HYROX hit roughly 750,000 athletes globally in 2025, more than double the year before. In that same period, CrossFit Open registrations dropped to their lowest level since 2014, down about 32% year-over-year.
That’s the state of competitive fitness right now: one format is scaling fast, the other is shrinking. If you run a gym, that’s not a trend to watch from the sidelines, it’s a decision to make.
Who is this Blog for?
- Gym owners and operators deciding whether to add HYROX training
- Whether you’re running independent programming or already lean toward functional/group formats and want a real cost-benefit view before committing.
What this blog covers:
- How is HYROXinfluencing gym workout programming and class offerings?
- How Gyms Use HYROX to Boost Member Engagement
- What equipment is typically used for HYROX training in gyms?
- How do gyms modify their space to accommodate HYROX workouts?
- What are popular HYROX training packages offered by Gyms?
Let’s get into it.
How Is HYROX Influencing Gym Workout Programming and Class Offerings?
HYROX isn’t showing up on gym schedules as just another class. It’s changing the logic behind programming itself.
Most group fitness formats run on a loop: same structure, different day, no finish line.
HYROX gives members a fixed event on the calendar. Eight 1km runs alternating with eight functional stations. That turns a routine into a training cycle with a start date, a build, and a result.
Dr. Adam Storey of the Sports Performance Research Institute of New Zealand has pointed out that this standardization is exactly what gives HYROX credibility as a sport, not just a workout trend, the same eight stations, every event, everywhere.
Here’s how three gyms are actually building that into their programming:
F45 Training: Full Affiliate Partnership
F45 became an Official HYROX Affiliate Gym Partner and Title Partner at the HYROX Washington DC Americas Regional Championships. Its gyms now run the HYROX Signature Series — a structured three-phase program:
- Phase 1: Build a foundation
- Phase 2: Endurance and strength
- Phase 3: Race-specific movement patterns
It’s programming with an actual end date, not a repeating weekly cycle.
Orangetheory: Layered On, Not Replacing
Orangetheory launched an official HYROX affiliate program across select North American locations in December 2025. It layered HYROX’s race format onto its existing treadmill-and-strength model instead of replacing it.
CrossFit Collective: Side-by-Side Programming
This independent gym in Lancaster County, PA (run by Josh and Febes Wood) runs CrossFit and HYROX programming side by side under one roof. For gyms already doing functional or strength-conditioning work, this is the more realistic model. HYROX sits next to your current offering, it doesn’t replace it.
Key takeaway: None of these gyms treat HYROX as a one-off class. They’ve built it into their actual program design, with a clear cycle members can train toward, which is exactly why it keeps them coming back.
How Gyms Use HYROX to Boost Member Engagement?
A regular class gets people to show up once. A race on the calendar gets people to keep showing up. That’s the real difference HYROX makes.
Here’s why: once a member has a race date, going to the gym isn’t just a habit anymore. It’s training for something. And that changes how people behave:
- They show up more. Missing a session means falling behind on their plan, not just skipping a workout.
- They stick to a routine. A training cycle gives them a reason to come back every week, not just when they feel like it.
- They bring friends. Race prep is social. Members look for training partners, doubles teammates, and friends to race with.
Lisa Palmer, a HYROX affiliate owner and Two-Brain Business mentor in London, took a different approach: rather than adding new class slots, she replaced her gym’s lowest-attendance classes with HYROX sessions. The result was a drop in monthly churn from 14% to under 5%, with race-simulation events generating thousands of dollars in additional revenue each time she ran one.
Real Example: CrossFit NYC
Hari Singh, owner and general manager of CrossFit NYC — one of the world’s oldest CrossFit affiliates — uses HYROX-only memberships to fill his gym’s slowest days instead of adding pressure to his busiest ones. “Everyone comes on Monday and Tuesday, when I least need them,” he says. By offering dedicated Wednesday and Saturday HYROX slots, he fills off-peak capacity without disrupting his core CrossFit schedule — and pulls in members who’d never have walked into a CrossFit class otherwise.
3 Ways Gyms Are Using HYROX to Keep Members Engaged
1. Race-simulation classes
Gyms run full or partial versions of the 8-station HYROX format during training. This gives members a real benchmark to see how ready they are before race day.
2. Countdown-to-race programming
Instead of running the same workouts every week, gyms build a plan tied to a specific event date. Members can see exactly where they are in their training.
