The Nike Metcon 7 is the newest addition in the much beloved line of Nike Metcon shoes. There have been many updates to its design and it’s definitely created a buzz among Nike Metcon devotees who swear by their Metcons for exercise.
Some have been converted to the Metcon 7 while others are sticking firmly to the Nike Metcon 6.
But what has changed in the world of Metcon and why should you consider the Metcon 7s?
Well, there are many new features to rave about with the Metcon 7s, from their midsole, to the revamped upper construction and outsoles, and the Hyperlifts that have been built-in rather than sold separately.
Still on the fence? That’s where we come in! Below we’ll take a look at how the Metcon 7 performs during different exercises, and what size you should get.
But first, let’s take a look at what makes the Metcon 7 great, and not so great.
Nike Metcon 7: The Advantages
There are many advantages to the design changes of the Nike Metcon 7, such as the versatile React Foam Midsole, the durable lateral and medial rope guards, the secure lace-locking system, and the stable built-in hyperlifts.
So let’s first take a look at the Nike React Foam in the midsole. While the React Foam is a part of the Nike React Metcon Turbo, the Metcon 7’s entire midsole uses the foam to give it a more responsive and adaptable feel when exercising.
Plus, the Nike Metcon 7 can be broken in no time, which can’t be said for the Nike Metcon 6.
Another small but much appreciated advantage to the Nike Metcon 7 is the extra rope guards on the lateral and medial sides of the shoe. This is a great way to make this shoe more durable, especially during vigorous exercise.
Not everybody will need this additional material, but as it doesn’t have a negative impact on the overall performance and has a hugely positive impact on durability, a little extra material doesn’t hurt.
The third advantage of the Nike Metcon 7 is the lace-locking technology on the shoe’s tongue. This lets you fold down the Velcro lip to make sure your laces remain firmly tied while you work out.
While you may not need to always use this feature, it is undeniably a useful one. You may even find that even without making use of this feature your shoelaces stay tied throughout your workout regardless!
Lastly, let’s talk about the heel design and the built-in hyperlifts. This is exciting as the latter came as separate hyperlift heel inserts in the Nike Metcon 6.
As the Nike Metcon 7 has built-in hyperlifts it provides great stability levels and a heel-to-toe drop that is slightly higher at around 4 mm.
Nike Metcon 7: The Disadvantages
Although there are many positives to the Nike Metcon 7, there are some disadvantages to this new model too, namely that they have a slightly narrower mid-foot, the durability of the forefoot outsole when exercising outside, and that they’re not ideal for running.
Let’s discuss the first disadvantage, and that is while the Nike React Foam does make the Metcon 7 more adaptable, it’s not ideal for running – particularly if you’re running long distances.
We wouldn’t recommend running over a mile in these shoes as you might find it rather uncomfortable.
While the construction of the shoe might be better than other Metcon models when it comes to short-runs it is better as a secure shoe for cross-training.
Another disadvantage is that the mid-foot design is a bit more narrow than the Nike Metcon 6. So if you felt the width of the Metcon 6 to be uncomfortable, then it is likely the Metcon 7 will be just as uncomfortable for you to wear.
For athletes and weight lifters the width might not be an issue, but if you find Nike Metcons to be on the tighter side, we wouldn’t recommend the Metcon 7.
Lastly, another disadvantage of the Nike Metcon 7 is the durability of the outsole, particularly at the forefoot where the midsole layers are exposed. You may find that these midsole layers will fray, and cause the outsole to have a bit of a lip.
If you’re just wearing the Nike Metcon 7s in the gym you might not have these durability issues, but if you exercise outside, be wary of moving from side to side on concrete or tarmac, as you may notice your shoes wearing away sooner than anticipated.
How Nike Metcon 7 Performs
While testing the Nike Metcon 7 we wore them in a couple different scenarios where you might wear this shoe to test its performance – namely running, lifting, agility workouts and daily wear. Let’s dive in.
Short Runs And Everyday Wear
If you would like to wear Nike Metcon 7s for running, then – as we discussed above – we advise only running for about 1 mile. Although they do have a responsive midsole, this shoe is not great for longer runs.
They’re pretty good for shorter runs, although we would recommend limiting how much you run in these shoes.
For wearing for everyday use, the Nike Metcon 7s are the most comfortable in the Metcon line.
We wouldn’t recommend wearing them for an extended period of time, but the design and available colors of the Metcon 7 makes them suitable to wear for your day-to-day.
Weight Lifting And CrossFit
When weight lifting, the Metcon 7 is pretty consistent with other Metcon models. They stay stable when lifting heavy weights and any compression you feel in the outsole or midsole is likely to be minor.
The 4 mm heel-to-toe drop is on par with other Metcon shoes. If you like a lower drop, you should definitely give the Metcon 7 a whirl while weight lifting.
Plus, the built-in hyperlift construction takes away the hassle of remembering to add inserts to your shoes before you hit the gym.
Agility, HIIT, And Plyometrics
While doing agility, HIIT, and plyometrics training, you can’t really go wrong with the Nike Metcon 7.
It’s definitely more athletic than the Metcon 6, thanks to the Nike React Foam midsole which gives the forefoot a nice springiness.
The outsole is made of rubber and is also very beneficial when doing these kinds of workouts.
The mid-foot has been tweaked slightly, and the new design of the outsole feels lighter on the feet in comparison to the Metcon 6 and when you move forward, backwards, and laterally feels good and secure.
If you prefer to exercise outside, keep a close eye on the React Foam in the forefoot on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe. Friction from concrete or tarmac might cause wear and tear to the midsole, and cause the outsole to lip a tad.
Of course, this is rather disappointing so we would caution against wearing the Nike Metcon 7 for working out outside.
The Sizing Of Nike Metcon 7
Sticking true-to-size should work out fine with the Nike Metcon 7. It has a similar fit to the Nike Metcon 6, therefore if you own a pair of those, then we recommend going for the same size if you want to upgrade to the Nike Metcon 7. This is also the case if you’re an athlete or lifter.
However, it’s also important to stress that it does have a narrower fit to other Metcon shoes.
If your foot is on the wide size and you go half a size up, then you might notice your heel slipping in this shoe.
So if you have wider feet and you’re an athlete or weight lifter you might find it hard to fit into this shoe.
Final Thoughts
In comparison to the Nike Metcon 6, the Metcon 7 does have a tiny edge when it comes to versatility.
The Metcon 7 has Nike React Foam in the midsole, so when doing plyometric exercises and running short distances, it’s more reactive and is definitely bouncier.
If you’re into functional fitness, we definitely recommend the Metcon 7, especially if you do a wide variety of exercises.
Plus, if you’re a rope climber the Nike Metcon 7 has a mid-foot rope guard. This is a tiny detail, but is an exciting addition for those who need good footwear for rope climbing.
Furthermore, the extra lace-locking feature is really exciting for lace security in the mid-foot.
