Cushioned Cross Trainer Shoes for HIIT 2026
Cross-Training Shoe Review
The Ryka Influence Cross Trainer makes a strong case for a dedicated training shoe — especially if your workouts refuse to stay in one lane.
It was a Wednesday morning circuit — box jumps into kettlebell swings into lateral band walks — the kind of session that exposes a bad shoe immediately. I had the Ryka Influence Cross Trainer laced up, and what I noticed first was that my foot felt planted during the lateral shuffles, not sliding around inside the shoe like I was wearing a slightly-too-big slipper. That’s the thing about a real cross-training shoe versus a running shoe you’ve been borrowing for the gym: the difference shows up fast when you’re cutting sideways.
What I Love
There’s a lot happening in this shoe for the price point, and most of it is working in your favor during high-intensity sessions.
- Lateral support through the midfoot holds firm during agility drills and side shuffles without feeling stiff.
- The cushioned midsole absorbs impact during jump training without that dead, spongy feeling that slows your next rep.
- The mesh upper keeps airflow moving — I didn’t finish a 45-minute HIIT class with swampy feet.
- The rubber outsole grips turf and gym floors confidently, including those slightly-too-polished studio floors that turn other shoes into ice skates.
- Ryka designs specifically for women’s foot anatomy — the heel is narrower, the toe box is proportioned differently — and you can actually feel that in the fit.
What to Watch For
No cross-training shoe is everything to everyone, and the Influence has a couple of quirks worth knowing before you commit. The sole is slightly firmer underfoot than a maximalist trainer, which some people love for lifting but may notice during longer cardio blocks. It’s also a fairly low-profile silhouette, so if you prefer a lot of stack height, this one skews closer to the ground.
- Not ideal as a standalone running shoe — the lateral structure makes it feel a little rigid on longer straight-line runs.
- Sizing can run slightly narrow through the toe box for wider feet; worth sizing up half a size if you’re between sizes.
Who It’s For
This shoe is built for the person whose workout involves at least three different movements — HIIT, cross-training circuits, and lifting — and who’s tired of rotating between two or three pairs to cover all of it. It’s especially well-suited to women who’ve been training in running shoes and wondering why their ankles feel unsupported during lateral work.
If you take dedicated long-run days, keep a running shoe for those. But for everything that happens inside four gym walls, the Influence handles it cleanly.
“The shoe that finally convinced me a cross-trainer and a running shoe are not the same thing.”
How to Wear It
Session 1: Pair with a high-support sports bra, 7-inch training shorts, and no-show socks for a Friday HIIT class — the breathable mesh earns its place when the burpees stack up.
Session 2: Swap in longer compression leggings and a fitted tank for a lifting-focused day — the low-profile outsole gives you solid ground contact during deadlifts and squats, which matters more than most people realize until they try it.
What People Are Saying
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Quick FAQ
Does the Ryka Influence run true to size?
Generally yes, but if you have a wider foot, consider going up half a size. The toe box is women’s-specific but leans toward a medium width.
Can I use this shoe for running?
Short warm-up jogs or treadmill intervals, yes. For anything over a mile or two as a dedicated run, you’ll want a shoe built specifically for forward-motion cushioning.
Is the mesh upper durable enough for regular gym use?
In my experience, yes — the synthetic upper reinforcements keep the mesh from wearing down quickly, even with frequent lateral movement on rougher surfaces.
The Verdict
The Ryka Influence Cross Trainer delivers where a cross-training shoe actually needs to — lateral stability, responsive cushioning, and breathability across a full HIIT or lifting session. For what you’re paying, the construction quality and women’s-specific fit engineering punch above their weight class. If you do any combination of HIIT, cross-training, or lifting and you’re still wearing running shoes to the gym, this is the swap worth making.
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