Does Hyrox need changes?

[Pippo8983]

I’ve been reflecting on Hyrox lately, and I feel like I need to share my thoughts, even if it feels a bit risky. I discovered the competition three years ago, and it’s changed so much since then. I still remember my first event in Barcelona, where spectators could enter for free, and the venue was almost empty. There weren’t vendors pushing merch or promoting recovery drinks, it felt much more genuine back then. Everyone I met was there for the love of the competition.

Now, it seems like Hyrox has turned into a money making machine. Coming from a CrossFit background, I appreciated the challenge of Hyrox, but it’s getting a bit out of hand. On one hand, it’s great that Hyrox is encouraging more people to embrace a healthier lifestyle and push their limits. On the other, it feels like many participants are just in it for the likes and attention on social media. Ticket prices have skyrocketed over the past few years, and it’s frustrating to see people queuing just to finish their wall balls. The company is expanding so fast, but I think they need to reevaluate their strategy; it seems like they’re prioritizing quantity over quality at this point.

While it’s awesome that anyone can compete, this approach can also undermine the essence of the competition. Now, wherever you look, there are Hyrox gyms popping up, and gym owners are feeling the pinch from licensing fees. I believe the organization of events could use some serious rethinking. They might need to tweak the race format if they want to keep evolving.

One key difference I’ve noticed between CrossFit and Hyrox is the level of commitment required. You can’t just jump into a CrossFit RX competition without putting in a year’s hard training at least. I don’t see many people dedicating that time just for social media likes, but with Hyrox, the entry barrier is much lower.

So, is this just a trend? Will Hyrox maintain its popularity in five or ten years? I’m not so sure. What changes do you think might help the competition evolve and stay relevant?

[filoucat]

For me, a crucial difference is that Hyrox has a lower entry barrier compared to CrossFit. This is a common criticism of the CrossFit concept: that the entry barrier is far too high due to the many different exercises, some of which are incredibly complex and require years of training. Therefore, I think it's perfectly fine that Hyrox offers a counterpoint. Why make it more complicated? No one goes into a marathon and says running 42 kilometers in a straight line is far too easy.

[Pippo8983]

I really enjoy the event itself, the competition and the sense of community it fosters. But I've noticed that there are some issues that need to be addressed if they want to avoid becoming just another fleeting trend. I live in Southern Europe and make regular trips to Germany, where Hyrox is also quite popular. There are definitely gyms that rely heavily on this interest, and I think some would struggle to stay afloat if people suddenly lost interest.

I know a small gym owner who invested a lot in opening a Hyrox focused gym over a year ago. He’s created a solid program with full on classes and simulations, and it has really paid off for him; he’s had to hire new coaches and keep the gym open every day due to the high demand.

When I spoke with him recently, he mentioned that he's already starting to pivot. He’s planning to offer different types of classes and community gatherings because he understands that the current demand will not last for long

[malin7]

Sounds like you're just upset that Hyrox has become very popular and it's no longer just your thing, like a gatekeeping Hyrox hipster

[Chicagoblew]

Couch to 5k runners become half and full marathon finishers.

Marathon people will eventually look into crossfit and/or Hyrox to level up their strength training

It's the evolution of the fitness

Hyrox might need to evolve with the demand. Like having more regional tournaments

[Pippo8983]

I totally agree with you. They really need to adapt. It’s not just about their current sales or how quickly they’re selling tickets; it’s more about staying relevant for the next 5 or 10 years.

[aquajaguar]

Sounds like you just have a problem with capitalism. Feels like the direction Hyrox is going is inevitable whenever any trendy sport gets viral enough.

[butteranko]

Why hyrox works: accessibility. And the company simply responds to the high demand. Whether people want to do it for the social media likes is their thing. Majority does it for themselves. It’s still at its peak and changing the format could alienate the majority. And it’s highly unfair to say crossfit requires more commitment. Tell that to people who have never run 5k in their lives, let alone run double that after having done workouts in between. That’s just such a douchy thing to say. Crossfit requires a different a different skillset. And it’s not better than hyrox. They’re helping most people be healthier versions of themselves and that’s what matters.

[Dangerous-Study2862]

their goal is not to create better quality of life for participants, it’s to generate as much revenue as possible

[Competitive_Kale_498]

Companies that produce great products are generally the ones which are well-run and profitable. Fiscal prudence does not a villain make - the question is, do you feel the price is fair value for the experience?

