Most CrossFit shoes are made to combine cross-training features into a cross-training shoe. However, the major difference we usually see with CrossFit shoes is that most of them are made to be more specialized and specific to meet the major demands of CrossFit workouts and those expectations.
Compared to a running shoe, a CrossFit shoe will typically provide you with more support and weigh a bit more than your average running shoe. There are many demanding heavy lifts and quick movements in CrossFit, so these shoes need to be designed to meet those needs. CrossFit shoes offer effective ankle support to prevent injury, something that most running shoes don’t provide.
Most CrossFit shoes can help prevent injury as long as you are lifting right and using the shoe correctly. Since CrossFit shoes are made to withstand many versatile movements, they work well to provide comfort, support, and stability for many workout styles.
When a person runs or jogs, they’re conducting one long exercise movement which, when compared to CrossFit’s quick and varied movements, means most running shoes won’t work well for CrossFit exercises. Running shoes aren’t meant to withstand the wide variety of quick changes in movement that you need to perform when doing CrossFit. Running shoes won’t give you the traction you need, or the balance and support necessary to perform well while doing CrossFit.
Since CrossFit means you’ll need to move in different ways, change directions, and lift some very heavyweights, you’ll need a lot of support to complete the lifting and jumps. CrossFit shoes provide the foundational support and balance to help you with all these movements, preventing slipping, falling, and injury. CrossFit shoes are going to weigh more than a running shoe, but that’s because of their many unique features that are necessary to have on the shoe that helps you perform well during CrossFit.
While both CrossFit shoes and running shoes can be durable and made to last, you’re much better off getting CrossFit shoes if you really want to do well in CrossFit. You might be able to get away with using running shoes for a time, but you’ll miss out on the benefits that can really boost your performance when you exercise. Also, you’re more likely to injure yourself if you wear running shoes during CrossFit, something you probably want to avoid at all costs.