7 Best Nike Hiit Shoes in 2023

Among all the Nike shoes that we’ve tried, it’s the Free Metcon 5 that hits all HIIT requirements: it's lightweight and immensely flexible with a plush footbed! That's why it's our #1 Nike pick for HIIT.

Our weighing scale in the lab gauged the weight of this shoe at 10.5 oz or 298g, which makes it even lighter than the already light 11.2 oz or 317g average. With its weight, the shoe never got in our way when we ran, jumped, and performed agility exercises.

We consider flexibility as the most surprising offer of the Nike Metcon 5. According to our digital force gauge, this shoe only needs 8.8N to bend at 90 degrees. This is way lower than the 22.5N required by the average trainer. Because of this flexibility, we were able to bend our feet as much as we needed when we did planks, push-ups, mountain climbers, and burpees.

Our lab assessments showed that the midsole is indeed a lot softer than the average. The midsole registered 17.4 on the HA durometer. This is again far lower than the average, which is 27.0. The soft feeling underfoot provided us with the amount of compression needed to keep our runs comfortable.

One thing that we didn’t like about the shoe was the flimsiness of the upper. After 12 seconds of Dremel drilling, the upper already exhibited considerable damage. Fitness junkies who drag their toes too much are at risk of destroying their pair of Free Metcon 5s way too early.

The Zoom Metcon Turbo 2 from Nike delivered a lot of good things. Besides outstanding breathability, this shoe also had a stable platform. But it’s its speed-orientedness that impressed us the most. Hence, we pick it as the best for speed among all the Nike HIIT shoes that we worked out in.

We couldn’t say anything more about the breathability of the upper besides it being perfect! It’s a 5 out of 5 from us, and we super loved that our feet stayed fresh and dry even when we incorporated a lot of running and jumping in our regimen.

Wider by 2.0 mm at both the heel and forefoot, the platform of the Nike Zoom Metcon Turbo 2 surely delivered a lot of stability. We never had problems with our light to moderate lifts while wearing this Nike trainer

The combination of a thin cushion and highly bouncy Zoom Air unit made this shoe a perfect ingredient for our speed exercises. Our caliper showed that the cushioning unit is only 22.9 mm thick at the heel and 15.2 mm at the forefoot, making it 1.7 mm and 3.1 mm thinner than average. 

While this shoe was good for light to moderate lifting, our confidence in it fizzled when we went for heavier lifts. Its torsional rigidity is just not it, getting only a 1 out of 5 from us.

Among all the shoes that we tested, the Air Zoom SuperRep 3 is definitely the bounciest, at least among other Nike HIIT trainers. We felt that our jumps, sprints, and other footwork were a lot more efficient because of it. This bounciness together with the shoe’s twist resistance and wide base made this shoe such a good one for high-intensity workouts.

When we were jumping rope, we never had to spend so much energy to bring ourselves up. When we did sprints, the first step felt thoroughly energized. When we did agility ladders, every step felt explosive. This was just how good the energy return in the forefoot was.

After assessing it in the lab, we scored the SuperRep 3’s twist resistance a perfect 5. Not only did this feature prevent painful twists, it also helped us to be more quick on our feet.

This shoe’s wide base was also such a beneficial part. Being 4.9 mm and 10.4 mm wider than average at the forefoot and heel respectively, this shoe just left no room for any slippage or even wobbliness. We enjoyed so much stability especially when we were lifting.

Unfortunately in this case, the wide base does not also mean a wide upper. In fact, we do not recommend this shoe to wide-footers at all. This shoe’s toebox is 2.6 mm narrower than the typical trainer.

Out of all the HIIT shoes from Nike, it’s the Flex Control 4 that feels the most minimal. From its weight down to its cushioning, the barely there feel is unmistakable. We also appreciated that the whole structure is flexible enough to allow the natural flexions of our feet.

When we were working out in it, we never felt the Flex Control 4 weighing us down. When we put it on the weighing scale, we were in awe that it weighed only 9.77 ounces or 277 grams, which is far lower than the 11.18 ounces or 317 grams average. 

