Nike’s New Flagship Gym Shoe Finally Includes One Clever Hidden Upgrade

A mobility-focused redesign—and one tiny, practical feature— could make the new Metcon 10 a worthy contender again.

A close up of the side of the Nike Metcon 10 gym shoe in white against what appears to be a metal weight lifting plate

Published 13 hours ago

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Since launching in 2015, Nike’s Metcon line has built a reputation as one of the market’s premier shoes for functional fitness and weight training.

Known for its flat, stable base and durable traction, it’s well-liked among lifters and CrossFit athletes tackling workouts that demand power, stability, and grip.

A single Nike Metcon 10 sneaker in blue and orange is shown sitting on top of a pedestal of metal weight plates against a bright blue background. — Nike first introduced the Metcon gym shoe in 2015, and since then, the Metcon line has gone on to earn a positive reputation among CrossFit athletes and weightlifters who prioritize stability. However, the Metcon line has also been routinely knocked for being a poor choice for footwork-intensive workouts and long runs.

Still, some fitness experts —like Jake Boly of That Fit Friend— have found more recent Metcon releases to be a step back from earlier models, citing concerns about fit and workout versatility.

Now, Nike has officially unveiled the 10th-generation Metcon 10, promising a series of upgrades that could restore its place atop the training shoe hierarchy.

Improving Mobility

A angled view of view of the Nike Metcon 10 gym shoes in white — Nike’s biggest goal with the Metcon 10 was to improve the sneaker’s mobility. As a result, the Metcon 10 is lighter and less stiff than the Metcon 9.

Nike wanted the Metcon 10 to build on the Metcon 9‘s excellent stability while improving mobility and comfort.

As a result, the shoe’s core changes include a more responsive ReactX foam midsole, a minimized, updated Hyperlift plate, and firmer foam in the heel. According to Nike’s official release, these changes make the Metcon 10 lighter and less stiff than previous generations.

The new Metcon 10 (shown above in blue) has a noticeably cleaner external silhouette than the outgoing Metcon 9 (shown in white below).

Nike

The forefoot has been widened too to allow for natural toe splay, promoting power transfer and balance. A revamped outsole includes more aggressive traction patterns, sticky rubber in the forefoot, and flex grooves to improve ground feel for exercises like jumps, sled pushes, and lateral cuts.

The shoe also features reengineered rope-guard overlays (slimmer but still grippy), a breathable mesh upper with haptic print for durability, and a new mid-foot lockdown band designed to minimize internal foot slippage.

A close-up of the heel of a blue Nike Metcon 10 gym shoe — The Metcon 10 features firmer foam in the heel for increased stability.

As Tom’s Guide noted in early hands-on impressions, these tweaks help the Metcon 10 feel more dynamic during training while remaining rock-solid under load.

A top down view of a pair of Nike Metcon 10 gym shoe in white

That Fit Guy Jake Brody’s early impressions were slightly less glowing, especially regarding the fit and feel of the shoe with his wide feet. He also noted that the shoe still isn’t ideal for running long distances, which has always been considered a weakness of the sneaker.

However, he is also quick to point out that it’s still an improvement over the Metcon 9 in terms of versatility, but it’s still not the shoe “every athlete can use for everything.”

A Useful Hidden Feature

A close-up of the lace tuck pocket in the tongue of the Nike Metcon 10 gym shoe in white — The new Metcon 10 hides a lace-tucking pocket in the tongue. Though it’s not a new invention or idea by any stretch, Nike’s decision to embrace the feature could go a long way toward popularizing the handy detail across the wider sneaker industry.

Arguably, the most low-key but impactful addition is what Nike has dubbed the “lace lock” system.

It consists of a hidden pocket within the tongue that lets you securely tuck away loose laces. Nike touts it as reducing distractions during high-intensity training—and they’re not wrong. No more double-knotting or worrying about flapping laces during burpees or sprints.

A look at the heels of a pair of Nike Metcon 10 gym shoes in white

While this isn’t a brand-new concept (trail running brands like Salomon have long featured a similar lace garage, as has Str/ke Mvmt’s Haze Trainer), it’s still a surprisingly rare detail in gym shoes.

Pricing and Availability

A man in Nike athletic apparel and a pair of Nike Metcon 10 gym shoes shown performing a squat with a barbell on his shoulders in a dramatically lit blue room.

Nike has already listed both men’s and women’s versions of the Metcon 10 on its site. The shoes are priced at $155, with an official launch date of August 4th, 2025.

Early in-person availability will kick off via various events at Nike locations on August 2–3, followed by general online release on August 4.

Nike

Nike Metcon 10

Ethics Disclosure: A member of the author’s family is an employee of Jordan Brand, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc.

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.