Nike Unisex Metcon 6 Gymnastics Shoe

Product Information

From here you can see that the Nano X is taller, but more importantly – look at the toe area – it’s much wider. This is a very comfortable shoe for those with wider feet. That said these shoes don’t really have any heel raise (4mm) until you put in those hyperlifts – and then they’ve got 12mm of heel raise!.This is great for minimizing ankle flexion in the pistol squats, thrusters, and really anything that requires squatting. The biggest change has come in the form of a much superior and breathable upper, made with large ventilation holes to increase airflow and also give a much lighter feel on the foot.

Here’s a closeup of the upper on the Nike Metcon 5. It’s a dual layer material with 3d haptic print on top for durability. It wasn’t bad, but it’s definitely not breathable like the Metcon 6. The hyperlift goes under the midsole – and when it’s in place it gives you more heel raise. Great for squats, thrusters, and pistols.If you’re a harsh heel striker, the firm heel is far from ideal, but the sole does offer some cushioning, the shoe stays put on the foot, and I managed to get in some speedy sprints in them, both on a treadmill and outdoors. The big Metcon M on the heel looks good. The heel clip at the bottom (shiny) is tough TPU plastic with a minimal edge – for low drag on HSPUs. The tongue is attached in a partial bootie to the upper, meaning it stays put when working out and makes getting the shoe on and off easily.

What’s on the inside? A dual density drop-in midsole is made from two different kinds of foam – one firm (heel) one squishy (forefoot). This gives you cushion where you need it. This shoe has an all-new upper, and it’s very breathable. Nike claims it is 18% more breathable than the Nike Metcon 5. But to be honest, Nike put so many great performance features into the Nike Metcon 5 I’m glad they didn’t mess with success. Sizing advice is the same for both shoes. Because of the cramped toe box, I go 1/2 size up to get adequate width in the toe area. This was my same sizing for the Metcon 5.

When we reviewed the Metcon 5 we loved the stability underfoot (especially when lifting weights) comfortable, wide fit, durability and general aesthetics of the shoe. After testing the Metcon 5, the Reebok Nano X launched so I had been wearing that and these felt quite different. More on the comparison of the Nano X and the Metcon 6 here… So how does Nike follow all of that? Answer: With the Nike Metcon 6, a sneaker that builds on last year’s design in only the smartest of ways. That means subtle changes, not massive ones. But the end result is a superior training sneaker—and my new favorite training shoe to date. The Metcon 6 Breathes Better The feel of the upper is rigid and structured to give support, much more so than a running shoe, which may take some getting used to.

When lifting weights a training shoe like this feels a world away from a running shoe, and is much more comfortable and safer on the joints.The sole in the Metcon 6 seems to have found the perfect balance between running and lifting job descriptions. Nike Metcon 6 for HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING (Burpees, Box Jumps, Kettlebells, Lunges)

It all adds up to Nike’s best training shoe yet, and the best training shoe on the market. Nike knew better than to mess with success this year. The forefoot flexibility comes in handy though, and not just during runs. Exercises like sissy squats and heel-elevated squats, where the forefoot and midfoot portions of the shoe must bend, feel perfect, never restricted by the footwear. Nike delivers a unique combination of mobility and stability in its shoe, and you’ll love it. The Reebok Nano X uses the same split-outsole that was on the Reebok Nano 9. Flat, all-rubber, and tons of grip. The Nike Metcon 6 also carries forward the outsole from the 5. Both are good, but the Metcon 6 has more rope climbing potential – I think.

Grip from All Angles

The aim was to guide runners who are working out in a gym environment or doing any strength training to choose the right shoe for their exercise programs. There appeared to be a few style updates on the upper, but everything else seems pretty similar, just a few tweaks to improve an already great shoe. You can run in these, but remember that the heel (which is firm, stable) doesn’t have much cushion. Overall both are great shoes for lifting weights. Neither is really great for running, but the Nike (like the 5 before it) feels to have a bit more cushion in the forefoot, thanks to that dual-density midsole.