The No. 1 pick among HYROX shoes is the PUMA x HYROX Deviate Nitro Elite 4 (about 194g, JPY 30,800). It is the lighter of the 2 pairs the official site writes for fitness racing. The other pair is On's Cloud X Tempo Pro (267.4g), and to keep the budget down, the Velocity Nitro 5 at JPY 16,500.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
If you buy just 1 pair for racing, the HYROX version of PUMA's Elite 4. Of the 2 pairs written for racing, it is 73g lighter and JPY 2,200 cheaper. But the official guide is 500km. If you want 1 pair to cover daily training too, the Deviate Nitro 4, written at 800km, ends up costing less.
Key points
- The pairs the official site writes for racing are PUMA's Elite 4 HYROX version and On's Cloud X Tempo Pro
- The running distance is 8km. A running shoe is the base
- The cheapest is the Velocity Nitro 5 at JPY 16,500
Why choosing HYROX shoes is difficult
In HYROX, you run 1km 8 times. 8km in total. On that alone, a running shoe settles it.
But between the runs, you push and pull a 152kg sled, do lunges carrying 20kg, and throw a ball 100 times (for men's Open). These are stations that need you to press the floor hard without slipping. A light, thick sole for running and a non-slip sole for bracing. You have to cover both with 1 pair.
There is only one rule: wear shoes with closed toes. Brand and sole shape are free (article on what to bring on race day).
How to choose HYROX shoes: the conditions I used for the picks
This ranking compares PUMA and On models using Japan official page numbers and the 4 conditions below. It is not in order of sales.
| Criteria | Reason |
|---|---|
| ① The official site writes that it is for fitness racing | Built with both the running and the stations in mind |
| ② The sole rubber has a name | The maker sells slip resistance as a feature |
| ③ Light | Runs 8km |
| ④ Cheap | Easier on the wallet over time |
Models that meet ① go on top, and among them the lighter goes higher. Models that do not meet ① are ordered by running use first, then cheapest first.
Quick table of 6 pairs of HYROX shoes
Scroll the table sideways →
| Rank | Model | Weight | Heel-to-forefoot gap | Plate | Official price | Rakuten price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PUMA x HYROX Deviate Nitro Elite 4 | About 194g | 8mm | Carbon | JPY 30,800 | JPY 22,999–30,800 |
| 2 | On Cloud X Tempo Pro | 267.4g | 9mm | Carbon | JPY 33,000 | — |
| 3 | PUMA Deviate Nitro 4 | About 250g | 8mm | Carbon composite | JPY 22,000 | JPY 13,200–22,000 |
| 4 | PUMA Velocity Nitro 5 | About 240g | 8mm | None | JPY 16,500 | JPY 11,999–16,500 |
| 5 | On Cloud X Tempo | 307g | 8mm | None | JPY 24,200 | JPY 17,160–36,960 |
| 6 | On Cloud X 5 | 290g | 8mm | None | JPY 22,000 | JPY 20,900–22,000 |
Compare by price per 1km
PUMA officially writes a guide to "how many km it lasts" for each shoe. Dividing the official price by this distance gives what it costs to run 1km.
| Model | Guideline distance | Official price | Per kilometer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deviate Nitro Elite 4 (standard) | 400km | JPY 29,700 | About JPY 74 |
| PUMA x HYROX Deviate Nitro Elite 4 | 500km | JPY 30,800 | About JPY 62 |
| Deviate NITRO 4 | 800km | JPY 22,000 | About JPY 28 |
| Velocity Nitro 5 | 800km | JPY 16,500 | About JPY 21 |
The lighter the race shoe, the higher the price per 1km. Between the regular Elite 4, the highest, and the Velocity Nitro 5, the lowest, the gap is about 3.6 times (74.3 ÷ 20.6). This number shows why you separate a shoe for race day only from a shoe for every day.
No. 1: PUMA x HYROX Deviate Nitro Elite 4
Why No. 1: Of the 2 pairs for fitness racing, it is the lighter. At about 194g, it is about 73g lighter than No. 2 (267.4 − 194). The official price is also lower than No. 2's.
PUMA puts out products under the "PUMA x HYROX" name, in partnership with HYROX, and this shoe is one of them. The official page describes it as "a high-performance model for high-intensity training and fitness racing." The stack is 40mm and 32mm, with a carbon plate inside, and the sole rubber is PUMAGRIP.
What is interesting is the difference from the regular version without the HYROX name. The regular version is about 170g and the HYROX version about 194g, 24g heavier. The guide distance is 400km for the regular version and 500km for the HYROX version. For the added weight, it leans toward lasting longer.
What to watch: The guide distance is short at 500km. For someone who runs 20km a week, it is reached in 25 weeks, about half a year (500 ÷ 20). It is a pair that assumes you keep a separate training shoe.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
PUMA Deviate Nitro Elite 4
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 22,999 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 30,800 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japan
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
PUMA x HYROX Deviate NITRO
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 20,790 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNo. 2: On Cloud X Tempo Pro
Why No. 2: Because it is the other pair for fitness racing. On's official list carries a "hybrid fitness racing" tag, and the product page has a heading "fitness race specs." It is about 73g heavier than No. 1 and the official price is higher, so I made it No. 2.
This shoe's strength is the sole. The rubber is named Missiongrip, billed as letting you push and pull the sled freely. Of the 6 pairs, it is the only one that names the sled station. Inside, a carbon plate runs end to end, and a strap that tightens the midfoot is attached inside.
What to watch: On Rakuten, imports priced far above the official price sometimes appear. Compare the item's price with the official price in the quick table before you buy.
