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Reviews Shoes Cross Training Shoes

RAD ONE Review (1+ Year of Wear Testing, 2025 Update)

Jake Bolyby Jake Boly Updated Feb 24, 2025 13 Comments

rad one training shoes in depth review

That Fit Friend is supported by its readers. I [Jake Boly] run this site myself and buy the gear I review. If you purchase through my site, I may earn commissions on sales, read more here!

The RAD ONE is marketed as being a great “all-in-one” style cross-training shoe for things like CrossFit, lifting, and daily wear. RAD responsibly sources the materials they use in their shoes so I was stoked to put the RAD ONE to the test.

Throughout my testing, I’ve been impressed and happy with the R.A.D ONE. This shoe has easily supported deadlifts over 500 lbs and their midsole and outsole construction walk a really good line between versatility and stability.

The RAD ONE has been one of my favorite recent training shoes for delivering a well-rounded performance in the gym and for daily wear. This shoe is stable enough for my heaviest lifts and bouncy enough for short runs and CrossFit WODs.

In the context of lifting, my heaviest sessions to date in the RAD ONE included a 550-lb deadlift and 415-lb squat, and these shoes have been plenty stable for those.

R.A.D ONE

$150

RAD ONE Training Shoes
4.6
Stability
4.7
Versatility
4.8
Durability
4.2
Quality
4.5

Pros

  • Well-rounded performance
  • Midsole is responsive
  • Great travel-friendly shoe

Cons

  • Toe box can feel snug
  • Upper can run hot
  • Availability can be a struggle

Best For

  • Lifting
  • CrossFit
  • HIIT
  • Versatility

Specs

Heel-to-Toe Drop6mm
Weight12.7 oz
WidthMedium
Lifting Threshold~550 lbs
Run Distance Threshold<1-2 Miles
Shop Rogue
Shop RAD

Sizing Suggestions

  • Removable Insole: Yes
  • Width: Narrow/Medium
  • Narrower Feet Sizing: True to Size
  • Wider Feet Sizing: True to size up to E/EE. 3E+ pass on these.
  • Flatter Feet Sizing: These have some arch to them.
  • Relative Sizing: Go with your normal Adidas and Nike sizes.

Testing the RAD ONE for CrossFit

Who Should Buy the RAD ONE Training Shoes?

There are a couple of contexts where I think the RAD ONE training shoes will resonate really well for certain lifters and athletes.

1. You Want a Training Shoe Specifically for CrossFit

The R.A.D ONE training shoes are an awesome model for CrossFit, lifting, and athletic-focused training. This is one of the few cross-training shoes that perform really well in pretty much every gym setting. Plus, they don’t really have areas where they fall short in regard to durability.

Truthfully, I think the R.A.D ONE cross-training shoes will work for most lifters and athletes. Whether you’re a beginner or serious, this model will perform well for you and that’s due to its midsole, outsole, and upper construction.

R.A.D ONE Training Shoes

2. You Want a Shoe That Has Good Responsiveness

The Swell Foam™ midsole provides a nice, responsive yet stable base, and the rubber outsole wraps over the midsole, providing good durability and traction.

If you’ve been looking for a cross-training shoe that is somewhat of a “best of all worlds” style of shoe, then the R.A.D ONE is a good model to look into. Plus, they’re a smaller company that responsibly sources materials which is a nice added perk of these shoes.

Who Shouldn’t Buy the RAD ONE Training Shoes?

For the most part, the RAD ONE has been an exceptional training shoe, but there are a couple of contexts where I think you’ll want to pass on this model.

1. You Want a Training Shoe With More Toe Box Width

If you have a wider foot or like more room in your shoe’s toe box then you’ll want to pass on the RAD ONE. This model runs pretty snugly through the toe box and can feel limiting at times.

TYR CXT-1 Trainer VS RAD ONE Sizing
TYR VS RAD Toe Box Width

For example, I have a slightly wider foot and this shoe feels tight when wearing them with thicker socks so I’ll typically only wear them for my training sessions and then take them off after due to this.

2. You Like to Train Outdoor On Concrete

Another context where you may want to pass on the RAD ONE is if you train outdoors regularly on concrete. I’ve bought a few pair of RAD ONEs now and I had one pair rip at the base of the toe box while training outdoors.

