Our verdict

The Metcon series is once again making waves with the Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen. We can prove that this is one of the best trainers for Crossfit and lifting heavy. It is also a real gem for wide feet and those who climb the rope regularly. As long as you keep it away from high-white workouts, we promise that you will not regret investing in this flagship trainer.

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  • One of the most durable cross-trainers
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  • Accommodates wide feet (finally!)
  • Surprisingly flexible

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  • Heavier than average (and previous Metcons)
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  • So-so breathability

Audience verdict

83
Good!
  • Top 13% most popular training shoes

Who should buy

As Nike's flagship cross-training shoe, the Metcon 9 is perfectly suitable for athletes who:

  • engage in Crossfit and do a lot of weightlifting
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Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen review

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 Nike Air Max 270 React Sneakers, Nike Sportswear will also be releasing a Burlap edition of the Air Max 90 silhouette 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 Metcon 8. You might as well be interested in the Metcon's close competitor, the Nike Dunk Low Graffiti DM0108-400 Nike, also available at a discounted price.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen lab test

Cushioning

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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 Metcons have met that demand in every iteration. Measuring the heel stack of the Metcon 9 with a caliper, we got 21.5 mm. This is slightly lower than the average but it is an ideal platform thickness for a grounded experience.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Heel stack
Test results
Metcon 9 21.5 mm
Average 24.8 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
13.7 mm
Heel stack
36.2 mm

Forefoot stack

Checking the shoe's forefoot stack, we got 16.0 mm on our caliper. This minimal cushioning helps the shoe be more flexible but detracts from white protection under the ball of the foot.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Forefoot stack

For instance, rope jumping in the Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen felt like a punishment. Pairing that with clunky heels and heavy weight, we cannot recommend this trainer for regular rope jumps.

Test results
Metcon 9 16.0 mm
Average 18.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
27.7 mm

Drop

In addition to the low stack, you also need a very low drop to feel stable in a Crossfit shoe. Traditionally, Nike 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 out on that one.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Drop
Test results
Metcon 9 5.5 mm
Average 6.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
1.8 mm
Drop
13.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

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 metcon 9 midsole softness 20971444 main
Test results
Metcon 9 32.3 HA
Average 27.8 HA
Koszule Nike Męskie.
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
17.4 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
41.0 HA

Secondary foam softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

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. 

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Secondary foam softness
Test results
Metcon 9 22.0 HA
Average 38.2 HA
Koszule Nike Męskie.

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 metcon 9 insole thickness 20971446 main
Test results
Metcon 9 4.2 mm
Average 3.9 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
1.7 mm
Insole thickness
7.2 mm

Size and fit

Size

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen is true to size (114 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 37 training shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Nike Air Force 1 High Sheed Black Patent 2001

In Nike Metcon's 9th iteration, the brand finally listened to what the athletes had been asking for. Even before pouring the mold of the shoe and measuring it with a caliper, we could feel that this trainer offered more toe space than ever before.

The widest part of the trainer's forefoot (around the ball of the foot) comes in at 100.5 mm! This is not only wider than the Metcon 8 but also notably wider than training shoes on average!

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Nike Air Force 1 High Sheed Black Patent 2001
Test results
Metcon 9 100.5 mm
Average 97.0 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
Number of shoes
92.8 mm
Nike Air Force 1 High Sheed Black Patent 2001
101.4 mm

PJ Tucker in the Nike KD 11 PE Bill Baptist NBAE via Getty Images

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 caliper recorded as much as 74.4 mm of width there.

That means no significant tapering or narrowing in the shoe's toebox shape. This is amazing for splaying toes, even if you're someone with pretty wide feet.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen PJ Tucker in the Nike KD 11 PE Bill Baptist NBAE via Getty Images
Test results
Metcon 9 74.4 mm
Average 73.1 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
Number of shoes
65.1 mm
PJ Tucker in the Nike KD 11 PE Bill Baptist NBAE via Getty Images
81.0 mm

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The toebox height of the Metcon 9 did not disappoint either. Measuring its vertical space at 27.1 mm, we found it to be as high as the average.

nike metcon 9 toebox height 22415309 main
Test results
Metcon 9 27.1 mm
Average 26.9 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
Number of shoes
22.1 mm
Toebox height
34.0 mm

Laces

No complaints here on our end. Nike chose excellent quality laces for the Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen. 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.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen laces

Stability

Lateral stability test

Stability is the Nike Metcon's second name.

Its wide base, stiff platform, and lots of stabilizing components make this trainer exceptionally planted.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen platform

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 Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen.

