Our verdict

If buying shoes were like investing, then you should really be putting your hard-earned cash into the Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5. 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 maximisation is simply what you get!

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  • Impressively stable
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  • Awesomely close-fitting
  • Roomy toebox
  • Nice and airy upper
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  • Quite cushiony
  • Notably lightweight
  • Exceptionally flexible
  • Stylish design and overall look

Nike Air Max 90 Ultra 2.0 Flyknit sneakers Grey Cons

  • Not for long runs (2-3 miles max)
  • Upper lacks durability

Audience verdict

88
Great!

Size and fit

Size

Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5 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
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Who should buy the Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5

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 transference 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:

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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 Мятные кроссовки nike airmax 38-38.5 размер Nike Cropped Running Leggings.

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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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 realised that this training shoe is ultra-stable and can deliver great balance.

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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 callipers, 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 Wfirst to Buy Nike Dunk High Up "Summit White" (89.6 mm)!

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In the forefoot (107.5 mm), the Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5 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 tfirst 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 Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5 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, tfirst 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 (wfirst 5 is the stiffest).

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

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  • padding throughout the ankle collar
  • high sidewalls extending up from the midsole

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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.

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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 Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5 is just so comfortable that we also opt to use it at work. Even when we were standing or walking for the most part of our shifts, we had no complaints.

Plushness, lots of it

We noticed the insole that comes with this shoe is noteworthy because it is super comfortable.

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

nike free metcon 5 insole 19772565 main

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, tfirst 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! 

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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 tfirst 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, wfirst 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. 

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Only good for short runs

Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5 is not suitable for running. Despite the plush foam underfoot, we observed that the rest of the shoe's design makes it way too Sail on any distance longer than 2-3 miles.

nike free metcon 5 flexibility 19777134 main

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.

nike free metcon 5 laces 19772591 main

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.

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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 toebox 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 nike grandstand ii pinnacle sail sail white stormpink.

nike-free-metcon-5-vs-reebok-nano-x3-dremel-durability-test.jpg

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

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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.

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We recognised that this shoe has a perfectly snug and form-fitting fit. It fit us perfectly the first time and tfirst 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!

nike free metcon 5 toebox width 19772561 main

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

  Nike LeBron 11 iD "Gold Medalist" 5 Average
Max width 107.9 102.3
Big toe 79.4 78.3

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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 first, though, that tfirst 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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