Born Primitive Savage 1 – Our Review

I don’t know about you, but for the longest time, when I thought about the brand Born Primitive, I thought about good-looking models wearing fitness and related apparel.

There is nothing wrong with fitness brands that pretty much exclusively put out fitness clothing, but as someone who is as likely to wear a plain, black t-shirt as anything branded, I never really pay too close of attention to these companies.

Imagine my shock (…and scepticism) when I found out (albeit, late to the game) that Born Primitive had a training shoe out.

…not just any training shoe, either…a good training shoe.

The Savage 1

Would it finally be time to stop trying to figure out what their “Revival Collection” was comprised of or what Michael Jackson’s tatooed body double was doing here…?

The answer has been a resounding yes.

All jokes aside, the Savage 1 is a legit entry into the world of CrossFit training shoes. It has quickly become my go-to training shoe (alongside my beloved Ballistic Trainers) and think that, for many, it is the “functional fitness” shoe they’ve been looking for.

CrossFit

I’ve been through a lot of different CrossFit/”functional fitness” shoes and, as much as I have found favorites among the group, I feel like most offerings are more or less the same. With (generally) low heel drops, a hard, stable soles, and a strong aversion for running, most peoples’ choices for their preferred training shoe usually comes down to some type of personal preference.

Truth be told, the Savage 1 possess some of these common qualities:

• The 4 millimeter heel drop is in that sweet spot of being not overly padded, but not being as extreme as a minimalist shoe, either
• Hard, durable rubber outsole helps you stay “grounded” when lifting heavy while creating a stable “landing surface” when jumping onto a box or down from the rope
• EVA compound midsole, pretty much standard in today’s “tactical shoes”, that provide almost hidden layers of cushioning

The thing is, you read about these attributes, maybe understand the significance of one or two of them and think “cool…but what does that mean for me?” I know that’ what I’m thinking when I’m looking over near-similar specs.

Thankfully, you can safely disregard most of this information and focus on what’s important: the Savage 1 is an outstanding shoe for CrossFit.

Probably the simplest and seemingly innocuous reason why this is the case is because the shoes are comfortable.

…like really comfortable.

You’re going to hear me use this phrase a few times throughout this article so get used to the words “comfortable moccasin”. That is how these shoes feel…except you wear them to throw heavy weight around in while you run, jump, climb ropes…all that jazz.

Combining a wide toe box with compact, yet comfortable mid-foot and heel areas, the Savage 1 provides just enough padding and support to instill confidence in performing just about any CrossFit task at hand, while possessing almost a barefoot-esque natural feeling at the same time.

To some, this might feel a little weird, but to a lot of us…it’s what we’ve always been looking for.

Besides being plain comfortable, the Savage 1’s slightly denser heel provides a somewhat decent base for Olympic lifting (we will discuss this further in the next section), particularly when cycling lighter barbells. Although I would prefer a completely flat heel for deadlifts, this small heel drop and only slight “elevation change” makes these a solid deadlift shoe option.

As you can imagine, the quasi-minimalist feel of the shoe makes them ideal choices for gymnastics movements, particularly those where any excuse to get ride of excess weight or “bulk” is appreciated (ex. handstand walks).

Probably the most impressive thing the Savage 1 brings to the table for CrossFit athletes is its running-enhancing ability. We’ll discuss this in much greater detail further on, but these are by far the best “CrossFit running shoes” (which, as we all know, is more or less and oxymoron) out there.

By far

No shin splints, no odd heel striking, no wanting to kill myself after ~ a quarter mile (I mean, I do, but only because I don’t want to run…not because the shoes are killing me).

I don’t know how possible it is to develop a complete CrossFit shoe, mainly because so many of the movements seem to be diametrically opposed to one another (ex. Olympic lifts vs. gymnastics), but the Savage 1s cover almost all bases really well.

They’re up there with my mid-top Ballistic Trainers as my (current) favorite CrossFit shoes.

CrossFit: 95

Olympic Lifting

The Savage 1 does a decent job of trying to create a stable lifting environment in what is otherwise a very serviceable “doing everything” type of training shoe. This is evident in the designers’ attempts to create a slightly elevated heel (it reaches 21 millimeters where the shortest portion of the front of the shoe drops to 17 millimeters).

