clunky
Best Gym Shoes For Weight Training
These are our top picks for this category because of how good the shoes are for weight training, but also because of their versatility. You can check out our full list of the best weightlifting shoes for more weightlifting-specific options.
Reebok Nano X4
The Reebok Nano X4 is an excellent performer on all lifts, offering great stability in all situations, and an extremely comfortable Flexweave upper. It’s our favorite Reebok Nano to date and one of the best training shoes of the year. It’s a dependable, comfortable, and versatile shoe that needs to be on every gym goers’ shortlist. It’s not perfect, but it’s darn close. See the full review. Price: $140
GORUCK Ballistic Trainer
The GORUCK Ballistic Trainer’s upper uses a ballistic Cordura mesh which is soft and flexible. The Ballistic Trainer features Gradient Density EVA foam for the cushion, which means the shoe is more cushioned in the forefoot. At the same time, the heel is more dense and stiff, creating a stable platform while lifting. The traction is also a highlight. The outsole uses three different rubbers. Remember, the GORUCK Ballistic Trainer fits longer than other training shoes, so make sure to go down half a size from your typical shoe size. Read the full review. Price: $125
Reasons to buy: The best cross-training shoe on the market
Reasons why not to buy: None
Best Budget Gym Shoes
Check out our list of the best budget training shoes here.
Puma Fuse 3.0
The Puma Fuse 3.0 is a minimalist cross training shoe that’s ultra-stable and packs insane traction. The shoe features Puma Grip, Puma’s proprietary rubber compound that’s best in class. It sticks to the ground, so you won’t slide or shift during lifts.
The stability is also top of the line as the outrigger at the lateral forefoot, raised midfoot sidewalls, and a beefy TPU heel counter combine to keep the foot in place no matter how much weight you’re slinging. The cushion is super thin (don’t run in them), so some people may get too much ground feel for their liking. But for those lifting weights, you can spread your toes inside the roomy toebox and press into the ground, and generate extra force. You’re unlikely to find a better weightlifting shoe at this price. Read full review. Price: $120
UA Project Rock BSR 4
The UA Project Rock BSR 4 is similar to one of our previous budget picks, the Project Rock BSR 3. The $100 price tag is still best in class while the Under Armour design team improved the upper and fit to accommodate more foot types and longer wear. The BSR 4 is a great option if you want a gym shoe that will be “Rock” solid on your lifts, look good, and deliver performance beyond its price point. It’s likely the best option for many regular gymgoers who aren’t gunning for huge PRs on Olympic lifts. See the full review. Price: $100
Best Agility Training Shoes for the Gym
Nike Metcon Turbo 2
The Nike Metcon Turbo 2 is great for those looking for a training shoe that will keep you agile in the gym. The shoe features a react drop-in midsole with a forefoot Zoom Air unit that will keep you springy and reactive in the gym and provide good impact protection. The base is wide so you remain stable on whatever exercises you put this through. To top it all off, the traction is consistent on most surfaces. Read the full review. Price: $150 $80
Reasons to buy: Awesome cushion, wide base, excellent traction
Reasons why not to buy: Lack of arch support
#nike_DH3392-302Best Gym Shoes for Jumping
Check out our full list of the best training shoes for jumping here.
GORUCK Ballistic Trainer
The GORUCK Ballistic Trainer’s is a very well-rounded shoe for the gym and, it is also a great model for plyometric training. Because of the Ballistic Trainer’s Gradient Density EVA foam cushioning setup, which provides a springy feeling in the forefoot which is great for box jumps, jumping rope, etc. Read the full review. Price: $125
Best Classic Gym Shoes For Squatting and Deadlifts
Converse All Star
The Converse All-Star should be reserved only for lifting, it won’t be good for much else in the gym. That being said, It is a timeless piece of footwear history. It started as basketball shoes in the era of Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain and has evolved into an everyday casual shoe. What a lot of people have discovered, however, is that they’re great for weightlifting. The flat base and lack of cushion make these shoes as stable as any shoe. You should enjoy them for lifting if you don’t mind the hard-toe cap. Price: $60
#nike_M7650-102Best Gym Shoes For Wide Feet
TYR CXT-1
The TYR CXT-1 is in the top tier of weightlifting shoes and one of the better cross-training options on the market. It offers wide fit versions in addition to the normal version’s accommodating fit. See the full review. Price: $140
Best Gym Shoes For Stability
Under Armour Reign 6
The Under Armour Reign 6 makes an appearance here thanks to its TriBase system. The Reign 6’s geometry will keep your feet flat on the floor and provide ultimate stability. Read the full review. Price: $130
Best Minimalist Gym Shoes
Inov-8 F-Fly
The Inov-8 F-Fly shows up on our list because it’s halfway between a more traditional workout shoe and a minimalist option. If you’re looking for a minimalist-style shoe that’s just beefy enough to handle running and jumping in the gym, the Inov-8 F-Fly IS THAT SHOE. See the full review. Price: $130
Best Gym Shoes for Court Sports
Puma All-Pro Nitro
The Puma All-Pro Nitro is the successor to the Clyde All-Pro, adding a bit more of a premium feel to an already great shoe. Once again, Puma shows that they know how to make a court shoe with high performance that translates excellently onto any court. The Puma All-Pro Nitro is a great, simple court shoe. The upper is minimal but provides plenty of lockdown, the traction is excellent, and the cushioning is effective. The All-Pro Nitro is currently our top volleyball shoe and is featured in our best basketball shoes overall. Read the full review. Price: $130
Nike LeBron 21
The Nike LeBron 21 is a beast on court. It can be described as a remix of the Nike LeBron 20, and, that shoe was amazing, and, in fact, the best basketball shoe from last year. Not only is it one of the top models this year, but it is also one of the most versatile, and one of the most comfortable on court, as well as an attainable Kobe substitute, making it THE best basketball shoe of the year and one of the best volleyball shoes as well. If Nike had been able to innovate a bit more, to push the envelope in terms of design, then we might have had an all-time great on our hands, but that’s a lot to ask for. And in all fairness, there’s little to complain about in the Nike LeBron 21. Read the full review. Price: $200
#nike_FQ4052-400How We Test Gym Shoes
Here at WearTesters we have a very rigorous testing method that is adapted depending on the product we are testing and its function within the sport it belongs to. In this case, we seek a blend of performance and versatility. There are so many different exercises that can be performed in a gym and each demands different characteristics out of your footwear. Heavy weightlifting requires a flat, stable base with very little cushion, plyometric training will require support, traction, and cushioning, cardio will likely require even more cushion, etc. So you can either go super specific with your workouts, carry around 10 different pairs of shoes, or go with a great do-it-all model.
We test the same essential criteria we do in our basketball and running shoe reviews: traction, materials, support, cushion, and fit. Then we give the shoe an overall rating. For training shoes, models do get extra points for universality and versatility. Essentially, most people will like them, and they can perform most gym activities.
If a model isn’t featured, it’s either because the model has yet to be tested/reviewed or because we feel it does not belong among the current top cross training shoes. If you’d like to suggest we test a certain model, comment below or reach out via Twitter.