The upper is great for gym workouts and it has a sleek appearance, however, it falls short of abrasion resistance on surfaces like concrete. If you want a cross-training shoe for outdoor workouts, look into models like the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure.

RAD ONE Pros

There’s a lot to like about the R.A.D One training shoes. Below are a few of my favorite pros and things to like about this model in regard to its performance and construction.

1. Great All-In-One Cross-Training Shoe

The first thing to like about the R.A.D ONE is that they’re a strong performer in a variety of settings. This is nice because it takes a lot of thinking for your shoe choice per the workout you’re tackling out of the equation. Not every cross-training shoe performs well for different niches of training like CrossFit, heavier lifting, and HIIT workouts, to name a few.

R.A.D ONE Training Shoes review

The R.A.D ONE will be a good shoe for your most serious CrossFit workouts, but also a great shoe for things like recreational lifting. Its midsole is stable yet responsive so they don’t beat your feet up when lifting or doing HIIT-style training, and their full rubber outsole increases its durability and traction in a variety of settings.

2. Good Outsole, Midsole, and Upper Durability

Another perk of the R.A.D ONE is the durability of its outsole, midsole, and upper construction. This model features a rubber outsole that extends around the whole base of the shoe and midsole.

This is awesome for preventing abrasion from things like rope climbs and concrete. Friction from these can cause foam midsoles to tear up pretty quickly.

With the ended rubber outsole and the upper construction that features strategic layering, I really like how this shoe is built. You can tell R.A.D spent a lot of time thinking about this shoe’s construction as a whole and about blind spots that can often cause cross-training shoes to break down relatively quickly.

R.A.D ONE Training Shoes midsole and outsole

3. Materials Are Responsibly Sourced

The third thing that I like about the R.A.D ONE is that despite R.A.D being a smaller company, they’re trying to source their materials more responsibly.

For example, their Swell Foam midsole is partially made with sugar cane and on their ethos page, they reference that they’re only going to improve on this front to make more responsibly sourced gear.

This is awesome to see from a smaller company, and the fact that they’re so outright sharing is nice for accountability. R.A.D is also a part of the 1% for the Planet initiative.

R.A.D ONE Training Shoes heel construction

4. Nice Aesthetic and Low-Key Silhouette

The final thing to like about the R.A.D ONE is this shoe’s clean aesthetic and silhouette. Not every cross-training shoe looks really good, but both of the colorways of the R.A.D one are subtle, tasteful, and have a nice flow to them.

Plus, I think their silhouette is something to be desired and reflects a more classic training shoe look and feel.

R.A.D ONE Cons

As a whole, I’ve really enjoyed the R.A.D ONE and I have a hunch it’s going to be one of the best cross-training shoes that we see in 2022. There’s only really one drawback to this model.

1. Their Cost Is a Bit High

For the R.A.D ONE, you can expect to pay $150 USD. This price point is not new in the cross-training shoe scene by any means. However, it does make this model slightly more expensive than other cross-training shoes on the market. If you’re trying to spend as little as possible, then you may want to look into more budget-friendly training shoes.

R.A.D ONE Training Shoes insole

Personally, I do think their price is worth it and I also like that they’re a smaller company trying to use better materials for their shoes. That being said though, there’s no way around the slightly higher price than you’ll pay for these shoes compared to others on the market.

Performance

To discuss and break down the performance of the R.A.D ONE training shoes, I’ll talk about how these shoes perform in different settings. Hopefully, this will help you contextualize if this model is right for you.

Testing the RAD ONE for CrossFit and Heavy Lifting

I think what I like most about the R.A.D ONE training shoes is that they’re solid performers for both CrossFit and heavier lifting. In the context of heavy lifting, I really enjoy the stability you get from this shoe’s Swell Foam midsole.

R.A.D ONE Training Shoes for crossfit and lifting

The fact that it’s also enclosed with the extended outsole wrap helps to feed into this shoe’s stability. Thus far, I’ve deadlifted over 500 lbs in this cross-training shoe and have squatted 385 lbs with no stability issues whatsoever.

If you like to train hard and heavy in your cross-training shoes, then I think you’ll enjoy the R.A.D ONE. For CrossFit, these shoes have also been really solid. They walk a good line between being versatile and stable.

