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. The hyperlift goes under the midsole – and when it’s in place it gives you more heel raise. Great for squats, thrusters, and pistols. One more shot of the width difference – because that’s a big deal – if you need it. The Reebok is a Men’s Size 11, the Nike is an 11.5

The Inov-8 BARE-XF 210 V3 does everything you would expect from a minimalist cross-training shoe: it's flexible, comfortable and provides excellent grip during workouts. Perfect for lifting sessions, although it might need some getting used to if you never tried barefoot shoes before. 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. I wear a Men’s Size 11 (US) in all my Nike running shoes, and in most shoes from Reebok, UA, Adidas, etc. I’m basing that on the fact that most of the shoe seems to be unchanged from last year’s Nike Metcon 5.THe NIke Metcon 6 looks good and carries forward all my favorite parts of the Nike Metcon 5. The breathable upper is a nice change too – I workout in Florida – in a garage with no A/C.

Apart from manufacturing the best running shoes market, Nike is also famous for producing the best workout shoes and even more specifically, the best cross-training shoes. For example, its Metcon series has long been a CrossFit favourite and the Air Zoom SuperRep was specifically designed for HIIT workouts, providing extra stability and boost when needed. In fact, the heel is so firm and dense, these shoes make a “clip-clop” sound when you walk – Just like Oly lifters! (But not nearly as loud). From the side you can see the rope wrap. This is where the tough rubber sole wraps up around the shoe. Great for grip on rope climbs, and it’s super tough too. This ensures the friction from the rope doesn’t destroy the upper. Stand out is the extended sole wrap, seam overlays in contrasting colors which divide the shoe into two very separate parts, and large zig-zag lace overlays

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

The removable midsole of the shoe (that’s the part between the outsole and your foot – is made from 2 kinds of foam. 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. 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. This shoe has an all-new upper, and it’s very breathable. Nike claims it is 18% more breathable than the Nike Metcon 5.

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. 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. It also doesn’t have a firm heel cup like in the regular edition shoe. How could it? You wouldn’t be able to collapse the heel to slide your foot in.

One thing you’ll realise straight away when doing a workout in the Metcon 6 is just how great the traction of the outsole is. Having so much rubber under your feet helps but the almost completely shape of the outsole also helps keeping your balance, even when you’re handing heavy weights. Not a bad thing when you have a fully-loaded barbell dangling over your head. The rest of the features are pretty much the same, all the way down to the same Hyperlift insert, introduced in the Metcon 5. This adds an extra 8 mm elevation to the heels which can help when you need to propel yourself forward. In reality, the collar of the shoes sits low around the ankles as it is and adding the Hyperlift pushes your feet out of the shoes even more, which might compromise stability in some cases. 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.Metcon 6 let’s the light shine through (see it in the toe area?). The 5’s upper is two layers, and quite dense – no sunlight shines in. Nike says the 6 is 18% more breathable – but I’m guessing it might be much more than that.