These attempts are appreciated and, to some degree, they are commendable, but I’ve never been able to convince myself in the slightest that I’m wearing a shoe that is designed for clean, jerking, snatching, and variations of each.

At the end of the day, they are a low heel-drop, lightly-cushioned shoe with a slightly-better-than-average toe box (width wise).

The Savage 1s aren’t really the shoes that, when you look at a workout, you say to yourself “I have to snatch during the lifting portion and then I have box jumps, running, and GHDs in the metcon…I’ll just keep these on the entire time.” You’re really going to want to have a more appropriate pair of lifters for your dedicated Olympic lifting (and squatting) sessions.

Now, this is not to say that you can’t perform these movements in these; as we mentioned in the previous section, these shoes are above average-to-excellent for just about any type of metcon. However, when I see moderate-to-heavy lifting in the metcon, I’m normally opting for my mid-top Ballistic Trainers (as long as there isn’t too much running in the workout).

Probably the best way I can describe them is if you’re like many (most?) lifters who prefer a heeled shoe for squatting and a flat shoe (or bare feet) for deadlifting…well…these are closer to the latter.

While they are very stable and certainly keep me grounded during heavy lifts, I find that I lose this feeling (more than in other, non-lifting shoes) the second my feet leave the ground. Also, the rather small heel doesn’t really provide any type of anatomical advantage for these lifts (or squatting).

If you do want a bit more of a heel when lifting in these, our boy Marat discusses (and shows) how he slips some Versa Lifts into his Savage 1s when he needs to squat heavy:

Ultimately, the Savage 1 is just fine for cycling lighter weights and you can probably get away with using it as the barbell starts to get heavy. However, I would say that this is, pretty definitely, the shoe’s weakest area.

Olympic Lifting: 80

Running

I understand that running shoes have traditionally rocked pretty decent heel drops and, some cases, padding that borders on the excessive.

The Savage 1s possess neither of these properties. In contrast, the heel drop is roughly 4 millimeters and the padding, while more than sufficient, isn’t going to fool you into thinking you’ve got some type of overly protective and “pleasant”-feeling footwear on.

Interestingly enough, in my experience with the Savage 1, I have found that neither of these properties are necessary; they are outstanding shoes to run in. So outstanding that when I see that I have a CrossFit workout or metcon programmed with running, as long as there isn’t some crazy-heavy Olympic lift involved I’m wearing these.

Every time.

It’s a little hard to explain what makes the shoes so great to run in, but one major factor has to be their generally lightweight feel. When I’m running in these, it doesn’t feel like I’m lugging around any extra weight. Also, the relatively heavily stabilized heel is counterbalanced by the softer forefront area, which is definitely noticeable when launching into each step on a run.

You know all that additional padding and cushioning that I said you don’t really feel in these? Well, it is there…it’s just more or less “hidden” in the midsole area of the shoe. This is where the EVA compound midsole is stashed which does contribute to the overall comfort of the shoe as well as to rebounding when you’re running in them.

Overall, the Savage 1 is a deceptively good shoe to run in. I’m sure that running purists will probably disagree, particularly those putting in 30-plus miles a week. However, for those in the CrossFit/functional fitness space, this is our kind of “running shoe”.

Running: 95

General Training

At their heart, the Savage 1s are “specialist” training shoes. I mean, they’re not Olympic lifting shoes, squat shoes, or deadlifting shoe-special, but they’re not the kind of you shoe you grab after looking around Foot Locker for a few minutes.

You can certainly wear them as a general training shoes (which I define as wearing to the gym to do more “bro gym” types of workouts, going from machine to machine, playing pickup basketball, or going for light, uninterrupted jogs)…but you can wear a lot of shoes that are less expensive and that are probably a bit more comfortable.

…that’s not to say the shoes aren’t comfortable. As I mentioned before, they feel like a comfy training moccasin. However, you really can’t compare the relative comfort of CrossFit shoes with heavily padded, highly-soled sneakers straddling the line of “ath-leisure” (I always feel gross writing that word…although I think this is the first time I ever have…).