3. Team and doubles training nights
HYROX has a Doubles format, where two people race together. Gyms use this to run partner workouts. It adds a social element and often brings in new members who join with a friend.
Dan Murphy, who owns a HYROX Training Club in Melbourne, saw his member churn rate drop to almost zero and his member base grow by 34% in his first year of affiliation. “Actively leveraging HYROX has been the savior of our business,” he says.
What Equipment Is Typically Used for HYROX Training in Gyms?
Good news for gym owners: HYROX doesn’t need a warehouse full of specialty gear. It’s built around 8 fixed stations, and the equipment list is short and specific.
The 8-Station Equipment List (With Approximate Cost)
Every HYROX race uses the same 8 stations, in the same order. Your training equipment should match:
| Station | Equipment Needed | Approx. Cost |
| Running (8 x 1km) | Treadmill or open running space | Most gyms already have this |
| SkiErg | Ski erg machine | $995 – $1,050 |
| Rowing | Rowing Machine | $990 – $1,200 |
| Sled Push / Pull | Weighted sled + rope | $700 – $1,100 |
| Burpee Broad Jumps | Turf or landing mat | $200 – $500 |
| Farmer’s Carry | Kettlebells or carry handles (pair) | $150 – $400 |
| Sandbag Lunges | Sandbags (set of 2–3 weights) | $120 – $200 |
| Wall Balls | Wall balls (set of 2–3 weights) | $100 – $150 |
| Total (one full station set) | ~$3,250 – $4,600 |
One important note: Concept2 is the official race-day brand for the SkiErg and rowing machine. If your members train on the same brand they’ll race on, it helps them get used to the exact feel and resistance.
A few things worth knowing:
- This budget covers one of each piece of equipment. For group classes, you’ll likely want 2–3 sets of the smaller items (sleds, wall balls, sandbags) so members aren’t waiting around.
- Budget brands like Xebex or Rep Fitness can bring sled and erg costs down by 20–30%, if matching Concept2 exactly isn’t a priority.
- HYROX’s Training Club tier has no minimum equipment requirement, so you don’t need to buy everything on day one. Most gyms start with 1 of each station and expand as demand grows.
Brands to Know (By Budget)
- Concept2 — the race-day standard for SkiErg and rowing machines
- Rogue Fitness — sleds, wall balls, sandbags, full HYROX equipment lines
- BLK BOX — sleds, wall balls, sandbags, climbing ropes
- Xebex — rowers and ski ergs, a lower-cost alternative to Concept2
- Throwdown — sleds and functional training gear
Bottom line: A full single-station HYROX setup runs roughly $3,250–$4,600. You don’t need to buy it all at once — a sled, a ski erg, a rower, some sandbags, and wall balls, installed in a corner of your existing gym, is enough to begin.
One more thing before you launch: your coaches
Equipment isn’t the only investment to plan for. Only certified HYROX Performance Coaches can legally run HYROX classes at your gym and your trainers need an existing PT certification just to enroll in the course.
We broke down the two coaching levels, what they cost, and what to check before you launch.
How Do Gyms Modify Their Space to Accommodate HYROX Workouts?
Here’s the short answer: for most gyms, you don’t need to modify much at all. HYROX has two affiliation tiers, and they ask for very different things.
Training Club vs. Performance Center
| Training Club | Performance Center | |
| Minimum space | None required | ~1,938 sq ft dedicated HYROX floor |
| Equipment | Use what you have | Official CENTR + Concept2 equipment required |
| Best for | Gyms adding HYROX alongside existing programming | Gyms building a dedicated race-replica space |
| Extras | — | Geographic exclusivity in your area |
Most gyms start with the Training Club tier, it works inside your existing functional training space, with no renovation required. The Performance Center tier is a bigger commitment, built for gyms that want to fully replicate race-day conditions and lock in exclusivity for their area.
What a Working HYROX Zone Actually Needs
If you’re going the Training Club route (which most gyms do), here’s what to plan for:
- Sled lane: 40+ feet of clear push/pull distance — you don’t need the full 50m race distance, just enough runway for training
- SkiErg/rower area: 20+ feet of clear space around each machine
- Minimum functional zone: 40–60 sqm (roughly 430–650 sq ft) is workable for a modular HYROX corner inside a larger gym
- Flooring: Turf works best for sled lanes — if you already have turf down for functional training, you’re most of the way there
The Realistic Approach
You don’t need to redesign your gym. A defined turf strip for sleds, SkiErgs and rowers set up along a wall, and open floor space nearby for wall balls and burpee broad jumps, that’s a functional HYROX zone. Most gyms carve this out of space they’re already using for functional or strength training, not by adding square footage.
