7 Best Nike Cross-training Shoes in 2024

After assessing the top Nike cross-trainers on foot and in the lab, we found the Free Metcon 6 as the finest choice. From its airy design, remarkable flexibility, and solid stability, we felt confident tackling any program we had for the day.

FM6 delivers a barefoot feel with its exceptional lightness, confirmed by our scales with a 9.7 oz (274g) figure, 10.5% below average. Its airy mesh upper enhances breathability, allowing our body heat to dissipate easily the same way smoke freely escaped in our lab test.

The midsole offers high flexibility and versatility, making a range of exercises feel effortless. We awarded it with a low 2/5 torsional rigidity score because of its minimal resistance to twisting. Meanwhile, it emerged 76.9% more bendable than average in our flex test. From lunges to lateral movements, we could move smoothly.

Amazingly, the FM6 maintains a stable feel despite its adaptiveness. We never had the feeling of toppling over and felt planted in the wide 113.9/94.4 mm base. Additionally, a firm 27.8 HA foam lies under the heel so it doesn’t compress suddenly when lifting.

However, we recommend avoiding rope climbs or any toe-dragging movements as the delicate upper is highly susceptible to damage.

The Nike Savaleos has a semi-gusseted tongue and a really stiff heel counter. These design elements surely helped this trainer become the versatile shoe that we needed for a wide array of exercises including lifting. What made this shoe even more suitable for lifters is its amazingly wide platform, which gave us a lot of anti-wobble benefits. No other Nike cross-training shoe comes close to the Nike Savaleos when it comes to lifting.

The shoe's semi-gusseted tongue allowed us to experience high levels of comfort and a good blend of secure support and freedom of movement. Hence, overhead snatches, jerks, and even squats were as easy to execute as box jumps and quick jogs in place.

The perfectly rigid heel counter complemented the benefits that the semi-gusseted tongue delivered. It kept the rear part of our feet secure all throughout our routines. In the lab, we gave this part of the shoe a perfect 5 for stiffness after manually twisting and squeezing it.

The Metcon 8’s wide platform was one of the main reasons this shoe became a dependable lifting partner. Using a caliper, we saw that the platform is 116.0 mm wide at the forefoot and 94.2 mm at the heel. These figures add 8.9 mm and 7.1 mm to the respective averages! 

It’s just regrettable that the upper isn’t as durable as we would have wanted. It scored only a 3 out of 5 in our in-lab Dremel test for durability.

As a true cross-trainer, the Nike Zoom Metcon Turbo 2 delivered a good blend of ground feel and impact protection. It does so without sacrificing speed because of the highly responsive Zoom Air unit embedded in its forefoot. Hence, it became our best pick for speed among cross-training shoes from The Swoosh.

Only 22.9 mm thick at the heel (the average is 24.6 mm) and 15.2 mm thick at the forefoot (the average is 18.3 mm), the Metcon Turbo 2 surely brought us closer to the ground. This setup allowed us to accelerate much more easily and gain additional movement control.

Impact protection is not to be discounted because our HA durometer in the lab showed that that cushion is actually softer than average, 22.4 against 27.0. In the gym, we felt our harsh landings and aggressive strikes effectively neutralized, keeping us free from pain.

The Zoom Air unit in the forefoot is not to be discounted when it comes to energy return. During our test runs, it felt like a spring that made every step amazingly efficient and powerful.

Garnering only a rating of 1 out of 5 for durability, we could only wish that the upper delivered more. We surely cannot recommend this shoe to those gym goers who want something that lasts.

Working out with Nike’s Air Zoom TR 1 gave us both explosive and gentle elements in the right places. The softness and flexibility of the midsole effectively toned down the impact of each strike. The energetic Air Zoom unit and the grippy base ensured responsiveness while maintaining stability. Among the Nike cross-trainers we lab-tested, we found this pair the best for HIIT.

This trainer exhales tons of power and unwavering support, providing massive energy return with each takeoff and plush cushioning with each landing. Upon dissecting the midsole, an Air Zoom unit unveils itself, explaining the springy sensation we experienced during run intervals and high knees. Saving us from leg fatigue is the cushion’s softness, which our durometer confirms is 24.6% less dense than average.

