C
Camaldolese Hermits of America, Inc.
July 24, 2019
Pretty darn good cross-trainer!
I started using these shoes on June 11, 2019. At the time of this writing, that's almost 6 weeks. I'd suggest when you are reading these reviews you keep in mind how long the reviewer has been trying out the shoes; it can take several weeks to fully get used to a new shoe and reviewers who give hasty reviews (either good or bad) are not giving you the real picture.____________________In a nutshell, I got these shoes so I didn't have to spend a bunch of money on running shoes AND gym shoes. Nor clutter up my closet with too many pairs of shoes. After using them for over a month, I am surprisingly satisfied.First off....I'm 6 foot and 175 lbs. My shoe size varies between 10.5 and 11 USA. My foot is slightly wide, with good arches. I got these shoes in a size 11 and they fit great. But not at first.....for the first 4-5 wearings they felt tight around the middle of my foot. At first I was disappointed and felt like they were not going to be a good fit. But after about a week of wearing them, they broke in just fine, and the fit now is great. I attribute the tight feeling to the plastic side braces that the shoestrings lace through: if you lace them overly tight, that will contribute to the uncomfortable feeling.My experience: I have been running at least 3X a week for over 40 years. I've weightlifted and/or cross trained on a regular basis for over 30 years. I have been a personal trainer in the past (certified by ACE). I've run one of the toughest marathons in the world (Big Sur International Marathon), although I consider myself an average runner. I've used everything from cheap $40.00 Big 5 shoes for running to $130.00 Brooks. I've never bought a pair of shoes specifically for weight training or cross-fit workouts; I've always used running shoes for that.Here's how I wear them:- running 1-2 times a week. My average run is around 2.5 miles, but I've run up to 6 miles in them and they performed well. I would not recommend wearing these for regular runs longer than 3 miles because that's not what they are built for. I run mostly on pavement in California (moderate weather), although I just did a 6 mile run on trails in preparation for a 10K race later this month. I feel like that was pushing the shoe to its limit, but it did fine.- stationary biking.- weight workouts. I do squats, standing barbell curls and overhead presses and these shoes are stable and don't shift. Of course you need to adjust the tightness of the laces depending on what you're doing and that's the cool thing about these - you can loosen them up a bit for non-critical exercises like stationary biking or tighten them up for running or squats.- kettle bell swings: again, they are stable and flexible.- burpees: this particular exercise really tests the stability, flexibility and shock-absorption of the shoe. If you've never done a burpee, I suggest Googling it to see what the movements are. In this exercise the shoe is subjected to squats, kick-outs where I land on the toes as I do a push-up, then they flex as I bring my feet back under me and jump up into the air, forcing them to not only be stable in launching me up but in absorbing my return to earth.I work out in these shoes 6 days a week. The photo shows them as of today, nearly 6 weeks into daily use. I typically run a couple days a week, do burpees 2x a week, weight lift 2-3 times a week, kettle bell swing 2x a week and do moderate cardio such as stationary bike 1-2 times a week.I didn't buy these to replace running shoes; I got them to use as short-distance runners and gym shoes. You shouldn't get these if you are doing multiple runs of more than 3 miles in a week - they aren't going to give the performance and protection you need for serious running. But for gym work, cross fit training and shorter runs, they are great and can replace expensive running shoes.You should note that the plastic shoe lace-ups/brackets on the side of the shoe have 3 positions. The position closest to your toes is the least secure/loosest fitting style. Each hole you lace going back towards your heel tightens the shoe's grip on your foot. I use the middle lace hole for running and burpees and the stability is fine. I lace it all the way to the back hole for squats to make sure the shoe doesn't slip.I've noted some reviewers say the "sock" collar around the ankle opening is loose. I can say yes, it doesn't fit flush to your ankle when laced up, but that doesn't mean it slips! My foot is stable even if the sock appears to be loose-fitting. It isn't overly warm or hot, either (I was worried about that when I first got them).Again, if you're a serious runner I'd invest in good running shoes and use these for the gym. But if you're a casual runner of shorter distances and fit in weight training and/or cross-fit training, these shoes do a great job.I'll close by saying that in the last 20 years or so I've gotten wiser and have spent more money on running shoes, and with these shoes I've gotten my first shoe specially designed for cross-training also. I am happy with the performance of the shoes so far. I've never had a serious running injury, partially out of luck but largely because as my joints have gotten older I've used better shoes. Good luck and good health to you!
✔ Verified Purchase
Trainers Feel Almost Like Going Barefoot
I was shopping for training shoes I could wear at the gym. These looked so stylish I kept thinking about them. They are wonderfully comfortable. The way the shoe is designed, it wears more like a sock. There is no traditional tongue. They feel almost like I’m going barefoot, which I find delightful. These Nikes work great for training and they look cool too.
✔ Verified Purchase
J
jennifer arnold
December 27, 2025
Great value and sooo comfortable
I absolutely love this style/generation of metcon! They are getting harder to find in the color and size I need, so I can say I will definitely be purchasing a few more pairs ASAP...and tell anyone that ask just how comfortable they are which says a lot to anyone who knows how much of a challenge it is for me to get something that works for me! I have high arches and my shoes have to be just right 😜
✔ Verified Purchase
