Why a Nike Metcon 6 remains the complete training shoe

“These are amazing” is the simple description stated by reviewer and Crossfitter Levi Sampley when analysing the Nike Metcon 6. Following the release of the near faultless Nike Metcon 5, many people could be led to believe that we would not come close to a perfect shoe for CrossFit show, or that it could be found in the form of either a Reebok Nano or a Nobull. However, since this time Nike have managed to shrink the gap even further in the form of the Metcon 6. The training shoe was endorsed and the preferred choice of footwear for several members of the professional athlete community such including podium finishers Laura Horvath, Noah Ohlson and the greatest of all time Mat Fraser of whom wore the 6s for his 2019 and 2020 CrossFit games victories.

Aesthetics

It could be argued that this is the most aesthetically pleasing edition of the Metcon on the market and interesting the first to be added to NikeID. You would best describe most colourways as the perfect blend of subtle and ‘loud’. The large Nike swoosh on the upper in certainly in your face and the first noticeable feature. By having the midsole finish at a point halfway up the upper, you get that classically dynamic appearance that is a staple through all editions of the Metcon and adds an element of stability that is not present in the shoes leading competitors. We also have additional loops around the lace holes similar to that featured on a walking boot. While not especially necessary, the loops serve as much as an added foot security feature as they do an aesthetic feature.

Sole and Stability

Underneath the 6s are entirely flat with little to no cushioning purely to accommodate the vast variety of possible movements that an athlete can be faced with. In the box you will also find 8mm lifters to your heels and hit that depth when Olympic lifting. The wedged heal consists of a thick plastic and is the only solid and firm material on the shoe. The density of this substance provides a similar stability to an Olympic lifting shoe and therefore will allow an athlete to safely execute their heavy lifts without the need to change shoes and improve times in traditionally heavy workouts such as Heavy DT or a clean ladder. From experience, any recent edition of the Reebok Nano misses the balance between being a lifting shoe and a running show at the same time. Your ankle is more stable in a Metcon 6. At the 2019 CrossFit Games, Noah Ohlson wore the Metcon 6 instead of a lifting shoe for the clean ladder event. He went on to finish 5th in the event with a successful clean of 352lbs.

“The dual density insole gives a more flexible feel on the front foot while a more rigid insole on the back gives a stable feel”. It is well-known knowledge that during an Olympic lift, if completed correctly, the full force of the weight of which you are lifting will primarily be felt in the individuals heel making the rigid back of the insole perhaps the most essential part of the design.

Cushioning

Limited to no cushioning made me also assume that the Metcon 6 would be far from comfortable and that running would be a painful experience. A five-kilometre test run but these queries to bed. Comfort came naturally through the lightness of the shoe (384g each). The lack of a cushioned sole that is present on all running shoes made the process feel alarmingly more natural and would allow an individual to really zone in on perfecting their running technique as opposed to relying on the bounce provided by a cushioned sole.

The Upper

The upper consists of a thick and durable mesh. You can see that breathability is a feature that has been focussed on so much they are literally see-through. This is especially convenient for those longer workouts, and anything is an especially hot environment. However, I would probably avoid these in the rain! Nike says they are 18% more breathable than the Metcon 5, as noticeable by the exaggerated holes in the mesh upper.

“The best rope climbing shoes out there” is a statement justified by the thickness of the upper mesh that can allow it to uphold against constant friction of a rope climb and remain undamaged. Mat Fraser famously won the first event of the 2019 CrossFit games while wearing Metcon 6. An event that included both a large volume of rope climbs and middle distance running.

What Reebok and Nobull don’t have

“Any shoe that is bias towards one movement is going to make sacrifices to others”

The Reebok X1 may be currently cheaper (on sale at £77) in my opinion they are neither here nor there in terms of a multi-functional training shoe. Too much of an emphasis has been put on the qualities of a running shoe that it lacks in durability and stability to be used for movements involved in grunt work. Saying that however, new editions of the X1 model do consist of significant improvements to make the shoe more aesthetically pleasing, unlike the Nobull CrossFit shoe (priced at £130) that is often described as dull despite the company’s recent rapid growth in the industry. Social media is often flooded with comments and jokes regarding the never changing appearance of the Nobull shoe that could potentially discourage an individual to even test the shoe before they select a Nike Metcon anyway.