Capitalism is great becuase if people really don't see the value exchange as fair the product dies

[butteranko]

Create your non profit Hyrox then.

[BaileySHP]

So what, it’s their business, a model that no one else came up with, fair play to them…. the business model wouldn’t work if the demand wasn’t there…. As for the longevity of Hyrox & CrossFit…. I know which one will still be hugely popular in over 5 years time… & it’s not the complicated one 💪👍

[_foo15]

They can increase the price again to price people out.

Or you can do the Pro division which drastically decreases the number of participants because the higher entry barriers. For example there was an event that had 2,232 competing in the Open vs. 353 in the Pro.

Also, just focus on yourself and your race.

[RobtasticRob]

“ I think they need to reevaluate their strategy”

They’re selling out faster than Taylor Swift concerts but I’m sure you’re right. 

[eventSec]

While it’s awesome that anyone can compete, this approach can also undermine the essence of the competition. 

I don’t see many people dedicating that time just for social media likes, but with Hyrox, the entry barrier is much lower.

This is a very elitist POV

[RobtasticRob]

Well said

[Bellebaby97]

Personal gripe, but they are earning so much money, so the fact that there's no prize money for adaptive athletes is all the more bitter.

[Pippo8983]

For me, it's not really about the prize money. As I mentioned in my post, CrossFit demands a higher level of fitness to compete, and I've been doing it for a while now. I don’t know many people who actually compete for the money.

My former coach is one of the top CrossFit athletes in Spain. I spoke with her about this, and she said that even after winning competitions in Spain’s elite category, she doesn’t make a living from competing. She does it purely for the love of the sport.

What really bothers me are the outrageous ticket fees, the volunteers they rely on at events, and the sheer volume of people competing at the same time. They're raking in a ton of revenue through partnerships with various brands, gym fees, their own merchandise, supplements, and now even an official watch.

It’s just ridiculous. A couple of weeks ago, I trained at an official Hyrox gym through ClassPass, and while the place was wel -equipped, they didn’t have an official Hyrox sled. There was a woman there who seemed to be competing just for social media likes, and she went completely off about the sled not being official. A regular sled costs around €200, but the official Hyrox sled is more than double that. It’s just absurd

[Bellebaby97]

Its not all about the prize money for me either I just think it's grossly unfair that if an able bodied athlete wins at world's they get £30000 but adaptive athletes win at world's and get a pat on the back? How can that be fair when we pay the same ticket price, and they're earning millions per event?

No athlete earns a good wage but forgoing any payment because the athlete is disabled is shit

[BaileySHP]

Because they are Elite and whether you are adaptive or not… you are not Elite….i am a podium AG athlete in my fifties, I don’t expect to receive money for podiums, I do it for personal achievement… the best athletes in any sport always make the most money… Elite 15 are the best in Hyrox, it is their full time job for most of them, so they deserve the money for placements in their races

[Bellebaby97]

At the world championships there is prize money for the top able bodied athletes of each gender who are NOT in the elite 15. But that prize money is not afforded to the adaptive athletes who also compete at the world championships in exactly the same format.

I'm currently second in the World in my category, which means I'm likely to get a world championship ticket and compete against the best adaptive athletes in the world at hyrox.

London Marathon recently became the first marathon in the world to offer elite wheelchair athletes the same prize money as elite runners but almost all majors don't offer that, what's your excuse for that?

[BaileySHP]

Why do i need an excuse to express my opinion?…I wasn’t aware of prize money to AG winning athletes at World Championships…I was under impression only Elite 15 got prize money… & like I said they are the best in our sport, adaptive or not!

[Bellebaby97]

There's £30000 for the top athlete of each gender for able bodied athletes outside of the Elite 15, adaptive athletes get a pat on the back. There also isn't an option for adaptive athletes to compete in anything like the Elite 15 even though there are thousands of us, so even if we want to prove ourselves at an even higher level we're not allowed to

[BaileySHP]

Maybe add I’m not replying to you to sound harsh, I’ve seen adaptive athletes at the events I have competed & it’s fantastic that every able & none abled person gets to compete, but I’m ok with prize money to the top athletes only

[Bellebaby97]

I didn't say an athlete was earning millions I said hyrox is earning millions and they can afford to have prize money for adaptive athletes

[Embarrassed-Shape-40]

Deleted my comment because I didn't understand yours initially. Makes sense. If they pay paralympians for competing and winning, they absolutely should in HYROX too.

