HYROX Open vs Pro: Which Division Should You Race?

Same stations, different loads. A decision guide based on the official weight sheet — not gym ego.

Nadia KesslerAugust 17, 202611 min read

In This Story

Key Takeaways

Open and Pro share the same eight runs and eight stations; only implement loads change.
Official Open sled push is 152 kg (men) / 102 kg (women) including the sled; Pro is 202 kg / 152 kg.
Most first-timers should race Open to collect a clean, comparable time.
Doubles and Relay are often smarter first formats than Pro individual if you want support on weak stations.

Every HYROX individual race uses the same skeleton worldwide: eight 1km runs alternating with eight stations in a fixed order. Open and Pro are not different courses. They are different loads on the same course. That is why times remain comparable within a division — and why picking the wrong one mostly wastes fitness on unfinished stations rather than teaching you anything useful.

HYROX publishes Open and Pro standards on its race page. The numbers below are taken from that sheet (weights include the sled where noted). If your local affiliate uses different practice sleds, treat practice as a feel check, not a substitute for the official load.

Open vs Pro at a glance (individual)

Sled push (50m / 2×25m): Open men 152 kg, Open women 102 kg; Pro men 202 kg, Pro women 152 kg (all incl. sled)
Sled pull (50m): Open men 103 kg, Open women 78 kg; Pro men 153 kg, Pro women 103 kg (incl. sled)
Farmers carry (200m): Open men 2×24 kg, Open women 2×16 kg; Pro men 2×32 kg, Pro women 2×24 kg
Sandbag lunges (100m): Open men 20 kg, Open women 10 kg; Pro men 30 kg, Pro women 20 kg
Wall balls (100 reps): Open men 6 kg, Open women 4 kg; Pro men 9 kg, Pro women 6 kg
SkiErg, burpee broad jumps, and row distances stay the same across Open and Pro

Open division sled push (includes sled)

152 kg men / 102 kg women

From HYROX's published individual standards. Pro sled push steps up to 202 kg / 152 kg.

Choose Open if any of this is true

This is your first HYROX, or your first hybrid race of any kind
You can finish Open sled push and wall balls unbroken in practice, but Pro loads stall you into long rests
Your goal is a clean finish and a comparable baseline time — not a division flex
Your weekly training is mostly general gym work, not race-specific sled and sandbag volume

Open is not a participation trophy. Elite Open times are serious. It is the correct division for most athletes who want a fair first data point. You can always move to Pro later with a known Open time as the bridge.

Choose Pro only if you can clear these filters

You have already finished at least one Open race (or a full Open simulation) without station disasters
You can move Pro sled push for 50m with short breaks, not heroic singles
Pro wall-ball weight still allows sets of 10+ under fatigue in training
You want a harder comparative ranking and accept a slower clock for the same fitness

Doubles and Relay change the math

In Doubles, partners run together and split stations as they choose — which means a strong partner can cover your weak station. Relay teams of four each take two run-station pairs. Those formats are often a better first experience than jumping straight into Pro individual, because the social and strategic load is shared. Format details live on HYROX's race page; strategy lives in how honestly you assign stations in training.

A simple decision rule

If you are debating Open vs Pro, race Open. The athletes who belong in Pro rarely need a blog post to convince them — their practice times already say so. For race-day logistics once you pick a division, read HYROX race day: what to expect. For building the fitness underneath either division, use how to train for your first HYROX.

Frequently Asked

Is HYROX Pro the same race as Open?

Yes on structure: eight 1km runs and the same eight stations in the same order worldwide. Pro uses heavier sled, farmers, sandbag, and wall-ball loads published on HYROX's official standards sheet.

Should beginners do HYROX Open or Pro?

Open. Pro only makes sense if you already finish Open (or a full Open simulation) cleanly and can move Pro loads without long floor rests on sleds and wall balls.

Can I switch from Open to Pro later?

Yes. Many athletes use an Open race as a baseline, then move to Pro once sled and wall-ball capacity catches up. Your Open time remains a useful reference even after you change division.

Are Doubles weights the same as individual Open?

On HYROX's published Doubles sheets, Doubles Men and Doubles Women generally mirror the corresponding individual Open loads for sleds, farmers, sandbag, and wall balls. Always confirm the current sheet for your event.

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