Our verdict
- Our top pick in best workout shoes
- Our top pick in best gym shoes
Pros
- Exceptionally stable for weightlifting
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- The best shoe for rope climbs
- Reliable foot containment
- Very comfortable in-shoe feel
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- Accommodates wide feet (finally!)
- Surprisingly flexible
Cons
- Heavier than average (and previous Metcons)
- Not great for cardio workouts and rope jumps
- So-so breathability
Interview verdict
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Comparison
The most similar training shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 81 Good! | 83 Good! | 82 Good! | 89 Great! | |
Price | $150 | $150 | $130 | $130 | |
Use | CrossfitWorkoutCross-trainingGymHIIT | CrossfitWorkoutCross-trainingGymHIITSkipping rope | CrossfitWorkoutCross-trainingGymHIITSkipping rope | CrossfitWorkoutCross-trainingGymHIIT | |
Drop lab | 5.5 mm | 8.6 mm | 4.8 mm | 6.9 mm | |
nike carbon air revolution sky purple star wars ilum | 21.5 mm | 26.0 mm | 22.3 mm | 23.0 mm | |
Forefoot | 16.0 mm | 17.4 mm | 17.5 mm | 16.1 mm | |
Weight lab | 13.3 oz / 378g | 11.7 oz / 332g | 12.3 jordan 28 se christmas | 11.9 oz / 336g | |
Breathability | Moderate | Breathable | Moderate | Breathable | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Wide | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Wide | Wide | Medium | Medium | |
Midsole softness | Firm | Balanced | Balanced | Firm | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | |
nike carbon magista proximo ic chilling red color 2017 | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | Stiff | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Good | Good | Bad | |
Heel padding durability | Good | Good | Bad | Good | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | Decent | Good | |
nike carbon running show with arch back | Very wide | Average | Average | Wide | |
nike carbon lebron x cheap lime green hair | Wide | Average | Average | Average | |
Widths available | Normal | Normal | Normal | NormalWide | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole hardness | Hard | Average | Average | Average | |
Heel tab | None | None | Finger loop | None | |
Tongue: gusset type | Both sides (full) | Both sides (full) | None | Both sides (full) | |
Tongue padding | Thick | Average | Average | Very thick | |
Ranking | #21 Bottom 30% | #17 Bottom 43% | #19 Bottom 36% | #7 Top 24% | |
Popularity | #2 Top 7% | #6 Top 20% | #20 Bottom 33% | #8 Top 27% |
Who should buy
As Nike's flagship cross-training shoe, the Metcon 9 is perfectly suitable for athletes who:
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- perform rope climbs on a regular basis
- prefer extra room for the toes
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Who should NOT buy
We didn't feel as confident using this shoe for aerobic exercises as we did for lifting. If you want a shoe that provides a more balanced experience, we suggest going for the Free Metcon 5, nike carbon airs size 7 really cheap shoes and boots Nike.
The 9th iteration comes with a £20 price increase which in our opinion, is not entirely justified. If you want equal performance with a lower price tag, we recommend the discounted nike carbon Metcon 8. You might as well be interested in the Metcon's close competitor, the Reebok Nano X3, also available at a discounted price.
Breathability
nike carbon didn't seem to notice the more frequent heat waves on the planet and chose to make the Metcon 9 slightly less breathable than its predecessor.
Putting the shoe through our smoke-pumping test, we found that the mesh lets the smoke out at a notably slower pace than the Metcon 8. Based on this, we assessed the shoe's breathability with an average 3 out of 5 score.
This makes much more sense when we put the shoe's cut-in-half upper against the light. As you can see, the shoe lining below the mesh is so dense, it doesn't even let the light shine through!
Let's have an even closer look at the shoe's upper through our microscope.
It is very clear that there is a dense layer of textile underneath the mesh. We're surprised that this shoe even breathes!
But luckily, the Metcon 9 is not as toasty as the NOBULL trainers (nike carbon free 5.0 womens arctic green shoes boots).
