I buy and test the products featured on That Fit Friend using a regimen of training tests that I’ve developed over years of testing training shoes and gear. I may earn commissions on sales made through the links on my site.
The Reebok Floadride Energy 3 is the third model in Reebok’s popular Floatride Energy running shoe line. This model has received a few key construction upgrades compared to the Floatride Energy 2 and has a budget-friendly price point.
As someone who loves exploring budget-friendly training shoes as well, I was super excited to put the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 to the test. Across the board, the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 has been a pleasant surprise to run and train with.
For beginners and recreational runners, I think the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 running shoes will be an awesome pick. They work really well for short, mid-range, and long-distance runs.
In this Reebok Floatride Energy 3 review, I’m going to discuss a handful of key details about these running shoes to help you decide if they’re a good fit for your training needs.
Contents
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Who Should Invest In the Reebok Floatride Energy 3?
The Reebok Floatride Energy 3 is a good all-around running shoe for beginners and more recreational runners. This model’s Floatride Energy Foam midsole provides a nice level of responsiveness and comfort for all types of runs.
I think if you’re looking for a shoe to put in anywhere from 5-25 miles a week, then you’ll enjoy the Reebok Floatride Energy 3. This model is comfortable for short, mid-range, and long-distance runs so it’s a fairly versatile running shoe for a variety of running needs.
The price point for this model is also pretty fair for the performance that this shoe delivers. This model’s price point ranges from $100 to $125 USD based on the colorway you select.
If you’re trying to save money, then going with the more budget-friendly colorways would be a great move. That being said, I think the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 will work for a variety of runners and skill levels and this shoe has a good value and durability.
Reebok Floatride Energy 3
Best For
- Short, Mid, and Long-Distance Runs
- Long Walks
- Daily Wear
- Casual HIIT Training
Falls Short
- For Night Running
Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Pros
There are multiple things to like about the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 and it’s been one of my favorite budget-friendly running shoes to date.
- Good All-Around Running Shoe for Recreational Runners
- Upper Breathes Pretty Well and Is Durable
- Floatride Energy Foam Midsole Has Good Energy Return
The first and most important aspect to like about the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 is its performance when running. For my faster 5ks, mid-range recovery runs spanning around 5-miles, and long-distance runs hitting 8-miles, this model has performed exceptionally well.
I like the comfort you get from this model and its midsole is not overly plush to where you lose out on performance for faster-paced runs. This shoe walks a really good line between giving you enough cushion for long-distance runs but also enough “pop” for fast runs.
More specifically, I think for beginners and more recreational runners, this shoe will work really well. It’s a neutral shoe that delivers a strong performance on various terrains and it has a fair price point based on the colorway you decide to go with.
The second aspect to like about the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 is its upper construction. This model features a square knit upper which helps with the ventilation of this shoe in hotter settings.
Whether I was running on 80-degree days or wearing this model for long walks, I never found breathability to be a huge issue. This feature is also nice for anyone that wants to wear this model for daily wear.
For its price, the durability of this shoe’s upper has also been strong across the board. I have yet to notice any major breakdown issues with my model and I think if you’re using only these shoes a few times a week for a blend of indoor and outdoor runs, then I think they’ll last you a while.
The final aspect to like about the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 is the midsole construction of this model. The Floatride Energy Foam and its thickness in this model provide a nice level of energy return.
I think this shoe will do a good job accommodate all types of foot strikes and giving a nice “bounce” to your strides. Plus, with a heel-to-toe drop of 9m, I think this shoe will align with a variety of running styles.
Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Cons
Over the course of my testing, I’ve noticed two drawbacks with the Reebok Floatride Energy 3. Across the board, there’s not a lot to dislike about this shoe.
- Not the Best for Night Running
- Can Fall Short for Some Sprint-Focused Workouts
If you’re like me and like tackling evening runs here and there, then you may find that the lack of reflective branding could be an issue here. Some running shoes come with reflective materials which is great when you’re doing runs at night in darker areas without ample lighting.
Some days I get so swamped with work that I end up pushing my runs to later, and generally, when I do this, I try to rock a pair of shoes and apparel that have some reflective properties. This helps when running on darker streets here in Colorado.
This drawback isn’t the biggest deal and it’s pretty niche in nature, but if you do like night running, then you may want to consider either opting for a more reflective pair of running shoes to swap in or go for more reflective clothing to make up for these shoes.
The second drawback that I have with this shoe is that they’re not the best for sprints. They can feel a little clunky at times for sprint workouts that have a lot of starting and stopping in-between sprint reps.
