Best Cross-Training Shoes for Men

More and more people are hybrid athletes, whether they think of themselves that way or not. One day they might hop on the elliptical for a slow, lengthy cardio session, while the next day they hit the weight room for squats, box jumps and burpees. Or they hit the pavement for a morning jog before their workday begins, only to wind down with a post-work yoga session. What this means, in practical terms, is that very few people need hyper-specialized footwear purpose-built for only one kind of workout. Instead, they need cross-training shoes, built tough enough to withstand a ballistic HIIT workout session while still being light and supportive enough to be comfortable to wear on a run. RELATED: 5 Workouts That Take 20 Minutes or Less to Complete Thankfully, basically every shoe manufacturer has kept up with this demand, offering at least one and in some cases multiple models designed with maximum versatility in mind. Here are our five favorite cross-training shoes: On Cloudpulse What better proof of the growing popularity of cross-training shoes than that On, a company built for dedicated runners, has not only made a cross-trainer but a great one at that? Featuring a widened toe box for added stability and a reinforced mesh upper to increase durability, the Cloudpulse doesn’t just travel fast in straight lines; it will handle your most dynamic workouts without breaking a sweat. $160 at On.com Nike Metcon 10 If you regularly do explosive Olympic lifts or heavy squats, but still want a shoe that can keep up with your most strenuous conditioning circuits, the Metcon 10 fits the bill. It has a flat, ultra-firm Hyperlift plate at the base that not only adds stability on heavier lifts but also optimizes energy return for sprints and jumps. $155 at Nike.com  NOBULL Drive Mesh NOBULL was already a star performer and cult favorite among gym addicts before NFL superstar Tom Brady signed on as a brand ambassador, but his endorsement has helped catapult the brand into the stratosphere. Thankfully, their new-found popularity hasn’t slowed down their engineering department, because the Drive Mesh perfectly threads the needle between good looks, tank-like durability and agility. A rubber outsole gives confidence on every plant and change of direction, while the engineered mesh upper adds breathability without sacrificing durability. $225 at NOBULLProject.com TYR CXT-2 Trainer TYR have been killing it lately, creating high-performance footwear for athletes and weight lifters, and their CXT-2 Trainer might be their best creation yet, a no-compromise shoe that can handle every style of workout you throw at it. The reinforced heel cup and enhanced lace loops ensure perfect lockdown, while dense foam and a TPU stability wrap around the outsole make this shoe unbelievably responsive, with no wasted energy in dynamic movements. $160 at TYR.com  Reebok Nano X5 A full year into its lifecycle and the Nano X5 is still a top-performing cross-trainer, with eye-catching good looks to boot. Compared to previous models, the X5 boasts more room in the toe box, adding both comfort and stability, as well as a dual-response midsole with a slightly softer forefoot, reducing impact forces and sparing your joints in the process. From $140 at Reebok.com  You Might Also Dig: Best Running ShoesThe Pros and Cons of Barefoot WorkoutsHow to Run a Faster 10K