Reebok Nano Gym Review

Nano Gym Performance Assessment

To assess the Nano Gym’s performance, I made a heavy point to test their stability thresholds, such as at what weight you notice the midsole compress and get less stable. This is key for beginners and intermediates wanting these for strength workouts.

I also tested the midsole’s responsiveness and comfort for HIIT, short runs, and cross-training. I tried to approach my testing from a more generalist lens and spread my attention to multiple performance verticals.

	Test Thresholds	TF2 Rating
Deadlift	365 lbs x 6	6.5/10
Lunge	185 lb Barbell Reverse Lunge	6.8/10
Box Jumps/Jump Rope	30-sec bouts / 36″ Inch Height	8/10
1-Mile run	Curved Treadmill	8/10

Not Bad, Not Great for Lifting

For lifting, the Nano Gym performs as you’d expect for a shoe built on a higher EVA platform. It’s going to work for machines and lighter free-weight sessions, but the moment you start pushing more weight, you’ll start to feel less stable.

To elaborate here, I started to notice more midsole compression around 365 lb deadlifts, and I didn’t love how this shoe felt for my deficit barbell reverse lunges. For the reverse lunges, I found that I waivered a bit in this shoe due to the squish of the EVA.

This is why I recommend this model for beginners. Most beginners aren’t going to be using these to max out their deadlifts, squats, and heavy single-leg work, and if you’re training under 365 lbs, then you’ll be fine in these.

I was also a little concerned with the outsole tread in this shoe since there is some exposed foam on the outsole, but for the most part, these shoes did a good job with overall traction and grip. The forefoot, heel, and midfoot overlays give you enough for different surfaces.

Another thing to keep in mind with the Nano Gym and their lifting performance is that they have a higher drop, which will shift your weight more forward. You’ll pick up on this model when doing RDLs and deadlifts. For my friends who love flatter shoes for lifting, pass on these.

If you’re not going crazy with your weight, then please don’t read this and overthink your decision on the Nano Gym if you like them. These will work, I just want to make it known that these won’t be your best all-around training shoe for lifting-focused needs.

Good for HIIT, Classes, and Cross-Training

In most of my cross-training tests, the Nano Gym did a good job, and that’s where I think this shoe makes the most sense. These are a good option for the individual who likes to take classes, do conditioning, and add in some athletic-style training each week.

For these training verticals or in workouts where you’ll primarily be on your forefoot, the higher drop makes more sense and helps with your performance a bit, especially if you tend to prefer having a bit more heel in your shoes.

I also like how responsive the EVA foam midsole feels, and the breaks throughout it help give this shoe a more flexible feeling. This model reminds me of the Nike Free Metcon 6 in many ways, especially with how it moves with your feet when cross-training.

Whether I was doing repetitive conditioning activities like jumping rope or doing seated box jumps for maximum power, this shoe felt pretty good. The grip is also good enough to support power exercises without slippage in these.

The one concern I do have with this shoe for cross-training for some is its boot structure. If you have a narrower heel and are constantly struggling to find good boot security in your trainers, then you may want to pass on these. However, this will be a super small population that will have to navigate this concern.

Decent for Short Runs and Comfortable for Walking

For short runs, the Nano Gym will be that model that you can wear for the casual 1-3 miles pre and post-workout. In this mileage range, the EVA foam midsole feels pretty good and doesn’t beat you up too much.

Pro-tip: they feel better when running on a curved treadmill or traditional treadmill. The sole feels the most “natural” on these when it comes to transition between each stride, especially on the curved treadmill. These also work great for short-interval class runs.

For longer runs or outdoor runs, these will start to fall short. You’ll want to find a better hybrid shoe for running shoe for long distances, and the breaks in the midsole can pick up rocks outside at times.

In the context of walking, I’ve liked this model from an EVA comfort standpoint. This is a good option for someone who wants a singular trainer to throw on and run errands and walk the dogs and not feel guilty beating them up since they have a lower price point.

My only issue with this shoe for walking and comfort has to do with its fit for flatter and wider feet. For these types of feet, this model won’t have the most comfortable fit. For example, I don’t love this shoe for all-day wear due to these features as I prefer wider shoes.

Construction Details

Midsole

• These are built with an EVA midsole. It airs more on the side of being more plush and isn’t as dense as the Floatride Energy Foam in the Nano X3/Nano X4.
• There are breaks in the midsole through the forefoot and midfoot which give this shoe a more flexible feeling when training.
• The midsole breaks can pick up rocks and dirt when training and wearing these outside on loose surfaces.

Outsole

• There’s a rubber tread that covers the forefoot, heel, and part of the midfoot with some exposed foam at the midfoot.
• Despite not having a full rubber outsole, the grip of this shoe does a pretty good job in the gym.
• Be conscious of the outsides of the midsole around the forefoot if you’re training outside on concrete doing cross-training workouts.

Upper

• The forefoot and heel are covered with mesh that has a relatively good structure. There are ventilated holes around the toe box for additional breathability.
• The midfoot and heel feature synthetic and textile overlays, which add more rigidity and structure to promote foot lockdown.
• The boot has a light TPU overlay at the base, and there’s an internal heel cup to promote heel lockdown during training. There’s also additional padding around this boot with a lip to prevent Achilles rub.

Laces and Tongue

• This model has 5 core traditional eyelets. From a security context, this shoe does a pretty good job of locking the foot down at the midfoot.
• The tongue is built with a padded mesh, and there are additional loops for tongue security. For the most part, this tongue does a pretty good job of staying put.

Final Remarks: Would I Get Again?

If I could only spend $100 on a shoe and I varied my training — I would.

These shoes are pretty well-rounded for the price. They’re bouncy enough for HIIT and classes, and they can be stable enough for light to moderate strength sessions — which is great for the gym newbie needing that versatile single shoe.

That said, for my friends who plan to tackle CrossFit WODs or go heavy, pass on this shoe. The forward pitch and cush midsole won’t give you the stability or durability you want for these training contexts.

If you have additional questions about if these are right for you, drop a comment below or reach out via social media!