What Shoes Do Amazing Race Racers Wear? Season 36 Picks, One Pair and Water Shoes
Quick answer: most Amazing Race racers bring one pair of sneakers and wear it for the whole month. They pick grip first, then light weight and quick drying, and the smart ones add a flat pair of water shoes. Racers we could trace on the record picked Saucony and Brooks trail or stability runners, a Nike mesh trainer, and water shoes for the boats.
There is no packing list from CBS. Racers can't carry phones, maps or their own money, so every ounce in the bag is their own decision, and shoes are the heaviest thing in it. That is why the pair on screen at the starting line is almost always the pair still on screen at the finish.
What shoes do Amazing Race racers actually wear?
Two season 36 teams told EatingWell in April 2024 what they raced in. We only name brands that racers named themselves:
| Racer | Season | Shoe they named | Why, in their words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Butler | 36 | Saucony Aura TR (trail) | Grip, because you never know the terrain |
| Angie Butler | 36 | Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 | Grip, since both packed only one pair |
| Chris Foster | 36 | Nike Tanjun | Light mesh that breathes |
| Kim and Penn Holderness | 33 (winners) | Regular sneakers plus water shoes | Kept the sneakers dry on a kayak leg |
Mary Cardona-Foster, Chris's daughter, told the same outlet she moved to the ASICS Gel-Kayano 30 for running at home after the race. That is a post-show pick, not what she wore on the course.
Why do racers bring only one pair of shoes?
The bag. Teams carry one pack each for roughly a month, through airports, trains and on foot, and a second pair of running shoes weighs more than two tops and a pair of leggings together. Angie Butler said both of them chose one pair on purpose. So racers pick a shoe that can handle a cobbled street, a muddy Roadblock and a 14-hour flight, and then they live in it.
Why does grip matter more than cushioning?
Look at where the tasks happen: wet docks, market floors, rooftop tiles, dirt tracks, ship decks. A slip costs minutes, and a sprained ankle can end the race. That is why both Butlers used the word "grip" first. A trail-style outsole with deeper lugs gives up a little comfort on pavement and earns it back everywhere else.
Do racers pack water shoes?
The Holdernesses, who won season 33 in 2022, wrote that their water shoes paid off in Corsica, where the last task was a kayak to the Pit Stop. They finished with dry sneakers while other teams started the next leg in wet ones. They also wore the water shoes as slippers on planes. A thin water shoe folds flat, so it is the one extra pair that earns its space.
What does an Amazing Race-style shoe cost?
The same brands the racers named, in their current versions, at three prices. We read these on the brands' own sites; they are similar styles, not the exact pairs from the show.
| Price level | Shoe | Price | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Saucony Excursion TR17 (women's) | $70 list; wide width on sale at $35.95 | Lugged trail outsole at a travel-shoe price | Firmer and heavier than a road trainer |
| Mid | Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 (women's) | $155 | Current version of Angie Butler's shoe; stable on long walking days | Road outsole, less bite on mud |
| High | ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 | $170 | Most cushion for airport miles and standing | Bulky to carry if it isn't on your feet |
Prices checked on saucony.com, brooksrunning.com and asics.com, Sept. 26, 11:58 p.m. ET. The $35.95 sale was on the wide width only.
Which one should you buy for travel?
If your trip has hikes, boats or rain, the trail shoe is the Amazing Race answer. Its tread is the reason the season 36 racers chose trail and stability models. If it is mostly cities and flights, a cushioned road shoe is kinder on day ten. Either way, break it in before you go. Racers don't have time to deal with blisters, and you won't want to either.
| Your trip | Pick | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Hikes, beaches, boats | Trail shoe | Flat water shoe |
| Cities and long flights | Cushioned road shoe | Nothing; wear it on the plane |
| Both, one bag | Grippy stability shoe | Water shoe as a plane slipper |
How do other competition shows handle shoes?
Survivor players often go barefoot or in water shoes, which we cover in what shoes Survivor contestants wear. Kitchen shows go the other way, with closed non-slip clogs; see what Hell's Kitchen chefs wear. Dance rehearsals need a suede sole, covered in DWTS practice shoes. For wet, muddy footing like Special Forces, read what to wear for a mud run.
For the rest of the racers' bag, from tanks to a puffy coat, see what Amazing Race racers wear. To name a shoe you spot on screen, start with how to find workout clothes you see on TV, or browse all competition shows.
FAQ
Does CBS give racers shoes? Racers pack their own bags, and the ones we quote above describe picking their own shoes. We found no public source saying production hands out footwear.
Can racers buy new shoes mid-race? Only with the race money they are given, which usually goes to fares and taxis, so in practice a pair has to last.
When can I watch season 39? Wednesday, Sept. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+, then Wednesdays.
Sources
- Season 36 racers' shoe picks and quotes: EatingWell, "These Are the Running Shoes Contestants on 'The Amazing Race' Swear By," April 19, 2024 (via Yahoo Lifestyle).
- Water shoes on the kayak leg: The Holderness Family blog (theholdernessfamily.com), "What I Packed for The Amazing Race", March 24, 2022.
- Season 39 premiere dates, 13 teams, Vancouver start: Gold Derby and Wikipedia, The Amazing Race 39, read Sept. 26, 2026.
- Shoe prices: saucony.com, brooksrunning.com and asics.com product listings, checked Sept. 26, 2026, 11:58 p.m. ET.
- Video: The Amazing Race on YouTube, "Meet the Teams of Season 39!"
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