Nike Metcon 1 OG Performance Review

There’s no way around it: in recent years, the team at WearTesters hasn’t been a fan of the direction that Nike has taken its flagship training shoe, the Metcon. And that was especially apparent in our review of the Nike Metcon 9 nearly a year ago.

While we were looking forward to testing the Nike Metcon 10 around this time, we instead got a surprising announcement that the Nike Metcon 1 would be returning in the very colorway that Nike launched in celebration of its getting banned from the CrossFit Games in 2015.

Nike is known for their retro releases, but it’s something we associate with Jordan Brand, Air Max, and similar iconic models – not with the Metcon line.

So, will the Nike Metcon 1 OG be the kind of evergreen training shoe we’d like to see come back forever, like the Jordan 1 for basketball? Or, will these not live up to our overwhelming nostalgia?

Please note that while Nike sent us pairs of the Nike Metcon 1 OG, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.

How do the Authors Train?

Arune Singh (age 42, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming provided by Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Trains daily with a focus on running, strength training, and mobility. He writes the majority of our running shoe reviews and runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and his growing affinity for long-distance races. He regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races. His strength training and mobility regimen center around maintaining flexibility and lifting heavy to build power as a counterbalance to all the running he’s doing. His number one focus is staying injury-free so he can keep up the sweet gig of reviewing shoes for a living.

What is the Nike Metcon 1 OG?

Nike describes it as follows:

“The Metcon 1 has returned in true minimalist form. From the Flywire cables to the breathable mesh on the upper, this is the exact 2015 iteration that rocked the workout world. As we near its 10-year anniversary, it’s here for your toughest, hardest workouts.”

The Nike Metcon 1 OG has a 4mm drop and weighs in at 11.2 oz, which is a full 2.3 ounces less than the current Metcon 9.

Training

Arune: Conventional wisdom says that older models of shoes are generally inferior: dated technology, lacking the improvements of later models, and overall disappointing by comparison.

But that definitely doesn’t apply to the Nike Metcon line.

While the newer Metcon models feel heavy, clunky, and a bit confused in their best-case usage, the Nike Metcon 1 OG remains an elite shoe unequivocally built for functional fitness training.

Despite being an older model, both the cushioning and traction in the OG feel more built for a variety of training than most modern shoes. My experience with the OG made me think about how complicated training shoes seem to have become – like too much plastic surgery that leaves a face unrecognizable. You keep trying to fix things here and there and end up far away from your original goals. The Nike Metcon 1 OG is likewise an inarguable reminder – as with the Reebok Nano 2.0 – that training shoes have become too complicated for their own good.

Thanks to being surprisingly wide-foot accommodating (yet another thing lost in current Metcons), the Metcon 1 OG offers incredible stability in all your lifts – from basic lifts to more advanced movements like cleans or snatches. The traction is still remarkably good; though I found that if there’s any dust on your lifting platform, you might experience a bit of slippage.

Putting the Nike Metcon 1 OG through all my typical functional fitness workouts, integrating both lifts and bodyweight work, I was struck by the sheer versatility of these shoes. It was always seamless. The shoe continuously moved with my foot instead of restricting it or feeling like I was fighting the failings of the shoes (as is the case with so many other current Metcon models).

Honestly, the Nike Metcon 1 OG is a perfect training shoe. Take it to CrossFit, HIIT classes, or to the gym for your bro splits. You won’t be disappointed because it was designed to meet all those needs while not interfering with achieving a similar level of excellence across the board.

Does that mean this takes the place of lifting shoes for those squatting PRs or a good pair of runners to hit the treadmill? No, but you’re going to at least get a consistent level of performance across all your fitness needs, and that’s a rare thing.

Honestly, this is a perfect training shoe for every bit of training I’ve done over the last two weeks, and there’s not a single moment I didn’t enjoy it. How are you feeling about the Metcon 1 OG, Drew?

Drew: I didn’t experience the original Nike Metcon 1 OG but did lust after the “Banned” colorway (as I often do with various shoes that catch my eye). I love that the current emphasis on retro releases will occasionally deliver me something I didn’t have when I was younger. To me, that’s the best part of retro footwear.

But what’s the worst part about retro footwear? The cushion. Every damn time. This is the department where the sneaker industry has made the most progress, and stepping back 9 years into the past has a predictable effect on that underfoot comfort. For all intents and purposes, there’s no cushion in these bad boys.

Now, that doesn’t mean the underfoot feel is terrible. It’s just more like a minimal shoe – think Xero Shoes – than it is a modern Nike. And honestly, that wasn’t a bad thing in the gym. Deadlifting, squats, and any other lift where groundfeel helps with form felt great. The traction isn’t top tier; but as long as I was doing movements on a rubbery gym floor, I felt in control and well-connected with the ground below me. Summoning power through the soles of my feet was easy.

On top of that, the upper is fuse-heavy but fits well, moves with my feet well, and has a nicely breathable toebox. The internal heel counter is fairly small compared to some modern day training shoes (which are often overbuilt), but it gets the job done. It’s one of the better uppers from the Nike fuse and flywire era.

All of that means the Nike Metcon 1 OG is still a very good shoe for lifting. But cardio, well, for me it was a different story. But first, let’s see what Arune thought.

Cardio

Arune: Thinking back to 2015 (yes, almost a decade ago, and suddenly my body aches) reminds me that I used to wear Nike Metcon 1s to CrossFit classes where I jogged miles, used the airbike, rowed, and did all my other WODs without switching out shoes.

