Hyrox Starter Kit: Everything You Need for Your First Race

Your shoe is the highest-impact gear decision. You need something that handles 8km of running without destroying your feet and stays stable under the sled push, lunges, and farmers carry.

The rule: train in your race shoes for at least 50km before race day. Do not debut new footwear on race day.

Budget pick: Nike Metcon 9. Flat, grippy, durable. Heavier than a pure running shoe but one of the best value options in the category.

Premium pick: Puma Deviate NITRO 2. Designed in collaboration with Hyrox, worn by competitive athletes. NITRO foam handles the running; rubber outsole grips turf.

For a full comparison including mid-range options and shoes to avoid, see our best Hyrox shoes guide.

Liquid chalk is the one consumable worth buying for every Hyrox race. It improves grip on the sled pull rope, the farmers carry kettlebells, and the SkiErg handles. It is permitted at most events (unlike loose block chalk). One bottle lasts many races.

Apply a thin coat to your palms and fingers 5 to 10 minutes before your wave. Let it dry completely before touching equipment.

For details on which stations benefit most and how to apply correctly, see our Hyrox chalk guide.

Full gloves are not recommended for most Hyrox athletes. They reduce tactile feel on SkiErg handles and the rower. Thin hand grips — specifically for the sled pull rope — are a worthwhile addition once you have raced once and know that rope abrasion is affecting you.

For first-timers: chalk handles this. If you want grips, thin carbon or leather 3-hole grips are the format to use. Thick weightlifting gloves are the wrong tool here.

Full breakdown with specific product picks in our Hyrox gloves guide.

Knee sleeves are optional for athletes with healthy knees. They are useful if you have a history of knee pain under sled load, knees that feel unstable after long runs, or you are over 40 and find joints take longer to warm up.

The rule: only race in sleeves you have trained in consistently for at least 6 weeks. Knee sleeves change proprioception enough that debuting them on race day is a real mistake.

If you need them, the Rehband 7mm RX is the benchmark. Full comparison in our Hyrox knee sleeves guide.

Calf sleeves are the most useful compression item for the running segments. If you experience calf fatigue or shin splints during runs longer than 20 minutes, graduated calf compression reduces vibration and fatigue across the 8km total running distance.

Again, the rule applies: train in them before racing in them. Two or three long runs in your race-day compression kit is enough to confirm they work for you.

For a first race, you do not need:

• A heart rate monitor (useful once you understand your zones, but adds cognitive load before you know what to do with the data)
• A race belt or bib holder (your bib attaches directly)
• Arm sleeves or full-length compression tights (no evidence of benefit specific to Hyrox conditions)
• Intra-race nutrition for races under 90 minutes (pre-race fuelling is sufficient)
• A hydration vest (water is available at most stations)

See our Hyrox beginner tips and the complete first race checklist for what to bring on race day.

The full pre-race checklist — what to pack, what to eat, when to arrive, and how to warm up — is in our complete first race checklist.

For shoe selection, see the best shoes for Hyrox guide. For training basics, start with Hyrox beginner tips.

The most important piece of kit is your preparation. Gear makes a marginal difference. Training makes everything else possible.