New competition sled gets replaceable blades: what athletes should know

HYROX and its equipment partner Centr have introduced a competition sled with replaceable blades, the surfaces that touch the turf. The companies say the design is meant to manage wear and make resistance more consistent across training and racing. Anyone who has felt how differently sleds move from one venue to the next will recognise the problem. The change addresses one source of that variation, but surfaces and equipment will still differ.

What changed on the sled

The contact surfaces under the new sled can be replaced as they wear, and the sled keeps the same weight. The replacement blades fit only the new model, not the original fixed-blade version, so a gym with an older sled cannot retrofit the new parts.

What it means for training

A sled's listed load is only part of how it feels. The surface, the condition of the equipment and how familiar you are with the movement all affect a session. The companies aim to reduce variation caused by wear, but the announcement does not show that differences between venues have gone away.

If you have access to a sled, practise the push and pull at a load suited to your division and experience. Pay attention to how you get the sled moving and how you recover for the next run, rather than treating one gym's setup as an exact preview of race day. Our guide to training for the sleds without a sled covers what to do if you cannot get on one.

Availability and maintenance

The upgraded sled is in use for the 2026/27 season, with its commercial launch listed as 8 October 2026. Centr suggests replacing the blades after about 10,000 metres of commercial use, though how often they need replacing depends on use.

For gym owners, the first question is whether their sled is the compatible model, followed by the cost and availability of replacement parts.

Frequently asked questions

Will the new blades make sleds easier?

The companies describe the change as a way to manage wear and improve consistency, not as a change meant to make sleds easier or harder. See the announcement coverage.

Can the blades be fitted to the original sled?

No. The replacement blades fit the new model only, not the original fixed-blade sled.