No. 3: PUMA Deviate Nitro 4
Why No. 3: The official site has no words saying it is for racing, but as a running shoe it has the plate, the named rubber and a guide distance of 800km. The official price is nearly 30% lower than No. 1's.
About 250g, with a stack of 38mm and 30mm. It has a plate mixed with carbon. The guide distance is 800km against No. 1's 500km. The price per 1km is under half of No. 1's (table above). If you want 1 pair to cover everything from daily training to races, this costs less.
What to watch: About 56g heavier than No. 1 (250 − 194).
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
PUMA Deviate Nitro 4
The lowest price on Rakuten was JPY 13,200 (as of 10/13). It ranges up to JPY 22,000 depending on the shop. Prices move daily. Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit differs by brand, so read the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 4: PUMA Velocity Nitro 5
Why No. 4: It is the cheapest of the 6. About 240g, with the same PUMAGRIP sole rubber as the top picks and a guide distance of 800km. It has no plate, so I put it below No. 3.
The price per 1km is also the lowest in the table, which suits a pair for your first race.
What to watch: With no plate, the rebound is built differently from the top 3 pairs.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
PUMA Velocity Nitro 5
The lowest price on Rakuten was JPY 11,999 (as of 10/13). It ranges up to JPY 16,500 depending on the shop. Prices move daily. Try shoes on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit differs by brand, so read the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japan
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
PUMA x HYROX Velocity Nitro
Lowest price on Rakuten Ichiba: JPY 17,600 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNo. 5: On Cloud X Tempo
Why No. 5: Because it is a gym-leaning pair that On bills as "for running and high-intensity training in this one pair." At 307g, it is heavier than the 4 above for running use, so I made it No. 5.
The sole is a 2-layer build of different densities. The rubber sole resists slipping even in sideways movement. It suits people whose training is mostly in the gym and who run occasionally.
What to watch: About 113g heavier than No. 1 (307 − 194). In a race with 8km of running, this gap tells.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloud X Tempo
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 17,160 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 36,960 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 6: On Cloud X 5
Why No. 6: It is On's basic gym model. The sole is thin and light, so it is easy to carry. It deliberately omits a plate for running. It is a shoe to choose for station practice, and for the 8km of running it yields to the 5 above.
What to watch: It is 290g. Doing your running practice in a different shoe is the good combination.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloud X
The lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 20,900 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily. For shoes, the surest test is trying them in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the store's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanIf you choose from On's running line
On also has shoes for running. For people who want to run the race's 8km in a running shoe, I line up the official numbers.
Scroll the table sideways →
| Model | Weight | Heel-to-forefoot gap | Official price | Official category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudsurfer Next | 273g | 6mm | JPY 18,700 | Daily running |
| Cloudsurfer 2 | 261g | 9mm | JPY 20,900 | Daily running |
| Cloudmonster 3 | 295g | 6mm | JPY 24,200 | Daily running, rebound |
| Cloudmonster 3 Hyper | 253g | 6mm | JPY 27,500 | Long distance, faster training |
| Cloudboom Volt | 210g | 5mm | JPY 26,400 | 5 to 10km races |
The cheapest of On's running shoes is the Cloudsurfer Next at JPY 18,700. If you choose by lightness, the Cloudboom Volt for 5 to 10km races is 210g, with a plate mixed with carbon. It is the shoe whose category is closest to a race distance of 8km in total.
The Cloudsurfer 2 in the table: the 3th generation was sold first at specialty stores on Oct 1, 2026. The differences are in the review of the Cloudsurfer 3.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloudsurfer
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 14,950 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 23,100 depending on the shop. Prices change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japan
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
On Cloudmonster (check the generation in the product name)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 22,000 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanCompare in more detail
- A table with all 18 On models → article on On shoes
- PUMA's HYROX version and regular version, the differences among 5 models → article on Deviate Nitro differences
- Shirts, shorts, socks → recommended wear
Who is it for?
- Who it suits: People who want to go through the runs and stations fast in 1 pair.
If you are entering for the first time, you can enter in your current running shoes. The only rule is that the toes are closed. If the relay has 2km of running, a gym shoe that is easy to brace in is enough.
HYROX gear is summarized in the article on what to bring on race day. Watches are in the article on compatible watches, and training in the article on training equipment.
FAQ
Can I enter HYROX in running shoes?
Yes. The only rule is that the shoes have closed toes. You need neither a plate nor the HYROX name. The No. 4, the Velocity Nitro 5, is a running shoe without a plate.
Can I change shoes during HYROX?
No. The rule is that you carry what you use yourself from start to finish and cannot receive anything midway. You get through on 1 pair.
What is the difference between PUMA's HYROX version and the regular version?
For lightness, the regular version (about 170g); for durability, the HYROX version (guide 500km; the regular version is 400km). The HYROX version costs JPY 1,100 more (30,800 − 29,700). Details are in the Elite 4 review.
How much do women's HYROX shoes weigh?
On writes it officially. The Cloud X Tempo Pro is 218.7g, the Cloud X Tempo is 249g, and the Cloud X 5 is 239g.
Gear in this article
Ads and images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- PUMA Japan official: PUMA x HYROX Deviate Nitro Elite 4 (Men's)
- PUMA official Japan site: Deviate Nitro Elite 4
- PUMA official Japan site: Deviate Nitro 4
- PUMA official Japan site: Velocity Nitro 5
- On Japan official: Cloud X Tempo Pro
- On Japan official: Cloud X Tempo
- On Japan official: Cloud X 5
- On Japan official: list of gym shoes
- HYROX official rulebook (Singles, 2026/27, §10)
