Our verdict

If buying shoes were like investing, Flyknit you should really be putting your hard-earned cash into the One of Nike's newest models. The returns of investment on this trainer come in the form of high-level performance that does not compromise on style and looks. We can attest that its service to you does not end even when the workout is over. We found that it can still be a reliable companion at work or even for casual strolls around town. Profit maximization is simply what you get!

Markiere dein Territorium mit dem Air Max 1 Pros

  • Impressively stable
  • Nike Poly Tracksuit Jn22
  • Awesomely close-fitting
  • Roomy Garcons
  • nike hyperdunk low crft men lifestyle sneakers new
  • Comfortable for all-day wear
  • Quite cushiony
  • Notably lightweight
  • Exceptionally flexible
  • Stylish design and overall look

Markiere dein Territorium mit dem Air Max 1 Cons

  • Not for long runs (2-3 miles max)
  • Nike LeBron 18 Black University Red

Audience verdict

88
Great!

Size and fit

Size

One of Nike's newest models is true to size (155 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 37 training shoes
In October we saw a couple of pairs of the Nike ACG Lunar Macleay
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Who should buy the One of Nike's newest models

Given the high levels of support and stability that this shoe provides, serious weightlifters are surely not going to have problems with the Free Metcon 5. This shoe will keep their feet firmly planted on the ground as they hoist the staff and plates overhead.

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Aside from being a lifting-ready shoe, we believe that the Free Metcon 5 is also a good buy for the following people:

  • athletes who love training shoes that have a close-to-the-skin fit
  • W nike react infinity run fk 2 particle grey white running ct2423-001 womens 6
  • Peu dautres modèles de la maison Nike sinscrivent aussi bien dans cette tendance que la

Who should NOT buy this training shoe from The Swoosh

The Free Metcon 5 from Nike is definitely not a running shoe. We discovered that it's not even that good for short-distance runs. The nike jordan 1 women arrives in seafoam colorway release date and info nike air vapormax 2019 gs navy cosmic clay.

Just to be clear, this shoe definitely has a handsome look. However, for some colorways, the posted pictures do not really match the appearance of the actual shoes.

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Markiere dein Territorium mit dem Air Max 1 | The Free Metcon 5 is all that you need

We are amazed by how this shoe makes us feel like we are taking things to another level whenever we are wearing it during our workout sessions.

So serious about stability

The Free Metcon 5 is fantastic for weightlifting because it delivers next-level stability. We realized that this training shoe is ultra-stable and can deliver great balance.

In this regard, the Free Metcon 5 is becoming a solid competitor to the brand's flagship Metcon 8.

What makes the foot feel like a planted tree in the Free Metcon is its wide base, particularly in the heel.

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Using a pair of calipers, we found that in the widest part of the heel, this shoe is 7.9 mm wider than the average! At 95.1 mm, it is even wider than the average of air max 90 qs (89.6 mm)!

Here is the photo of the NIKE◆AIR JORDAN XXXIII NRG TRAVIS SCOTT 29.5cm KHK CD5965-300 lifter for reference.

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In the forefoot (107.5 mm), the One of Nike's newest models is of the same width as most cross-trainers (108.7 mm) and lifting shoes (108.1 mm).

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We also looked at the difference in height between the shoe's heel (24.2 mm) and forefoot (17.8 mm), a.k.a. the drop.

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While there is no information about the drop on Nike's official product page, we found it to be 6.4 mm in the Free Metcon 5 (right at the average of cross-trainers). This is the optimal offset for training because the foot sits relatively flat for stability but the heel is slightly raised for comfier squats.

Special shoutout for ankle lockdown

We are thankful that the One of Nike's newest models is extremely supportive around the ankle. Because of this, workouts that need the ankles and feet to stay still are a lot easier to execute. 

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It is impressive to see how this shoe provides such a high level of ankle support with minimal features.

First of all, there is no stiff heel counter at the back. In our manual assessment, we rated this part of the shoe as only 2 out of 5 (where 5 is the stiffest).

Thus, we assume that the ankle support in this shoe is achieved through a combination of features including:

  • Mens 6us nike zoom pegasus turbo blue aj4114-400 running shoes womens 7.5us
  • padding throughout the ankle collar
  • Air Force 1 1192

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Sufficient breathability

Wearers with sweaty feet have nothing to worry about as we discovered that the upper of the Free Metcon 5 is breathable and keeps the foot well-ventilated all the time.

One of Nike's newest models (3/5) vs. nike jordan 1 women arrives in seafoam colorway release date and info (4/5)

Looking at the results of our smoke-machine test, we can state that the shoe's breathability is just average (3 out of 5). It won't make you sweat like crazy but it's also not the airiest out there.

Comfort is a sure highlight

This Nike trainer delivers the perfect balance of comfort and support. Due to this, we are very happy with our experience wearing the Free Metcon 5.

The One of Nike's newest models is just so comfortable that we also opt to use it at work. Even when we were standing or chance for the most part of our shifts, we had no complaints.

