Looking into new cross-training shoes? Try my Cross-Training Shoe Finder. The calculator matches you with trainers that fit and suit your individual needs best. Who Should Invest In the Nike MC Trainer 2? Overall, I’ve enjoyed the performance of the Nike MC Trainer 2 for versatile training. They’re a consistent model that delivers a strong performance for the price, and they can be a good shoe to beat up for both indoor and outdoor workouts. Testing the Nike MC Trainer 2 for Short Runs and Daily Wear But if you have wide feet, this is probably not your best bet. It could even seem a little tight if you have a mid-range foot.

The MC Trainer 2’s heel feels more forgiving for running and jumping and the base of the forefoot seems to articulate a lot easier in this model, and this model broke in a lot easier than the MC Trainer. The model was designed with a wide sole to provide you with sufficient support for classic strength exercises such as squats and deadlifts. Additional stability and a longer service life provide overlays in the area of ​​the toes and the lacing. A cushioning midsole has been incorporated to provide the necessary dynamics for explosive exercises such as sprints or burpees. The cushioning foam it contains absorbs the resulting pressure and enables training that is easy on the joints. The high responsiveness of the sole improves your agility. Lateral Support and Varied GripFor versatile training, I enjoyed the performance of the Nike MC Trainer 2 and think it has an edge over the original model in this context, and that’s for two reasons. For daily wear, I’d suggest passing on this model. With the heel slip issue, I ran into with this model, I’ve been less than impressed with this shoe’s performance for all-day wear and longer walks. Since we all have different weekly training breakdowns and biases, it can be useful to cross-reference how different shoes will perform in different settings and align with your training needs. are looking for something to regularly run in (the Nike Free Metcon 3 is a good cross-training shoe for running) This shoe’s midsole provides a nice level of stability and when working with trap bar deadlifts over 425 lbs, I didn’t notice any glaring compression issues with this shoe. I also liked the level of tread the outsole provided on different surfaces.

If you’re considering the Nike MC Trainer versus the Nike MC Trainer 2, it’s a good idea to understand some of their key differences. There are three major construction differences that are worth noting about these models.

The Nike MC trainer is definitely grippy. This shoe gives you a great solid foundation to really get a good lift in. Whether it is squats, or deadlifts, or even box jumps, the MC Trainer will meet your needs without leaving you feeling like you need to add something else to your arsenal. While I like the Nike MC Trainer 2 and think it’s better than the original model, there are a few cons to note about this shoe before investing in them. The third and final difference to note is each shoe’s flexibility. The MC Trainer 2 feels less “stiff” through the midfoot and toe box compared to the MC Trainer. In my opinion, this is a big pro for training with the MC Trainer 2. For wide and flat feet, I think you’ll also want to pass on this shoe. Since they have a low-profile construction, I think sizing up could be problematic and lead to heel slip issues. First, the Nike MC Trainer 2’s tongue construction isn’t the best. The MC Trainer didn’t have issues with its tongue due to it having two tongue loops that sat lower on the tongue versus the singular loop that’s placed higher on the MC Trainer 2.

Note, when training and tightening this shoe, I didn’t have slip issues, which is a positive thing for those that just want this model for training. However, if you are like me and enjoy wearing your training shoes on a daily wear basis, this could be a deal breaker. To discuss the performance of the Nike MC Trainer 2, I’m going to break down how this shoe performs in different training contexts. I’ll talk about this shoe’s performance for lifting, versatile training, shorter runs, and daily wear. I think this model will be a good fit for those that love firmer midsole shoes for versatile training and have narrower foot widths. Note, they don’t have a ton of cushion to them, so if you like more cushioned HIIT and class shoes, you may want to explore something like the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep 3. The second aspect to like about the Nike MC Trainer 2 is its performance for athletic-style training. If you’re someone who on a weekly basis likes to lift, do HIIT workouts, do plyometrics, do agility work, and even some sprints, the MC Trainer 2 can be a good option to explore. The Nike SuperRep Go 3 Next Nature Flyknit also suffers from this issue and it can be frustrating, to say the least. The Nike MC Trainer utilized two tongue loops that sat lower on the tongue, while the MC Trainer 2 only has one loop and Nike has brought it up.

For the Nike MC Trainer 2, if you have narrow or neutral (normal) width feet, then you should be safe going true to size in this model. This model’s length runs true and it has a narrow and neutral width or a more athletic fit. It can be an okay budget model for hybrid workouts that have short runs programmed. This shoe’s firmer ride can get pretty uncomfortable for longer runs, so I’d suggest exploring models that are more running-friendly if you need a shoe for this ask. The final aspect that I like with the Nike MC Trainer 2 is that it feels more flexible than the original MC Trainer. One of my complaints with the first model was how stiff the midfoot and heel could feel at times. I don’t like cranking my laces super tight in this context, so the heel slip issue can be a little frustrating, at times. If you want to use these for daily wear, I’d suggest keeping this in mind and making sure you don’t experience similar slip issues. Nike MC Trainer 2 Sizing

Second, the increased mobility in this shoe is awesome for explosive and multi-directional training. For HIIT workouts and athletic-style training, I thought the Nike MC Trainer 2 did a pretty good job.Additionally, these will not be the best CrossFit shoes on the market. They’ll work for casual WODs here and there but will fall short as you get more niche and serious with your training. The lifting performance with these shoes will be best for casual and recreational sessions. Testing the Nike MC Trainer 2 for Versatile Training As someone with medium-width feet, I have been choosing Nike shoes as my go-to for a cross-trainer. This rings true here for the Nike MC Trainer.