The various nature of CrossFit makes it difficult to design a shoe that works for any exercise. CrossFit sneakers have to be steady for weightlifting, versatile sufficient for plyometric exercises, cushioned sufficient to be comfy on a run, and sturdy sufficient to face up to rope abrasion and stop sidewall blowouts throughout lateral actions.
The result’s a whole shoe trade that comes so near hitting the mark. Even the most effective CrossFit sneakers are inclined to lean extra towards stability for lifting, sacrificing consolation throughout run WODs. So, as I laced up the brand new Reebok Nano X5 ($140) for a exercise that began with a half-mile run, I used to be totally ready for discomfort. Fortuitously, that wasn’t the case. And that was simply the primary of many nice surprises with these sneakers.
In brief: By (rightfully) putting stability and help for weightlifting at its forefront, cushioning and forefoot flexibility are often sacrificed. In consequence, it’s an accepted incontrovertible fact that CrossFit sneakers aren’t comfy to run in. However with its fifteenth iteration, Reebok has gotten the Nano nearer to perfection than anybody else — it provides glorious stability for lifting, sturdy sidewalls, and sufficient cushioning to bust out a number of miles in consolation.
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Glorious stability for weightlifting -
Grippy outsole -
Sturdy higher -
Comfy on runs
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FLEXWEAVE higher reveals minor abrasion from rope climbs -
Not ideally suited for long-distance working -
Broad heel can catch on actions like field step overs -
Lengthy laces
Reebok Nano X5 Evaluation
Model Background
The unique CrossFit shoe, Reebok Nanos are synonymous with the game of health. Constructed to bridge the hole between all health modalities, Nanos have had various levels of success, however their consistency has made them a mainstay in each fitness center that applies continually assorted exercises.
It may be onerous to provide you with one thing new after 15 variations. Nonetheless, the brand new midsole and forefoot make the Nano X5 a wonderful runner with out sacrificing help or stability.
How I Examined the Nano X5
I wore these sneakers for two months (up to now) of coaching six days per week. These exercises entailed heavy lifting, burpees, field jumps, rope climbs, and each different motion that may pop up in a CrossFit exercise. And, sure, that features working. I ran every thing from 100m shuttle runs to mile-long highway runs within the Nano, and so they had been responsive and cozy all through.
What’s New
The Nano X5 has an analogous silhouette to the X4, however the toe field is noticeably wider. This can most likely be a welcome shock to anybody who values a spacious toe field and thought the X4s had been a bit constraining.
Underfoot, Reebok changed its Floatride Power Foam with a brand new DUALRESPONSE EVA midsole. Mixed with Reebok’s Carry and Run Chassis System, this midsole offers essentially the most balanced help and cushioning I’ve but skilled. The heel is on the broader aspect for stability throughout explosive and lateral actions.
For this model, the FLEXWEAVE higher has patterning on the toe field, including some flexibility and a great quantity of stretch. It additionally provides a pleasant aesthetic contact.
Good Reps
As a lifting shoe, the X5 delivers. The agency heel provided loads of help throughout heavy cleans and snatches, and my toes felt planted and set throughout heavy squats and cut up jerks. In fact, they’re not as stiff and steady as a pair of devoted weightlifting sneakers, however they’re nice for any exercise that features some barbell work.
The arch and midsole are far more versatile than the Nano X4, particularly throughout burpees, field jumps, and double-unders. There’s loads of bounce, and the grippy outsole delivers positive footing upon touchdown. That is particularly necessary throughout broad jumps when landings might be … sketchy.
However what actually makes them stand out is how they really feel on runs. The toe field is barely elevated — it’s not rockered, nevertheless it’s sufficient to supply a gait that’s extra rolling than clunky, which is much more than we are able to say for almost some other CrossFit shoe, not to mention one that gives stability like this one.
Choosing Nits
Whereas the Nano X5 is almost excellent, it nonetheless has a number of quibbles. The FLEXWEAVE higher is sturdy, nevertheless it’s not impervious to hurt — I observed some gentle fraying after a number of rope climb exercises. It’s not important sufficient to have me doubt the shoe’s sturdiness over the lengthy haul, nevertheless it did look much less fairly after some abuse.
The broader heel and grippy outsole present glorious stability throughout heavy lifts and jumps. Nevertheless, they did take some getting used to on one particular motion — field step overs.
I exploit a crossover technique when performing field step overs, and I discovered that the additional heel quantity and sticky outsole had a method of catching the highest of the field as I stepped over. I nearly tumbled off the highest of the field a number of instances. After the primary few rounds, I adjusted my steps to accommodate the larger heel, however there have been some shut calls at first.
Lastly, whereas this shoe runs higher than some other shoe I’ve tried, it’s nonetheless not a working shoe. It felt gentle and speedy on runs as much as 1 mile, however after that, it began to really feel a bit extra slappy on the pavement as I fatigued and reverted to extra of a heel strike. Realistically, you shouldn’t should run greater than a mile in any given WOD, so it’s not an enormous challenge, however you’ll nonetheless need a separate pair of sneakers for observe days.
Reebok Nano X5 Evaluation: Remaining Ideas
Discovering a CrossFit shoe that may do every thing effectively within the fitness center with out sacrificing consolation throughout brief runs has been a pipe dream for CrossFitters for the reason that sport’s invention. Even Reebok, an organization that’s been making sneakers for CrossFit longer than some other model, hasn’t been capable of finding that stability — till now.
The Reebok Nano X5 has grow to be the shoe I put on to the fitness center for each exercise, because of the combo of forefoot flexibility and slight rocker for a cushty run stride and a agency, steady heel for help throughout lifts. Add a extra spacious toe field and grippy outsole, and also you’ve received a shoe that may perform a little little bit of every thing — identical to the athletes it’s made for.