Additionally, as…okay as these would be for basketball, I wouldn’t’ want to play sports out on the grass or wear these during any type of rucking, backpacking, or general “outdoors” venture. I mean, just look at how my wife’s pair have turned out after a few outdoor excurions.

(Don’t feel sorry for her; she was preparing to purchase her second pair and had been phasing these out…RIP!)

These shoes are really sleek, but the opposite side of the token is that they get dirty really easily. They’re not the easiest to clean, either (my wife tried…in vain) so I can’t really recommend them for extended outdoor use, especially on terrain.

Ultimately, the Savage 1s are definitely serviceable as general training shoes, especially if you keep things inside or on pavement, outdoor mats, etc. However, if this kind of training is your main priority, you can find much less expensive shoes that are much more suitable for your purpose.

General Training: 80

Construction & Materials

If there is one word that I wouldn’t use to describe the Savage 1 it is, probably to everyone reading this’ surprise, “tough”. Despite the company’s imagery and their status as a durable CrossFit shoe, I don’t have the feeling of my feet being “armored” or something when I wear mine.

…but this doesn’t necessarily equate to the shoes being of poor construction quality.

The Savage 1’s ultra-lightweight knit engineering creates the soft, “moccasin” feeling I’ve mentioned a few times in this post. It is in the sweet spot between the over-the-top lightweight knitting you might find ins something like the Reebok Nanoflex TR 2.0 (that almost feels like its coming apart) and the armor-like Cordura of a lot of GORUCK products.

A lot of the Savage 1’s success can be attributed to the EVA midsole which provides that “hidden” layer of cushioning (I appreciate that it is more subtle cushioning than many others shoes…and that it’s actually there) and the hard rubber outsole does its job in providing a stable lifting and landing environment.

I don’t do much agility training in these so I can’t really speak to their lateral stability, but I haven’t rolled an ankle or done anything catastrophically bad in them…so…there’s that.

Overall, a word that I’ve used so far that I keep coming back to when describing the Savage 1’s construction is “subtle”…in a good way. It feels comfortable and seems to facilitate movement in a way that is unnoticeable.

If you’re familiar with a word that has been especially popularized by the CrossFit community, you can think of the Savage 1’s construction and materials as displaying virtuosity…

(…and no, it has nothing to do with the movie…)

Instead, we’re talking about “performing the common uncommonly well”…uncommonly well.

Construction & Materials: 90

Price

The Savage 1 isn’t a “budget” shoe by any means and, although you might find an odd color combination or size on sale from time to time, don’t expect to sniff anything less than $100 for a pair.

With that being said, it does fall firmly into the low-to-mid-range of CrossFit shoe prices and even comes in at a slightly lower price than one of its new kids on the block competitors, the GORUCK Ballistic Trainers.

(check out or complete comparison of these two here!)

If the Savage 1s isn’t quite expensive enough for, though, they constantly put out special edition versions of the shoe that can get…a pricier.

You obviously don’t have to pay that much for your shoes, but I guess it’s nice to know you have that option…?

Price Score: 85

Customer Reviews

The Savage 1 has quickly become a beloved shoe throughout the CrossFit community with many prominent figures going so far as saying that it is now their favorite training shoe.

That is pretty lofty praise, but having fallen in love with them myself, I can definitely see where these guys are coming from.

Looking at things in less anecdotal terms (although there is obviously a bit of subjective bias in any personal assessment like this) the Savage 1’s currently enjoy a pretty stellar customer review collective rating.

At the time of this article’s writing, the shoe currently enjoys a 4.9/5 score based on just under 600 reviews…a pretty decent sample size.

Probably the most impressive aspect of this is that only 2 of these reviews are 4-star reviews and the shoes have yet to receive a 1,2, or 3-star review (this is why we actually knocked this score up to a 99). Certainly a lot of satisfied customers.

Do note that these scores all come directly from the Born Primitive website. I have no reason to believe that these scores could/would be manipulated, but it is always nice to see how gear ranks on alternative or 3rd-party retail sites (like Amazon or, in many cases, like Rogue).

