Whether your weather is finally in a place where you are not drenched in sweat just from stepping foot outside, or just ready to get back into running, it's the perfect time to invest in a new pair of shoes.
That's where this guide comes in handy.
We gathered testers from all over the country, including veteran runners at ACTIVE, to extensively test the shoes in this guide. All of our testers put their shoes through a minimum of 20 running miles while paying attention to comfort, fit, weight, breathability, flexibility and ride.
From updates of old favorites that had our feet singing to new releases that will ensure you'll find something to motivate your miles well into summer, you're guaranteed to find a shoe you'll love. We know money might be tight, but if you can, treat yourself! You deserve it.
Fall Shoe Guides
Asics | Brooks | HOKA | New Balance | Reebok | Skechers | Under Armour | Vimazi
Reebok Nano X3 Training Shoe
About:
With over 13 years of rich history and dominance in the training community, Reebok’s Nanofranchise continues to focus on providing in-the-box athletes with the most innovativeproduct possible, while advancing to meet the needs of all fitness consumers.
The most notable addition to the latest Nano release, the Nano X3, includes a revolutionaryLift and Run (L.A.R) Chassis System in the midsole built to provide versatile support acrossall training demands. A dome TPU piece in the heel hardens under heavy load for addedstability when lifting and then softens when not under load. The dome is surrounded byFloatride Energy Foam for extra responsiveness and cushioning for running and jumping.Additionally, a TPU plate is connected to the dome for added lateral and torsional supportand forefoot propulsion.
Things We Liked:
“The stiff sole and low profile were great for doing stable activities like squats and lunges.”
“Amazing stability for my gym workouts.”
Areas for Improvement:
“Felt stiff and probably needs a bit of time to break in.”
Final Thoughts from our Testers:
The Reebok Nano X3 Training shoe is a great addition to my gym bag and clearly gives me the stability and support that ones needs while doing any gym workout. While I didn’t think this was the best running shoe, but doing some quick runs I didn’t find any issues. Be prepare to spend some time breaking in the shoe a bit.
Specs
Type: Training
Support: Neutral
Cushion: Mid
Fit: True to Fit
Weight: 12 oz
Drop: 7mm
Price: $140.00
Buy:
Reebok:Womens | Mens
Amazon:Womens | Mens
Reebok Floatride Energy 5
About:
At only $110, the Reebok Floatride Energy 5 may be the best value of this year’s lineup of new running shoes. It doesn’t win any performance category, but it does do well in each — making it not only affordable, but also versatile.
The fit and feel is similar to the previous version, the Energy 4, and those who loved the past model should be happy with the slight improvements in the current version. For those new to this shoe, it should be noted that this is a narrow design with a long toe box. Reebok does not offer a wide version of this shoe, so those with wider feet might need to seek another model. The Energy 5 uses the same Floatride foam as the previous version, weighs in slightly lighter at 9.4 ounces, and has a slightly reduced midsole drop at 8 mm. Reebok did introduce a midsole “x-plate” for torsional support, which is intended to increase lateral stability as fatigue sets in. In practical tests from a neutral runner, the x-plate was not obvious – either in a way that noticeably helped or distracted from normal running.
This shoe shines as an all-rounder workhorse for training. The grippy rubber outsole makes this shoe suitable in most weather conditions, and the fact that the outsole is lugged enables this shoe to handle dirt and non-technical trails. The Floatride foam caters more toward responsiveness than an overly-cushioned ride, and the mesh uppers make this a breathable shoe in hot and humid conditions. While not the ideal racing shoe (Reebok offers the carbon-plated Floatride Energy X for race day efforts), the Energy 5 performs well at a variety of tasks, whether a tempo run, a long day, or a recovery run making this a great addition to any gym bag.
Things We Liked:
“The surprising amount of responsiveness still has me baffled! I would normally have to pay $50-$80 more for a shoe that gives me the same results on my every day training runs. They provide the perfect balance of reactiveness and cushioning, allowing me to confidently tackle my runs without questioning my abilities or checking my watch to make sure I'm "on pace”.”
“The price! At $110, this shoe offers amazing bang for the buck as a great everyday training shoe. “
Areas for Improvement:
“Reebok's running shoes always take me a bit to break in because of the higher heel anatomy and the slightly narrower fit overall.”
“As someone who prefers low-cut and no-show socks, the elevated heel collar is not my favorite (even though it looks cool). For me, this is a recipe for blisters unless I wear ankle-cut socks.”
Final Thoughts from our Testers:
Reebok's Floatride Energy 5 is a great budget-friendly shoe for folks either just starting out or looking for an affordable shoe that can handle any type of workout. However, this comes with some cons, too. While the Floatride Energy 5 can do it all, it doesn't excel at any one running style. It's responsive but not the most responsive, and it's cushioned but not the most cushioned.
On the flip side, you can count on the Floatride Energy 5's reliability. No matter the weather outside, the distance you're running, or even the activity you're looking to do, this shoe will be there for you to help you get to the finish line—no matter where that may be or what it may look like.
Specs
Type: Road
Support: Neutral
Cushion: Mid
Fit: Runs Narrow
Weight: 9.4 oz
Drop: 8mm
Price: $110.00
Buy:
Reebok:Womens | Mens
Amazon:Womens | Mens
Reebok Nano X3 Adventure
About:
The Reebok Nano X3 Adventure is not marketed as a running shoe so it can be forgiven for falling short in that specific category. As an outdoor "adventure" shoe, it has a number of promising design features including the grippy Vibram ECOSTEP RECYCLE EVO outsole, water resistant upper, molded tongue, and heel collar. The stiffness and shape of the sole is also conducive to performing exercises that benefit from those attributes, such as squats and lunges.
However, when it comes to running for more than very short distances, or running on truly technical terrain, this shoe is less than ideal. The rigidity of the sole combined with a potentially sloppy fit can make them feel like running in clown shoes. On trails, while traction is important, it is also essential to have a feel for the trail and the flexibility to respond to rapidly changing gradients and obstacles. When running in this shoe, it often felt more like slapping the ground rather than gliding over it. Ultimately, while the the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure bills itself as a versatile shoe, it is most definitely not a running shoe. Depending on the goals of the wearer, this shoe may be suitable for outdoor cross-training that is not focused on running- or even hiking-on technical trails- but a trail running shoe it is not. As a final thought, the unisex sizing may be one of the biggest problems with this shoe. For those considering this shoe, it is strongly advisable to try it on-and possibly go down a size.
Things We Liked:
“The one thing I like most about the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure is the Vibram outsole. It has great traction and grips to just about any surface.”
Areas for Improvement:
“The tongues molded edge cut into my ankle, so I quickly learned to wear higher socks. The construction and material choice should be improved on future models”
Final Thoughts from our Testers:
The Reebok Nano X3 Adventure is designed as a cross trainer for indoors and out. Its interesting that these are Unisex. The vibram outsole provides great traction on anything from a wet gym floor to the dirt or rocky trails. It has a 7mm stack height and feels heavier and stiffer due to the robust construction. Be aware of potential heal lift and wear taller socks in order to avoid skin abrasions due to the poorly made tongue.
Specs
Type: Trail/Training
Support: Neutral
Cushion: Mid
Fit: Runs Big (Down a 1/2 to full size)
Weight: 13.5 oz
Drop: 7mm
Price: $140.00
Buy:
Reebok:Womens | Mens
Amazon:Womens | Mens
Fall Shoe Guides
Asics | Brooks | HOKA | New Balance | Reebok | Skechers | Under Armour | Vimazi
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Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
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