Workout shoes are a dime a dozen, but it’s important to have the right pair for the job. You can’t saunter into the gym in a pair of loafers and expect to set a new squat PR. (Though if you do, call us.) Workout shoes provide the proper foundation upon which all of your exercise happens, ensuring you’re calm, cool, and collected as you sweat it out. Comfortable yet functional, they’re essential to getting the most out of your workouts.
Everyone works out for a different reason, so narrowing down the list can be tricky—that’s where we come in. Across 10 different categories, we’ve selected the best workout shoes in the game, so whether you’re a diehard gym rat who never skips leg day, looking to PR in a half marathon, or recently caught the pickleball bug, we’ve got all the top picks you need to paint your athletic masterpiece.
The Best Workout Shoes, According to GQ
- Best Workout Shoes Overall: Reebok Nano X4, $140
- Best Workout Shoes for CrossFit: Nike Metcon 9, $150
- Best Workout Shoes for the Gym: NoBull Impact, $139
- Best Squat Shoes: TYR L-1 Lifter,
$200$180 - Best Workout Shoes for Lifting: Under Armour Project Rock 6, $150
- Best Workout Shoes for Cross Training: Hoka Kawana 2, $140
- Best Workout Shoes for Running: Brooks Ghost 16, $140
- Best Workout Shoes for Trail Running: Arc’teryx Norvan LD 3 GTX, $200
- Best Workout Shoes for Pickleball: Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6, $140
- Best Workout Shoes for Race Day: Nike Vaporfly 3, $260
- Best Recovery Shoes: Oofos Oocoozie Thermo Mule, $120
Best Workout Shoes Overall: Reebok Nano X4
Why We Love It
The Reebok Nano X4 does just about everything and does it well. Just as capable of handling a regular lift as a CrossFit session or even a Barry’s class, it’s practically a one-stop shop for all your gym-related needs. Flexible enough for dynamic movement but still stable enough to ground hardcore lifts, these gym shoes do it all with a Goldilocks amount of foam cushion. While it’s not the best shoe for powerlifting or olympic weightlifting, it gets the job done, and it’s more than well-equipped for accessory movements and the activities that most of us will do in a gym workout—deadlifts, lunges, basically anything dumbbell related—while maintaining a good amount of breathability that keeps it feeling light.
Versatility is the name of the game here, and if you’re looking only to get one shoe for the gym, this is it, hands down, because it just transitions so well from exercise to exercise. But don’t take our word for it: Kenny Santucci, founder of Strong New York, says that he loves the Nano because it combines form and function. “Can I use this to either run or lift? If I’m running, it needs to have some cushion. If I’m lifting, I need the shoe to be flat. Second is the style. I need it to look good and want to train in them. It sounds crazy, but a nice sneaker makes you want to do stuff in!” He also adds that “very few sneakers are versatile enough to both run and lift in.”
Best Workout Shoes for CrossFit: Nike Metcon 9
Why We Love It
Nike’s Metcon series is a perpetual beast in the gym, and the 9 continues to improve upon the shoe’s near perfection. With a stable platform that lends itself to intense lifting sessions while still being good enough for quick sprints, the Metcon (not to be confused with the Nike Free Metcon, built for cardio) is exceptionally well-suited to tackling functional training and CrossFit activities. They’re great for general lifting, too, as the lace-lock system keeps everything out of the way. Most importantly, your foot feels stable, secure, and in place, with strong durability to match whatever a session throws at you—all without having to throw in some extra insoles in there.
Best Workout Shoes for the Gym: NoBull Impact
Why We Love It
No bullshit, the NoBull Impact is perhaps the grippiest option on this list. Thanks to a herringbone-style pattern that allows for intense traction on all kinds of surfaces. these shoes are great for strength training like you wouldn’t believe. While some gym rats swear by cheap Converse for weight training, they’ll get a kick out of how much better their workouts would be if they were to lace up in these. The flat sole ensures constant, even contact with the floor, and they’re almost as comfortable as being barefoot (almost).
If you’re an intense athlete who loves to work inside a sweaty gym and/or outside during the dead of summer, the Impact keeps you in place, only moving when you do. The upper is no slouch either, as it’s highly breathable, padded for comfort, and super durable, so they’ll take a beating and keep going. Just because the shoes look plain doesn’t mean they’re not capable of showing off some real flash.
Best Squat Shoes: TYR L-1 Lifter
Love hitting Tom Platz-esque leg days? These squat shoes (aka weightlifting shoes) from TYR are your best bet—they also won a GQ Fitness Award. “For the price of a brutal bar tab, you’re looking at a windfall of benefits to your squat and leg development that you wouldn’t get squatting barefoot or in flats,” GQ senior commerce editor Ian Burke says. “If you have trouble hitting depth on a squat, have ankle mobility issues, or want to target your quads more by putting them in a more stretched position in the hole, you’ll love squatting in a heel. If you have wide feet or just want a well-made squat shoe trusted by some of the world’s best squatters, you can’t go wrong with the TYR L-1 Lifters. And anecdotally, squatting in these shoes changed my entire leg day experience—I used to squat barefoot, but when I made the switch to heels, my legs blew up, my numbers rose, and the nagging shin pain I had for years while squatting finally went away.”
