RAD One V2 Performance Review

In late 2022, we reviewed the RAD One, and it performed well enough to go on several of our ‘best’ training shoes lists. Then in 2024, we tried the RAD R-1, a solid running shoe that couldn’t quite compete with similarly priced high-performing runners. Now, we get the RAD One V2, a revamp of the RAD One that takes what the original did well and tries to improve it in multiple ways. Let’s find out if RAD was able to improve on the high-performing first version.

Please note that while RAD sent us pairs of the RAD One V2, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.

How do the Authors Train?

Arune Singh (age 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming provided by Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Trains daily with a focus on running, strength training, and mobility. He writes the majority of our running shoe reviews and runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and his growing affinity for long-distance races. He regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races. His strength training and mobility regimen center around maintaining flexibility and lifting heavy to build power as a counterbalance to all the running he’s doing. His number one focus is staying injury-free so he can keep up the sweet gig of reviewing shoes for a living.

What is the RAD One V2?

RAD describes it as:

“It’s cushioned for plyometrics, stabilised for lifting, durable for rope-climbs, light-weight for gymnastics, tuned for competitions, and comfortable enough to wear as a daily trainer. A solid, dependable shoe that can seamlessly transition from training to the street.”

Training

Arune: I heard a lot of hype about the RAD One training shoes over the last year, and while it was clear these shoes had the hype behind them, I was a bit skeptical about performance. There are loads of buzzed-about trainers that just haven’t worked for me.

But from the first workout in these shoes, I knew I had another early contender (alongside the Reebok Nano X5) for the top training shoe of 2025.

RAD has done a fantastic job of making a training shoe that actually feels like it’s made for training. It isn’t trying to be a lifestyle shoe or a do-everything shoe for multiple sports.

The RAD One V2 is the definition of a versatile training shoe, performing excellently with weightlifting, to functional fitness training, to bodyweight training. While the shoe feels a bit stiff at first – especially that upper around the lacing area – it breaks in very quickly over the course of your first workout. And you’ll find it only molds to your feet even more over subsequent workouts.

The herringbone traction pattern on the outsole is a particular standout, though my pair in LA Lakers colors required a good wipe down part way through the workout as they attracted seemingly all the animal fur in my household. You’ll find that your feet feel completely locked into the ground while still having the grip to get up on your toes for compound movements like cleans or snatches.

That’s all complimented by the SwellFoam midsole that feels soft and springy without feeling unstable or eliminating groundfeel. Like the upper, the midsole really softens up with every workout and feels more like your own personally crafted shoe over time.

I’ll let Drew explain the midfoot wrap a bit more as he’s the tech specs expert, but I feel confident saying it’s working. Single leg exercises feel more stable than in nearly any other training shoe on the market, and explosive movements like skaters or burpees feel incredibly stable, too.

How was this for you, Drew?

Drew: Arune was right to mention the herringbone traction. And while I don’t have pets so don’t know if my colorway picks up pet hair, I do know that RAD leaving it largely unchanged from V1 (with the exception of a few forefoot flex grooves) was a great decision. Just like the original, the herringbone outsole on the RAD One V2 performed great in every in-gym circumstance and shined when doing agility drills, plyometrics, or digging into the platform for a heavy deadlift.

The SwellFoam above it is again good but not great. RAD claims the SwellFoam is “springy”, but it’s not. Not even by training shoe standards. That’s not surprising as it’s caged most of the length of the shoe. The foam doesn’t have any way to expand and flatten when you need a little extra impact protection. SwellFoam is just basic EVA (other than having some bio-based EVA content) and works fine for a workout shoe, but don’t expect anything that draws your attention.

But again, just like the original, a non-springy/squishy foam platform is the first brick in a well-built stability platform. There are actually several other helpful parts that add stability. 

The first is the microfiber stability rand that wraps the midfoot and heel. It’s similar to the rand on the original but is beefed up. It, along with the Wave Ridge, keeps the foot squarely on the footbed no matter the movement. The Wave Ridge protects the shoe from rope abrasion, but for many people, it will mostly just add impressive containment during any lift. My foot wasn’t going anywhere in this shoe, and yours won’t either.

Finally, the TPU heel clip and beefy internal heel counter – standards in cross training shoes – keep the heel in place. The lacing system locks the foot back into this area nicely, and the stiffness there prevents the heel from making any unwanted movements.

It’s a stability package that may be even better than the TYR CXT-2. And remarkably, the RAD One V2 doesn’t feel too stiff on-foot. I felt natural walking around in it while running errands after the gym. It’s a cross trainer that’s versatile enough to handle at least some time on your feet. But cardio…well, that’s a different story.

Cardio

Arune: So many training shoes are obsessed with being the shoe to do EVERYTHING, and it’s understandable. That’s a compelling value proposition for customers who probably would be comfortable wearing a pair of Brooks Ghost running shoes to the gym so they can run and then do some weightlifting.

