I’m going to get straight to this point in this article.
I had higher hopes for the shoe.
However, I still found some surprising things about the new While on Earth Trainer shoes, and I’m going to break down whether they may or may not be the right fit for your foot anatomy.
While this model didn’t meet expectations, it does have a distinct edge in certain situations. Plus, I tried to keep in mind that this is a first pass for While On Earth, and I think they’ll only strengthen this shoe line as they grow.
FYI: I’m not an influencer who is getting paid for this review. I bought my pair of Move Trainers, and the opinions in this review reflect my interpretation of this shoe compared to the countless other models I’ve reviewed.
Some of My Training Stats In This Shoe
| Lifting Sessions Logged: 20 | Cross-Training Sessions Logged: 12 | Total Miles Logged (Walking and Running): 35 |
| Max Deadlift Performed In These: 405 lbs | Fave Exercises In These: Jump rope/box jumps | Running: 15. Broken up in 400-800 meter intervals and 1-2 mile cooldowns. |
| Max Barbell Lunge Performed In These: 225 | Least Favorite In These: Heavy sled pushes/lateral pulls | Walking: 2-3 mile dog walks & full-days of travel |
| Max Power Clean In These: 265 | Are They Good for Classes: Yes |
Who Should Buy This Shoe?
- Everyday Casual Wear: These shoes are great if you stick to general workouts in the gym or you find yourself constantly on the road.
- You Want a Travel-Friendly Shoe: The shoe also offers a bit more of a spacious feel on the midfoot and width in the forefoot, so if you need a wider model, then these can be a viable option for foot widths up to E/EE widths.
- You Need More Midfoot Support: If you like having a bit more arch and support in your training shoes, these can be a good option. They have a more built-out platform for training.
Who Should Not Buy This Shoe (and Alternatives)
- If You Need Shoes For Specific Training: If you’re super specific with your training and need a model for CrossFit and heavy barbell work, you may want to pass on this model.
- For CrossFit: I’d explore models like the RAD ONE or TYR CXT-2 Trainer.
- For Heavy Strength Work: I’d explore the Adidas Dropset 3.
- Anyone with a Notably Narrow Foot OR Thick Forefoot: If you have a wicked narrow foot, they you may find you swim in this model a bit. For thick forefoot folks, the upper volume on the medial and lateral forefoot may also cause some pressing.
- You Like Lightweight, Flexible Shoes: If you’re big on shoes that feel agile and lightweight on the feet, these will also be a miss for you. For example, if you like your training shoes to feel similar to your barefoot shoes regarding their flexibility, these won’t be it.
- For Flexibility and Lightweight-Feel: Look into the Inov8 F-Fly.
Specs to Know
- Heel-to-toe-drop: 6MM
- Stack Height: NA
- Removable Insole: Thin Foam
- Weight of shoe: Size 10 Shoe 12.30 oz (0.348 kg)
| Move Trainer Pros | Move Trainer Cons |
| OK for general training | Not great for CrossFit |
| Good for Casual Wear | Not great for minimalist lovers |
| Slightly wider toe box | Not ideal for narrow/low-volume feet |
| Dense built-out midsole |
Move Trainer
$150
Pros
- OK for general training. If you're someone who just likes to go to the gym or some group fitness classes for general health and lifestyle purposes, then this shoe is not a bad option.
- Good for Casual Wear. The shoe look pretty decent for every day casual wear and can still be good enough if you're just going to the gym or having a Sunday rest day.
- Slightly wider toe box. If you are looking for a shoe that has a bit more space in the forefoot, I do like the toe box for most foot anatomy, but if you have thicker, blockier feet, then you may want to pass.
- Good built-out midsole. It has a little bit of support and it's still pretty comfortable while locking down the foot if you're doing something like jump roping. If you like the thicker training shoes, then this model will check off that box for you.
Cons
- Not impressed with the shoe in the gym. I asked the TF2 community what they thought of the shoe and we all thought the same thing. The shoe is just average. We all just had higher hopes for it. Stack height is way too high for heavier lifting, it's not the best model in terms of flexibility for cross-training or HIIT, and I just don't love the upper forefront in terms of security.
- Not Ideal for narrow/low volume feet. If you have a narrow foot, that can be more of an issue for you. The other day when I was running with this shoe I found the mid foot pressing into the top of my foot.
- For the $150+ price point it just doesn't make sense. Yes it's consistent with the market, but it's a bit high for it's subpar performance in the gym and lack of versatility. For the current market price, it doesn't make a lot of sense when you can get similar models more exclusive for your respective training and that is known for performing way better for that activity.
Best For
- General Training/Workouts
- Casual Wear
- Traveling
Falls Short
- Heavy Deadlifts
- Long Runs (over 2-3 mi)
Sizing Tips, My Suggestions
Most lifters and athletes should be safe when going true to size in this model.
