HYROX divisions: Open, Pro, Doubles, Relay
Open, Pro, Doubles, Relay or Adaptive: here is how the HYROX divisions differ and which one fits your fitness level.
HYROX offers more than a single race format. Several divisions exist for different fitness levels, team sizes and requirements. This guide explains how Open, Pro, Doubles, Relay and Adaptive differ, and which one might suit you.
Open
The Open division is the most commonly chosen category and the classic way into HYROX. It follows the standard format of 8 runs of 1 km alternating with the 8 stations, using the regular weights for women and men. Open suits anyone who wants to race HYROX as an individual without taking on the heavier Pro weights.
Pro
Pro follows the same format as Open but uses heavier weights at the load-based stations such as the sled, farmers carry and sandbag lunges. Pro is aimed at athletes with more strength endurance and experience who are looking for an extra challenge. The exact weight differences between Open and Pro are listed on our page about the 8 stations.
Doubles
In Doubles, two athletes form a team and split the 8 runs and 8 stations according to their own strategy. Teammates often alternate within a station, or split the runs and stations entirely between them. Doubles comes in Women, Men and Mixed variants. This division suits anyone who wants to share the race with a training partner and benefits from that shared motivation.
Relay
Relay is the four-person team format. The 8 combinations of run and station are shared across the team, with each member responsible for a specific part of the race. Relay suits corporate teams, training groups or groups of friends who want to experience HYROX together, without every individual having to complete the full distance and all the stations.
Adaptive
The Adaptive division is designed for athletes with physical impairments. Depending on the type of impairment, adjusted categories exist so that fair competition is possible in a comparable field. Anyone interested in Adaptive can find current categories and requirements in the official rulebook on hyrox.com.
Women, Men and Mixed
Within Open, Pro and Doubles, there is also a split between Women and Men, with Mixed added as a further option in Doubles, formed by one woman and one man. Station weights differ between the gender categories. Details are also covered on the stations page.
Differences at registration
When signing up for a HYROX event, you first choose your format, whether Single, Doubles or Relay, and then your division within that format. For Single, Open, Pro and your age group are available. For Doubles, you also choose between Women, Men and Mixed. For Relay, one person usually registers the whole team and then adds the other three members. If you are not sure which format suits your training group, most events allow adjustments right up until close to the deadline.
Switching between divisions
Many athletes start out with HYROX in the Open division and move up to Pro once their strength endurance and experience have grown. Switching divisions is possible from season to season, since registration happens fresh for every event. There is no fixed order in which the divisions must be worked through. Some stay in Open permanently because the shared pace of a larger field matters more to them than the heavier weights in Pro.
Which division suits me?
For a first race, Open is usually the sensible choice, since it lets you learn clean technique at all 8 stations without the added load of heavier weights. Anyone with existing strength endurance and functional training experience looking for an extra challenge can consider Pro. If you would rather race as part of a team, Doubles or Relay offer a suitable alternative, for example to share the race with a training partner or a larger group. For athletes with physical impairments, Adaptive provides a suitable framework with adjusted categories.
More important than choosing the seemingly most prestigious division is being realistic about how much time you have for training and which format you will genuinely enjoy. A structured training plan for HYROX beginners helps you arrive prepared regardless of the division you choose, and can be used for Open as well as adapted for Pro.
For every division, the best way to build a realistic sense of time is our page on good times and pacing. Once you have decided which division suits you, the next step is finding a suitable event in our race calendar and registering for your category.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Open and Pro in HYROX?
Pro uses heavier weights at the stations than Open. Both divisions follow the same format of 8 runs and 8 stations.
Who is the Open division suited to?
Open is the classic entry point for most participants, from ambitious beginners to experienced athletes who are not aiming for the very top of the field.
How does HYROX Doubles work?
In Doubles, two athletes form a team and split the runs and stations by their own arrangement, usually taking turns.
What is HYROX Relay?
Relay is a four-person team format in which members share out the 8 rounds of running and stations, each covering part of the overall race.
Is there a HYROX category for athletes with disabilities?
Yes, the Adaptive division is for athletes with physical impairments, with categories adjusted according to the type of impairment.