Metcon 9 | 3 |
Average | 3.2 |
Durability
Toebox durability
Crossfit can be especially tough on shoe uppers with its repeated slashes, foot drags, and rope climbs. So, nike carbon thoughtfully added protective dots on the side of the Metcon 9's toebox. But are they really effective?
Armed with a highly abrasive Dremel tool, we drilled the trainer's toebox for 12 seconds at a speed of 5K RPM. To keep this test consistent across all training shoes, we always apply the same pressure 3.2N, and put the tool against the same spot.
Indeed, the rubberized dots took the bullet for the shoe's mesh! Given how dainty that fabric is, adding some protection prevented the toebox from developing a see-through hole and earned the Metcon 9 a solid 3 out of 5. Note that this score is higher than the average.
![nike carbon metcon 9 toebox durability 2 20971432 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-toebox-durability-2-20971432-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 3 |
Average | 2.7 |
Heel padding durability
The Metcon 9 keeps proving that it's worth the higher price. This time, with its impressively sturdy collar lining.
After holding the Dremel against this delicate part of the shoe for 4 seconds, the damage was barely noticeable and pretty much cosmetic.
Looks like it will take hundreds of workouts before the friction develops holes in this shoe's collar. We can confidently rate the shoe's heel collar padding with a high 4 out of 5 score. Much higher compared to the average.
![nike carbon metcon 9 heel padding durability 2 20971433 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-heel-padding-durability-2-20971433-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 4 |
Average | 2.5 |
Outsole hardness
It seems like every part of the nike carbon Metcon 9 screams quality. Now looking at the shoe's outsole, we believe that it is ready for some serious abuse.
Pressing our durometer against the outsole, we got a pretty high reading of 91.0 HC. This turns out to be one of the hardest rubbers in training shoes. And as our experience shows, hard is often synonymous with durable.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 Outsole hardness](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-outsole-hardness-20971438-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 91.0 HC |
Average | 83.2 HC |
Outsole durability
We applied the Dremel for 22 seconds at a higher speed of 10K RPM to see how much damage it causes to the Metcon's outsole.
While the result wasn't as news-breaking as we expected, this cross-trainer showed pretty solid resistance to abrasion. Measuring the depth of the dent with a tread gauge, we got 0.9 mm. This is typical for training shoe outsoles.
![nike carbon metcon 9 outsole durability 2 20971434 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-outsole-durability-2-20971434-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 0.9 mm |
Average | 1.2 mm |
Outsole thickness
The amount of rubber in the shoe's outsole looks rather promising too. Using a calliper, we found that it is 3.2 mm thick. If you train indoors, this is plenty of rubber.
But if you'd like to take your workouts outside, we recommend the Reebok Nano X2 TR Adventure instead.
![nike carbon metcon 9 outsole thickness 20971435 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-outsole-thickness-20971435-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 3.2 mm |
Average | 3.7 mm |
Rope protection
When you first look at the nike carbon Metcon 9, the first thing that catches your eye is the immense rope protection on the sides.
Especially on the inner side! We haven't seen rope guards of this size in any previous Metcons or cross-trainers in general.
As long as you contact the rope with these overlays only, the rest of the shoe upper dust intact. Their looks may be polarising but their ability to bite the rope on ascents and let you slide down on descents is unmatched!
The middle portion of the shoe's sole also has a slightly curved shape which allows a more ergonomic wrap around the rope.
And while we believe that this is one of the best rope climbing trainers in history, we also felt like it was an overkill for most athletes. Not everyone needs THIS amount of assistance every day.
Weight
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Tipping the scale at 13.3 oz (378g), it is not only 1.5 oz heavier than its predecessor. It is also almost 2 oz heavier than cross-trainers on average!
In addition to being heavy, this nike carbon shoe is also quite clunky due to its substantial Hyperlift heel. It works wonders in weightlifting but is absolutely NOT your best bet for high-impact aerobic workouts or, God forbid, runs!
The nike carbon Free Metcon 5 (10.5 oz) or the kids black and pink nike carbon shox sneakers women sale (12.01 oz) are more suitable for that.
