That Fit Friend is supported by its readers. I [Jake] run this site myself and buy the gear reviewed. If you purchase through my site, I may earn commissions on sales. Read more here!
I know I’m not the only one who loves a good high-top shoe for training. Outside of high-top shoes just having a certain level of steeze to them, they can also be great for everyone who loves a bit more ankle support when lifting and cross-training.
The Born Primitive Savage 1 has proven itself as a reliable training shoe for lifting, CrossFit, and cross-training, so it makes sense that BP would continue to innovate on this shoe.
For my high-top shoe lovers out there, you’ll be stoked to know that the Savage 1 now comes in a high-top variation. And I’m not going to lie, they perform exceptionally well and have me questioning my high-top shoe rotation. For example, they’ve quickly bumped out the Nike Blazer Mid and NOBULL Outwork High-Top for me on my CrossFit and cross-training days.
Born Primitive Savage 1 High Top
$149
Pros
- Good versatility for a high top shoe
- Wider toe box
- Dense midsole for lifting
Cons
- Tough to get on at times
- Breathabiltiy is so-so
Best For
- Lifting
- CrossFit
- Athletic Workouts
- Wider Feet
Specs
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 4mm |
| Weight | 11.05 oz (size 10) |
| Width | Wide |
| Lifting Threshold | ~500 lbs |
| Run Distance Threshold | <1,000m at a time |
Who Should Buy the Savage 1 High Top?
- Cross-Training High-Top Lovers: When it comes to cross-training, not all high-top shoes are created equal. This shoe feels sporty and does a good job of remaining versatile despite having more boot material.
- You Like Minimalist Feeling Shoes: Despite the higher boot and extra material, this shoe doesn’t feel super bulky. If you like training shoes with lower stack heights, flexibility, and a minimalist vibe, then these will be a hit for you. They kind of remind me of the Tolos Canvas High Transition — regarding their feel.
- You Have a Wider and Flatter Foot: This one is for my friends who love the Vans Sk8-Hi and Converse Chuck Taylor. If you’ve longed for those shoes that feel wider or more flat-foot friendly, then these will be a hit for you. They give you a wider toe box and a chiller midfoot to accommodate flatter feet.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Savage 1 High-Top?
- You’re a “Set It and Forget It” Person: Hello, it’s me. I’m this person. I LOVE a high-top shoe that I can leave loose and just slip on and off. That’s what draws me to the Transit StreetTrainer Mid. This model is not that — you’ll have to re-lace these every time you put them on. Not a big deal, but something to note.
- You Want a Trainer for Casual Wear, Too: For the record, I like the look of the Savage 1 High Top, but they don’t necessarily shout chill, casual high-top shoe like the Transit or Blazer Mid. They have a bit more of a combat boot type of vibe, so if you want that dress up and down type of trainer, these won’t be your best bet.
Sizing and Fit Thoughts
About My Feet: I have a normal arch/instep and my feet come in at an E/EE width. The length of my left and right foot are consistent with one another, and I size as a true US 10 for most companies’ sizing charts.
Relative Sizing Thoughts
- Narrow Feet (<D): True to size.
- Medium (D): True to size.
- E and EE: True to size.
- 3E: Size up a half-size.
- 4E+: Size up a full size or skip.
If you have the BP Savage 1 low-top model, size these exactly the same. The last and overall build of this shoe feels similar so I wouldn’t stress them feeling “different” if you decide to try the high top model.
This shoe has a more anatomical toe box and the midfoot isn’t crazy aggressive regarding arch support. They tend to work for a wide range of feet, and most returns that I get with the Savage 1 in my store don’t revolve around sizing, but more so, shoe preferences regarding ground feel and training style.
As for relative sizing, if you’ve never worn Born Primitive. I’d size these similarly to your Reebok, Adidas, and Nike training shoes. So, if you wear a 10 in the Nike Metcon or Reebok Nano, grab a 10 in these as well.
Performance Assessment
Lifting: 9.5/10
For lifting, the Savage 1 High Top is awesome. It ticks all of the boxes you want from a trainier for all types of lifting. Its lower stack height gives you a ton of ground feel when deadlifting and doing cleans. Working over 400 lbs in this shoe feels good due to its dual-density EVA midsole and I don’t think stability will be an issue in this shoe whatsoever.
The flexibility of this shoe is also a massive win for lifting. More high-top shoes run on the stiffer side and lack the same degree of flexibility as their low top peers, however, this shoe is a nice change to that. For lunges and split squats, these feel good and I haven’t noticed any restrictions in them. The boot doesn’t feel restrictive on squats, too, which is another area I test on high-top models.
The outsole of this shoe has remained consistent with the low-top Savage 1, so grip shouldn’t be an issue in this model. If you like a minimalist feeling shoe and want a high-top model, I recommend these shoes for lifting.
Cross-Training: 8.5/10
Despite their high-top nature, I don’t think the model lacks in the versatility context. Sometimes higher boots can limit flexibility and cause a shoe’s versatility to tank, but that wasn’t an issue in the Savage 1 High Top. They don’t have excessive TPU around the heel or bulky materials, which helps with this.
In my CrossFit WODs and athletic sessions, this shoe stood up to all of my jumping, sled, and dynamic asks well. For me, I can always gauge if a high-top shoe delivers for versatility based on if I notice them throughout the workout and with these I never did. There was no need to adjust them or reposition the tongue either which is a perk.
The durability has also been on point thus far and I expected that since the OG Savage 1 delivered there and this shoe is super consistent with its materials used.
Short Runs and Daily Wear: 7.5/10
For short runs, these are what you’d expect from a high-top shoe. If you like lower stack shoes and are used to a minimalist-style shoe for running, these will be solid for you.
If you or your gym only programs short runs here and there, then you should be fine in these. To be honest, these feel better for short runs (<800m and down) than models like the Metcon 10, Dropset 3, and X-Load Trainer and those are low-top shoes.
For daily wear, these work well. I personally don’t love their appearance due to their more combat boot vibe, but comfort wise, these are solid. You can wear them looser, too, and the tongue doesn’t move a ton because it has a low gusset. I vouch for these from a function standpoint for daily wear, however, in the appearance department — beauty is in the eye of the beholder with these.
Final Remarks: Would I Get Again?
I would.
These have quickly joined the ranks in my high-top training shoe rotation and have added to the depth of Born Primitive’s shoe offerings. Sometimes when companies build a high-top version of their low-top shoe it’s a miss, but these have been solid.
They deliver a grounded feeling and enough versatility to warrant them as a good option for CrossFit and cross-training. I appreciate that BP didn’t change the core DNA of what makes the Savage 1 a solid shoe in this iteration.
If you have additional questions about the BP Savage 1, drop a comment below!
Add a Comment