I have a normal arch and an E/EE width foot. This shoe fits my feet pretty great and it runs true to my size for me. However, if you fall into any of these verticals below, then I would buy knowing you may need to return.
- If you have a 3E+ width foot, be conscious of the forefoot’s upper volume.
- If you have a blocky/thicker forefoot, then you may find the lateral upper a little limiting at times.
- If you have a lower volume and exceptionally narrow foot, then you may find you swim in this shoe a bit.
What My Community Is Saying
The comments on my YouTube review and Instagram page have been mixed on these. Some enjoy them, and some don’t like their fit or lack of performance for CrossFit. It’s interesting how everyone seems to be split in the middle on these.
“Update: I like them! I don’t use them for heavy Oly lifts, but for everything else I’ve been enjoying them a lot. The sole is nice and grippy so far, hopefully that keeps up after months of use.“
“Got mine right before I left for vacation so I don’t have much use in mine. I was actually hoping to bring them with me on vacation; having them be my general purpose shoe but I opted not too. I had some weird pain in the balls of my feet after some stair stepper workout so I decided to wait till after vacation to put them through the paces. I will say though when I first put my feet in them I don’t think I have ever had a shoe fit so nicely around my foot. Only minor issue it toe box volume vertically.”
“I feel a weird amount of pressure on top of the front of my foot and it’s uncomfortable to wear these shoes for more than an hour.”
Performance Assessment
When it comes to performance and rating of the While On Earth Trainers, I broke this shoe down into four categories: lifting, cross-training, short runs, and daily wear.
Middle of the Road Lifting Performance
- This model will work fine for general strength workouts where you’re hitting some free weights and machines. I’ve used them for barbell lifts, hack squats, and leg presses without any glaring issues.
- The midsole is dense despite having a higher stack height. If your barbell numbers are sticking around 300-450 lbs, then you should be fine in these.
- For heavy pulls, I don’t love the higher stack height, and they’re not the most flexible shoes on the market, which is a knock on their lifting-friendliness for powerlifters and minimalist lovers.
- Traction-wise, the full rubber outsole does a good job of gripping different surfaces. I wouldn’t stress slip issues in this model when lifting.
- This model’s thicker midsole can also be a perk for the lifter who likes having a more “built-out” feeling shoe. For example, if you like the Project Rock shoes or the newer Reebok Nanos, then you’ll enjoy this.
- Summary: Okay for lifting if you need a shoe for general strength workouts. Definitely not my favorite trainer on the market for moving weight, but these can get the job done if you’re not specific.
Not Terrible for Cross-Training — Also Not Great
- If you need this shoe for a class here and there or some athletic-style movements sprinkled into your weekly sessions, then it will work fine for your needs.
- The upper in this shoe gives you enough lockdown for most exercises you’ll encounter in cross-training sessions. For example, I never had issues with upper security when doing jump rope, box jumps, and sled work.
- The responsive of this shoe is okay. It’s not crazy bouncy, but it also doesn’t feel dead when getting explosive.
- The TPU wrap around the forefoot can be a little offputting for thicker and wider feet, hence my note above. If this is you, then you’ll likely find this shoe a little uncomfortable for exercises that are heavy on the forefoot.
- The midfoot has a bit of arch, which can be a good thing for anyone who prefers to have a little more support during cross-training workouts.
- Summary: If you like thicker shoes with more blocky midsoles, then you’ll like this shoe on your feet. If you love lightweight trainers with more flexibility, pass on these.
Pretty Good for Short Runs and Daily Wear
- For short runs ranging from 400 meters to 2 miles, this model was decent. Once they broke in after a week, I didn’t mind their running performance for my HYROX workouts, where I was doing intervals.
- They won’t be your “best” hybrid-focused shoes, but they can hold their own for F45 workouts and classes you’d take at Nike Studios, where you’re blending strength work with quicker bouts.
- I like this shoe a lot for daily wear. I put them into the same category as models like Haze Trainer and RAD ONE, as these can be solid daily drivers and travel-friendly shoes.
- The minimalist branding and toned-down colorways make these shoes fairly easy to match with different outfits. Granted, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I do think these look pretty good.
- Summary: Decent trainers for short runs. For daily wear, this model does a good job once you break them in — which takes around 1-2 weeks on average.
Final Remarks. Would I Buy This Shoe Again?
I would not.
I’m not a big fan of this shoe and I’m having a hard time justifying the $150 price point when there’s other shoes at a similar price that out perform this one in the gym.
Ask yourself for how you train… does this shoe’s price point justify over other models that cost similarly or less and may be more suitable for your type of training?
I’m going to wait for the next release before buying another pair — or a veryyyyyy enticing colorway.
Do you love this shoe? Do you currently have this shoe or would you buy it again? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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