Nike Free Metcon 5 Versus Nike Metcon 8 Shoe Review

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Get the brand-new, red-hot Nike Metcon 9 at Rogue Fitness.

If you are shopping for a CrossFit-style training shoe in the year 2023 – two of the best shoes are the Nike Free Metcon 5 and the Nike Metcon 8. What’s the difference? Is one better than the other? How do you decide?

Nike Free Metcon 5 Versus Nike Metcon 8 - How do you choose?
Nike Free Metcon 5 Versus Nike Metcon 8 – How do you choose? (Photo Credit: FitAtMidlife/Nike Free Metcon 5 & Nike Metcon 8)

That’s what we’ll discuss in this article – this is Nike Free Metcon 5 versus Nike Metcon 8.

Get the Nike Metcon 8 or the Nike Free Metcon 5 from these vendors:

Nike Free Metcon 5 x Russell Wilson (Brilliant Orange/College Navy/White) Nike Free Metcon 5 x Russell Wilson - this is the shoe shown in many of the custom photos in this article. It is ORANGE - not red. It's very good looking too. It is no different than the regular Nike Free Metcon 5 from a performance perspective, but works just as well in the gym.
Nike Free Metcon 5 (Volt) The Nike Free Metcon 5 combines style with substance, forefoot flexibility, and back-end stability for flying through a cardio day or enhancing your agility. This color is a bit tough to photograph - but it is BRIGHT - it will look very luminescent in person. This is great if you want to stand out in a crowd!
Nike Metcon 8 - Men's (Black/Dark Smoke Gray/Smoke Gray/White) Nike Metcon 8 - Men's. This is the colorway seen in most of the photos of this review.
Nike Metcon 8 AMP (Dark Smoke Grey/Smoke Grey/Light Smoke Grey/Black) Nike Metcon 8 AMP - This is a slight style upgrade but otherwise performs exactly like the regular Nike Metcon 8. I only recommend upgrading to the AMP if you like the style.

Let’s compare and contrast these two shoes.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Versus Nike Metcon 8 – Overview

The Nike Free Metcon line has been a big hit for Nike. The Nike Free Metcon 3, 4, and 5 are all basically the same shoe. I have owned all of these.

Nike isn’t going to mess with success, so they keep pumping out newer versions – without really changing anything.

But that’s OK. These are the most practical of the Nike Metcon shoes.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0013
The Nike Free Metcon 5. This is the most versatile and practical of any of the Nike Metcon shoes. Why? Because they are comfortable and have some cushion to them.

Why? Because they are comfortable to wear and they have more cushioning than the Nike Metcon 8.

The idea behind this shoe is to combine the “Free” running shoe features with the “Metcon” cross trainer features – and they’ve done a great job.

Whether or not you like the looks is a subjective decision – but I’ve grown to love these.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0036
Nike Free metcon 5 – is it a good looking shoe? That’s for you to decide. I can guarantee you will find it more pleasant to wear (and stand in) for any long amounts of time as compared to the Nike Metcon 8.

On the other hand – if your workout consists of mostly big barbell lifts – you probably want the Nike Metcon 8 instead.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Versus Nike Metcon 8 – In The Gym

The Nike Metcon 5 is basically a minimal drop Oly lifting shoe.

The heel to toe drop is only 4 mm – so there’s no heel raise to speak of.

And like an Oly lifting shoe – it is solid and heavy.

Nike Metcon 8 Shoe Review 47
This shoe is low-profile , with minimal heel-to-toe drop. It’s about 4mm, just like all previous Nike Metcon shoes. This shoe is effectively a “no heel raise” oly lifter. It’s very solid in the heel and has very little cushioning all over. (Photo Credit: FitAtMidlife/Nike Metcon 8)

That means these are stellar for the big lifts – barbell squats, front squats, deadlifts, etc.

But that’s really the only high point. The Nike Metcon 8 is not a great shoe for any sort of impact activity – and definitely not a great running shoe.

The heel is super solid and stiff – it’s a noisy shoe. You’ll be clip-clopping around in the gym and on any other hard surface – like wood floors and tile.

(I know – who cares? – Well people who spend $100+ on shoes would like to use them for more than just one thing and the Nike Metcon shoes have ALWAYS been noisy)

You can sprint short distances, do box jumps, skip rope and all that stuff – but it’s going to be a lot more jarring impact on your joints as compared to just about any other shoe.

