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From CrossFit to Hyrox, there’s no denying that functional fitness is having a real moment.
Booming alongside running, the hybrid sports are becoming increasingly popular in the fitness community, offering high-intensity, functional fitness disciplines that combine strength training with cardio endurance to really hone your overall fitness.
In short, fewer people are getting their gains during leg day at the gym and are instead growing their overall fitness through hybrid workouts.
Think: a bit of running, a bit of chucking a barbell around, a burpee, a pull up, a little bit of skipping…
The problem is, however, it can be tough to find the best footwear to suit your hybrid workout. Your stiff, flat and stable weightlifting shoes are terrible on your runs, and your squidgy and supportive runners make weightlifting a nightmare.
So, to help make those transitions easier than ever, Represent has unveiled a brand-new carbon-plated hybrid running shoe engineered to deliver explosive speed on the run and absolute stability for hybrid training and competition.
Introducing: the 247 Arc-4 Elite Race.
247 Arc-4 Elite Race
Created for the days you want to really perform, the 247 Arc-4 Elite Race shoes are so much more than a running trainer, created to not just help you finish first on racing segments but ace your strength elements, too, with zero compromise.
shop £250Created for the days you want to really perform, the 247 Arc-4 Elite Race shoes are so much more than a running trainer, created to not just help you finish first on racing segments but ace your strength elements, too, with zero compromise.
But what makes the Arc-4 such an unreal and unique pick for running, CrossFit and everything in-between? It has to be the Carbon Progression Plate.
Constructed from Pebax PA12 polyamide combined with carbon fibre, this plate delivers high energy return during the drive-off, push-off and take-off phases of each step, adding additional power with every stride and, hopefully, helping you complete your runs that bit quicker.
Alongside the plate, the Supercritical 247 Foam midsole offers a 65% rebound rate while remaining incredibly lightweight, with the perfect amount softness for responsive cushioning without sacrificing ground feel. No control lost, but plenty of power gained.
This also makes them excellent for providing a bit of extra power for your functional movements and transitions, as well as adding additional stability for things like the SkiErg and double unders.
The shoes also feature 100% rubber outsoles with 50mm³ maximum abrasion resistance to ensure added durability and traction across an array of surfaces – from gravel streets and roads to rubber gym flooring.
My thoughts:
As a runner and a CrossFitter, my first thought when faced with these hybrid shoes was, admittedly, ‘how on EARTH can a running shoe like this have any place in my CrossFit workouts?’.
I was imagining falling forward on the cleans, breaking my ankle on a box jump. Because when it comes to functional fitness, stability and traction is key. My CrossFit shoes are flat flat flat. These looked like runners. Make it make sense.
The thing is, though, the 247 Arc-4 Elite Race shoes do make sense.
To begin, these are stunning running trainers for your races and speed sessions. Thanks to the carbon plate, you can really feel that extra propulsion in every step, and they’ve now solidified themselves as my staple race day shoe. Half marathon incoming.
In fact, the first time I used the Arc-4s I got a 5k personal best. Not bad!
These shoes also really look the part. I have them in Black and I just love how sleek they are. The pink accents are especially really fun, and you can change out the black laces for pink to add even more colour.
The contrasting sole looks great, too, which makes every step look even better.
The Arc-4s feel incredibly light, made with a super lightweight mesh that feels thin yet strong thanks to the clear line TPU skin overlay reinforcements. This means that your feet feel consistently cool and aerated thus making them excellent for longer runs.
They’re also incredibly comfortable – which is a must for me who gets sore feet after every run. They’re wide enough to keep my wide feet comfortable while remaining snug enough for constant support.
Running in these feels like getting a little boost, too. I’ve never tried carbon plated shoes before this 247 pair and the feeling is incredible, helping me get that much more explosive power with every step.
They blew me away in my CrossFit workout as well. My most recent trip featured running, double unders, burpees and wall balls, and the ARC 4s kept me figuratively on my toes and literally incredibly stable through every minute of the workout.
As suspected, they felt excellent on the run segments, but they really blew me away with the functional elements. My skipping felt propelled and supported, and the shoes helped my feet bend and move easier during the burpees – something I’ve always struggled with in more rigid shoes.
On the other hand, the shoes also felt more than flat and supportive during the wall balls, helping me stay on the flats of my feet for easy, comfortable squatting.
In short, the 247 Arc-4 Elite Race shoes have solidified themselves as my go-to race day, competition day and speed day pair, and I can’t wait to try more items from Represent 247’s repertoire.
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