This $150 While On Earth trainer nails heavy lifts but leaves running to other shoes

Introduction to the While On Earth Move Trainer

BRADY: I’m not a huge NFL fan, but I like to stay somewhat up to date with what’s happening in the league, in case I get trapped in a conversation with other dudes asking if a team is “overrated” or if a player is “washed.” Maybe it’s my deep desire to always seem knowledgeable or relatable, but it’s the cross that I will bear.

Anyway, earlier this year, I saw a press conference where Christian McCaffrey, the running back for the San Francisco 49ers, was wearing a shirt with a simple print that read: “while on earth.” I wasn’t sure if it was a biblical reference or some cultural phenomenon I otherwise didn’t know, so naturally I googled it, and it was neither of those things. What I found was While On Earth, a performance wellness brand with heavy CrossFit roots, where McCaffrey is an investor who was brought on at the end of 2025.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen brands bring in high-caliber athletes as public-facing investors in a running shoe brand, but it’s unique in that McCaffrey is still at the top of his game in the NFL. Of the retired athletes turned investors, On has Roger Federer, Hylo has Andy Murray, and Bandit has Alex Rodriguez (you earn my respect if you knew that). So, While On Earth has some serious name pedigree behind it, but does the Move Trainer live up to its name?

What we like about the While On Earth Move Trainer

BRADY: For starters, I feel like before I go into anything about this shoe, I have to call out that there are 18 colorways for this model listed on their site. If you can’t find a colorway that you like, I would say the problem lies with you, my friend. This isn’t a new phenomenon for lifting shoes, as the Nike Metcon 10 has 14 colorways to choose from in addition to the option of designing your own colorway on their site. Quick sidebar, I can’t be the only person to design a colorway on Nike.com back in the day, knowing wholeheartedly that I’d never buy the final product, right?

Let’s run through what While on Earth has done well with the Move Trainer. First, I think they did a good job of creating an accommodating fit, especially through the toe box. The upper isn’t foot-shaped like an Altra or Topo, but I didn’t feel that my toes were scrunched while lifting. As someone pretty concerned with toe boxes, this is a major plus.

The midsole is also very stiff and good for heavy lifting, so in the world of cross-training, this leans more towards shoes like the Under Armour Tribase Reign, the Reebok Nano, or the aforementioned Nike Metcon (the traditional model, not the “free”). Finally, the outsole here is also very grippy, which is paramount for stability while doing heavy compound movements.

What we don’t like about the While On Earth Move Trainer

BRADY: While I think the While On Earth Move Trainer is a solid shoe, it feels much more suited for the world of CrossFit, heavy strength training, and daily wear than it does for Hyrox, which is what most people are thinking of right now in the realm of fitness competition. Now, I haven’t competed in Hyrox (yet) as my focus for the last year has been on ultramarathons.

But, for lifting shoes, I will typically test a shoe by taking it through lunges, squats, and sled pushes, as I figure that’s what most runners are typically doing in the world of gym-related training. For compound movements, you can’t go wrong here. It’s stable, comfortable, and accommodating. For heavy sled pushes, though, I experienced a little bit of heel lift in the While On Earth Move Trainer. Sure, you could probably ratchet down the laces to avoid some lift off, but when laced normally, it was noticeable.

Also, I don’t want to keep beating a dead horse here, but don’t expect to be doing any miles in this comfortably. This is a shoe built for heavy lifts and some HIIT, and it feels much closer to a traditional “weightlifting shoe” such as the TYR L-2 lifter than a running shoe you could do some lifting in, such as the Nobull Drive.

If you want to run in the brand, While On Earth has its Rhythm Runner (which we’re set to review in the future). For heavy lifts, you bring the Move Trainer with you, and if your program calls for running, you lace up the Rhythm Runner. Really, the Move Trainer pairs nicely with any good running shoe, but to sum it up: you’re going to need a dedicated running shoe in addition to this if you don’t have one already.

Final thoughts on the While On Earth Move Trainer

BRADY: It’s been a while since I wore a specifically gym-focused shoe that isn’t trying to be something it’s not. Again, I haven’t tested the Rhythm Runner yet, but in its description, it claims to be great for sled workouts and turf sessions, so I’m thinking the brand is taking less of an Arnold Palmer approach of creating a do-it-all shoe with the Move Trainer and instead keeping the lemonade and iced tea separate. For running and movements that require, well, movement, you lace up the Rhythm Runner. For your heavy compound lifts (which I know most runners absolutely adore doing), you put on the Move Trainer.

I have my opinions, and if I were to be actively training for Hyrox, those might be different, but as a powerlifter turned runner who still lifts four times a week, I think having a stable lifting shoe in your bag is simply an essential. While On Earth hasn’t done anything earth-shattering here with the Move Trainer, they made a solid, durable lifting shoe that will last a super long time.

I also think the $150 price point is perfectly in line with your other options in the segment, so you can’t go wrong. Sure, you might be able to find last year’s Nike Metcon at your local outlet and save some money, but if you want to: 1. Pick your colorway and 2. Grab a high-performing trainer from a newer brand that performs about as well as any of the big boys; you can’t go wrong here.

You can pick up the While On Earth Move Trainer for $150 from While On Earth using the buttons below.