Best Workout Shoes for Lifting: Under Armour Project Rock 6
Why We Love It
Celebrity-endorsed products are always a bit of a dice roll, but the Under Armour’s Project Rock 6 is indeed developed and tested by Dwayne Johnson himself. If you’ve ever seen any of his intense workout videos, these are the training shoes he’s, ahem, rocking during each session. The latest iteration boasts more flexibility and stability throughout the shoe. At the same time, a newly reimagined upper provides a sock-like feel that wraps around the foot like a warm (but not toasty) hug. The stability through the midsole is grounded for heavy-duty lifts, so you can feel free to go your hardest. The trade-off for all of this, though, is the price, as it’s a bit of an investment. However, if you’re looking for shoes to keep pace with you as you go for a new PR, these are the shoes for you.
Best Workout Shoes for Cross Training: Hoka Kawana 2
Why We Love It
As we discussed in our best cross-trainers piece, the Kawana’s are versatile shoes that are ready for anything right out of the box. With a stable base, they’re capable of handling weightlifting sessions with ease but are supportive and cushioned enough to hit the tread or the pavement for some cardio, too. These cross-training shoes are particularly great for HIIT workouts or to pop in your travel pack (or wear to the airport) as your go-to shoe while on vacation thanks to the sheer number of activities they’re capable of tackling. Think of them as a veritable Swiss Army Knife in shoe form.
Best Workout Shoes for Running: Brooks Ghost 16
Why We Love It
GQ contributor Tanner Bowden said this of the Ghost 16 in his review, “If you’re in need of a regular old running shoe, the Ghost is proof that, even in the era of super trainers, excellence doesn’t have to mean fancy features.” That’s a bang-on summation of why we love the Ghost 16 as a good running workout shoe. If you’re hitting the tread for a run, the Ghost is extremely well-suited for easy miles, something that can disappear into the background as you put one foot in front of the other.
Best Workout Shoes for Trail Running: Arc’teryx Norvan LD 3 GTX
Why We Love It
Leave it to the experts from one of the best outdoor brands in the world to engineer one of the best trail runners, too. The Arc’Teryx Norvan LD 3 GTX is your first and last stop when it comes to hitting the trail thanks to Gore-Tex upper and a textured, 4mm lug pattern Vibram sole that provides the perfect grip for any surface you’ll come across while running. Breathable and supportive, your feet will stay cool without overheating. Everything you could possibly want or need to hit the dirt is here in one striking package, now it’s just up to you to put one foot in front of the other.
Best Workout Shoes for Pickleball: Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6
Why We Love It
With Pickleball continuing to dominant courts all over the country, it makes sense to have a dedicated option for those looking to get in some reps. For this recommendation, we spoke with pro pickleball player, poach, and commentator Daniel Roditi, who loves the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6. “If I can play in them the first day I wear ‘em, then that’s a good sign,” he says of the shoes. The shoes are constructed with a responsive midsole that helps propel you forward for quick movements to get right to where the ball is going. “When I want to move quickly, I like the Exceed,” he adds. “They’re very lightweight, very low profile.” They’re also quite the head-turners, offered in four different colorways, including this electric blue that’s easily our favorite of the bunch.
Best Workout Shoes for Race Day: Nike Vaporfly 3
Why We Love It
We published a more in-depth review of the Vaporfly 3, Nike’s super running shoe, earlier this year, with the TL;DR being that it absolutely lived up to the hype for long-distance runs at high speeds. While it’s a bit overkill for simple runs on the treadmill at the gym, it is beneficial if you’re doing speed work on a treadmill or if for some reason, your gym is swanky enough to have an indoor track for some Olympic-level training. Oh, and it just looks cool as hell, especially if you snag a pair in that electric volt colorway (not exactly minimalist, but they’re sick). Springy and supportive, thanks to its Zoom sole, you’ll feel like you’re flying as you soar through treadmill work with ease because these are truly some of the best running shoes we’ve tried.
Best Recovery Shoes: Oofos Oocoozie Thermo Mule
Why We Like It
While there’s no official rule for recovery, if there was, it would probably go something like this, “For every workout, there should be an equal and opposite recovery day.” And what better way to do that with some dedicated recovery slides. Movement and wellness coach Mona Laviñia Garcia agrees, “After a long run, marathon or in-between an ultra relay, I like to give my feet a break and step into some cushioned slides,” she tells us. “The Oocoozie Thermo Mule is built for comfort. it absorbs the impact so the body can recover. They are super warm as they have a primaloft insulation, keeping my feet toasty!” Cushioned and cozy? That sounds like the best way to make sure that you’re rested and ready for the next round.
What to Look For in Workout Shoes
Much like any good pair of shoes, how you select a pair is going to boil down to what kind of activity you’re doing. Are you doing lots of static lifts? Then you probably can get away with something that’s a little stiffer because you won’t be moving a lot and don’t need that flexibility. Are you doing HIIT training? You might want something that’s really responsive so your feet aren’t killing you at the end of the day. Are you trail running? You’ll want traction. Once you’ve locked into what it is you’ll be doing, it comes down to some key factors like grip to keep you grounded, support to ensure your lower body isn’t hurting, breathability to fight off blisters, and cushioning.
How We Tested
With so many different options on the market, the only way to see how these shoes perform is to, well, test them. We scoured the internet for fitness enthusiasts’ opinions on their favorite workout shoes, eventually pairing those selections to a final list of the pairs that appeared the most frequently. From there, we put the shoes through a variety of different activities where comfort and support were among the most important factors, and those guided us in making our final selections.
