In the past there have been sport specific shoes, basketball, baseball, football, track and just running. And there’s a plethora of running shoes out there. In the last 10 years there has been a new game in town and the shoe companies never miss a chance to provide another choice for you, no matter how confusing it can get. I searched a number of “Top 10” shoe sites and put together my own list of top CrossFit shoes. The basic list of criteria for a “CrossFit” shoe is: hard soles, durable, good heel lockdown, wide toe box, low to 0 heel to toe rise and flexibility in the front. These give the athlete an improved shoe to balance between running fast, lifting heavy, doing gymnastics and lasting through months of workouts. It also needs to have cushion, stability and durability through large volumes of movements. Think rope climbs, burpees or lunges.
I have listed the shoe, retail price, manufacturer, asterisks(*) for multiple recommendations and some highlights of the shoe. This is in NO particular order.
- Free X Metcon 2- $70- Nike–1*– A little lighter and more flexible then the Metcon 5. More tuned to running but still works for weightlifting.
- Pureboost Trainer- $85- Adidas–3*– Boost cushion in midsole, super grippy outer sole and ankle strap for stability- Easy transition from running to lifting.
- Metcon 5- $100- Nike–6*– Combines stability traction durability and everything needed for lifting, jumping, roping and more with a wide toe box, too.
- Minimus Prevail- $110- New Balance–3*– Features light padding and a minimal 4 millimeter drop from heel to toe. Durable Vibram outer sole provides all the grip you need.
- Tri Base Reign 2- $120- Under Armour–3*– Durable upper shoe now has enlarged heel base and extended sidewalls to support all heavy lifts and burpee action.
- Nano 9- $130- Reebok–6*– Built specifically for CrossFit, Nanos have gone through rebuild after rebuild with 9 being more runnable than ever with a more cushioned midsole.
- Ivy Trainer- $129- NOBULL– 3* — Designed for bed comfort, stability, flexibility and support. Copes with running, lifting and gymnastics. Less expensive than their first edition.
On a personal review I have been wearing Reebok Nanos for years. My favorites are the 2, 4, 6 and 9 editions. I have a pair of Nike Metcon 5s and am satisfied with them except they squeak ALL the time. I think my next pair will be a test run of the NOBULL Ivy Trainer.
First Friday Fun kicked off really well. Foodology truck had some good meal options and Snow Peak Brewery was a great spot to gather. Go mark your calendars now for September 4, the next First Friday. See you there and then.
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Schedule this week- Monday through Friday 5 am, 6 am, 4:30 pm and with 24 notice 5:30 pm by appointment. Saturday at 7 am.
HOME WORKOUTS- situps/squat/lunge trio, POKER, 400m run, situp/squat/pushup/lunge quartet, hollow rock/penguin/box step up trio and Saturday a 26 minute run or walk.
WODs this week at the gym- pullup/pushup/squat triplet, Jump rope, battle rope/kbell swing/situp/lunge in Fight Gone Bad style, Turkish Get Ups(from the archives), ROWLING ON FRIDAY, pullup/pushup/squat/situp volume sets
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Balsamic Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pork tenderloin
Instructions
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Put all of the ingredients in a freezer bag and mix well, covering the pork. Marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
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When ready to cook, preheat grill to medium high heat. Grill the pork until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
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Serve with your favorite vegetables on the side.
SEE YOU AT THE GYM!!!
3,2,1,GO!!!!
DEAN