The best workout shoes 2023 to squat, leap and lift your way to fitness

The best workout shoes will make you look good in the gym and offer improved grip and support to work out safely and effectively. Wearing specialised footwear for HIIT workouts, heavy lifting or cardio classes can support and help you achieve your fitness goals faster and more safely.

As much as we love them, the best running shoes aren't fit for gym workouts unless you spend most of your time on the treadmill. For any other training, you need dedicated trainers tailored to the type of exercise you do. We tirelessly tested, reviewed and ranked shoes from every major workout shoe brand, including Under Armour, Inov-8, Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, so you can choose one that fits your needs the most.

If you need new gym accessories, please look at T3's best fitness watch and best gym headphones guides. If you need new lifting gear, the best gym gloves and best weight lifting belt guides might help.

Bryony Firth-Bernard

As someone who spends 95% of their time in the gym; does weightlifting, dabbles in running and has trained with the Fittest Woman in the UK, I've tried a lot of workout shoes. Back in the day, most people would opt for style over substance. Nowadays, we're lucky that the best workout shoes are also pretty stylish. Two top things to consider: make sure you know exactly what you want your workout shoe and make sure it fits properly.

T3's Top 3

From the best shoes overall, to the best affordable options and the best pair to wear to the gym, here's a quick rundown of the top three workout shoes 2023, followed by more in-depth analysis of a fuller list for those who want a deep-dive with additional context on a per-device basis.

Best workout shoes to buy right now

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Best overall

The Lululemon Chargefeel could have been at risk of being a ‘jack of all trades and master of none’. Instead, it’s a multi-tasking workhorse that lets you jump, skip, kick, lift, HIIT, lunge, box and sprint your way to fitness.

Best of all, it’s housed in a very stylish package, so it’s easy to understand why the Chargefeel has now become the workout shoe of choice for female fitness editors everywhere who want to look good in the office but also require the ability to attend any kind of workout or running event at a moment’s notice, without having to lug around extra pairs of running and gym shoes in their gym bag.

It won’t suit dedicated runners or devoted weightlifters, but it’s not meant to. It will, however, work extremely well for women who enjoy a variety of workouts and classes, and don’t want the expense of buying lots of different shoes. A great one-stop shop that really does do it all.

Read our full Lululemon Chargefeel review

Best for the gym

The Metcon 9s certainly don't disappoint as Nike made some considerable changes since its predecessor the Metcon 8 (you can just tell from their appearance).

There's a larger hyperlift plate in the heel to provide even more stability during your big lifts, which is complimented nicely by the wider toe box so your feet can spread evenly. CrossFitter's will be pleased to see there's some new and improved features too, such as a bigger rope guard for extra support during hefty rope climbs. Nike have kept the shoes' breathable, cross-stitch mesh material and the popular lock lace system (after all, you don't need to change what isn't broken). Whatever your fitness goals, the Metcon 9s will help you succeed.

Read our full Nike Metcon 9 review.

Browse our Nike discount codes to snap up some savings.

Best for comfort

The Reebok Nano X2 are brilliantly-versatile workout shoes for people who prefer wearing their cross-trainers both inside and outside the gym. They might not be as stylish as some sneakers or as competent as dedicated workout shoes, but the Nano X2 makes up for these shortcomings by offering the best of both worlds with as little compromise as possible.

The updated FlexWeave Knit upper, combined with the wider forefoot platform and more spacious toe box, makes the shoes an ideal choice for people with wide feet. The updated heel design adds to the stability and keeps your feet securely in place when you need it the most – during heavy lifts and jumps.

Read our full Reebok Nano X2 review.

Best for weightlifting

Under Armour's first-ever weightlifting shoe provides comfort, stability and style — the brand should be applauded for creating such a great shoe the first time. It's very secure and stable to squat in, and you can rest assured your feet won't slip during heavy lifts; these shoes have 'got you'. However, those with sweaty feet may suffer as the ventilation in the shoes isn't the best.

Overall, the UA TriBase Reign shoes are probably the best all-around training shoes from Under Armour and are also suited for weight lifting. When it comes down to specifically just weightlifting, though, the mechanics of what's needed is very different to something for overall functional fitness, and the UA Reign Lifting Shoe provide that little extra that makes them more suitable for this kind of training.

Read our full Under Armour Reign Lifter Training Shoes review.

Best affordable

Not everyone needs cutting-edge technology in their workout shoes. The majority of people need cheap, reliable gym shoes that can be worn on the gym floor and on the road, too. The New Balance MXTRNRV1 are designed to perform on any surface, for any sport, anytime.

And although these shoes don't excel in any sport, the responsive and plush Dynasoft midsole will help you move forward nevertheless, whether you're on a treadmill or doing a HIIT class. The MXTRNRV1 comes in two colourways, navy with white and grey with neo flame, and these look... fine. No one's going to stop you on the street to compliment your shoes, but that's okay. You don't have to stand out all the time.

Best barefoot shoe

We fell in love with the Inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 while testing them; our 5-star Inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 review is proof of that. They are great for strength workouts; however, for jumpy HIIT sessions, use the Under Armour UA TriBase Reign 2 instead, which is a great all-around workout shoe.

