Our verdict

The Metcon series is once again making waves with the nike elite Metcon 9. 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-impact workouts, we promise that you will not regret investing in this flagship trainer.

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  • Accommodates wide feet (finally!)
  • Surprisingly flexible

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  • Heavier than average (and previous Metcons)
  • Not great for cardio workouts and rope jumps
  • So-so breathability

Audience verdict

84
Good!
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Who should buy

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

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nike elite Metcon 9 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 elite free mercurial superfly ebay shoes, nike elite sky high dunks women silver spring camp 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 elite Metcon 8. You might as well be interested in the Metcon's close competitor, the Reebok Nano X3, also available at a discounted price.

nike elite Metcon 9 lab test

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 elite 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.

nike elite Metcon 9 Heel stack
Test results
Metcon 9 21.5 mm
Average 24.8 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
13.7 mm
Heel stack
36.2 mm

nike elite roshe run mens khaki white shoes boys | 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 impact protection under the ball of the foot.

nike elite metcon 9 forefoot stack 20971441 main

For instance, rope jumping in the nike elite Metcon 9 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
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
27.7 mm

nike elite roshe run mens khaki white shoes boys | Drop

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

nike elite metcon 9 drop 20971443 main
Test results
Metcon 9 5.5 mm
Average 6.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
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 elite Metcon 9 Midsole softness
Test results
Metcon 9 32.3 HA
Average 27.8 HA
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Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
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. 

nike elite metcon 9 secondary foam softness 20971445 main
Test results
Metcon 9 22.0 HA
Average 38.2 HA
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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 elite Metcon 9 Insole thickness
Test results
Metcon 9 4.2 mm
Average 3.9 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
1.7 mm
Insole thickness
7.2 mm

Size and fit

Size

nike elite Metcon 9 is true to size (147 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
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

In nike elite 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!

nike elite Metcon 9 Toebox width - widest part
Test results
Metcon 9 100.5 mm
Average 97.0 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
92.8 mm
Toebox width - widest part
101.4 mm

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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.

nike elite metcon 9 toebox width big toe 22415311 main
Test results
Metcon 9 74.4 mm
Average 73.1 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
65.1 mm
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81.0 mm

Toebox height

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 elite Metcon 9 Toebox height
Test results
Metcon 9 27.1 mm
Average 26.9 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
22.1 mm
Toebox height
34.0 mm

Laces

No complaints here on our end. nike elite chose excellent quality laces for the nike elite Metcon 9. After our training session, they remained just as tight as when we first laced them up.

And of today, we can't ignore the handy lace lock! Very low-key, it complements the trainer's look very naturally.

nike elite metcon 9 laces 20971469 main

Stability

Lateral stability test

Stability is the nike elite Metcon's second name.

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

nike elite Metcon 9 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 nike elite 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.

Test results
Metcon 9 5
Average 2.7
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

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
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

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 elite metcon 9 midsole width in the forefoot 20971448 main
Test results
Metcon 9 116.9 mm
Average 110.6 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
101.0 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
117.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

This nike elite 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.

nike elite metcon 9 midsole width in the heel 20971450 main
Test results
Metcon 9 95.0 mm
Average 87.3 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
76.5 mm
Midsole width - heel
97.4 mm

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The nike elite Metcon's beastly construction makes it look like a hyper-stiff trainer in every way. And it feels that way too.

To measure the shoe's flexibility in numbers, we checked how much force it takes to bend it to a 30-degree angle. According to our shoe flexing tester, it requires 13.3N which is notably more than it takes on average!

We were still able to perform planks, burpees, push-ups, and simply walk around the gym in the Metcon 9, but it's clear that the shoe is not cut out to do just that. If you want more forefoot flexibility, try the nike elite air foam independence.

nike elite Metcon 9 nike elite current slip on mens shoe sandals for women
Test results
Metcon 9 13.3N
Average 11.0N
Compared to 19 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
6.0N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
19.7N

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 elite Metcon 9 Weight

In addition to being heavy, this nike elite 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!

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nike elite 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
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
6.38 oz (181g)
Weight
13.83 oz (392g)

Breathability

nike elite 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.

nike elite Metcon 9 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 elite Metcon 9 microscope upper

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Test results
Metcon 9 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
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 elite 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 elite Metcon 9 Toebox durability
Test results
Metcon 9 3
Average 2.5
Compared to 30 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
1
Toebox durability
5

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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 elite Metcon 9 white and black air max with red bubble
Test results
Metcon 9 4
Average 2.5
Compared to 28 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
1
white and black air max with red bubble
5

Outsole hardness

It seems like every part of the nike elite 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 elite Metcon 9 Outsole hardness
Test results
Metcon 9 91.0 HC
Average 83.0 HC
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Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
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 elite metcon 9 outsole durability 2 20971434 main
Test results
Metcon 9 0.9 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 26 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
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 elite mercurial veloce ii dynamite black and grey instead.

nike elite Metcon 9 Outsole thickness
Test results
Metcon 9 3.2 mm
Average 3.6 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
2.1 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Rope protection

When you first look at the nike elite 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.

nike elite 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 elite 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 elite Metcon 9 Lug depth

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.

nike elite Metcon 9 grip

Tongue padding

Compared to many other cross-trainers on the market, the nike elite Metcon 9 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.

nike elite Metcon 9 Tongue padding
Test results
Metcon 9 7.9 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
nike elite manoa boots grey women shoe
1.0 mm
Tongue padding
10.4 mm

Tongue: gusset type

This nike elite 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 elite Metcon 9 Tongue: gusset type
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 nike elite Metcon 9.

nike elite metcon 9 removable insole 20971463 main
Test results
Metcon 9 Yes