In the CrossFit community, R.A.D (short for Rally Against Destruction) shoes are known for dropping limited releases with new color options on a regular basis. When they’re gone, they’re gone, which tends to create a wild demand with every new release. But that emphasis on style overshadows something more important — these shoes actually kick a lot of ass in the gym.
I’ll admit, I was a skeptic when R.A.Ds started showing up in my gym. All anyone talked about what the new colors that dropped, and my first impression was that they were more style than substance. But after putting the R.A.D One V2 ($150) through a few months of workouts, I’m a believer.
In short: R.A.D combined thoughtful design and tough materials to create a shoe that feels locked to the floor during lifts, soft and springy during plyometric movements, and flexible enough to feel comfortable during short sprints and agility work.
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Stable platform for heavy lifts -
Grippy outsole -
Durable upper -
Sidewalls provide solid grip on rope climbs
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Not ideal for long-distance running -
Not very breathable
R.A.D One V2 Review
Brand Background
Breaking into the CrossFit footwear game isn’t easy, but R.A.D Footwear caught athletes’ eyes with splashy styling and limited-release drops. The R.A.D. One V1 was well-regarded among athletes for its stable platform and responsive cushioning. Since then, R.A.D has released the R.A.D R-1 running shoe and its newest CrossFit shoe, the R.A.D One V2.
How I Tested the R.A.D One V2
I wore the One V2s through 3 months of training 5 to 6 days a week. These workouts included squatting 450+ pounds, deadlifting 550+ pounds, burpees, box jumps, rope climbs, and every other movement that can pop up in a CrossFit workout. Workouts also included running, from shuttle runs to 400m sprints and runs up to a mile long.
What’s New
The R.A.D One V2 has a wider toe box than its predecessor, which will appeal to athletes with wider feet (like me). The upper, made of its mix of mesh and suede, feels structured and durable.
As for the outsole, the split herringbone pattern is extremely grippy and low-profile enough to not hang up on crossover movements like box step-overs, and the Swellsole midsole (made partly from environmentally friendly sugarcane) feels soft and responsive, but doesn’t sacrifice stability.
This iteration comes with a distinctive pair of WAVE ridges climbing up the lateral side of the upper. The most noticeable difference between the V1 and V2, these ridges add structure to the upper and are designed to add grip and reduce wear during rope climbs.
Good Lift
R.A.D. says that the One V2 is explicitly designed for training and lifting weights, and they hit the mark. The upper feels thick and supportive, and the WAVE ridges creeping up the sides pair well with the firm TPU clip on the heel, creating a shoe that provides excellent support for heavy lifts.
During heavy squats and deadlifts, my feet felt locked to the floor. The day before writing this, I was doing front squat doubles with 300 pounds, and my feet never felt like they were rolling to the side or shifting in the shoe.
The same went during weightlifting workouts: The grippy outsole and locked-in feel provided excellent stability during heavy cleans and snatches, while the split pattern in the outsole delivered plenty of forefoot flexibility during split jerks.
That flexibility also paid off during movements like burpees, box jumps, and walking lunges. The shoes, while extremely stable, never felt too stiff during plyometrics. The same goes for double-unders: I never felt that excessive fatigue in my feet that I get when I’m trying to jump rope in shoes that are too stiff.
Speaking of rope, this shoe fared extremely well on rope climbs. As a 220-pound athlete, hauling my ass up that rope requires a very grippy shoe with a stable platform.
Turns out those WAVE midsole ridges are extremely grippy during rope climbs, and that supportive platform that I loved during lifts kept my feet comfortable on rope climbs as well. The only other shoe that performed this well on rope climbs was the Nike Metcon 9 (as noted in our Best CrossFit Shoes buyer’s guide), but it didn’t feel nearly as good during runs.
No Reps
Like anything that’s expected to do it all, there are a few small complaints to mention with the One V2. The first is with the upper — while I appreciate the stiff, supportive upper, it doesn’t breathe as well as I’d like it to, especially during 100-plus-degree workouts in my local box in California. It’s a small nitpick for me, but people whose feet tend to overheat should take note.
And, of course, these aren’t going to be your shoes if your coach goes nuts and programs a long-distance run. They feel good (not great) on shuttle runs and 200m sprints, but I got about a mile into a longer run before I started pining for my running shoes. These feel better than most of my CrossFit shoes on shorter runs, but for longer distances, you’ll want dedicated runners.
I’ll bring up this last complaint hesitantly because I don’t have an issue with it, but a lot of my gym buddies have issues with the way the WAVE ridges look on the side of the shoe. The One V1 was noted as a training shoe that looked like a lifestyle shoe, and some feel that the V2 doesn’t look as good outside of the gym.
I can see that in some color options where the WAVE is contrasted from the rest of the shoe, but when the shoe is one solid color, they’re barely noticeable. Also, I feel like the contrast on the recently released black with the gum outsole looks pretty sweet.
R.A.D One V2: Final Thoughts
As someone who loves to move heavy weight around, I’m a huge fan of what R.A.D footwear has done with the One V2. The grippy outsole, supportive midsole, and beefy upper give me an excellent locked-in feel when I go heavy. In fact, I just realized that I haven’t taken the time to swap them out for my lifters during strength sessions since I’ve been testing these.
Even more impressive is the fact that the stability doesn’t have a significant negative impact on bodyweight and plyometric movements. They’re responsive enough for high-rep box jumps, flexible enough for burpees, and they don’t make me want to saw my feet off after hundreds of double-unders. If you’re not put off by the styling of the WAVE ridges (and I’m definitely not), these might be your go-to training shoe.
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