Is the Inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 for everyone? We wouldn't think so. It's great for workouts that don't involve a lot of moving around (e.g. running/jogging) and/or jumping around. If you aren't used to barefoot shoes, running or even just jogging might take some time to get used to.

Read our full Inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 review

Best for durability

To our relief, despite their robust – rigid, even – look, the Ballistic Mid-Top Trainers are flexible and comfortable to wear for workouts. Goruck claims the updated design provides three times the support and stability in the three arches of the foot (the medial longitudinal arch, the lateral longitudinal arch and the anterior transverse arch).

And indeed, the Ballistic Trainers feel supportive – sometimes a little too much. Especially in the heel area, some might find the TPU heel counter's guidance obtrusive. Weirdly enough, though, we wouldn't call it uncomfortable – you're just strangely aware that the heels are being cupped by the heel counters almost all the time.

That said, we didn't experience chafing in the shoes, even when we wore them all day to test out the heel counter. The upper is comfortable enough, and the Cordura panels lend a sense of durability without making the shoes too rigid. The toe box feels generous, even for people with wide feet. If you need rugged, military-style workout shoes for CrossFit and hybrid workouts, consider the Goruck Ballistic Mid-Top Trainers!

Best for outdoor training

Building off the design of the mega-popular Reebok Nano X1, the Nano X1 Adventure Shoe was designed specifically for outdoor use. Imagine a proper CrossFit workout shoe but with a lot more padding and weather-proofing and bags more style. The Nano X1 Adventure has an updated rubber lug outsole to help maximise traction outdoors.

The upper is different, too (compared to the standard Nano X1): it's made of a stretch ripstop material to protect your feet from the elements better. It's also well-padded and provides plush cushioning but can get warm after a while when the weather is hot. We found the laces too long, but you can easily tuck them under so they aren't in the way. On the plus side, the toe box is roomy and allows the foot to expand.

Best Vivobarefoot shoe

And now for something a little different... where most of the other trainers on this list pile on the features, the Primus Lite III - from eco-friendly brand Vivobarefoot -does the opposite. The third iteration of the Primus Lite is very similar to its predecessor but uses fewer material sources as well as better and more sustainable materials to reduce the impact this footwear has on the planet without changing the workout experience of the shoes too much (or at all).

Admittedly, we were sceptical at first, but performing big deadlifts and squats in these is better than going barefoot or slipping around the gym in socks. The wide shape allows the big toe to stabilise (like it should), while the sole allows the user to make micro-adjustments for the perfect platform during big lifts. Better still, they are stupidly flexible, so assist in reducing potential toe cramps and discomfort when performing split squats or lunges, where the toes curl with every rep or movement.

Best for indoor training

The Xero Shoes HFS – "Highly Flexible Shoes" – is a good example of the craftsmanship Xero applies to its shoes. The HFS is very similar to Vivobarefoot's Primus Lite series but has a sportier upbeat look. Despite the funky looks, the HFS uses vegan-friendly materials only.

Although Xero Shoes advertises the HFS as a minimalist road running shoe, I think doesn't serve justice to these shoes. Sure, you can use the HFS for running – I'd recommend taking it slow, though – but you can also use it for a range of different workouts too. As long as the workout doesn't involve any wet surfaces.

Another reason why you might want to avoid working out outside in the HFS is that the upper can get stained very easily. I appreciate workout shoes don't need to be kept box-fresh, but the mesh upper of the HFS will attract stains like a magnet. Way to ruin your pretty shoes. If you're happy to put up with these issues, you will be rewarded with a pair of workout shoes that are super comfortable to wear and allow your feet to expand properly, unlike most trainers.

How we test the best workout shoes

There are as many different types of workouts as stars in the sky – have you heard about Happy Intensifying Interval Training yet? Is it possible for one workout shoe to be perfect for all of them? No, it isn't.

In most cases, manufacturers will tell you which workout their shoes are best suited for, but this doesn't mean those shoes can't be used for other purposes, something we're always keen to find out.

Some of the essential criteria we check are step-in comfort, ergonomics, padding, cushioning, technology involved, design, aesthetics, and, of course, workout performance.

Of course, your feet are shaped differently from ours, so when we say particular shoes feel snug on our wide feet, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll feel the tightness yourself, so bear this in mind when reading our verdicts.

Read more about how we test at T3 by clicking on the link.

How to buy the best workout shoes for you

Generally speaking, a good workout trainer has a relatively flat sole, especially under the heels (where it should also be a bit wider). Unlike running shoes, which tend to feature a curve from heel to toe to help you transition from one step to the other, workout shoes best serve their purpose when they are able to provide a stable platform for lifting weights.

Some models have a wider, reinforced heel area, which copes with the excess pressure when tackling a really heavy deadlift or squat and avoids any ankle rolling. In contrast, others will be more geared towards explosive movements and high-intensity workouts.

Keep in mind what you plan to do, as a shoe that's designed purely for heavyweights probably isn't the most suited to those thinking of incorporating plenty of jumping jacks, box jumps and sprints into their workouts.

However, the most important factor to consider is fit. Most brands differ in terms of the width and snugness of their offerings, so make sure you do your research before you buy a discounted pair online.