Did I do that because I didn’t know better or because the Nike Metcon 1 was just that good?

Yes. [Editor’s Note: Fair.]

Because the mesh upper moves with your foot and the midsole is so flexible, it feels natural to move – in any way – in the Nike Metcon 1 OG.

It’s no surprise that I enjoyed this with rowing and the airbike since it’s fairly rare I find training shoes that aren’t at least competent in that area.

The real joy was discovering that these shoes are incredibly fun for sprints and the kind of running you could expect in functional fitness or HIIT classes.

Did I enjoy trying to run a 5K in them? Nope. That’s why I’ve never done it again.

But I felt much more comfortable running in these than any training shoe in recent memory that was also good for my other training.

Zero complaints with cardio.

Drew: But I have complaints. Any running over 50-100 meter sprints was rough. The impact protection is sorely lacking due to the overall lack of underfoot cushion. That said, it’s not nearly as clompy as the last three modern Metcons and is workable for a lot of cardio if you stay light on your feet. 

Jump rope and the agility ladder were solid. The lack of cushion kept me on my toes and minimized ground contact time…which is exactly what you want to ensure good form. Plyometrics could be hit or miss depending on how high you’re jumping and what type of surface you’re landing on.

Shooting jumpshots on the basketball court wasn’t comfortable either, though I’m sure some (younger) people won’t have a problem with it. Just keep in mind that most forms of cardio will be hit or miss, depending on your personal preferences.

Comfort

Arune: If my love for these shoes wasn’t clear, let me score the Nike Metcon 1 OG high in this category as well. They’re the kind of shoes you can keep on your feet for eight hours and not regret your choice (speaking from experience).

The wider toe box, the responsive midsole, and the accommodating mesh upper all make for a shoe that barely feels like it’s there yet also keeps you comfortable during training and chores.

No notes!

Drew: Arune’s right on with his comfort take. Wearing the Nike Metcon 1 OG casually for hours at a time was both comfortable and unobtrusive. The fuse portions of the upper don’t flex weird or cause any potential hotspots. Instead, they do what they’re supposed to do, add structure and support. And despite the lack of cushion underfoot, the Cushlon feels good for hours and doesn’t have me hurrying to pull them off when I get back home.

Fit

Arune: As Nike has released new iterations of the Metcon, the shoe has become increasingly narrow and made it a (literal) pain for folks like me with slightly wide Hobbit feet.

That means I tend to choose a Men’s 9.5 in the Metcon but always wish there were a wide version – because my pinky toe and midfoot tend to feel crushed.

However, the Nike Metcon 1 OG is a perfect fit in that same 9.5 sizing – wide enough in the right areas – and hopefully the shape that Nike re-adopts for future Metcon shoes.

Drew: I also feel like it fits true-to-size. And, as Arune mentioned, the Nike Metcon 1 OG is a return to a more accommodating Metcon. It still feels like a Nike fit, but there’s more room to wiggle the toes. There’s also not a vice-like grip on the heel or midfoot. I think many wide footers will be happy with this one.

Aesthetics

Arune: The Nike Metcon 1 OG was ahead of the training shoe aesthetics game in 2015, but I’m not sure there’s any colorway that hit better for me than the “Banned” colorway.

That’s not surprising. I love red shoes, and the Bred (Black/Red) colorway on the Air Jordan 1 may be the most iconic basketball shoe aesthetic of all time; so the similar color blocking here is what I love.

This is the kind of shoe that looks incredible in the gym but also works with shorts or joggers as a casual aesthetic for quickly stepping out.

It’s also a distinctly Nike shoe, with that aforementioned Banned (or Bred) color blocking looking much more like a traditional lifestyle shoe than a training shoe with big plastic pieces or visually jarring design.

Drew: The Nike Metcon 1 OG Banned is the single best-looking Metcon of the entire series. It’s the only iconic colorway from a nine year run. It’s a great shoe to wear at the gym and around town because it gets both longing stares and jealous comments.

Price

Arune: At a $150 price point, I’d have no problem recommending the Nike Metcon 1 OG to anyone – novice or advanced athlete – given the performance in training and cardio. It’s a true one-shoe-to-do-it-all kind of training shoe.

But now with Nike discounting it to $105.97? This might be the best training shoe value on the market, and I recommend ordering one NOW in case this shoe doesn’t come back.

Drew: Whether you’re a nostalgic cross-fitter or just looking for a minimalist cross training shoe, the price is right, and the value is on point. If you remember this shoe fondly or wished you had it way back when, grab the Nike Metcon 1 OG before it disappears again.

Nike Metcon 1 OG Final Verdict

Arune: I haven’t had great things to say about Nike training shoes in recent years; but the Nike Metcon 1 OG is not only one of the best training shoes on the market right now, it’s also a reminder that it’s one of the best EVER.

The Nike Metcon 1 OG is a joy to wear from the minute you put it on your foot, and it makes you wanna get into the gym. What else could you want?

Now let’s hope that the Nike Metcon 10 is an updated version of this shoe. But, aside from traction, I don’t know how we can improve on that greatness.

Drew: This may be a bit of a niche review, as this retro doesn’t seem to be in line for multiple colorways. But the Nike Metcon 1 OG is everything it’s supposed to be and more. It delivers almost everything a modern gym goer wants.

True, there are a few quibbles. But with the price currently discounted, the Nike Metcon 1 OG is an easy choice as both an awesome conversation-starting workout shoe and an enjoyable casual shoe.