R.A.D One V2 | The Grip That Made Us Throw Out Our Other Gym Shoes

Look around any CrossFit gym and you’re sure to see a whole lot of the same shoes – I’m looking at you, Nike Metcons, Reebok Nanos and No Bull Outworks. While those tried-and-true OG functional training shoes may be great options for some, they’re not for everyone – which is why I’m always excited to try a training shoe I’ve never heard of before: RAD One V2.

R.A.D. stands for “Rally Against Destruction” (of the mind, body and planet), and their mission is to provide those who train with the best-in-class performance footwear.

To that end, they offer two models, one of which I was lucky enough to try – the R.A.D. ONE v2, designed to be an all-around gym shoe that’s “good at everything, and ready for anything.”

Hmm, so a jack-of-all-trades kinda shoe? I’m always a little skeptical when I hear a shoe described that way, since we know how the rest of that phrase goes. Luckily, though, the R.A.D. ONE V2 came close to mastering just about everything I need from a gym training shoe.

And FINE we didn’t literally throw out all our shoes because that’s crazy talk, but now this is at the top of the pile!

R.A.D One V2 Overview

Like most shoes designed for functional training, these offer a flat sole with durable mesh upper and midsole wrap to protect the upper while doing rope climbs.

Right off the bat, I noticed how sticky the outsole rubber is. The combination of the soft yet durable rubber texture and the high-traction tread pattern meant a very grippy, stable feeling I appreciated while lifting on both my epoxied garage floor as well as rubber stall mats.

Adding to the stability was the stiff TPU heel cup, which held my heels in place without slipping even during power movements. Apparently these also are the ideal hardness to slide smoothly during handstand pushups, but I wouldn’t know – it’s been years since I’ve even attempted one.

What I can speak for is the flexibility of the shoe, which transitioned well from heavy lifting to burpees to jump roping to the rowing machine to hand-release pushups to kettlebell swings and back again. They also have just enough cushioning to make higher impact movements like single- or double-unders, box jumps, and short sprints comfortable without sacrificing stability for heavier lifts, including deadlifts.

Training shoes, as a rule, typically have far less cushioning than running shoes. This is for good reason, as too much squishy cushioning can compromise stability.

The R.A.D. ONE, however, has just the right amount of cushioning to be stable and still feel comfortable underfoot. R.A.D. uses SwellFoam™, a springy EVA midsole technology.

As a bonus for the environmentally conscious, it’s partly made from sugar cane, which captures carbon from the atmosphere as it grows and reduces R.A.D.’s reliance on traditional, fossil-based materials in production.

I have to admit, I was surprised to see how many great colorways this shoe comes in. I didn’t get to pick the color of the pair I wear tested but I have zero complaints about the dust purple pair I received, perfect for spring and summer.

R.A.D. One V2 Feel

The R.A.D. WAVE midsole wrap provides a surprising amount of stability to the heel and midfoot – my feet felt locked into these shoes in the best way. I had zero concerns about my heels or feet sliding around inside the shoes even while doing dynamic movements like power cleans.

The heel collar is very nicely padded and comes up just high enough to provide stable support to the ankle without rubbing on the ankle bones or Achilles.

The tongue also is generously padded, without putting pressure on the top of the foot, and is secured on either side to the inside of the shoe so it stays put throughout the entire workout. Laces were plenty long enough to get a good secure fit, and stayed tied without a double knot even with strapping in and out of the foot plates on the rowing machine several times throughout the course of a workout – something I can’t say for other gym shoes I have.

Sometimes you compromise flexibility with stability in lifting/cross training shoes, but not with the R.A.D. ONE. The R.A.D. WAVE midsole wrap tapers off just before the forefoot flex zone, allowing for natural pronation and flexibility for highly dynamic movements.

R.A.D. One V2 Fit

As I mentioned, sometimes shoes designed for lifting and cross training tend to feel a bit stiff. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the R.A.D. ONE felt comfortable right out of the box.

At 6mm, the drop is a little higher than the Inov8 F-Lite shoes I’ve been wearing in the gym for the past several years, but didn’t negatively impact my workouts. For those trying training shoes for the first time, these will feel more similar to your higher drop running shoes and might make the transition to lower drop, flatter sole gym shoes easier – especially if you tend to have tight Achilles.

What to read next?

• Strength Training for Runners Programs
• 30 Day Core Challenge
• Understanding Zero Drop Shoes