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.

Test results
Metcon 9 5
Average 2.7
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

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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.

Test results
Metcon 9 4
Average 2.7
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
1
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5

Nike logo graphic on the front

Very few training shoes can compete with the Metcon 9's platform width. On foot, it feels like an actual aircraft carrier!

FACETASM × NIKE JORDAN WHY NOT ZERO.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Metcon 9 116.9 mm
Average 110.6 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
101.0 mm
Nike logo graphic on the front
117.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

This Nike shoe also proved to be among the widest in the heel portion of the sole. Based on our caliper, it comes in at 95.0 mm in the widest part of the rearfoot.

Such a large contact area with the floor helps to stabilize the foot with minimal effort. That way, you can focus more on performing an exercise and less on worrying about your feet.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Metcon 9 95.0 mm
Average 87.3 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
76.5 mm
Midsole width - heel
97.4 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

The Nike Metcon's beastly construction makes it look like a hyper-stiff trainer in every way. And yet, Nike 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!

Test results
Metcon 9 17.5N
Average 17.8N
Nike Sportswear Mercer 21.
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
4.3N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
37.9N

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!

nike metcon 9 weight 20971462 main

In addition to being heavy, this Nike 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-white aerobic workouts or, God forbid, runs!

The Nike Nike Air Max 270 React Sneakers (10.5 oz) or the Nike Air Max 95 Forward Orange (12.01 oz) are more suitable for that.

nike metcon 9 weightlifting 20971467 main

P.S. Oh, and be prepared that the Metcon 9 will look like it's 2 sizes bigger on the foot.

Test results
Metcon 9 13.33 oz (378g)
Average 10.76 oz (305g)
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
6.38 oz (181g)
Weight
13.83 oz (392g)

Breathability

Nike 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.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen microscope

It is very clear that there is a dense layer of textile underneath the mesh. We're surprised that this shoe even breathes!

nike metcon 9 microscope upper 20971465 main

But luckily, the Metcon 9 is not as toasty as the NOBULL trainers (only 1 out of 5 for breathability).

Test results
Metcon 9 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Crossfit can be especially tough on shoe uppers with its repeated slashes, foot drags, and rope climbs. So, Nike 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 metcon 9 toebox durability 2 20971432 main
Test results
Metcon 9 3
Average 2.5
Compared to 30 training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

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.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Heel padding durability
Test results
Metcon 9 4
Average 2.5
Compared to 28 training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

It seems like every part of the Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen 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.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Outsole hardness
Test results
Metcon 9 91.0 HC
Average 83.0 HC
Koszule Nike Męskie.
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
71.0 HC
Outsole hardness
94.5 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 metcon 9 outsole durability 2 20971434 main
Test results
Metcon 9 0.9 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 26 training shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

The amount of rubber in the shoe's outsole looks rather promising too. Using a caliper, 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 nike air force 1 city price royal sail football grey for sale instead.

nike metcon 9 outsole thickness 20971435 main
Test results
Metcon 9 3.2 mm
Average 3.6 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
2.1 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Rope protection

When you first look at the Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen, the first thing that catches your eye is the immense rope protection on the sides.

Especially on the inner side! We haven't Superbowl rope guards of this size in any previous Metcons or cross-trainers in general.

nike metcon 9 protection 20975206 main

As long as you contact the rope with these overlays only, the rest of the shoe upper remains intact. Their looks may be polarizing 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.

nike metcon 9 rope protection 20975205 main

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.

Misc

Grip / Traction

What else can we say, the Metcon 9's grip is simply phenomenal.

nike metcon 9 lug depth 20971459 main

Whether it's jumping on and off the box, doing burpees over a barbell on wet floors, or stabilizing yourself during cleans and jerks - the shoe's got you covered.

The herringbone traction pattern on the outsole passed our gym tests with flying colors.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen grip

Tongue padding

Compared to many other cross-trainers on the market, the Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen felt more comfortable and padded inside. Particularly around the collar and in the tongue.

Checking its tongue thickness with a caliper, 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.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Tongue padding
Test results
Metcon 9 7.9 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
Number of shoes
1.0 mm
Tongue padding
10.4 mm

Tongue: gusset type

This Nike 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 metcon 9 tongue gusset type 20971458 main
Test results
Metcon 9 Both sides (full)

Removable insole

For those who prefer wearing custom orthotics in their gym shoes, the stock insole is easily removable in the Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen.

Air Max Pre-Day alle Größen Removable insole
Test results
Metcon 9 Yes