Top 4 Best CrossFit Shoes for Flat Feet (Updated 2023)

I went for the proactive solution as my best pick…

Vivobarefoot Primus Lite

The best overall pick in my best CrossFit shoes for flat feet would have to be these Vivobarefoot Primus Lites.

Why? Because as a person with flat feet, I much prefer the idea of fixing my flat feet problem by strengthening the muscles in my feet, rather than going for a shoe with arch support that would actually make the muscles in my feet too dependent on the support of the sole, which is something I think has actually made the problem worse over the years.

“A very lightweight shoe which gives a more natural feeling.”

I like the idea of consciously remembering to change the shape and placement of my feet when I am about to go for a lift or when I am running, just as I would if I was walking barefoot, the way nature intended.

It’s good to know that over the weeks, my feet and the way I walk should gradually change for the better.

Xero Prio

My budget/under $100 pick has to go to the Xero Prios.

Much like the Vivobarefoots but a little cheaper, these Xero shoes are a solid choice as a CrossFit shoe for flat feet.

As mentioned, I prefer the idea of building a stronger foot in order to help alleviate the problem of flat feet or over-pronation, and a barefoot shoe like the Prios will help you to do that.

Xero as a brand aren’t that well known right now, but they’re gaining popularity as more and more are turning to barefoot/minimalist workout shoes.

A lot of first time barefoot shoe wearers go for the Prio not just because theyre cheaper but because of the wider toe box, a little wider than the Vivobarefoot Primus. They really allow you to splay your feet out properly and give you better balance when you lift.

They also feel very durable too.

Don’t be fooled by them being one of Xero’s cheaper options, these work well.

The only drawback with the Prios is if you workout in colder temparatures, your feet will felt the cold. But that can be easily be fixed with a pair of thicker socks.

Read some of the customer reviews.

Adidas Drop Set

For the best runner up, it would have to be the Adidas Drop Set shoe. These are of course not barefoot or minimalist shoe, they offer good levels of arch support.

“I like that the rubber is reinforced with hard plastic. This means this area will not break down as fast.(…) it also comes in handy if you do a lot of rope climbs in your workouts.“

The Drop Sets also have very good stability which is what you want especially if lifting heavy is part of your workout plan.

Many people default to the flagship Nike Metcons when they are looking for a CrossFit shoe and they tend to be dissapointed by the fact that they actually aren’t a very good CrossFit shoe for flat feet.

But this version of the Metcon shoe fills in the gaps.

These Nike Free Metcons, are designed to be a much lighter, more versatile version of the Metcon shoe in my opinion, are a much better option for flat feet.

They have made a few tweaks to the outsole of the shoe over the last couple of years, but the foundations in the Free Metcon have remained the same.

“These shoes have a very grippy outsole so you are going to feel steady. Just be aware, they are quite a narrow shoe.”

The Nike Free Metcons are a shoe you can wear for long periods of time in comfort also.

“These shoes feel really lightweight, which threw me off at first because I am used to heavier shoes in the gym.”

Do you remember when the barefoot running craze started? Of course, most people do not know it actually started in the 1960s, but Nike got it going again in 2004 with their minimalist approach to running shoes. 

When I decided to try these, I was quite impressed with how they felt.

The Vivos feel really lightweight, which threw me off at first because I am used to heavier shoes, they for sure took some getting used to. I was afraid my feet would not feel very stable, but they were, squats, snatches, and overheads, everything felt different in these. Wearing them just feels right, if you’ve ever trained heavy without your shoes on, you’ll know what I mean.

Specs

• Pro5 Puncture-proof outsole
• The Bloom insole features EVA foam and Bloom algae
• Lightweight design at only 6.34 ounces
• Made of vegan and recycled materials
• Knit upper is made of recycled polyester
• 0mm drop
• Forefoot/Mid-foot strike pattern
• Wide toe box

“The result is you get a shoe that gives you more of a natural feel, you build up muscles in your feet that are very likely to have become lazy and also (in my case) your balance is improved when you wear barefoot or minimalist shoes.”

Xero are a new brand, so it’s likely you’ve not heard of them but they are a strong contender in this area. We recently did a deep dive into Xero shoes and the Prio comes highly recommended as a CrossFit shoe for flat feet.

These shoes like the Vivos above are barefoot shoes, which means they’re very stripped down. If you have flat feet, barefoot shoes have been proven to help train you to build muscle in your foot – a little different from the idea of selecting a shoe with arch support, but this is a different approach to fixing the problem of flat feet, more of a long term solution.

The result is you get a shoe that gives you more of a natural feel, you build up muscles in your feet that are very likely to have become lazy and also (in my case) your balance is improved when you wear barefoot or minimalist shoes.

The shoes are so lightweight, it honestly feels like you are not wearing any. I really like that the inverted V straps are not sewn down. This aspect allowed me to lock in my instep while ensuring my toes were still free to move around.

Specs

• Wide toe box
• ‘Xero’ 5.5mm -drop sole
• Adjustable heel strap
• Optional 2mm insole
• Wear with or without socks
• Weighs only around 8.8 ounces, depending on the size
• Highly flexible
• Highly breathable

“I like that the rubber is reinforced with hard plastic. This means this area will not break down as fast.(…) it also comes in handy if you do a lot of rope climbs in your workouts.”

These aren’t very well-known shoes like the Nike Metcon or the Reebook Nano X3, I haven’t seen any marketing done on them at all, it’s as if Adidas released them in secret! But when I tried the Adidas Drop Sets on for the first time, I was very impressed with how comfortable they felt especially in the arches.

The main difference to look out for with Adidas which has given me slight trouble in the past is their sizing. Their sizes compared to other brands like Nike is slightly different, so I sometimes have to double-check my size using the Adidas size chart to make sure I get the right size.  I found Adidas Drop Sets are a lot like Nike Metcon 8s, with a medial piece of rigid rubber that acts as the arch support.

I like that the rubber is reinforced with hard plastic. This means this area will not break down as fast. You are going to need this level of support in CrossFit, it also comes in handy if you do a lot of rope climbs in your workouts.

Specs

• Dual-density midsole
• Hard foam heel
• Aggressive heel rocker
• Ballistic Nylon upper
• Torsion system
• Fits true to size
• Weight is 13.8 ounces, depending on size
• 6mm drop

“These shoes have a very grippy outsole so you are going to feel steady. Just be aware, they are quite narrow “

The Nike Free Metcon 4 is another shoe I decided to try in the gym. I have heard Nikes are good for people with flat feet, but I wanted to see for myself. 

I found these to be versatile training shoes that worked well for almost all CrossFit moves. I felt very comfortable using them for squats and jump rope. These shoes have a very grippy outsole so you are going to feel steady. 

Specs

• Chainlink upper mesh
• Adjustable heel strap
• Aggressive tread outsole
• Lightweight construction at 11.2 ounces
• 5mm heel drop
• Slim fit (I had to go up a ½ size)
• Removable insole
• Nike Free midsole