What made me want to review GoRuck’s Rough Runner trainer? Firstly, it’s one of the shoes that Tia-Clair Toomey-Orr wore at the 2024 CrossFit Games (and won multiple events in). Secondly, because she says they’re more than just a good running shoe, but a great workout shoe too, particularly for WODs, thanks to their responsive cushioning and rebound.
The Rough Runner is very different from GoRuck’s Ballistic Trainer. The latter is for functional fitness and offers more stability across all three arches of the foot, whereas the Rough Runner is the brand’s first venture into running shoes. But, as Tia says, it offers a lot more versatility than your conventional running shoe.
I’ve been on the hunt for a trainer that’s a bit of an ‘all-rounder’ for a while now. Something that you can reach for and do most things in; run, lift and cardio classes, so that you don’t have to ram multiple shoes into your gym bag.
I recently had success with the R.A.D V2 trainer. However, I’d be lying if I said the Rough Runner didn’t intrigue me, mainly because Tia rates them so highly— and she is a champ after all— and because, let’s be honest, it looks far from your regular running shoe. So, are they good for more than simply pounding the pavement? Let’s find out!
GoRuck Rough Runner Review: Price and availability
The Rough Runner launched back in June 2023, so they’re not the newest shoes on the block, or the oldest either. They retail at £114/$140 on the official GoRuck store. I don’t think they’re too badly priced, especially as many workout shoes can range up to £150+ these days. Plus, they’re covered by their SCARS Lifetime Gaurantee where, if you encounter any issue with your shoe, GoRuck will sort you with a new pair.
They’re available in both men's and women's options and come in a wide variety of colours, from ‘electric blue’ to ‘hot pink’. If, however, you prefer something a little more muted, you’ve got your generic black, grey and white (although the latter would probably get pretty dirty).
GoRuck Rough Runner Review: Design and fit
There’s no hiding from the fact that the Rough Runners aren’t the ‘sexiest’ workout shoes on the planet. In fact, as soon as I saw them, they immediately gave me PE teacher/dad shoe vibes. However, there’s no point having a workout shoe that looks great but, equally, sucks to train in (which the Rough Runners don’t).
Straight out of the box, they felt great on my feet, with plenty of wriggle room, flexibility and breathability, thanks to the mesh upper. I tried a 5.5 UK and I found them very true to size. They fit my foot comfortably with no need for a break-in period. However, when I took a quick stroll around the garden, I noticed a bit of looseness around the heel, causing my foot to shift up and down. Fortunately, the additional top eyelet solves this problem, so it’s not a deal breaker.
The cushioning, although noticeably different from a traditional running shoe, is excellent. As GoRuck puts it, there’s “no marshmallow midsole", so you don’t sink into the ground with every step. Instead, it has an EVA midsole made from gradient density foam which provides more bounce under the ball of your foot and becomes progressively more stable toward the heel. I found this design struck the perfect balance between stability and good energy return.
The rugged outsole has quite defined lugs, offering great traction and stability so you can easily switch between different terrains, whether that’s the pavement, off-road, or the gym floor. The heel-to-toe drop— 10mm— is quite high, which GoRuck says “allows for the ideal balance between a running stride and a rucking gait”.
Overall, I found them extremely comfortable, supportive, and very responsive.
GoRuck Rough Runner review: Performance and comfort
As I took the Rough Runners for some run intervals on the treadmill, I had doubts. I was slightly skeptical about how comfortable they would feel to run in compared to a conventional running shoe as, admittedly, I am someone who prefers a bit more ‘squish.’ However, I found them to be extremely responsive and I was met with a nice ‘bounce’ each time my foot struck the running belt. I found the higher heel-to-toe drop particularly good for someone like myself, who is a notorious heel striker as it offered more support with each landing.
Of course, I also had to try them outside too. I took them for a 5K run down the canal path where I encountered various terrain— grass, mud, gravel, and road, so I really got to put them through their paces. Moving from each one felt pretty effortless, thanks to their grippy lugs. I actually loathe running on grass, and this was unplanned on my part, but the Rough Runners made it a bearable experience, and I didn’t suffer from any shin splints or overly sore calves the following day. My feet also didn’t overheat, thanks to the plenty of mesh paneling. In fact, they actually felt pretty chilly.
Although I didn’t go ‘rucking’ in them, I did wear them for an entire day walking around London, and my feet were very happy. I had read other comments that people had experienced significant rubbing and blisters around the heel, but I didn’t experience this at all. Maybe this was due to not wearing the appropriate socks.
I also found them to be well-suited for my circuit training, which included burpees, thrusters, box jumps, lunges, and more, as they provided enough lateral support to move swiftly from one exercise to the next. They were also good for general gym use, such as using weight machines, hitting the treadmill or curling a dumbbell here and there.
I avoided wearing them for heavy lifts though, such as squats, deadlifts, and Olympic lifts. They were fine if the weight wasn't light, however, I don’t feel they’d offer enough stability to allow me to really ‘push through my foot’ under significant load. The high heel-to-toe drop would generally make squats and deadlifts more difficult too, as it increases the distance between yourself and the floor so the barbell has even further to travel. I'd stick to an actual shoe designed for this type of training, like the R.A.D V2, Under Armour's Reign Lifting Shoe, or even GoRuck’s Ballistic Trainer.
GoRuck Rough Runner review: Verdict
The Rough Runner from GoRuck is more than just a running trainer, it’s also great for (light) trail running, walking, and as a general fitness shoe. While it may not provide the stability required for heavy lifting, and there are better high-performance options if running is your main focus, it’s an excellent choice for those seeking a comfortable, all-around shoe. If you’re after a shoe that you can clock up miles in, as well as use for dynamic, functional training, then it’s a strong contender.