P.S. Oh, and be prepared that the Metcon 9 will look like it's 2 sizes bigger on the foot.
Metcon 9 | 13.33 oz (378g) |
Average | 10.79 oz (306g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
At the onset of Crossfit, athletes chose shoes with very minimal cushioning to accommodate their ever-changing routines. You really need that ground feel to remain stable and in control of the movement.
nike carbon Metcons have met that demand in every iteration. Measuring the heel stack of the Metcon 9 with a calliper, we got 21.5 mm. This is slightly lower than the average but it is an ideal platform thickness for a grounded experience.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 Heel stack](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-heel-stack-20971442-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 21.5 mm |
Average | 24.3 mm |
Forefoot stack
Checking the shoe's forefoot stack, we got 16.0 mm on our calliper. This minimal cushioning helps the shoe be more flexible but detracts from impact protection under the ball of the foot.
For instance, rope jumping in the nike carbon Metcon 9 felt like a punishment. Pairing that with clunky heels and heavy weight, we cannot recommend this trainer for regular rope jumps.
Metcon 9 | 16.0 mm |
Average | 18.4 mm |
Drop
In addition to the low stack, you also need a very low drop to feel stable in a Crossfit shoe. Traditionally, nike carbon Metcons came with a 4-mm drop and the brand claims 4 mm in the Metcon 9 as well.
However, based on our own stack measurements (insole and outsole included), we found it to be slightly higher - 5.5 mm. On foot, the difference is not highly critical but we must call nike carbon out on that one.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 Drop](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-drop-20971443-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 5.5 mm |
Average | 5.9 mm |
Midsole softness
It has always been a dilemma for cross-training shoes - you need a firm platform for weightlifting stability but you also want some softness for jumping.
The Metcon 9 figured that one out by placing a softer foam inside the firmer one.
Measuring the firmer carrier foam with a durometer, we got 32.3 HA. That's 15% firmer than the average cushioning in training shoes.
![nike carbon metcon 9 midsole softness 20971444 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-midsole-softness-20971444-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 32.3 HA |
Average | 27.4 HA |
Secondary foam softness
As for the softer foam inside the midsole, we found it to be just perfect for buffering box jumps and the like.
Pressing our durometer against it returned 22.0 HA. That is a whole 47% plusher than the primary carrier foam! But the two complement each other very well in the Metcon 9.
![nike carbon metcon 9 secondary foam softness 20971445 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-secondary-foam-softness-20971445-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 22.0 HA |
nike carbon sneaker in black colour blue paint code | Insole thickness
Our feet also felt very well padded inside the Metcon 9 courtesy of the insole. Measuring it in the heel, we found that it is slightly thicker than average at 4.2 mm.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 Insole thickness](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-insole-thickness-20971446-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 4.2 mm |
Average | 3.8 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
Stability is the nike carbon Metcon's second name.
Its wide base, stiff platform, and lots of stabilising components make this trainer exceptionally planted.
The most notable feature of the trainer must be the Hyperlift, a piece of sturdy TPU plastic under the heel. This element is non-compressible and can help the wearer take on very heavy loads without feeling wobbly.
From our experience, it is practically impossible to feel off-balance in the nike carbon Metcon 9.
Torsional rigidity
First of all, you can get a good idea of the shoe's stable character just by attempting to twist it with your hands.
As you can see from our manual test, this trainer is not the one that will bend to your will. On a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the stiffest, we assessed the Metcon's torsional rigidity with a maximum score of 5.
No matter how intense your workout of the day gets, this trainer will never let you twist your ankle.
Metcon 9 | 5 |
Average | 2.7 |
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Lifting a heavy-loaded barbell, you can rest assured that your ankles will not get shaky thanks to the shoe's firm heel hold.
We felt very little give when pushing and squeezing the shoe's heel counter. On a 1-5 scale, we rated its stiffness with a high score of 4.
Metcon 9 | 4 |
Average | 2.8 |
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Very few training shoes can compete with the Metcon 9's platform width. On foot, it feels like an actual aircraft carrier!