The cushioning also feels pretty minimal as it is thin and sits pretty close to the ground. Using our caliper, we learned that the whole cushioning system is thinner than average by 5.6 mm at the heel and 2.7 mm at the forefoot.

Structurally, the Flex Control 4 is true to its name. Based on our flexibility test, this Nike trainer needed only 13.6N of force to bend at a 90-degree angle. This figure is much lower than the 20.6N that the typical trainer would need. 

Stability-wise, this Nike shoe gave us something to worry about. Its base earned only a rating of 2 out of 5 for torsional rigidity, which means that the probability of us twisting our feet is high. We will never use this shoe for heavier weightlifting.

The Nike Legend Essential 3 is sold for only $65 per pair, which is far lower than the $93 average price of Nike HIIT shoes. The price alone made this shoe a real steal, but the fact that it’s 21% lighter than the average trainer and that it offers a good deal of breathability sealed the deal for us. Hence, we declare the Nike Legend Essential 3 as the best HIIT shoe for those who are on a budget.

This shoe’s lightness surely deserves the spotlight. At only 8.78 ounces or 249 grams, this shoe is a lot lighter than the average, which currently stands at 11.18 ounces or 317 grams. This trainer had a featherlight feel on the feet, and it allowed us to do sprints, box jumps, and mountain climbers quite smoothly.

Hours and hours of intense training did not heat up our feet too much, which tells us that the upper remained well-ventilated throughout the sessions. True enough, when smoke was blown into the shoe during a breathability lab test, it easily escaped through the vents in the tongue. In the gym, even if we did high-knee runs in place for several minutes, our feet still felt like it’s chilling on a breezy beach! For breathability, the Legend Essential 3 got a solid 4 out of 5.

Unfortunately, the shoe is too flimsy to be used for more serious weightlifting. Its heel counter only got a score of 2 out of 5 for firmness after we manually gave it a good squeeze in the lab.

We tested Nike’s HIIT shoes against high-intensity and punishing workouts to find which is best for weightlifting — Nike Metcon 9 undoubtedly claims this throne. While it's versatile enough for different types of workouts, it excels in weightlifting the most. With a wide and steady base, a firm foothold, and an unwavering outsole, it provides the most solid foundation for all types of lifting.

We performed all types of lifts we can imagine — heavy squats, deadlifts, power snatches, clean, and jerks — and felt confident throughout. Metcon 9 has a wide toebox for our natural toe splay, which enhances control and improves our balance.

The shoe has sturdy sidewalls, which are wrapped along the sides to firmly keep our foot in place. The upper gives generous padding for comfort and provides ventilation so our feet can breathe during heated workouts.

Below Metcon 9 stands a reliable grippy outsole that ensures steady landings and jerks to help us perform lifts with the correct form. This gives us the confidence to push our limits because we have an outsole that will protect us from unwanted slips.

Given the shoe’s build, we found it slightly uncomfortable in HIIT workouts focused on cardio and aerobic exercises. 

Among Nike’s HIIT trainers, we discovered that SuperRep Go 3 offers the best comfort. It’s versatile for athletics and moderate lifting and feels great for all-day wear. It’s a fuss-free trainer with its light build, supportive and responsive base, and superb fit. Best of all, it supports the green initiative since it’s built with sustainable materials.

This pair breaks in fast and easy, so we immediately took it to our walks and HIIT sessions. It has a strong and supportive base that makes it a great training partner, even for moderate lifts.

It’s extremely light on the foot — enhancing our agility and allowing us to move quickly. We can’t help but notice how responsive the cushion is during our box jumps and jump ropes. This highlights efficient energy use because the power we exert is returned to us.

SuperRep Go 3 has a superb fit that feels cozy and secure. It provides a firm foothold, allowing us to perform fast interval workouts and lateral motions confidently. While this trainer fits most foot types, we recommend those with wider feet than usual check other accommodating options for a more comfortable training experience.