Testing the RAD ONE for Weight Training

The outsole wrap is a nice touch for rope climb durability and the additional toe box layers help to prolong this shoe’s durability when you might be dragging your toes on things like burpees and gymnastic movements. There’s a reason these debuted at Wodapalooza, after all.

Testing the RAD ONE for HIIT, Classes, and Athletic Training

I also think the R.A.D ONE is a hit for classes, HIIT workouts, and athletic-focused training. Generally, when you have cross-training that delivers good stability, you’ll start to lose out on aspects like responsiveness.

Testing the RAD ONE for CrossFit

I don’t think that’s really the case with the R.A.D ONE and I’ve really enjoyed these for this style of training. The outsole is great for multi-directional activity, and the Swell Foam is an awesome addition that does not leave you feeling beat up after plyometrics.

I’ve even used these for pickleball to test their outsole traction and midsole responsiveness and comfort, and they performed well in that setting where I was making frequent cuts and digs.

R.A.D ONE Training Shoes crossfit review

Factor in the fairly breathable upper construction and I think you get a solid shoe for versatile training. For athletic and class-focused individuals, I think you’ll enjoy the versatility that comes with the R.A.D ONE.

Testing the RAD ONE for Shorter Runs and Daily Wear

For shorter runs, the R.A.D ONE is okay and they’re good for a casual mile or two. If you like tacking on light mileage before or after your workouts, I think this shoe will work.

However, if you’re doing 3+ miles in a session, then you may want to explore running shoes as they’ll be more tailored towards your needs and provide you with more comfort.

R.A.D ONE cross Training Shoe

On a daily wear basis, this shoe is solid for two key reasons. First, they look aesthetic and clean. I like their overall appearance and I think you can get away with wearing them a bit more casually.

Second, the outsole adds a nice layer of durability to the outdoor elements. I like that it wraps the entirety of this shoe’s midsole.

RAD ONE Sizing

For the R.A.D ONE training shoes, some lifters should be safe going true to size. RAD has updated the sizing of this shoe to run a little more true in its length.

Testing the RAD ONE for HIIT workouts

The width of this model is a little on the narrow side, so if you have wider feet, then you’ll want to pass on this shoe or size up a half-size. I have a medium to slightly wider foot width, and I regularly find this model too snug for my needs.

  • R.A.D ONE Sizing Thoughts: For narrow and medium-width feet, so go true to size. For wider feet, size up a half-size or skip on this model.

RAD ONE sizing and fit (1)

If you have additional questions about the sizing of the R.A.D ONE, then reaching out to them would be a really good call. I can also try to help you according to what you’re currently wearing.

Construction Details

If you’re interested in the construction details for the R.A.D ONE, check out some of the major specs below. I’ve provided what I think are some of the biggest callouts that influence the durability and performance of this shoe.

  • Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6mm
  • Weight: 12.7 oz (for my size 10 model)
  • Removable Insole: Yes
  • Swell Foam Midsole
  • Full Rubber Outsole
  • Textile and Synthetic Upper
  • Perforated Tongue
  • Five Eyelets

If you have additional questions on the R.A.D ONE’s construction, drop a comment below and I can answer whatever you have accordingly. Also, make sure you check out R.A.D ONE video below for some construction visuals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q:
Can you run in the R.A.D ONE training shoes?

A:
You can do shorter runs that range from 1-3 miles in these shoes with no issues. For longer runs, you may want to explore running shoes, but for shorter runs included in WODs or for casual running these shoes work well.

Q:
Are R.A.D ONE good for CrossFit?

A:
The R.A.D ONE is a solid cross-training shoe for CrossFit workouts. These shoes are versatile and durable for things like rope climbs and they provide adequate stability for heavy training.

Takeaway Thoughts

I have been really impressed with the R.A.D ONE cross-training shoes. This model has been an exceptional performer for both my heaviest and my more versatile-focused training.

My only drawbacks with this shoe are their narrower fit and how they perform for outdoor athletic-focused sessions. These will not be the best wide-feet-friendly shoes on the market.

If you have additional questions on this model, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly).

