HYROX training shoes, rowing challenge in Pangyo: DARIMATI BR-001

HYROX training shoes at the DARIMATI pop-up in Pangyo: meeting the BR-001

DARIMATI, the maker of the BR-001 HYROX training shoe, opened a pop-up store on the 4th floor of U-PLEX in Hyundai Department Store Pangyo Branch. It's the brand that's been getting huge word of mouth among gym-goers lately.

I'd had my eye on this brand for a while during my running sessions, and as soon as I heard they were running a pop-up store at Pangyo's The Hyundai, I rushed right over. It's DARIMATI — the brand that started in the US, keeps selling out, and has finally opened its first pop-up in Korea!

I went in with high expectations, and I'm going to walk you through my vivid, firsthand review of trying the shoes on at the Pangyo Hyundai Department Store pop-up store.

Inside the U-PLEX 4th-floor pop-up and the 30-second rowing machine challenge

The DARIMATI pop-up store is on the 4th floor of U-PLEX at Pangyo's The Hyundai, and as soon as you get off the escalator, you see people hard at work on rowing machines. Even from a distance, the space had this hip, sporty mood to it. This is the DARIMATI pop-up store, haha.

Inside the store, everything from the flagship BR-001 to the follow-up model and new colors being revealed for the first time at this pop-up were laid out for you to see and touch. On top of that, you could actually try the shoes on, and there were fun events going on like the 30-second rowing machine challenge, so it was a real blast to browse. Popular sizes like 270 and 280 were already sold out both online and in-store — that's how hot the interest was!

How the DARIMATI BR-001 feels on: ankle support and forefoot room

The star of this pop-up, the flagship BR-001, is more than just a running shoe — it's a HYROX shoe built with all kinds of hybrid movements in mind: running, pushing, and pulling.

I'd heard it's worn by Ha Su-hyun, the number one CrossFit athlete, for its strong grip and stability, so my expectations were already high. And the moment I tried it on in the store, I couldn't help but be impressed.

As soon as I put it on, my ankle felt locked in firmly, but interestingly, the toe box had plenty of room, so even wearing it for a long time it never felt cramped — genuinely comfortable.

I was also surprised by how light the whole shoe felt, like walking with barely anything on my feet. Even in a strong sled-push type motion pushing hard against the ground, the grip was strong enough that I didn't slip at all — I thought these would look great and work perfectly not just as workout gear but as students' everyday daily shoes too.

Beige or black? The color picked at the Pangyo pop-up and the pre-order

The pretty beige color, perfect for fall, caught my eye at the DARIMATI pop-up store, but what completely stole my heart was the clean, chic black colorway. It fit so well when I tried it on that I placed a pre-order without a second thought and walked out with a light step.

Just thinking about running along Yangjaecheon Stream this coming fall in these cool shoes already gets me excited. At this DARIMATI pop-up store, you can not only pre-order the new model but also take part in the 30-second rowing machine challenge for a shot at a lucky draw with prizes including the BR-001 — so if you love working out, or you've been looking for a comfortable, stable, functional sneaker, I'd highly recommend stopping by within the event period!

Who should visit the DARIMATI HYROX pop-up in Pangyo

• Anyone training for a November HYROX competition who wants to build race instincts and carefully compare shoes
• Anyone into F45, gym training, CrossFit, or other indoor/outdoor workouts who needs strong grip and stability in a training shoe
• Fashion-forward couples or students who want a light, comfortable shoe without giving up trendy style

You get to check out shoes built for hybrid training and enjoy all kinds of on-site events too, which makes this a great spot for a weekend date or a little outing. After trying the shoes on myself, I completely understood why so many people are obsessed and why they keep selling out — it was a genuinely fun time. I can't wait for my pre-ordered black pair to arrive so I can properly enjoy running along Yangjaecheon Stream. If you're looking for a pop-up store worth visiting near Pangyo, I'd definitely recommend stopping by while you can.