The stiff, thick upper of the Nike Metcon 8 is less comfortable, but it does provide great support.

If I do heavy sled pulls (like 6 or 7 plates) with the Nike Free – it feels like my feet are sliding around in the shoe – because the upper is so soft and stretchy.

The Nike Free Metcon 5 on the other hand is much more versatile. It can be used to lift heavy, but maybe not as heavy as the Nike Metcon 8.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0038
The Nike Free Metcon 5 is super-comfortable and works great in the CrossFit box for all the stuff you might do. This shoe seems to be much more popular than the Nike Metcon 8 – probably for this reason. (Photo Credit: FitAtMidlife/Nike Free Metcon 5

It’s sort of spooky that you can see daylight underneath the middle of this shoe…

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0026
You can see daylight underneath these shoes. It’s a little disturbing, but doesn’t seem to have any impact in gym usage. (Photo Credit: FitAtMidlife/Nike Free Metcon 5)

So maybe don’t wear it for Personal Record (PR) attempts with heavy barbells, but it’s great for all that other stuff you might do in the CrossFit box or gym.

It’s overall just much more comfortable too.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0035
Not sure if this photo proves anything, but the Nike Free Metcon 5 is a very flexible shoe.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Versus Nike Metcon 8 – Sizing

I have owned every pair of Nike Metcons and Nike Free Metcons for the last 5 years.

In my experience, I always have to go 1/2 size up on the regular metcons.

Nike Metcon 8 Shoe Sizing
I recommend you go 1/2 size up with the Nike Metcon 8. Otherwise the toe area feels quite cramped. You may get heel slip with these shoes as well. (Photo Credit: FitAtMidlife/ Nike Metcon 8)

Otherwise the toe area is uncomfortably cramped.

I also get more heel slip (the sensation that the heel is loose and too low) in the Metcon shoes.

This has been my consistent experience with the Metcon 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and now also the M8.

Therefore I recommend that you consider going 1/2 size up on the Nike Metcon 8. And be prepared to return them for a different size if they aren’t comfortable.

The Nike Free Metcon 5 is a totally different story – I buy my normal running shoe size and they fit great.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0049
I wear the Nike Free Metcon 5 in my regular running shoe size. It’s a very comfortable shoe and nothing feels cramped. (Photo Credit: FitAtMidlife/Nike Free Metcon 5 & Nike Metcon 8)

The Nike Free Metcon 5 is a much more comfortable shoe. It’s due to the cushioning underneath (which is very minimal in the M8) and the soft, stretchy upper.

I feel like the upper is more breathable than the M8 too. It might not be as durable (because it’s so soft) but few people are going to really put a lot of stress on the upper.

I also get no sensation of heel slip in the Nike Free Metcon 5.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Sizing Versus Nike Metcon 8
The Nike Free Metcon 5 has a taller heel. I get no sensation of heel slippage with that shoe (The Orange shoe in the background). The collar on the Nike Metcon 8 is slightly too low for my tastes. (Photo Credit: FitAtMidlife/Nike Free Metcon 5 & Nike Metcon 8)

Both shoes are close in weight – a Men’s US Size 11 (Nike Free Metcon 5) is about 12 ounces, while a Men’s US Size 11.5 Nike Metcon 8 is just a bit over 13 ounces.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review - Weight of Shoe 1
Nike Free Metcon 5 weights about 1 ounce less.
Nike Metcon 8 Shoe Weight 1
The M8 weights about 13.2 ounces (Men’s Size 11.5 US)

Nike Free Metcon 5 Versus Nike Metcon 8 – In Summary

The Nike Free Metcon 5 is going to be the better choice for the average gym-goer.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0038
The Nike Free Metcon 5 is probably the better shoe for the average gym-goer.

The Nike Free Metcon 5 is cheaper, more comfortable, and more versatile.

But, the Nike Metcon 8 is definitely the weight-lifter’s choice. It is effectively a “no heel raise” Oly lifting shoe. Perfect for anything you do with a heavily loaded barbell.

Just be aware it’s not as comfortable for day to day use.

Nike Free Metcon 5 Shoe Review DSC_0066
If lifting is your thing, go with the M8. Otherwise the Nike Free Metcon 5 is a better use of your money.

Photo Credits

Some product photos on this page are the property of Nike.

This website is not affiliated or associated with CrossFit, Inc. CrossFit is a registered trademark of CrossFit, Inc.

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Nike Free Metcon 5 – Women’s

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