DARIMATI shoes for HYROX: 3 weeks of squats and interval running

With more people doing HYROX or other functional training these days, I bet a lot of you are wondering which HYROX shoes to pick. That's how I found out about the DARIMATI pop-up store running at Hyundai Department Store Pangyo Branch, so I went to check it out. Hoping this helps anyone looking for a stable shoe for HYROX, running or weight training, or anyone planning to visit the Pangyo pop-up.

Where is the DARIMATI HYROX shoe pop-up in Hyundai Department Store Pangyo Branch?

The DARIMATI pop-up runs in two spots on the 4th floor of U-PLEX at Hyundai Department Store Pangyo Branch — the main pop-up zone and the event zone — from September 7 to September 20, 2026. Hours are daily from 10:30 to 20:30.

• Pop-up name: THE HYUNDAI PANGYO X DARIMATI POP-UP STORE
• Location: Hyundai Department Store Pangyo Branch, U-PLEX 4th floor (main pop-up zone, event zone)
• Dates: September 7 to September 20, 2026
• Hours: Daily from 10:30 to 20:30

When you get to the 4th floor, the main pop-up zone sits roughly between the Nike Rise and The North Face White Label stores, near Crocs and Descente. The event zone is a bit further in, right beside Andar. The signage made it easy to find without wandering around.

The store itself was really nicely put together, and easy to locate. As soon as I walked in, the owner and staff greeted me warmly so I could browse comfortably. The wooden display fixtures gave the whole space a warm, polished feel.

The name DARIMATI comes from the 32 bridges over the Han River

The name DARIMATI apparently comes from the 32 bridges crossing the Han River in Seoul. There was a brand story card on display at the store. Bridges connect two different places, and people run, walk and cross over them, moving to somewhere new every day — that's the scenery where DARIMATI says it found the shoe it wanted to make. Apparently they publish a new series with every collaboration, and you could really feel the brand identity coming through. I didn't get to read it all in detail, so I'm planning to go back and read it properly this weekend.

Choosing DARIMATI BR-001 in beige, with popular sizes sold out

The product I picked was the DARIMATI running shoe BR-001, designed with stability in mind for hybrid training. It came in two colors, gray and beige — gray was gorgeous too, but I went with beige. All sizes were stocked, but the popular sizes were already partly sold out. If you're interested, I'd recommend visiting as soon as you can.

DARIMATI BR-001 Core Black: pre-order limited to 200 pairs

They were also taking pre-orders for a new product, BR-001 Core Black, limited to 200 pairs with an exclusive reveal at Hyundai Department Store Pangyo Branch. Scanning the QR code took you straight to the pre-order page. If you're into black colorways, this one seemed like a perfect fit.

The 30-second rowing machine race event at the Pangyo pop-up

There was also a 30-second rowing machine race event going on. You follow DARIMATI's official Instagram account, row as hard as you can for the set time, then show your result to staff to complete your entry into a lucky draw. The target distance was 150 meters for men and 100 meters for women. Post your result and a photo at the pop-up on your Instagram story and tag the brand account, and whoever posts the best record gets a pair of BR-001 — sounds fun for anyone who's into working out.

How DARIMATI differs from other HYROX shoe lines

Other brands have their own HYROX-related lines too, and a lot of them lean toward apparel collaborations. DARIMATI felt more focused on the stability of the shoe itself and its ankle support. Building out the brand story into a whole series was also something you don't see much elsewhere.

3 things DARIMATI BR-001 does in the gym and on a run

Here's my actual review after wearing BR-001 at the gym and for running. I'll break it down into three main points.

1. Ankle hold: no wobble in lunges or squats

Doing lunges or squats at the gym, movements where the ankle moves a lot, I could clearly feel how differently BR-001 held my ankle. Once you tighten the laces, the structure wraps up above the ankle, so there was barely any side-to-side twisting or wobbling. In the past, doing HYROX-style movements in regular sneakers, I'd often feel like my ankle was a bit unstable. But with this shoe, from the moment I laced up, my foot felt locked in place inside the shoe, letting me focus more on each movement. The reduced strain on my ankle during quick direction changes, like step-box work or burpees, was especially noticeable.

2. Rebound: the biggest difference in interval running

I tried it on the treadmill and outdoors too, and the rebound — where the sole compresses on landing and springs right back — was really good. There was a forward push with every step, so running at the same pace felt less tiring. The difference showed up especially clearly during intervals or short, hard bursts, more than long-distance running. It wasn't a soft, mushy cushion feel — more firm and springy, so if you're looking for a running shoe with good rebound, this would definitely satisfy.

3. Grip: no sliding in deadlifts or squats

Some gym floors are smooth and some have rubber mats, but on either surface, there was no slipping — the shoe gripped firmly. During moves like deadlifts or squats where you really need to push force through your feet, my soles didn't slide and stayed planted, which made a real difference in stability. Even pushing through the front foot during lunges, there was no slipping and the grip felt good, so I could focus entirely on the exercise without worrying about losing my balance mid-movement. I really felt that this level of grip is exactly what hybrid training, combining running and weights, actually needs.

Switching back to regular sneakers made the difference obvious

Trying out all three points in real use, I fully understood why people rave about this shoe. Honestly, I was very satisfied. After getting home from the gym and switching into regular sneakers, I immediately felt the difference in comfort. Without the ankle support, my foot felt kind of bare, and the sole felt plain and flat by comparison — for a while I even thought I couldn't go back to wearing regular shoes.