What Are Popular HYROX Training Packages Offered by Gyms?
Once you’ve got the space and equipment sorted, the next question is: what do you actually charge members for it? Here’s what gyms are doing in 2026.
Real Pricing Examples From Gyms Running HYROX
| Gym | Package | Price |
| Urban Athletics (Houston) | Monthly HYROX membership | $120/month |
| Forged Fitness (Ottawa) | HYROX-tier membership | CAD $99 – $149.99/month |
| GRIT Fitness (Dallas) | Race-prep cycle (30 classes / 5 months) | $599 total (~$20/class) |
| The Epic (CF2960) | HYROX Training Club add-on | $39/month (on top of base membership) |
Across most US gyms, drop-in HYROX classes run $25–$45, with the higher end showing up in bigger metros like NYC, LA, and Chicago.
Three Ways Gyms Are Packaging It
1. Monthly add-on tier
Members pay a set amount on top of their base membership for HYROX-specific classes (like The Epic’s $39/month model). Easy to launch, low commitment for members to try.
2. Standalone HYROX membership
A dedicated monthly rate just for HYROX training (like Urban Athletics at $120/month). Works well if you’re running it as its own program, not an add-on.
3. Structured race-prep cycles
A fixed-length package (8–12 weeks, sometimes longer) building toward a specific event, priced as one upfront cost (like GRIT Fitness’s $599 for 5 months). This is the highest-converting option for members who are actually signing up to race.
Will Orr, CEO of The Gym Group — a UK low-cost chain with over 900,000 members — scaled HYROX from a 17-location pilot into a chain-wide retention strategy. “We’ve launched Hyrox in 37 of our gyms already, for free,” Orr said, with a rollout target of 120+ locations. Unlike gyms charging a monthly add-on, The Gym Group includes HYROX at no extra member cost — using it purely as a retention lever, not a revenue line.
The Math That Matters for You
Becoming a HYROX Training Club costs $130/month or $1,500/year. Here’s the simple version: one member on a standalone HYROX membership covers your entire annual affiliation fee. Everything after that is added revenue.
Bottom line: Most gyms don’t need to reinvent their pricing model. Start with a monthly add-on to test demand, then move to a standalone membership or race-prep cycle once you see members are serious about it.
Should Your Gym Add HYROX?
Let’s bring this back to the numbers we opened with: HYROX growing 100%+ year-over-year, CrossFit Open registrations at a decade low. That gap isn’t closing anytime soon, which means this isn’t a “wait and see” decision anymore for most gyms.
Quick Decision Framework
| Your Situation | What Makes Sense |
| Already run functional/group training | Low-risk add. Layer HYROX onto what you’re already doing — like Orangetheory and CrossFit Collective did |
| Limited floor space or budget | Start with the Training Club tier. No minimum space, no equipment quota, use what you have |
| Want to go all-in and build a race-day replica | Consider Performance Center tier, bigger investment (~1,938 sq ft, official equipment), but comes with area exclusivity |
| Not sure there’s demand yet | Test with one weekly class before spending on equipment or space |
The Math, One More Time
- Affiliation cost: $130/month or $1,500/year
- Equipment to start: $0 required, ~$3,250–$4,600 if you build a full station set
- Break-even: One member on a standalone HYROX membership covers your entire annual affiliation fee
This is about as low-risk as a new revenue line gets in this industry.
According to Two-Brain Business CEO John Franklin, one gym in their mentoring network added $100,000 in annual revenue by adding just two HYROX classes per week — against an annual affiliation cost of roughly $1,500.
Another Two-Brain gym reported that 42% of new leads specifically requested HYROX training, and sold 31 HYROX memberships in four months.
Franklin’s caution: affiliation without a real plan to program, market, and sell it is the most common reason gyms don’t see a return.
What to Do Next
You don’t need to renovate your gym or make a five-figure equipment order this week. The realistic first step looks like this:
- Apply for HYROX Training Club affiliation — it’s fast, and it doesn’t lock you into equipment or space commitments
- Pilot one weekly HYROX-style class using whatever functional equipment you already have
- Watch attendance and sign-up interest over 4–6 weeks before deciding whether to invest in dedicated equipment or space
If the class fills up, you’ve got your answer. If it doesn’t, you’ve spent $130 finding out, not thousands on a buildout you didn’t need yet.