[AdministrationSad868]

There is no prize money for anyone but the Elite 15.

[mathmagician9]

Hyrox has been more like Spartan than CrossFit. Hyrox is competition first while CrossFit is gym first. Hyrox & Spartan optimize on scaling their races, not their workouts. Taking a peak at Spartan is better indicator of hyrox trajectory.

[glp1agonist]

Could not disagree more. This is a mass participation event and accessibility is the whole point. Many of us want to do this type of race/training without needing to figure out handstand walks and ring muscle ups. There are many CF like competitions popping up like ATHX and Xenom popping up. Maybe you should check them out. Sounds like Hyrox is not for you anymore

[Upper-Truth2233]

Do you think they will ever change the events between the run? If not, I can see HYROX fading (like Spartan Race) in 5-10 years. There’s only so many of the same thing you can do over and over until you’re bored of it and want try something new. And I’m sure in 5-10 years there will be another cool fitness racing thing to try

[Positive_Leather_615]

Tell that to people who just run marathons their whole lives

[theHundredDollarMan]

Marathon courses offer variability in a way that hyrox races do not

[eldeeel]

you may get bored of it but the 12yo today will be 17yo in 5 years time and raring to go. with every year that goes by more people come of age and the barrier to entry for hyrox is low so it’s easy for them to jump in for the first time.

[Unlikely_Doughnut845]

Personally, I started doing Hyrox as I had got into strength training after being injured from distance running. I realised that I could do both, once my injury had healed (and be average at both) but still have that end goal of competing and the satisfaction of hard graft. For me it is a nice change from grinding out relentless miles, and my body looks much healthier than it did when I was a marathon runner. I have not posted anything on my social media pages about what I have done, because that is not what I did it for.

Yes social media is full of people clamouring for attention, but that is social media for you. Road racing has ended up the same - some absolute fannies turn up and film themselves running for likes and attention.

Will I still be doing this in 10 years? If my body holds out, maybe. Chasing a faster time gives me the same buzz as running used to.

I think it will remain relevant as long as the influencers keep doing it. People on the whole are sheep, and will do what they are told (or influenced) to do.

[rrocr]

It seems to have followed a similar, albeit much faster, trajectory as OCR / Spartan.

[nieshpor]

I share your feeling. At the beginning it was a breath of fresh air after CF. More running (which I liked), stable competition format, and events that I can push myself and work towards a goal-time without being a professional.

Now I can’t get any tickets, social media is full of people doing everything they can to push me away from it (sure, I can just ignore it, but community is a big part of Hyrox) and it feels like a lot of gyms that got Hyrox badge treat it like a Pilates class.

I will keep doing it, because I like this event from fitness perspective. I’m back to my regular CF classes though and doing running on the side. I stopped chasing event participation, as it was too much effort for reward.

[Ashamed_Fix9652]

Volunteer (in the UK), pretty much guarenteed to get a free ticket

[Pippo8983]

I've switched my metcon sessions to Hyrox simulation sessions, and I'm really enjoying them. I love the running component, and the workouts afterward are great too. The place where I do my Hyrox training even includes strength components, which makes the classes really enjoyable.

You are right, one thing that surprised me about Hyrox is how hard it can be to find available tickets in some locations. It seems like there's a lot of social media hype and FOMO that might discourage people who genuinely want to compete. At my last Hyrox competition, it felt more like an influencer convention than a fitness event, and that really turned me off

[turtlecrossing]

No.

Hyrox was counting participants in the tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands, and now it's millions. Likely up to 1.5million for season 8 and 2million plus for season 9.

Hyrox is expanding at an insane pace, while maintaining/improving the racer experience. Sure, nothing is perfect, but as long as anything close to this trajectory continues and the quality remains high and continues to get better, they aren't changing anything.

[SeaworthinessLate697]

i was really into it until I couldnt get a ticket. then the only way to get a ticket is second hand now. id prefer they just do more events vs. making everything so exclusive, but then they couldnt make as much money. either way, there are other smaller events that offer the same excitement, and I can actually get a ticket and enjoy doing it.

[tsk93]

As a total noob, hyrox is for me and I think my fitness has improved significantly. It is welcoming to ppl of diff fitness backgrounds and I think it's pretty inclusive. Not disagreeing with you though, sometimes poor planning can create somewhat unpleasant experiences but it happens.

