DEKA vs HYROX: distance, stations, price & difficulty compared (2026-27)
DEKA has 41 upcoming events in 11 countries (entry €40–€115, $35–$215 +7 currencies); HYROX has 97 upcoming events in 35 countries (entry €40–€145, £40–£128 +21 currencies). Data from 138 event listings, updated daily.
Verdict
DEKA: 10 zones + 0–5 km of running. HYROX: 8 × 1 km runs + 8 stations. DEKA has more stations than HYROX (10 vs 8). Both start from €40. Both are rated Intermediate. HYROX has more upcoming events (97 in 35 countries vs 41 in 11 countries).
Fitness race of 10 functional zones with 5 km, 1 mile or no running
Indoor fitness race: 8 x 1 km runs, each followed by a workout station
Key differences
- FormatDEKA: 10 functional zones; DEKA FIT adds a 500 m run before each zone, DEKA MILE a 160 m run, DEKA STRONG has no runningHYROX: 8 × 1 km runs, each followed by a functional workout station
- Running / distanceDEKA: DEKA FIT 5 km · DEKA MILE ~1 mile · DEKA STRONG noneHYROX: 8 km
- Stations / obstaclesDEKA: 10 zonesHYROX: 8 stations: SkiErg 1000 m, Sled Push 50 m, Sled Pull 50 m, Burpee Broad Jumps 80 m, Row 1000 m, Farmers Carry 200 m, Sandbag Lunges 100 m, Wall Balls 100
- DivisionsDEKA: Open/Elite, Age Group, Teams, RuckHYROX: Singles (Open/Pro), Doubles, Relay (4)
- DifficultyDEKA: IntermediateHYROX: Intermediate
- Entry price (upcoming events)DEKA: €40–€115, $35–$215 +7 currenciesHYROX: €40–€145, £40–£128 +21 currencies
- Upcoming eventsDEKA: 41 events in 11 countriesHYROX: 97 events in 35 countries
DEKA vs HYROX side by side
Format facts from the organisers: spartan.com, spartan.com, spartan.com, hyrox.com. Event counts and prices from race.fitness listings.
Next DEKA races
- DEKA GUADALAJARA 2026 · 24 Oct 2026
- DEKA MILE & DEKA STRONG: D1 Training Jollyville · 24 Oct 2026
- DEKA ALICANTE 2026 · 31 Oct 2026
Next HYROX races
- HYROX Abu Dhabi · 23 Oct 2026
- TRYROX Race Series - FullROX · 24 Oct 2026
- HYROX Birmingham · 27 Oct 2026
What is DEKA?
DEKA is a functional fitness race series run by Spartan Race and billed as the decathlon of hybrid fitness racing. Every DEKA event uses the same ten DEKA Zones. The time for each zone and the total time are recorded, so athletes can compare results with their own previous marks and with a global leaderboard.
The flagship DEKA FIT puts 500 m of running before each zone, for 5 km in total. DEKA MILE uses 160 m runs for one mile in total, and DEKA STRONG is the ten zones with no running. There are also DEKA Ultra (50 zones and 25 km of running) and DEKA ATLAS, a heavier ten-zone test with a 30-minute cap. Athletes who finish STRONG, MILE and FIT in one calendar year earn the DEKA Trifecta. Heats include Elite, Age Group, Teams and Ruck, so the series suits gym-goers as well as competitive athletes.
What is HYROX?
HYROX is an indoor fitness race in which athletes run 1 km and then complete one functional workout station, repeated eight times. The stations and their order are fixed: 1,000 m SkiErg, 50 m sled push, 50 m sled pull, 80 m burpee broad jumps, 1,000 m row, 200 m farmers carry, 100 m sandbag lunges and 100 wall balls. Because the format is the same worldwide, results feed global leaderboards and a World Championship at the end of each season.
HYROX launched in Hamburg, Germany, in 2017 and is run by HYROX World GmbH. It was created by race organiser Christian Toetzke with Olympic medallist Moritz Fürste and marketing expert Michael Trautmann. Races take place in large exhibition halls, with start waves throughout the day. Divisions include Open, Pro (heavier weights), Doubles and a four-person Relay. There is no time cap and no qualification needed for age-group entry, so HYROX suits first-time racers as well as competitive hybrid athletes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DEKA and HYROX?
DEKA: 10 functional zones; DEKA FIT adds a 500 m run before each zone, DEKA MILE a 160 m run, DEKA STRONG has no running (running: DEKA FIT 5 km · DEKA MILE ~1 mile · DEKA STRONG none). HYROX: 8 × 1 km runs, each followed by a functional workout station (running: 8 km).
Is DEKA harder than HYROX?
Both are rated Intermediate, so neither is clearly harder on paper. The tests differ, though: DEKA is 10 zones + 0–5 km of running; HYROX is 8 × 1 km runs + 8 stations. How hard either feels depends on the division you enter: DEKA offers Open/Elite, Age Group, Teams, Ruck; HYROX offers Singles (Open/Pro), Doubles, Relay (4).
How many DEKA and HYROX races are coming up?
Race.Fitness lists 41 upcoming DEKA events in 11 countries (United States, Spain, Philippines, United Kingdom, Canada) and 97 upcoming HYROX events in 35 countries (United States, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Germany).
Is DEKA or HYROX cheaper to enter?
Entry prices for upcoming events: DEKA €40–€115, $35–$215 +7 currencies; HYROX €40–€145, £40–£128 +21 currencies. Prices vary by division, ticket wave and country.
When is the next DEKA or HYROX race?
The next DEKA event is DEKA GUADALAJARA 2026 on 24 Oct 2026. The next HYROX event is HYROX Abu Dhabi on 23 Oct 2026.
Which is better for beginners, DEKA or HYROX?
Both DEKA and HYROX need a base of running and strength fitness. Check each event’s divisions: most offer an open or team option that is easier than the pro or elite level.