9 Best Cross-Training Shoes of 2025, According to Experts

While we love a cushy pair of running shoes as much as the next Hoka queen, they’re not your best bet for hitting the gym. “That cushioning is great for long-distance runs, but it’s very unstable and even potentially unsafe when it comes to moving heavy weight,” Corey Brueckner, NASM-CPT, a general manager at Life Time Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, tells SELF. You can end up wobbling around, without the stability you need to feel grounded. The fix? Lacing up a pair of the best cross-training shoes instead.

While they often look like everyday sneakers, cross-training shoes are impressively versatile, Leakna Ung, DPM, a podiatrist at Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopaedics Institute, tells SELF. They’re designed for strength training, plyometrics, CrossFit, lateral movements, HIIT, and more—any workout where you want to feel nimble at times but stable too.

That’s a lot to ask for in one pair of shoes. So we spoke to a handful of experts about the essential features to look for in a good pair of cross-trainers. With their recs in mind—and insights from all of our sneaker testing here at SELF—we found the best options for you to try, no matter your MO at the gym.

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: Reebok Nano X5, $140
2. Runner-Up: Nike Metcon 9, $155
3. Most Comfortable: Lululemon Strongfeel, $128
4. Best for Lifting: Puma Fuse 4.0, $120
5. Best for HIIT: Nobull Drive Knit, $149
6. Most Flexible: Nike Free Metcon 6, $125
7. Most Breathable: Adidas Dropset 3, $130
8. Best Barefoot Shoe: Vivobarefoot Motus Flex, $190
9. Best for Workout Classes: Lululemon Chargefeel 3, $148

Shop the best cross-training shoes

Now that we’re warmed up, let’s get to the shoes. Below, check out the best cross-trainers, according to experts, editors, and SELF Sneaker Awards testers.

Best Overall: Reebok Nano X5

Christa Sgobba, SELF’s director of food and fitness, has worn Reebok Nanos for years. They’re reliable gym shoes that help her feel stable and in touch with the ground while lifting, but don’t feel overly clunky on the elliptical or exercise bike.

With its responsive forefoot design, firm heel, and improved fit, the Nano X5 might be the Reebok’s best so far. “One of the changes I’ve liked in this version is that the shoe fits closer to your foot and is a little more streamlined,” Sgobba says. “In earlier versions, I often had to stop during a workout to re-tighten so my foot didn’t slide around, but these remain locked in from the get-go.”

Runner-Up: Nike Metcon 9

Lifting, lunging, or climbing ropes? The best-selling Nike Metcon can keep up with all of it. A rigid, stabilizing plate inside the shoe feels sturdy underfoot, while a layer of soft foam in the midsole buoys your feet when you pick up the pace. And rubber panels along the sides of the shoe increase its traction to make climbs easier.

“They’ve got a flat, stable base,” Brueckner says. “They’re a really good weightlifting shoe and good for functional movements, like CrossFit or a HIIT cardio class.” Although she admits her feet can get pretty toasty inside at times, she appreciates that the thick upper keeps her feet right in place without any sliding around. “Your foot feels supported when you lace them up tight,” she says.

Senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin testing the Nike Metcon 9:

Most Comfortable: Lululemon Strongfeel Training Shoe

When Sgobba reviewed Lululemon’s Strongfeel shoes a few years ago, they made an impact with their “comfortable yet non-obtrusive” fit. They helped her feet stay planted during squats, deadlifts, and good morning exercises, but also kept them from shifting around during more dynamic moves like reverse lunges and step-ups. Then, when Sgobba wore the Strongfeels on the elliptical, they felt surprisingly flexible.

“The Strongfeels are [Luluemon’s] flattest shoe, but they’re great for cross-training, too,” Lindsey Bomgren, NASM-CPT, founder of online fitness platform Nourish, Move, Love, tells SELF. “I do sprints in them for short distances.” She adds they’re also great for agility work.

Shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis testing the Lululemon Strongfeel Training Shoe:

Best for Lifting: Puma Fuse 4.0

If your cross-training is mostly lifting, try the bestselling Puma Fuse. It’s made for heavy weights, but still bends with your foot (our tester noted the shoe’s flexibility when stepping into lunges during her strength training workouts).

“The flat bottom helps me stay stable and really push through the ground for my bigger lifts, especially deadlifts, where you definitely don’t want any wobble,” our tester said. “They’re firm, but not so firm that they hurt or make your feet tired.”

Best for HIIT: Nobull Drive Knit

Sarah Pope, CPT, a personal trainer at Life Time Clarendon in Arlington, Virginia, likes Nobull’s highly durable shoes for the gym, and the brand’s Drive Knit model won a Sneaker Award last year. Our judges deemed it an exceptional shoe for HIIT fanatics, thanks to its breathable upper, responsive foam midsole, and high-traction rubber sole. (It’s also a great choice if you just prefer shoes with a little more bounce.)

“Once the shoe is on—you’ve really got to tug it by the heel loop to get your foot in—it is SO COMFORTABLE,” our tester said. “There’s so much cushion under my feet, but it doesn’t feel bulky or like I’m walking on giant platforms. It’s super lightweight, and after multiple wears I had no blisters, random pains, or shin splints.”

Most Flexible: Nike Free Metcon 6

Pope highly recommends the Nike Free Metcon 5 (which won a Sneaker Award in 2023), so we put the latest version to the test. Designed to feel flexible, stable, and cushy, the Free Metcon 6 is suitable for lifting and cardio, with a grippy sole that matches your foot shape.

“Wearing these shoes was like having the best of both worlds—I could feel my toes and heels on the ground, but my arches were lifted and supported,” our tester says. “They helped me feel more stable while doing deadlifts and goblet squats. It’s so helpful to be able to feel the ground well, similar to how it feels when I’m in socks, but without any sliding because of the grippy soles.”

Most Breathable: Adidas Dropset 3

Our tester was immediately impressed by Adidas’s Dropset 3 Strength Training Shoes, noting their retro vibe and sleek shape. She also appreciated that they were designed for maximum airflow—the mesh upper helps shed heat, while the insole is perforated to help you cool down during major efforts.