Gear Geek: Nike Metcon 2 Review
If you’re looking to get a new pair of shoes to replace your old-school kicks or to add to the rotation, it's worth taking a look at the Nike Metcon 2.
Look and Features
In true Nike fashion, these shoes are sharp and stylish. They’ve got more than a dozen colorways, and each one is pretty awesome. On top of that, Nike allows you to customize your own version of the Metcon 2 so you can make yours as flashy as you want.
Like the Metcon 1, it sports a 4mm drop, which is standard for functional fitness shoes. New to the Metcon 2 is the zero-drag heel, which was specifically introduced for handstand push-ups. This feature reduces the drag you get with rubber soles rubbing against a wall, and it slides well against almost any surface.
In addition to the zero-drag heel, the outsole and toe have excellent traction — even on poorly paved, gravelly surfaces like old parking lots. Truly versatile, these shoes also grip and stick very well to gym floors.
Fit and Feel
The fit is true to size, and matches the sizing of my Chuck Taylors, my first-edition Metcons, and all iterations of my Reebok Nanos. That said, it’ll feel different compared to shoes like the Nanos because the toe box isn’t as wide.
As a result, these shoes fit snugly and provide ample support for the variety of movements necessary for CrossFit.
They do squeak a bit, but it doesn't bother me much. The rest of the construction seems pretty bomb-proof, so I can't imagine them falling apart from regular use.
Performance
I’ve been working out in these shoes pretty much everyday for a month and I really love them.
Even when I wear them loosely around the block, they feel good. While working out, they never come untied, and my feet are able to breathe. The heel is stiff enough to support heavy and high-volume lifting, and the midfoot-to-forefoot area is flexible enough for running workouts. I experienced heel slippage with the Metcon 1s, but I’m happy to say that isn’t a problem with Nike's second edition of the shoe.
Based on how slick they look, how well they fit, the quality construction, and their performance, the Nike Metcon 2s have become my new favorite training shoe. I believe they're the best that the current functional fitness market has to offer.