Hyrox is an innovative hybrid race that combines running with high-intensity functional exercises, attracting athletes from various disciplines. Participants are required to cover a total distance of 8,000 meters, alternating between running and eight different stations that include rowing, skiing, sled pushing and pulling, and weight carrying. Hyrox has successfully organised four World Championships, and it is rapidly growing and considered the sport of the future.
The role of equipment in Hyrox
In a sport that demands both endurance and strength, the choice of equipment plays a vital role in an athlete’s performance. One of the most critical elements is footwear, as it must provide efficiency in running, stability in dynamic exercises, and strong grip across varied surfaces.
Konstantinos Chouvardas, one of Greece’s leading Hyrox athletes and coaches, identifies three essential shoe qualities for Hyrox:
- Lightweight and Fast for Running: With running covering 50% of the race, using a shoe with a carbon plate can enhance performance by offering energy return and stability.
- Strong Grip: Surfaces in Hyrox are often slippery, especially in exercises involving sled pulling and pushing. A shoe with excellent grip ensures stability and prevents energy loss.
- Stability in strength exercises: Exercises like burpees and weight carries require support and confidence in footing, which typical running shoes often do not provide.
Proto Runner 1: The choice for hybrid races
The Proto Runner 1 has been designed with these criteria in mind, offering a unique combination of lightness, grip, and stability. Konstantinos Chouvardas, who has tested it in international races, notes:
“Running in Hyrox requires a lightweight and fast shoe with a carbon plate. The Proto Runner 1 provides me with the speed I need. Additionally, its grip is excellent, both on the industrial floor of races and in demanding sled exercises. Finally, its stability is top-notch, making it ideal for weighted exercises.”
With participation in the Hyrox World Championship in Nice in 2024 and victories in international races, Chouvardas knows firsthand the demands of the sport. In June 2025, he will compete again in the Hyrox World Championship in Chicago, using the Proto Runner 1 as his primary tool.
What to look for in a shoe for Hyrox
For those interested in participating in Hyrox or similar hybrid races, choosing the right footwear is crucial. An ideal shoe should offer:
- Energy response and return in running
- Strong grip for stability in dynamic exercises
- Enhanced structure for support during weighted exercises
Whether it’s the Proto Runner 1 or another specialized model, these factors should be considered for maximum performance in the race. Hyrox is evolving into one of the most demanding yet exciting sports today – and proper preparation starts from your feet.
Konstantinos Chouvardas is Greece’s top Hyrox athlete and coach, with numerous distinctions in international races. He has won first place at Hyrox Turin 2025 and two second places in Warsaw (2023) and Turin (2024), and is the only Greek to have participated in two Hyrox World Championships. As a coach, he has created the largest Greek team of Hyrox athletes, with over 30 participations in international races. His influence on the sport has been globally recognised, with Hyrox honouring him in a feature on the world’s most influential athletes.
