Nike Metcon 1 OG – Shoe Review

To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the launch of the Metcon shoe line Nike has released the Nike Metcon 1 OG. It’s exactly the same as the original Metcon 1 released way back in 2015 – hence why they’ve given it the “OG” moniker.

But does a shoe design from 2015 make sense in the year 2024? Let’s find out how the Nike Metcon 1 OG stacks up against the latest Metcon – the Nike Metcon 9.

The Nike Metcon 1 OG – re-released for the year 2024:

First, let’s take a complete tour of the shoe.

Nike Free Metcon 1 OG Shoe Review – Overview

Nike Free Metcon 1 OG versus Nike Metcon 9 – Hands On Review on YouTube

Want a up close look at these two shoes? Check out our hands on review from YouTube:

Let’s get into the details

Nike Metcon 1 OG – Style & Features

The Nike Metcon 1 was a revolutionary shoe when it first dropped in 2015.

Let’s take a tour.

The all rubber outsole offers great support and traction. It has tons of surface area for maximal contact with the gym floor, turf, or whatever surface you are lifting on.

One unique idea here is that the rubber in the forefoot is a different composition than that of the heel. Sticky rubber up front for maximal traction, firmer rubber in the heel for better support and stability.

I can’t shoe you a picture – but there’s pretty minimal cushioning in the midsole and outsole. That’s what makes these so great for lifting heavy weights.

There’s not a ton of material underneath your foot, and consequently the stack height is a mere .75″ (US Mens Size 11).

That’s another good idea when you want to lift weights. It’s a 4 mm heel to toe drop as well. There’s really no heel raise here. You’re just going to have to come up with some ankle flexibility for your squats…

The upper is light-weight and breathable. You can see some ventilation holes as well. The flat laces are jazzy looking and don’t cut into your feet – even when you crank down the tightness.

The tongue is pretty minimal , but gets the job done.

There’s also FlyWire – these are Vectran filaments that run through the body of the shoe. When you tighten the laces it helps to lock your feet into the shoe even better.

Nike Metcon 1 OG – Comfort

Regarding comfort – these are sort of middle of the road.

First of all, understand that the strength of these shoes is their stability for heavy weight lifting – like squats, deadlifts, cleans, snatches, etc.

The means there is not much cushion underfoot.

Both the midsole and outsole have pretty minimal cushion (but certainly more cushion than an Oly lifter like the Romaleos).

As such, these are not great for running or standing or walking for long amounts of time.

Additionally, the heel area in these is not that accommodating. The low collar and a rather shallow heel cup means SOME PEOPLE (not all) will find the fit around their heel not ideal.

That said, the upper is comfortable enough and these do feel pretty well ventilated.

Nike Metcon 1 OG – Weight

The Nike Metcon 1 OG clocks in at 12.6 ounces per shoe (US Mens Size 11).

Is that heavy? Not really. But it’s not a light-weight either. Some running shoes can be less than 10 ounces, for example.

But the Metcon shoe line isn’t about being light-weight and fleet footed – it’s about robust durability and rock-solid support.

Nike Metcon 1 OG – Sizing

The original Metcon shoes run very NARROW in the toe box.

I absolutely recommend you go 1/2 size up for proper fit and comfort.

In my case, I go with the 11.5 US Mens instead of my usual Size 11 that I buy for just about every other athletic and running shoe.

Nike Metcon 1 OG – Performance in the gym

Running, Sprinting, and Jumping

There’s not much cushion in these. And minimal heel to toe drop.

Consequently if I were going to go running – I wouldn’t wear these. I’d wear actual running shoes.

Having said that – in a CrossFit-style workout you probably are doing a lot of stuff. And you certainly can run and sprint in these.

Not optimal, in my opinion, but it’s not like you can change shoes in the middle of a workout.

(I do think the Nike Free Metcon 6 is better for running.)

Weight Lifting

Where the Metcon line reigns supreme is in lifting heavy weights: barbell squats, deadlifts, clean & jerk, snatch, kettlebells, etc.

Here’s 335 Lb deadlift for a double:

Some light power cleans:

I don’t squat much anymore, but these will work great for that too – but without the heel raise you’ll have to up your game in regards to ankle flexibility – which you should probably do anyways.

Why is this shoe just so great for lifting weights? It’s the rock-solid stability. No mushy foam. The minimal stack height (0.75″) is also nice.

Sleds

Works great for pushing and pull sleds too. Traction is good on turf, as it is on your typical gym floor surfaces.

They are OK on dry grass outside too – but as with every shoe wet, dewy grass is not the ideal training surface.

Nike Metcon 1 OG Versus Nike Metcon 9

How does the OG stack up to the latest evolution of the Nike Metcon?

In a nutshell:

• The Nike Metcon 9 is still great for lifting weights – the heel to toe drop is still minimal as well as the cushioning. Stack height is about 1″ – which is more than the Nike Metcon 1 OG – but not that much more.
• The M9 is heavy at 14.9 ounces per shoe (US Mens 11) and feels bulkier. The Nike Metcon 1 OG is only 12.6 ounces per shoe – and it feels less bulky as a consequence.
• The M9 has more cushion (but not too much) and fits my foot better.

The fact of the matter is that you are probably going to find the Nike Metcon 9 at a discount and in more color options – so that is going to be the best bet for most people.

The weight and stack height advantages of the Nike Metcon 1 OG don’t really matter that much for what this shoe is meant for.

Having said all that – if you are feeling nostalgic – by all means get the Nike Metcon 1 OG. It was a great shoe in 2015 – and it’s a great shoe in the year 2024.

(Maybe just not the greatest shoe.)

Nike Metcon 1 OG Shoe Review – In Summary

That’s our review of the Nike Metcon 1 OG.

If you are looking to inject some nostalgia into your training this shoe looks and works great.

But the Metcon line has evolved over time – and the Nike Metcon 9 is a better shoe for the mission – when the mission is lifting heavy weights.

To be certain the Nike Metcon shoes can be used for more than just lifting weights – but there are better options that are more well-rounded.

You can also read our Nike Free Metcon 6 Shoe Review to get more details Nike’s most versatile (and comfortable!) training shoe.

Photo Credits

All product photos on this page are property of Fit At Midlife.

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

Affiliate Disclaimer

We are an affiliate of Road Runner Sports and others that sell this training gear. If you buy clothing or other training gear after clicking the links in this article, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us to bring you in-depth information and content on these great training products.