HYROX Open
/ ˈhaɪrɒks ˈoʊpən / · proper noun
Also: Open division, HYROX Open Men, HYROX Open Women
The standard entry division of HYROX racing, open to any athlete 16 or older with no qualifying time. Open uses lighter loads across the sled push, sled pull, farmer's carry, sandbag lunge, and wall ball stations than the Pro division, while keeping the same 8 × 1km run structure and station order as every other HYROX division. It is the largest division at every event by a wide margin, roughly 70-80% of all HYROX finishers race Open.
Race standards
- Wall ball: 6kg (M) / 4kg (W), target height 9ft (M) / 8ft (W)
- Sled push: 152kg (M) / 102kg (W) total sled + weight, 50m
- Sled pull: 103kg (M) / 78kg (W), 50m
- Farmer's carry: 24kg/hand (M) / 16kg/hand (W), 200m
- Sandbag lunge: 20kg (M) / 10kg (W), 100m
- SkiErg + RowErg: 1000m each, no weight variation by division
Why it exists as a separate division
HYROX's founders designed Open as the on-ramp: a race format demanding enough to be a genuine test, light enough that a first-time competitor with a general fitness base can reasonably finish and enjoy it. This is the core of HYROX's growth strategy, unlike marathon or CrossFit competition, where the gap between a beginner's and elite's experience is enormous, Open keeps the course identical to Pro and only scales the load.
Typical finish times
- Competitive age-group finish: 65-80 minutes
- Average finisher: 85-105 minutes
- First-timer, conservative pacing: 100-130 minutes
Training for Open
Because the loads are moderate, most of the time cost in Open racing comes from the running, not the stations. A sensible 12-week build prioritizes: repeated 1km efforts at slightly faster than target race pace, station-specific technique work (especially wall ball and sled technique, where poor form costs more time than weak muscles), and 2-3 full "simulation" sessions that string multiple stations and runs together to rehearse pacing under fatigue.
Moving up from Open
There is no qualifying time to leave Open for Pro: an athlete simply registers for the heavier division at their next race. Most coaches recommend a sub-75-minute Open finish, with clean technique at all eight stations, before stepping up; the jump in loads (especially sled push and wall ball) exposes technique gaps that lighter Open weights can mask.
FAQ
- What is the difference between HYROX Open and HYROX Pro?
- Open uses lighter race weights and standards (6kg/4kg wall ball, 152kg/102kg sled push) and has no qualification requirement, anyone 16+ can enter. Pro uses heavier standards and is self-declared at registration, no qualifying time required.
- Can a beginner do HYROX Open?
- Yes. Open is the entry division by design. Most first-time HYROX athletes finish in 75-105 minutes with 4-6 months of general fitness training; there is no time cut or qualifying standard to enter.
- What weights does HYROX Open use?
- Open Men: 6kg wall ball, 152kg sled push, 103kg sled pull, 24kg/hand farmer's carry, 20kg sandbag. Open Women: 4kg wall ball, 102kg sled push, 78kg sled pull, 16kg/hand farmer's carry, 10kg sandbag.