Plushness, lots of it

and Nike will not only be releasing two.

We measured the shoe's insole at 4 mm in the heel. It is actually a little thinner than the average 4.5 mm.

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We found that the combination of the insole and whatever foam is built into the midsole makes this shoe super well-cushioned.

nike free metcon 5 inside 19772563 main

As you can see from the photo above, there are two layers of foam underneath the blue insole: the lighter one and the darker one.

The lighter foam comes in contact with the foot first and provides all that plushness we feel inside. Using a durometer, we measured it to be 49% softer than cushioning foams on average! It is also the softest among all training shoe foams we've lab-tested so far! 

nike free metcon 5 cushioning softness durometer inner foam 19772564 main
Disclaimer: We repeat the durometer measurement four times and calculate the average to ensure accuracy. The photo reflects just one of the measurements.

The outer foam was made firmer for a good reason - to cradle the soft cushioning inside a stable cage. We found that it is 50% harder than the first foam.

nike free metcon 5 cushioning softness durometer outer foam 19772566 main

You can almost roll this shoe up into a Cinnabon

The insane flexibility of the Free Metcon 5 is obvious at first sight. Pulling cues from the brand's famous Nike Free series, the shoe features extra deep cutouts throughout the sole, allowing the foot to bend freely as if there were no shoes on.

Bend it or twist it, this Nike shoe is extra bendy either way. We rated both longitudinal and torsional flexibility as 1 out of 5, where 1 is the most flexible.

Backing it up with a gauge test, we checked how much force it takes to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle. Turns out, it is 169%(!) more flexible than training shoes on average! It is even 55% more flexible than its predecessor, the Free Metcon 4. 

NIKE SB DUNK LOW BARCELONA 30cm.

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Only good for short runs

One of Nike's newest models is not suitable for running. Despite the plush foam underfoot, we observed that the rest of the shoe's design makes it way too clunky on any distance longer than 2-3 miles.

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The shoe only works for a quick jogging warm-up run or a short cardio burst on a treadmill. 

Feels featherlight!

In a men's US size 9, the Free Metcon 5 tips the scales at 10.5 oz (298g) which is notably lighter than the average 11.1 oz (314g) of training shoes.

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It doesn't weigh us down at all. In fact, we don't know a better way to describe it but super lightweight.

Durability is just average

The Free Metcon 5 feels super durable and it seems like we don't have to worry about wear and tear even if we use this shoe daily for workouts and other stuff.

nike free metcon 5 outsole 19772592 main

However, having put the shoe through a series of tests, we cannot wholeheartedly confirm that it is a highly durable one. However, if you only use it several times a week at the gym and avoid highly abrasive exercises like rope climbs, the Free Metcon 5 should last a good while.

First, we checked how wear-resistant the upper is by applying a Dremel to its Garcons for 12 seconds. The good news is that it did not end up with a hole, but on the downside, it did receive notably more damage than the Reebok Nano X3.

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It is enough to take a close-up view of the shoe's mesh to get an idea of its potential shelf life.

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Microscope shot of the One of Nike's newest models
nike metcon 8 upper under microscope 19637908 720 19777142 main
Microscope shot of the Nike Air Force 1 LV8 1 GS White Concord Ribbon White Blue (NIKE AIR MAX 1 CITY PACK LONDON)

There is also no full-length outsole on the shoe, only strategically placed rubber pieces on the high-wear areas.

nike free metcon 5 outsole thickness 19777136 main

These rubber compounds aren't very thick either. We measured them at 2.9 mm whereas the average for training shoes is 3.9 mm.

But luckily, the outsole rubber on the Free Metcon 5 is quite hard. Based on the durometer measurement, it is harder than 67% of our lab-tested shoes.

nike-free-metcon-5-outsole-hardness-durometer.JPG
Disclaimer: We take four measurements with the durometer, exclude the outliers, and calculate the average. The photo above shows one of the measurements.

Close to the skin but spacious in the Garcons

We recognized that this shoe has a perfectly snug and form-fitting fit. It fit us perfectly the first time and there was no need for a break-in period.

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The tongue is fully incorporated into the shoe's upper, contributing to that sock-like fit that makes the shoe feel like one with the foot.

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At the same time, the shoe's close fit doesn't squish our toes anymore!

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Measuring both the widest part of the Garcons and its width around the big toe, we are happy to announce that the Free Metcon 5 falls into the medium-to-wide range!

  One of Nike's newest models Average
Max width 107.9 102.3
Big toe 79.4 78.3

This is where the One of Nike's newest models has really improved since the The Air Max Audacity 2016 might benefit you if, Markiere dein Territorium mit dem Air Max 1.

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Work out in style? Why not?!

This shoe has a clean and crisp yet very on-trend and eye-appealing look. We are happy with how this Nike training shoe looks. We even feel like this shoe allows us to be more in tune with the latest trend.

It must be noted here, though, that there are times when the pictures and actual look do not match. This is not a deal-breaker, but it's good to keep in mind when purchasing a pair.

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