We effortlessly completed exercises that involved bending our feet such as planks and lunges due to the midsole’s adaptive nature. True enough, it emerged 8.8% more flexible than the average trainer in our lab.

Balancing the fluidity is a stiff yet not too firm heel to keep us centered and stable. Our manual assessment confirms this with a rigidity score of 4/5. Additionally, the outsole’s traction is reliable even on shiny gym floors, with the rubber exhibiting a 10.0% softer and stickier composition than average. Because of the outsole’s lighter construction, we recommend using this trainer for indoor sessions to avoid premature wear.

The Flex Control 4 did everything as a good minimal cross-training shoe should: it helped us accelerate and provided us with a stable base without putting on so much weight. Because of all these benefits, we declare the Nike Flex Control 4 as the best minimalist shoe among all the cross trainers that we have worn so far.

The quick-footedness that this trainer afforded us was a result of the synergistic performance of two features: a low-to-the-ground profile and a firm midsole. Through our caliper measurements in the lab, we discovered that the midsole is only 19.0 mm and 15.6 mm thick at the heel and forefoot. This makes it far thinner than average, which has respective measurements of 24.6 mm and 18.3. Compared to that of the typical cross trainer that has a firmness score of only 27.0, the cushion is firmer at 32.0 as per our HA durometer.

The Flex Control 4 also has a wider base. We learned through our caliper measurements that this shoe’s footprint is 111.0 mm wide at the forefoot while it’s 89.2 mm wide at the heel. These numbers are 1.4 mm and 2.2 mm wider than average. The extra width was enough to stabilize our stance when we did light to moderate lifts.

The weight is a sure highlight of this shoe. Weighing only 9.8 oz or 277g, this shoe is indeed lighter than the typical trainer that weighs 11.2 oz or 317g. 

The durability of the upper was a source of concern. After just a few rigorous sessions, it already showed considerable damage. Because of that, we don't recommend the Nike Flex Control 4 to gym goers who prioritize durability.

At $65 per pair, the Nike Legend Essential 3 is surely a lot cheaper than the average Nike cross-trainer ($104 per pair!). Of course, the price is not the only thing that’s good about this Nike shoe. It moved well with our feet so gracefully, allowing us to easily do jumps and other exercises that require the feet to flex. This shoe also allowed our feet to breathe in and breathe out with much ease! Because of all the goodness that we enjoyed, we declare the Legend Essential 2 as our most valuable pick among all Nike cross-trainers.

After manually twisting and squeezing this shoe in the lab, its base got a score of 1 out of 5 for torsional rigidity. This means that the shoe did not restrict our movements at all. We were able to bend with much ease. Standing on our toes to target our calves became so easy to do! As a result, no one among us skipped leg day! 

Keeping our feet cool and well-aerated was never a problem for the Legend Essential 3 from Nike. During our breathability test in the lab, the smoke that we pumped in escaped quite easily through much of the upper. There was just no chance of overheating even if we sprinted and box-jumped for hours.

We just don’t think that this shoe is of much help when it comes to heavier weightlifting. The heel counter felt like giving in when we started packing up more plates. It only got a 2 out of 5 for stiffness, after all.

We shuffled through Nike cross-trainers to find the ultimate CrossFit shoe - and it’s no other than Metcon 9. Our lab results show this incredibly supportive shoe has a wide base, good stability, flexibility, and excellent traction that allows us to power through our WOD. It’s versatile enough to handle hybrid training, but its strength in weightlifting makes it an awesome CrossFit partner.

We can “just do it” and lift away since the wide and sturdy base keeps us planted to the ground. Under the heel lies a non-compressible Hyperlift plastic for extra support when lifting heavier loads. With raised sidewalls and a protective upper, Metcon 9 offers a solid foothold for better balance.

This pair proves it can handle multiple workouts. The sidewalls assisted our climbs and protected the upper from wearing out. On our lateral movements, we didn’t have any wobbles. We found manually twisting the shoe difficult, earning a 5/5 torsional rigidity rating. This explains why we always feel so stable, regardless of our movement. 

Our CrossFit sessions were dynamic and fast-paced, yet Metcon 9 conquered them all. The shoe moved freely with us. Our bend test confirms it’s 15.0% more adaptive than average.

On hot and humid days in the box, Metcon 9 feels too toasty. With subpar breathability, we recommend exploring other summer trainers.