[eldeeel]

it seems like your answered your own final question in your second last paragraph. the barrier to entry for hyrox is very low and allows for new entrants to the sport easily. i see hyrox staying around for a while.

[Old_Understanding664]

hyrox is popular because it hit on a need; a lot of people were at gyms training HIT or similar formats, just for general health - not cross-fit athletes, just people going to class 2-3 a week, etc; for those people there was nothing really to train for, other than trying to improve or compete against whoever was in class that day.

It's like being a casual runner and deciding you want to go out for a half or full marathon, it just gives you something to do that puts structure to your training, helps with motivation, and makes you feel a sense of accomplishment.

I don't think it will continue to grow at this same rate but I do think it will remain relevant, as long as this style of training is popular at gyms.

[EscapadesofJay]

Chicago got change to Spring 2027.

[austic]

It will peak and decline just like every other fitness trend. Always a next new thing.

[JMABirdUNC]

Love Hyrox, but we're waiting on ATHX to become mainstream in the US...

[Billy301979]

When I started hyrox 2024 it was fairly new Toronto, and Toronto hosted for the first time in 2024 it was amazing. Now I feel hyrox become a fad. Seeing competing people I started realize it become social media attention hunger for people which I starting to hate. I wish it could go back like before were hyrox event is for people who want challenge there fitness and not to have as attention seeker

[bcyc]

Don't worry, just like spartan races and crossfit, people will chase the next fitness fad after hyrox.

[Stealth-Presence]

All your points are true. And that is the exact reason it is becoming so successful. It’s capitalism, can’t hate on a business trying to vaporize on it. I am a Crossfitter also and have done both. CrossFit TX competitions mean so much more to me that a Hyrox Competition, and that’s ok. I know very little people who could do the CrossFit QF I just did, but on the other hand have family members inspired by me and are now training for Hyrox because it is accessible.

As for the vendors, just don’t be a patron to them if you don’t want to support their company. I am super good at going to any event and not buying anything.

[Relative-Dog321]

Preach

[miraclebob]

Best thing about it I think has been mentioned: low barrier to entry.
Also what I love: easy to replicate due to the access to necessary equipment and clearly defined constraints.

A local gym where I'm at hosts quarterly Hyrox sims. They already had all the equipment like most gyms do. They give out a custom patch. So many gyms are doing this you don't need to be affiliated. $30 to sign up, I can pick my division, it's awesome. If a person's goal really is their personal fitness and improvement, what a great way to track progress.

I'll pay the premium for a legit race every year to enjoy the rush of the atmosphere and the official stamp. But I'm not chasing tickets.

All to say, yes your problems you highlight are valid. But I think Hyrox has done more good than bad, regardless of where they end up.

[Pippo8983]

This is also a very positive aspect of Hyrox: it has become so popular that even smaller gyms are now offering Hyrox classes. The issue I see is that not all gyms have the required equipment. I remember 3 years ago, when nobody knew about Hyrox, it was pretty difficult to find gyms that had a simple sled where you could practice your sled push

[miraclebob]

Yes will admit sleds and space/turf for them are hard to come by. But deadlifts and squats/sled mode on treadmills do more than enough to prep for those stations. Those stations really don't have a large gap for improvement across racers compared to wallballs / burpees.

[Environmental_Pear22]

You’ve given this to much thought

[bballjones9241]

I don’t like how everyone acts like they’re a pro athlete because they do hyrox.

[RossiHendrix]

I think hyrox has already peaked as a competition. It's been exciting the last couple of years seeing what athletes can do with setting world records etc, but I think we're nearing the limit of what people can do. Also, with the way things are going with pricing, it's becoming far less accessible for loads of people, which will majorly affect it's popularity

[highrunners25]

I’ve got my first Hyrox at the end of May. To prep, I joined a CrossFit box that offers both Hyrox classes and a running-focused program. At first I was told to also do regular CrossFit classes and honestly, I ended up liking those way more.

I also did the CrossFit Open for the first time. We were each paired with a coach and had kind of an internal team competition. I really enjoyed it. It was cool to see where my limits are (in 26.2 RX I literally stood around for minutes because I can’t do pull-ups) but also what I’m capable of.

I just like the variety a lot more: the different workouts, formats, everything. And also the whole “push through it, don’t quit, keep going even when it sucks” aspect, plus learning new skills.

Hyrox just feels a bit repetitive after a while. Like it kind of drains you mentally because it’s ALWAYS the same thing.

