Nike Metcon 5 Review: The Ultimate Shoe For Weight Lifting?
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Nike Metcon 5
The Most Tuned Metcon Yet
The Nike Metcon 5 shoe is designed for heavy lifting and high impact training in mind. It uses a dual-density support insert that provides denser support at the heel where it is needed and softer foam at the forefoot with comfort and adaptability for high impact training.
Check PriceThe Nike Metcon 5 shoe is designed for heavy lifting and high impact training in mind. It uses a dual-density support insert that provides denser support at the heel where it is needed and softer foam at the forefoot with comfort and adaptability for high impact training.
As an added bonus, it includes the Hyperlift optional riser which adds up to 8mm of lift for men or 6mm of lift for women.
Pros
- Includes Hyperlift insert that is compatible with all versions of the Metcon
- Dual-density removable insert for added comfort and support
- Chain link pattern on the upper has been redesigned for improved durability for rope climbs
Cons
- May be too dense for plyometric training or primarily running workouts
Specs
- Type: Training
- Best for: Heavy lifting and high impact exercises
- Not Ideal for: Plyometric training, box jumps, or running
- Testing: 9030 hours
- Stability: 4MM offset
- Durability: 1850 cycles
- Traction: 1.35 GRF (ground force reaction)
- Weight: 360 grams / 0.79 lbs
What’s New? Metcon 5 vs. Metcon 4
The Metcon has often marketed itself as the “jack of all trades” kind of shoe. It is designed to make an easy transition between different kinds of workouts.
The Insole: The Metcon 5 has a redesigned dual-density insole with added grooves for flexibility and grip.
The Heel: The M-5 also provides a wider, diamond shape heel that has been revised from the Metcon 4.
The Riser: A bright orange optional riser, called the Hyperlift, provides stability for heavy lifting and other weight resistance workouts.
The firm heel and riser are all about stability at your core while the flexible forefront has a softer feel with more bounce for plyometric exercises.
NOTE: The Hyperlift riser is compatible with all the previous Metcon models if you’ve got an older Metcon and want the benefit of the riser.
The Materials
The Metcon 5 is designed with a blend of materials for optimal performance. Here’s exactly how they break down:
- Upper: Haptic 3D printed mesh with extra density where you need it (especially good for push-offs and rope climbs)
- Lacing: Flywire with midfoot rope wrap; 6 eyelets vs. 5 like you’ll see on the M-3 and prior
- Outsole: Carbon Rubber, solid rubber base
- Riser: Same polyurethane foam as what the heel is made of; provides up to 8mm of lift for men and 6mm of lift for women
The Look
The Metcon 5 uses the same geometric triangular pattern seen on past versions of the Metcon. It’s a classic look that Nike makes few modifications to the geometric aesthetic of this iconic shoe.
The haptic chain-link pattern on the upper that was released on the Metcon 4 carries through into the 5, providing extra durability for rope climbs or highly abrasive workouts where the upper way wear out quicker.
There is an assortment of new colors, including 15 different standard color options. There are 10 for men and 5 for women. You can also opt for custom colors, which allows for customization of 11 different unique parts of the shoe, including:
- Base
- Collar
- Laces
- Tongue / Lining
- Heel Clip
- Heel Swoosh
- Swoosh
- Flywire
- Insert
- Outsole
- Tongue Label Text
The tongue of the shoe is padded for comfort and support between the laces and forefoot. It reads “Metcon” up the tongue, but it isn’t highly visible once you’re all laced up. For a cleaner look, you can opt for a custom version that removes the text altogether.
The Feel
The best way to describe the feeling of the M-5 is blended comfort and support. It is designed to easily transition between different styles of working out without discomfort or fatigue.
The insole has a two-tone design that makes it easy to distinguish exactly how each part of the insole is working differently for you.
The heel part of the insert is made of Polyurethane whereas the forefoot is PU foam, which tends to have a softer feel. Softer cushion can yield better results for high-impact moves, like running, burpees, or box jumps.
The foam densities are listed on the foam insert for added clarity:
- Cushioned forefoot: 37-43
- Stable heel: 54-60
The numbers above are density measurements (durometer). Durometer is the international standard for measuring hardness. As you might expect— the higher the number, the harder the feel. Lower numbers have a softer feel.
The Performance: Training with Metcon
So what workouts are best for the Metcon 5? Honestly, just about anything. The Metcon 5 is specifically designed for a hybrid mix of weight resistance, stability, and high impact workouts.
It includes a removable lift that can provide an additional 8mm of lift for men or 6mm for women. If your exercise doesn’t need the addition, you certainly don’t have to use it, but it is a nice option to have depending on your needs.
History of the Metcon
Over the years Metcon has continued to rise in popularity among professional athletes and casual fitness enthusiasts. Nike has designed this shoe to be flexible, adaptable, and supportive for whatever workout comes next.
They first released the Metcon training shoe in 2014 when it debuted in the Socal Regionals. In 2015 the Metcon 1 was produced with the Metcon 2 following shortly after in 2016. The Metcon 3 made its debut in 2017, which redesigned the upper wrap and gave the shoe a lighter feel.
Metcon 4 was launched at the end of the year in 2018. This Metcon was the first of its kind to be introduced with haptic technology. This design improves the durability of the upper and the redesign added an extra lace eyelet (6 versus 5), a nice addition for making small adjustments to comfort and support. The tongue and heel counter also got minor facelifts for refined performance.
In summer of 2019, the Metcon 5 was released in new colorways and with big changes to the insole and heel support.
Of course, this history begs the question—are we nearing the release of a Metcon 6? The answer is yes. Nike will release the Metcon 6 to Nike Members on August 4th of 2020 with a global release following shortly after on August 31st.
With the release of the Metcon 6, we may see reduced availability on the Metcon 5, which would absolutely still be a fantastic shoe regardless of what new specs Nike is releasing on the M-6.
Should you buy the Metcon 5?
We would recommend the Metcon 5 to anyone looking for the following in a training shoe:
- Adaptability: The dual density support of the Metcon 5 provides a distinctly different feel for each part of the foot (forefoot or heel). The optional addition of the Hyperlift riser is also a big bonus.
- Support for weight-bearing, high-impact workouts: While it is true that the Metcon 5 is great for most exercises, it really excels in weight-bearing training due to the exceptional stability of the redesigned insole and insert. If you mainly focus on plyometric exercises, like burpees, squats, running, etc, you may not enjoy all the design advantages on the Metcon 5.
- Extra durability for rope climbs: If you do a lot of rope climbs, the M-5 could be a solid option. It features an extra durable haptic mesh on the upper and wrap-around side wall for protection during rope climbs. Over the M-4, this shoe is designed to grip the rope as you climb, while also providing a smooth descent on the way back down.
Click here to read more or to buy the Metcon 5 for yourself.
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