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![nike carbon Metcon 9 nike carbon running show with arch back](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-midsole-width-in-the-forefoot-20971448-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 116.9 mm |
Average | 109.6 mm |
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This nike carbon shoe also proved to be among the widest in the heel portion of the sole. Based on our calliper, it comes in at 95.0 mm in the widest part of the rearfoot.
Such a large contact area with the floor helps to stabilise the foot with minimal effort. That way, you can focus more on performing an exercise and less on worrying about your feet.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 nike carbon lebron x cheap lime green hair](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-midsole-width-in-the-heel-20971450-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 95.0 mm |
Average | 86.8 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
The nike carbon Metcon's beastly construction makes it look like a hyper-stiff trainer in every way. And yet, nike carbon made sure that it can bend along with the foot!
To measure the shoe's flexibility in numbers, we checked how much force it takes to bend it to a 90-degree angle. According to our force gauge, it requires 17.5N which is 17% less than it takes on average!
Planks, burpees, push-ups, and just walking around the gym are all perfectly accommodated in the Metcon 9!
Metcon 9 | 17.5N |
Average | 18.6N |
Grip / Traction
What else can we say, the Metcon 9's grip is simply phenomenal.
Whether it's jumping on and off the box, doing burpees over a barbell on wet floors, or stabilising yourself during cleans and jerks - the shoe's got you covered.
The herringbone traction pattern on the outsole passed our gym tests with flying colours.
Size and fit
Toebox width at the widest part
A nike carbon shoe with a roomy toebox? You must be kidding! No, for real?
YES! In nike carbon Metcon's 9th iteration, the brand finally listened to what the athletes had been asking for. Even before taking the calliper measurements, we could feel that this shoe offered more toe space than ever before.
To be specific, the widest part of the trainer's forefoot (around the ball of the foot) comes in at 108.0 mm! This is not only wider than the Metcon 8 but also wider than training shoes on average!
![nike carbon metcon 9 toebox width at the widest part 20971455 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-toebox-width-at-the-widest-part-20971455-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 108.0 mm |
Average | 100.1 mm |
Toebox width at the big toe
If your toes ever felt cramped in a pair of gym shoes, the Metcon 9 can be a sweet relief.
It is not only wider than average in the widest part of the forefoot but also around the big toe. Our calliper shows 81.4 mm of width there.
That means that there is no significant tapering or narrowing of the shoe's shape. Amazing for splaying toes as much as you need!
![nike carbon metcon 9 toebox width at the big toe 20971457 main](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-toebox-width-at-the-big-toe-20971457-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 81.4 mm |
Average | 78.2 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
This nike carbon Metcon shoe features gussets on both sides of the tongue. They prevent the latter from annoyingly shifting sideways during the workout.
Never once did we have to stop and make adjustments. At the gym, it should be about the athlete and not their shoe tongue!
![nike carbon Metcon 9 Tongue: gusset type](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-tongue-gusset-type-20971458-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | Both sides (full) |
Laces
No complaints here on our end. nike carbon chose excellent quality laces for the nike carbon Metcon 9. After our training session, they remained just as tight as when we first laced them up.
And of course, we can't ignore the handy lace lock! Very low-key, it complements the trainer's look very naturally.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 laces](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-laces-20971469-main.jpg)
Comfort
Tongue padding
Compared to many other cross-trainers on the market, the nike carbon Metcon 9 felt more comfortable and padded inside. Particularly around the collar and in the tongue.
Checking its tongue thickness with a calliper, we got 7.9 mm. Slightly thicker than average. This aspect of the trainer makes it more comfortable for coaching and walking around the gym venue.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 Tongue padding](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-tongue-padding-20971460-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | 7.9 mm |
Average | 5.6 mm |
Removable insole
For those who prefer wearing custom orthotics in their gym shoes, the stock insole is easily removable in the nike carbon Metcon 9.
![nike carbon Metcon 9 Removable insole](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/40112/nike-metcon-9-removable-insole-20971463-main.jpg)
Metcon 9 | Yes |