Jake Boly

About Jake Boly

CSCS, MS Sports Science

Jake Boly is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of That Fit Friend. He's often regarded as a go-to resource in various performance shoe communities. He’s been formally reviewing shoes and training gear for over 7 years and has hand-tested over 400 pairs of shoes. Jake is known on the internet and YouTube for blending his review process with his educational, strength sports, and personal training background.

Jake has a Masters in Sports Science, a Bachelors in Exercise Science, a CSCS, and he's been personal training for over 10 years helping hundreds of clients get stronger, lose weight, and accomplish their goals. He uses his exercise science brain and personal training background to make curated and thoughtful review content on the fitness gear he's testing.

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Comments

  1. Papsico

    Sun, Oct 20, 2024 at 3:36 am

    Ok Jake. Thanks for this deep go through and overview of shoes in another post. The best written guide I’ve found, I must say. So you diverted my beginner gaze from metcons, nanos and other options. I look forward to testing them when they arrive and hope you get a few bucks from links!

    Reply
    • Jake BolyJake Boly

      Wed, Oct 23, 2024 at 1:34 pm

      Awesome! Keep me posted on how you like them. Stoked for you to explore more of these smaller brands which are solid!

      Reply
  2. C.H

    Thu, Sep 26, 2024 at 9:17 am

    The RAD shoes quality is very bad. I don’t wear it often at gym for crossfit/run. But the shoes got worn out so quickly. I emailed RAD and they refused to replace a new pair for me and classified it as general wear and tear to close my case and do not offer any solution.

    Reply
    • Jake BolyJake Boly

      Sat, Oct 5, 2024 at 6:56 pm

      Bummed to hear that, homie! Which part of the shoe took the most abuse? I’ve had one of my model’s rip pretty quick along the upper at the toe box, but that was from outdoor training.

      Reply
  3. Joseph

    Sun, May 12, 2024 at 2:59 pm

    RADs are a great versatile shoe that I would actually choose to walk around town with as well. Best of both worlds as a gym/training shoe and daily casual wear.

    Reply
    • Jake BolyJake Boly, CSCS, MS Sports Science

      Wed, May 15, 2024 at 10:05 am

      That’s how I like to use mine as well. Glad you’re getting a nice wide range of use out of them

      Reply
  4. Bob

    Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 7:58 am

    Hey Jake!
    For someone with wide feet looking to just get 1 new shoe for crossfit would you recommend this shoe or the strike mvmnt haze trainer?

    Reply
    • Jake BolyJake Boly

      Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 3:08 pm

      Hey! Great question — what do you currently wear now? Without knowing that, I’d say you’ll get a bit more volume with the RAD ONE, so if that’s a factor, then you may want to opt for them over the Haze Trainer!

      Reply
  5. Martin

    Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 6:47 am

    Hey Jake, would you recommend these shoes for those who wear orthotic inserts? In other words, is it still decently roomy but without a super thick stock insole (i.e. not like the Metcons up until the Metcon 7)?

    Reply
    • Jake BolyJake Boly

      Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 3:29 pm

      Hey Martin! Eh, it depends on the thickness of the orthotics. This shoe’s volume isn’t the best and I worry that if the orthotics are pretty thick, especially around the midfoot/forefoot, then you may feel wicked cramped and limited. Which orthotics do you plan on using? I can take a look at them online and help make an educated guess for you!

      Reply
      • Martin

        Tue, Feb 22, 2022 at 5:08 am

        Hey Jake, so I use custom orthotics so I don’t have an exact measurement, but these ones are closest to them:

        http://powerstep.com/products/pinnacle-maxx-support-insoles

        If it helps, my normal shoe size is men’s 10 and I wear my orthotics with a pair of Reebok Nano X1s and haven’t had to size up

        Reply
  6. Alex

    Wed, Feb 2, 2022 at 12:42 pm

    How is the support of these shoes for people with fallen arches/flat feet during heavy lifts?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jake BolyJake Boly

      Wed, Feb 2, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      Honestly, pretty good! These have a nice last to them and they hug the midfoot pretty well on the medial side, IMO.

      Reply

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Jake Boly

About Jake Boly

CSCS, MS Sports Science

Jake Boly is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of That Fit Friend. He's often regarded as a go-to resource in various performance shoe communities.

He’s been formally reviewing shoes and training gear for over 7 years and has hand-tested over 400 pairs of shoes.

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