The Metcon 6 has only one standout competitor, the Nano X, which I scored a 10/10 in my review earlier this year. If I could give Metcon 6 half marks it would be a 9.5/10. 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 heel feels quite loose in the FlyEase version of the shoe – that’s the tradeoff for the ability to put them on and take them off without using your hands. You can run in these, but remember that the heel (which is firm, stable) doesn’t have much cushion.

The removable midsole of the shoe (that’s the part between the outsole and your foot – is made from 2 kinds of foam. I wear an 11 in just about every other Nike shoe – and shoes from other brands like Reebok, UA, etc.) So far we have found the most popular training shoes to be superbly fit for purpose across almost all areas, bar their weight, their wide, clumpy feel on the feet and breathability. 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.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. I’m basing that on the fact that most of the shoe seems to be unchanged from last year’s Nike Metcon 5. The only reason it didn’t get a full 10/10 was its performance during a run, even a short one, as part of a workout or warm-up. The Metcon 5 felt heavy and stiff when it came to moving through the running gait.

Having said that, if you have the Nike Metcon 5 and you are OK with the fit and feel – get the same size. 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… 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. 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.

Nike Metcon 6 First Impressions

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy running in the Metcon 6… but I actually didn’t mind it. For short bursts (less than 5 minutes or so at a time, the Metcon 6 is more than fit for purpose. Well, it’s the same shape and size as the prior shoe – so I’m recommending to go 1/2 size up to get comfort in the toe area. 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.