GQ's FavoriteNike Metcon 3> $130, Buy now at Dick's Sporting Goods

Unless you're training for an Iron Man or the Mr. Olympia contest, the truth is you don't need a different pair of gym shoes for every kind of workout. Whether you're a runner, Crossfit-er, Pilates-er, or just a dude who's trying to get swole, most of us just need one pair that we can count on day in and day out—and for us, that's the Nike Metcon 3. These gym shoes are light enough to handle shorter distance runs outside (think five miles or less), while sturdy enough to keep your feet anchored to the ground during your deadlifts. Plus, its design strikes the perfect balance of minimalist and futuristic, so you can know you look cool without also worrying about being the guy in the gym who cares more about how his clothes look than his body.

3 Reasons We Love the Nike Metcon 3

1. World-class personal trainer Will Torres swears by them: Will Torres is a premier New York City-based personal trainer who founded the gym WILLSPACE in 2010. He's trained everyone from Calvin Klein and former Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci to primetime on-air personalities and fashion models (aka the people who make their living by looking great and staying in shape). Training with Will one on one isn't cheap, but one tip he gives away for free is that wearing the Nike Metcon 3 will optimize your workouts. "The sneaker has one level sole from front to back, which gives it a really sturdy base. That makes it great for lifting and plyometrics like box jumps and jump rope," Torres says. The Metcon 3 is unlike modern running shoes that often curl up in the front, which, combined with their ultra-lightweight knit uppers, can destabilize when you lifting heavy weights.

2. They do it all: There are specialized shoes for lifting and running, but a cross-training shoe like the Metcon 3 is built for guys who need a shoe that can do it all. Even the insole of the shoe reads "TRAINING: LIFT RUN JUMP CUT," which essentially covers every single exercise a person can do in the gym. You know those videos you see of NFL players getting into shape by sprinting around cones, lifting tires, and then busting out heavy sets on the bench press all within a couple hours? The ones that make you want to get into the gym right-effin-now and get more ripped than you've ever been? These are the sneakers that will allow you to do the same—you know, just probably at a much slower pace and with much less weight on the bench press.

3. You can wear them outside of the gym: Major sneaker brands throw millions of dollars a year at developing new sneaker technologies for runners, but the kicks they make often end of getting worn more on the street. Conversely, there are brands who nail the performance side of gym sneakers, but you wouldn't be caught dead wearing them without head-to-toe workout gear. The Nike Metcon 3, however, is a sneaker you can wear to the gym with a pair of jeans or slim sweats, wear for a sweaty-as-hell hour, and then wear home. They're not going to turn heads like other Nike sneakers, but when you're on your third set of kettle bell swings and can barely remember your own name, who cares?

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Our Other Favorite Do-It-All Gym ShoeThe Reebok Crossfit Nano 7

Will Torres is a huge fan of the Nike Metcon 3, but when he's busting his own ass in the gym, he's all about the Reebok Crossfit Nano 7. "Like the Nike Metcon, it has a flat sole and it moves really well because of its mesh upper," he says. "But what makes the Nano 7 different is it has a wider sole for guys with wider feet and the sole is a little stiffer which will give you extra support." So if you try out the Nike Metcons and you find they're a little narrow, reach for the Reebok Crossfit Nano 7, which retails for exactly the same price but is built with an exaggerated toe box (especially around the pinky toe) to reduce friction when you're lifting heavy and need a wide, solid base. Their wider and stiffer sole does make the Reeboks a little less fit for running, and they're not quite as handsome as the Nikes, but they deliver on what's most important when you're working hard in the gym—performance and comfort.

$130, buy now at ReebokMore Best StuffThe 4 Card Holders That'll Solve Your Costanza Wallet SituationThe Best Chinos for Any BudgetThe Noise-Canceling Headphones that Can Mute the WorldThe Best Leather Duffel Bags for Making Everyone Jealous at the AirportWatch Now:Conor McGregor's Favorite Romantic ComedyJake Woolf is a writer who has covered men’s style for over ten years and has contributed to GQ since 2014. A graduate of Parsons The New School for Design (good school, long name), he also has bylines at Robb Report, HighSnobiety, Pitchfork, and the defunct #menswear website Four Pins... Read moreWriterXRelated Stories for GQBest StuffBest StuffSneakers