I respect RAD for not promoting the One V2 as a cardio shoe because that’s really not its strength, even if it’s not a bad experience per se.

The energy return in the midsole really rewarded me when I was rowing. I continually set PRs, and my feet never felt sore even after the increased effort I was putting into those sessions.

But these aren’t shoes I’d recommend for running as my gait felt unnatural each time I sprinted, and my feet felt weighed down.

If you’re into CrossFit, I think these shoes will work well enough for your needs: short sprints (when you adjust your gait), rowing, air bike, and perhaps some bodyweight work.

But if you’re planning longer cardio sessions, I’d say to choose a different training shoe – or just bring another pair that’s specialized for the cardio of your choice.

Drew: The RAD One V2 is good for walking around, but…cardio is not in its wheelhouse. Jump rope, agility drills, the rower, and some (very) short sprints work well…but anything beyond that will feel clunky and forced.

Comfort

Arune: If you had asked me about this during my first training session, I would’ve been fairly negative. As mentioned, the RAD One V2 felt stiff, and there was a lot of pressure on the top of my foot near the lacing area.

But once that session was done, the shoe molded to my feet, and I felt excited to put them on again thanks to that comfy midsole. The mesh upper also really breaks in nicely – kinda like a pair of stiff jeans – and remains super breathable even in some humid temperatures.

It can still be a little bit tough for my Hobbit feet to get in the shoe, but I’m always glad when they do and think the comfort here will create a lot of new RAD fans.

Drew: The original RAD One impressed with the upper materials and comfort, and RAD repeats that playbook here. The suede and mesh upper is padded in all the right places while avoiding feeling poofy.

The RAD One V2 stays close to the foot and feels slightly claustrophobic when new. But, two to three workouts later, Arune’s jeans analogy came to life. The layers of padding, suede, and mesh conformed nicely to my foot’s natural shape. From that point, the RAD One V2’s upper has stayed out of the way and protected my feet without really inhibiting movement. It’s still protective and durable but no longer anything I think about when at the gym.

Fit

Arune: Even with my slightly wide forefoot, I found my regular training shoe size – a Men’s 9.5 – to be a perfect fit. 

I wouldn’t say the RAD One V2 is super wide-foot friendly, but it is more accommodating than many of the big-name brands and feels based around a more natural foot shape.

Drew: The RAD One V2’s toebox is a nice width and allows plenty of space to spread the toes during big lifts. But it narrows slightly into the midfoot and then even more in the heel. If you’re a wide-footer with an especially wide heel, this shoe might not work for you. But most wide-footers will enjoy their normal training shoe size.

Aesthetics

Arune: As mentioned, I got an LA Lakers-esque colorway, and I excitedly put these shoes to the Wife Test.

While she liked the look, she felt the TPU heel clip made it look more like a training shoe than a fashionable shoe to wear around Los Angeles – and I agree. It kinda looks like I stepped into some paint that dried into some thick detailing during the splashing around.

But for a gym shoe, the RAD One V2 has a very clean look and doesn’t look like anything else on the market.

Drew: The original RAD One was more casual-friendly but the RAD One V2 will turn more heads at the gym. The Wave Ridge and outsole take color nicely and will catch people’s eyes. 

I received the Dust Orange colorway, and the orange outsole POPS. Looking at the various colorways available on the RAD website, all of them use the coloration of that outsole and its “wings” to great effect. It reminds me more of a basketball shoe than a cross training shoe…and coming from a former basketball player, that’s a big compliment.

Is the RAD One V2 worth $150?

Arune: It’s worth every penny.

As we’ve discussed, this is a top-tier training shoe, and it comes in at the median training shoe price. The RAD One V2 will meet all your training needs and get you through a variety of fitness situations. What’s not to love about the price?

Drew: As Arune said, $150 is the go-to price point for high-end cross training shoes. What the RAD One V2 brings to the table (materials, stability, comfort) easily justifies the price point.

RAD One V2 Final Verdict

Arune: We’re only a couple months into 2025, and the RAD One V2 is a top-tier training shoe that will make all the ‘best of’ lists, if not top them.

I’m hoping that this – and the Reebok Nano X5 – is a sign of companies upping their training shoe game to deliver the kind of hits that drive us all to bigger and better PRs.

Drew: The RAD One V2 shows RAD can take an already very good shoe and tweak it to make it even better. Fans of the brand have to be pumped. This small Portland, Oregon based brand has produced two cross trainers that compete with (and in some cases surpass) the big brands that have been making cross training shoes for over a decade.

If you’re the type of person who wants a shoe no one else at your gym will have but still needs top-tier performance to support your workouts, the RAD One V2 is the best choice. It’ll also appear on multiple of our ‘best’ lists…because it truly is one of the best gym shoes available.