Customer Reviews Score: 99

Customer Service

I’ve never actually dealt with Born Primitive’s customer service department before so I can’t really speak to what it’s like to deal with them when/if you need clarification on something or if something goes wrong.

My orders have always arrived on time and I haven’t experienced and real issue with the company in this regard, but I don’t really have enough personal experience or associated information to make a fair and informed assessment on the topic.

Customer Service Score: N/A

Who is the Born Primitive Savage 1 really For?

The best CrossFit shoe to come out onto the market in quite some time has to be for everybody, right? Well, there are some who will probably appreciate it more than others. Let’s take a look at who they are:

Those looking for the next great CrossFit shoe

Drowning in a sea of Nanos and Metcons, frantically grasping at each passing release for the relief of some type of improved CrossFit experience gets tiring after a while.

Sometimes you have to look outside the (shoe!) box to get that experience, and in this case, it comes in the form of the Savage 1.

It makes sense that you have to change things up a bit if you want a completely different outcome, doesn’t it?

CrossFitters who run

As you can imagine, I have quite a few different pairs of training shoes and own shoes for just about any specific activity I want to participate in. I know that a lot of other people are looking for more of an “all-around” shoe to wear for a number of activities.

Because of their lightweight nature and superior ability to absorb weight and load, the Ballistic Trainers “work” for athletes who do CrossFit and want to ruck on pavement or the treadmill. If these are two of your primary activities, they’re the shoes for you.

Although the inverse (runners who lift) probably won’t appreciate the Savage 1s quite as much, CrossFitters who put in a more miles than the average bear might actually look at the Born Primitive’s offering as somewhat of a Godsend.

Instead of having to limit runs to common “CrossFit distances” due to discomfort quickly setting in, the Savage 1 provides those who lean more towards minimalist running shoes with a true “do everything” shoe.

Not for those who primarily Olympic lift

Don’t get me wrong; if you put a gun to my head and told me I had to produce 10 different pairs of shoes that are worse for Olympic lifting than the Savage 1 is, I wouldn’t even be nervious.

(well, I probably would be pretty friggin’ scared, so I’d probably just name 12 just to be safe!)

That being said, if you lean more towards heavy Olympic lifting, you’re probably going to be disappointed if you think you can rely only on these bad boys to get you through.

How we Reviewed the Savage 1

Over the last 4 months, I have moved slowly transitioned away from using my (also excellent) “classic” Ballistic Trainers for the majority of my workouts to splitting time (sometimes within the same training session) between my Savage 1s and “mid top” Ballistic Trainers.

Truth be told, this split isn’t completely “even”. As you can imagine, personal preferences dictate when I opt for the Ballistic Trainers (usually when there is more heavy lifting and less running) and when I go with the Savage 1s (…most of the rest of the time).

Workouts have ranged from indoor, “classic CrossFit” sessions to working out in my outdoor home gym, to street runs, and even a few ruck outings (not really recommended for the latter!)

After seeing my wife’s pair take a bit of a beating, I have stayed away from unpaved roads and workouts on terrain, but otherwise, I would say I have put them to the test in most of the scenarios that most people would likely opt to wear them for.

Born Primitive Savage 1 Alternatives

I understand that it can feel a little bit like taking a leap of faith when opting for a shoe offering from a relatively new, albeit up-and-coming brand. If you’d rather “play it safe” with more familiar options, take a look at some of your top alternative options:

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s the first iteration of a pretty new shoe line…of course you have some additional questions!

The Born Primitive Savage 1…the next great CrossFit shoe…?

The Savage 1 is an excellent training shoe and I’m pretty excited to see where the company goes from here.

Will there be a wider array of footwear released? Will they go in the direction of someone like a GORUCK and start releasing bags, training gear, and other accessories?

Maybe they’ll just double down on the models!

Regardless of what they end up doing, I actually hope they don’t do much (if anything) to the design of the Savage 1. Reebok Nanos went downhill ever since they released the Nano 2; Born Primitive doesn’t need to go down the same path.

The company already has a really good thing going on and it wouldn’t be surprised if a significantly higher percentage of top athletes are rocking these by the 2025 semifinals.

If you’re on the fence, may as well get them so you can later say you had them “before they were (really) cool.”