This is one of the few running scenarios where I think this shoe falls a tad short. That being said, this model can perform decently in some sprint workouts like if you’re doing sprint work that is built into tempo runs.
Performance
To break down the performance of the Reebok Floatride Energy 3, I’m going to discuss how this shoe performs in a variety of running contexts, for daily wear, and when walking.
For my running tests, I classify my short runs as 0-3 miles, my mid-range runs are 4-6, and long-distance runs as 7+ miles.
Reebok Floatride Energy 3 for Sprints and Short Runs
When it comes to sprinting the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 performs okay. The midsole in this shoe isn’t so thick to where you can’t do some casual sprint work and the outsole grips pretty well when really digging into the forefoot.
Personally, I didn’t mind doing sprints in this shoe when they were baked into my tempo runs. If you’re doing sprints from a dead stop position, then you may find that the compression of the midsole hinders your starting mechanics slightly.
For short runs, I really like this shoe and it has been one of my go-to models for tackling 5k runs. What I like most is that this shoe is consistent and whether I’m doing a nice slow recovery 5k or fast-paced runs, this shoe performed strongly.
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If you’re tacking on a few lower mileage sessions every week, then I think this shoe is a really good option to explore, especially for its price point.
Reebok Floatride Energy 3 for Mid-Range and Long-Distance Runs
For mid-range runs, I also liked the performance of the Reebok Float Energy 3. Its midsole is comfortable enough for a variety of paces and the neutral fit of this was comfortable.
I also like the outsole on this model for mid-range runs and how it performed for both my recovery treadmill and road runs. The lugs on the outsole grip different surfaces well and they feel plenty durable for different terrains.
For long-distance runs, the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 could be a hit or miss depending on what you prefer. In the context of long runs, I compare this model most to the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38.
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The upper breathes well and if you like having a plush midsole and a shoe that also has some stability to it, then I think you’ll enjoy the Floatride Energy 3. If you’re someone who loves maximal cushioning, then this model may not align perfectly with your needs.
Reebok Floatride Energy 3 for Walking and Daily Wear
If you’re looking at the Reebok Floatride Energy for walking and daily wear, then I think you’ll like how this shoe for these contexts. For running, this model feels supportive with a nice light level of midfoot support and comfort for all-day wear.
The blend of the outsole, midsole, and upper feed really well into long walks, and I like how they perform on a daily wear basis in the context of durability and comfort.
I also like the heel tab on this shoe and how it helps with the process of getting the shoe on. Whether I’m wearing thicker socks or going barefoot, this shoe is pretty easy to get on which is a big perk when wearing this shoe on a daily basis.
Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Sizing
For the Reebok Floatride Energy 3, most runners and athletes should be safe going true to size in this model. This shoe has a neutral width so it should work for narrow, neutral, and slightly wider feet.
The length of this model does run a little long, but not to the point in which I think most would need to size down at all. I also think this is a better thing for runners with wider feet.
- Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Sizing Thoughts: Go true to size.
If you have additional Reebok Floadride Energy 3 sizing and fit questions or how they compare to other running shoes, drop a comment below.
Price Breakdown
One of the biggest perks of the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 running shoes is their price point. For this model, you can expect to pay between $100 to $125 USD depending on the colorway and Floatride Energy 3 iteration that you go with.
Compared to other budget-friendly running shoes, this is definitely one of the best models on the market. Plus, I feel that it can hold its own against other more expensive running shoes.
Reebok Floatride Energy 3
Best For
- Short, Mid, and Long-Distance Runs
- Long Walks
- Daily Wear
- Casual HIIT Training
Falls Short
- For Night Running
Construction Details
Below I’ve broken down some of the most important construction details to know about the Reebok Floatride Energy 3.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 9mm
- Weight: 9.40 ounces (for my size 10 model)
- Removable Insole: Yes
- Floatride Energy Foam Midsole
- Rubber Outsole With Lugs
- 6 Eyelets With a 7th for Lace-Lock
- Flared Heel Collar
- Square Knit Upper
- Gussetted Tongue
If you have additional construction questions on the Reebok Floatride Energy 3, drop a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Takeaway Thoughts
The Reebok Floatride Energy 3 has been a really solid running shoe to run and train in. This model’s performance was definitely a surprise across the board, especially for its price point.
I like this shoe best for beginner and recreational runners that want a strong performing running shoe that doesn’t break the bank. I think there are a few contexts where this model falls short, but for a majority of runners, I think they’ll enjoy this shoe.
If you have additional questions on the Reebok Floatride Energy 3, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly).
I buy and test the products featured on That Fit Friend using a regimen of training tests that I’ve developed over years of testing training shoes and gear. I may earn commissions on sales made through the links on my site.
