Nike Metcon DSX Flyknit 2 Review: Current Training Shoe Alternatives

By StripeFit Editorial TeamFirst published December 19, 2016Updated September 13, 2026

Affiliate disclosure: StripeFit may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Product links appear after this disclosure.

Short answer: Nike Metcon DSX Flyknit 2 is a legacy training shoe, so compare current training models before considering old stock. Start with Nike Metcon 10 if your sessions center on lifting and a stable base. Use the Nike Free Metcon family when you want more forefoot flexibility for mixed conditioning. Compare Reebok Nano X5 when you want a current cross-training reference outside Nike. If your main activity is regular road mileage, use a running-shoe guide instead of treating a training shoe as a marathon shoe.

Choose the shoe for the movement pattern

Nike’s training guidance separates training shoes from running shoes: training shoes are designed for lifting and multidirectional movement, while running shoes provide the cushioning Nike associates with longer distances. Keep that distinction in the buying decision.

Nike Metcon 10

Choose this when lifting, gym work, and a stable heel platform are the priority. Nike lists a Hyperlift plate under the heel, ReactX foam, flat traction, a midfoot band, and a sturdy heel cup. Nike also says the model fits small and recommends ordering a half size up. Use the return window to confirm the toe-box and midfoot fit before committing to a training block.

Check Nike Metcon 10 listing

Reebok Nano X5

Use this as the cross-training comparison when you want to step outside Nike. Reebok lists dual-response EVA foam, a firmer heel, a MetaSplit outsole, a Flexweave upper, and a Lift and Run Chassis. Those details make it useful for comparing lifting, agility, and mixed-session priorities, while fit and floor feel still need a personal check.

Check Reebok Nano X5 listing

Checks before buying old DSX Flyknit 2 stock

• Confirm the title, photos, size, color, and condition all describe Metcon DSX Flyknit 2. A generic Metcon title is not enough.
• Ask whether the pair is new and unused, and check the seller’s return terms. A low price does not resolve an unverified condition or fit.
• Compare the current job: heavy lifting, mixed conditioning, or running mileage. Nike’s guidance places training and running shoes in different movement categories.
• Try the exact pair with the socks you train in. Check toe room, heel movement, midfoot pressure, and lateral comfort before keeping it.
• Do not treat “legacy” as a feature claim. The current Nike and Reebok pages are the reference for current construction; they do not prove how an old DSX pair has aged in storage.

Sources and methodology

• Nike’s Metcon 10 product page supports the Hyperlift plate, ReactX foam, traction, midfoot band, heel cup, and half-size-up fit guidance. Product copy does not establish individual comfort, long-distance suitability, or a particular training result.
• Nike’s Free Metcon 7 product page supports the flexible forefoot, stable heel, flex grooves, webbed lacing, inner sleeve, breathable mesh, and current model identity. It is a different generation from the linked Free Metcon 6, so its construction should not be presented as the exact older pair’s specification.
• Reebok’s Nano X5 collection page supports the dual-response EVA midsole, firmer heel foam, MetaSplit outsole, Flexweave upper, and Lift and Run Chassis descriptions. Manufacturer construction details do not establish the fit or feel of the exact retailer variant.
• Nike’s training-versus-running guide distinguishes multidirectional training and lifting from the forward motion and longer-distance cushioning associated with running shoes. Category guidance does not choose a shoe for an individual foot or workout.
• The legacy Metcon DSX Flyknit 2 has no current manufacturer product page linked here. Its old-stock condition, fit, outsole state, and seller terms therefore remain buyer checks; this page does not carry forward unverified legacy specifications.

Continue the training-shoe comparison

Use the Reebok Nano training-shoe comparison when the outside benchmark is your main question, or open our current buying guides when you need to switch from training shoes to a running-specific category.