GoRuck Ballistic Trainers
This past year has been full of new arrivals to the Crossfit and functional training shoe market. R.A.D. Global and TYR have both splashed onto the scene during Wodapalooza and the CrossFit Games. I’ve yet to get my hands on either of those as they seem to sell out immediately, however, I have purchased two pairs of another strong option from Goruck: the Ballistic Trainer. After several months of workouts, this is my new underrated champion.
Design
There are many elements of the Goruck that remind me of the Strike MVMNT Haze Trainer. The knit upper and general construction don’t scream training shoes. They look more like casual sneakers you happen to be able to hit the gym with. The Goruck Ballistic Trainer forefoot is a one-piece engineered flexible knit. This material offers extreme flexibility and breathability.
Around the midfoot cage and heel is a tougher and stiffer CORDURA Ballistic nylon structure. This offers robust support of the foot and heel to offer stability and durability. You can feel this additional rugged material add to the “locked-in” feel of the shoe. The company also adds this should make rope climbs less likely to wear on the shoe.
Underneath you have a dual midsole and outsole construction. The midsole has a Gradient Density EVA foam material. This offers a thinner, more flexible forefoot while having a thicker portion under the heel for stability. The outsole is composed of triple-compound rubber. This allows for great traction, 3x support under the midfoot for lifts, and a dense under-heel feel.
Comfort
That’s a lot of fancy words, but how’s it feel? Let’s start with general day-to-day comfort. The upper feels great. The balance between structure, breathability, and comfort really shines through. I have zero issues wearing these all day. The background of military-style rucking is evident in the daily wear of the Ballistic trainers. Yes, these are made for gym and outdoor training, but the DNA is rooted in long-term wear and trekking across miles at a time.
One note on the fit that should be mentioned is the sizing. Goruck recommends that you size down a half size from your normal trainers. I’d say this is accurate. My initial pair was a 9.5 and I returned for a men’s 9 and was much happier with the length and toebox not feeling massive.
WOD performance
This innovative design also translates to fantastic WODs from the Ballistic Trainers. The same combination of structure, breathability, and comfort make this an amazing all-around trainer. Goruck’s conscious decision of an 8mm heel-to-toe drop and a three-point ground contact in the midfoot translates to a fantastic workout shoe.
Both of these features are interesting decisions compared to the normal 4mm drop and thinner outsole of most trainers. Goruck’s take on the trainer literally leverages the 8mm drop to be lower than a lifting shoe and those other shoes. This gives a mechanical incline that creates a better platform for squats and plyo movements. This may not be for everyone, but I’ve found that those who may be taller or have smaller ankles can use this material advantage the Ballistic trainers offer.
The triple points of contact in the outsole cover your other Olympic lifts well. This pattern in the rubber allows you to stay very grounded while doing deadlifts, cleans, or presses. It somehow makes the 8mm drop useful in the other elements without detracting from other lifts. The balance here is phenomenal and lends to one of the most stable shoes I’ve tested.
My final test in any trainer is how does it run? Again, the rucking nature of Goruck couldn’t have the Ballistic Trainer not be a good performer here.
Conclusion
Goruck may not be a name you’ve heard, and you won’t see them at Dick’s sporting goods, but you should give the Ballistic Trainer a look. The rucking DNA added into a very well-thought-out design has landed the company a great training shoe for most people.
One other note is the Goruck SCARS warranty. Goruck has a lifetime warranty on most of the products they sell and the Ballistic Trainers seem to fall under this as well. I’ve seen numerous users on social media tout this program and how the SCARS team stands by any “normal” defects and will replace your trainers with no questions asked.
That brings us to the final aspect of any review: the price. The Goruck Ballistic Trainers are $125 and well worth it to me. This puts these shoes in the same pricing range as pretty much any Crossfit-focused option and it holds its own with no problem. Head over to the company’s landing page below to snag your pair of Ballistic Trainers now.