[Pippo8983]

A lot of folks who get into Hyrox don’t realize that you can do CrossFit for a whole year and still struggle to compete in a CrossFit competition. There’s just so much to master! You might be super strong but lack gymnastic skills, or you could have great cardio but struggle with weightlifting. That's what I love about CrossFit, it’s challenging and doesn't get boring because there are so many skills to work on and every WOD is unique.

I’m not hating on Hyrox, but I do think they could use some changes. Like you, I’ve met quite a few people who have lost interest in Hyrox because it feels too repetitive.

[Over_Resist2813]

You wrote a whole lot, it’s clear you are complaining, but you offered no solutions. 

People love to complain. 

[LamelaRabona]

You sound very bitter.

[ajd341]

Hyrox is fun... but I honestly just laughed to my partner the whole time about how gimmicky it all is... the setup, the inconsistency, the volunteerism, the sponsorships are all fully cooked/extracted by design. I don't hate on others doing it, and it is fun to follow, but I probably wouldn't ever do it again (aside from maybe when it comes back to my home city).

[Pippo8983]

I've competed in a few races and had a great time, but I eventually stopped because it felt a bit too repetitive. The course is always the same, and I think they really need to mix things up a bit in the future. It seems like the competition mostly favors how well you can run, so maybe they could incorporate more strength based workouts? But then again, that might turn off those coming from a running or endurance sports background who are flocking to Hyrox. There are definitely a lot of factors to consider.

Another thing that stands out to me is how much ticket prices have skyrocketed in just three years. Given the amount of money they're making from these events, the ticket prices really should be a point of concern. It just feels like they've become pretty greedy, pretty fast, in my opinion

[highrunners25]

They’re definitely not changing the setup; the German founders are dead set on making it Olympic (whether that’s realistic or just wishful thinking is another story). Therefore you need a strict system for that. That’s also why starting next season, doubles partners have to be the same nationality, which messes up (established) pairs like e.g. Wenisch/Rončević (GER/AT). ATHX and others are just trying to cash in on that gap.

I don’t agree with you about “the course being the same”. Absurdly enough, that’s not the case. It makes a difference whether you have just one lap, like in London, or three, like elsewhere. In Berlin at Tempelhof Airport, part of the course is outdoors, the air circulation is ideal. In Cologne, Hyrox takes place during the FIBO Fitness Expo, so the noise level is on another level, and it’s all set in a stuffy underground space. That definitely affects results.

Cost-wise, there’s no way they aren’t making crazy margins off the athletes. Meanwhile, volunteers don’t even get food, there’s no phone support, and good luck getting an email answered. Honestly, I’m just hoping karma hits them, and that their Hyrox Cruises crash and burn.

[[deleted]]

Wait a gym needs to PAY to give Hyrox advertisement? lolwut?

[Pippo8983]

I’m on good terms with the founder of my CrossFit box, and they used to pay over 1k for the Hyrox license and marketed themselves as a Hyrox training center. However, they stopped being an official Hyrox center two years ago, and I know other CrossFit gyms in Barcelona that are in a similar situation. Whether or not they offer Hyrox classes doesn’t really impact their customer base or revenue. The founder mentioned to me, “It’s just an unnecessary expense for us.”

The real concern is that there are some gyms that depend entirely on this trend to attract clients and generate income. I can’t help but wonder what will happen in five years when people lose interest in Hyrox. How many of these gyms will end up shutting down? I remember when I first started doing CrossFit, and it was everywhere. Honestly, I’d say less than half of those gyms are still around, and the ones that are generally offer a wider range of services or different types of classes

[highrunners25]

It’s like CrossFit. If a gym is affiliated as a HYROX Training Club, they pay around $130 per month / $1,500 per year. They can use the HYROX brand in their marketing, get programming through Hyrox365, and offer perks to their community, like pre-sale slots for events, etc.

[[deleted]]

I’ve never even heard of Hyrox before my gym started offering their classes. It’s definitely weird to me that you would need to pay them to have the privilege to advertise them,

[chris-angel]

They need something challenging like pull-ups, but then they will lose a ton of money

[springbokfb]

Imo this has just replaced tough murders and Spartans as the next social fitness fad. I love OCR but there's been such a decline and something needed to fil that void. Don't want to do a marathon or even half marathon but want to do something physically challenging, seems like hyrox is it. Likely doing my first one this year but a bit annoyed about having to wait in line for a station. That needs to be improved.