As Hyrox quickly becomes the trendiest workout class for 2025, L360 speaks to an expert to find out if it really is a replacement for CrossFit.
From Berlin to London, there’s a new fitness obsession sweeping the globe — and it’s giving your weekend half-marathon a serious run for its money.
Enter: Hyrox, the German-born indoor fitness race that’s skyrocketing in popularity. With more global competitors than ever signing up for events across the world, it’s fast becoming the challenge of choice for fitness and strength-training-lovers alike.
Where 10Ks and Tough Mudders once reigned supreme, Hyrox is stealing the spotlight — and your Instagram feed — thanks to influencers like Lucy Davis and Zoe Rae (yes, Molly-Mae Hague’s sister) who are proudly repping the brand.
But if you’re thinking Hyrox sounds suspiciously like CrossFit — the OG high-intensity functional fitness programme with more than 15,000 affiliated gyms worldwide — you’re not alone.
To clear up the confusion, we sat down with fitness, wellness and nutrition expert Penny Weston to unpack the key differences between the two — and help you decide which one deserves a place in your training diary.
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What is Hyrox?
“Hyrox is designed to test endurance,” explains Penny. “It combines running with eight functional exercises, including rowing, burpees and sled pushes. The format is always the same: you complete a 1km run followed by a workout station — repeated eight times.”
Expect full-body movements that challenge both your cardiovascular stamina and muscular endurance. It’s sweaty, strategic and seriously satisfying for goal-setters who thrive on structure.
What is CrossFit?
“CrossFit is much more varied,” Penny says. “Each session changes daily — one day might focus on heavy squats and Olympic lifts, the next might involve rowing, gymnastics, or high-rep bodyweight moves.”
CrossFit classes typically start with a warm-up and strength component, followed by a MetCon — that’s metabolic conditioning to you and me — designed to push your strength, stamina and agility to the limit. Think skipping ropes, kettlebell swings, box jumps and burpees in rapid succession.
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Is Hyrox or CrossFit harder?
“Both are tough — but in different ways,” says Penny. “If you’re not used to high-intensity workouts or lifting heavy, CrossFit might feel brutal at first. On the other hand, Hyrox demands serious endurance and pacing over a longer timeframe, so it’s no walk in the park either.”
In short: they’re both challenging — just tailored to different types of fitness.
Does Hyrox or CrossFit burn more calories?
While it depends on intensity and individual effort, Hyrox’s blend of cardio and functional strength moves can be a huge calorie-burner — especially over the course of a full event.
Meanwhile, CrossFit’s shorter, high-intensity workouts are also incredibly efficient at torching calories and building lean muscle.
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Is Hyrox or CrossFit cheaper?
Here’s where things start to differ significantly. “CrossFit can be more expensive due to monthly membership fees at specialist gyms,” says Penny. “Hyrox, meanwhile, is often more affordable day to day, but does involve one-off event entry fees.”
Is Hyrox or CrossFit right for you?
“If your goal is endurance or weight loss, or you love the structure of training for an event, Hyrox could be your perfect fit,” says Penny. “If you want to build strength, master new skills and never do the same workout twice, you might prefer CrossFit.”
And you don’t necessarily have to choose just one. “Plenty of people incorporate both into their training,” Penny adds. “The most important thing is finding something that excites you and keeps you coming back. Because at the end of the day, consistency is what drives results.”
Whether you’re chasing a PB or just looking for a new fitness buzz, both Hyrox and CrossFit have serious benefits. Pick the one that makes you feel strong, empowered — and a little bit badass.
Feature image credit: Canva
