STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid Review | Performance Meets Style?

STRIKE MVMNT continues to elevate their game by creating stylish cross-training shoes that also perform fairly well across the board. One of the models that instantly caught my eye was the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid. This shoe has a higher boot construction which I’m a huge fan of since there are limited high-top trainers on the market.

My biggest question in regard to the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid was if its durability and performance were as good as its style. Personally, I think this is a super sleek-looking shoe and across the board, it’s done a pretty phenomenal job in all of my tests, but more on that below.

In this STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid review, we’ll be breaking down all of the key details about this shoe to help you decide if it’s a good model for your needs.

Who Should Buy the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid?

If you like high-top training shoes for workouts and daily wear, then I think you’ll really like this model. Its upper is durable and the midsole and outsole blend are plenty stable for supporting heavier training sessions. I also like that the boot is fairly comfortable for day-to-day wear.

With limited high-top training shoe options on the market, I think for the price and performance of this shoe, it will be a good best for most athletes lifting heavy and tackling functional fitness workouts.

STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid Pros

As a high-top training shoe fan, there are multiple pros that I liked about the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid.

1. Stable Under Weight
2. Durable Upper Construction
3. Great for Daily Wear
4. Versatile Midsole and Outsole

The first aspect to like about the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid is that it can support heavier training. With high-top training shoes, I love using them for my barbell training and this model did not disappoint. When pulling and squatting well over 400 lbs in this model, I noticed virtually no compression or loss of stability and ground contact.

Another aspect to like about this shoe is its durable upper construction. This model features a lightweight upper with synthetic material to increase its resilience to exercises and workouts where they may be friction across the upper. Additionally, this shoe features a TRES-FRESH antibacterial treatment on the upper which is likely a detail that many miss with this model.

I also like how comfortable this shoe is for daily wear and general training. If I’m wearing a higher-booted training shoe, then I usually prefer having the option to wear them on a daily basis outside of gym-focused work. This model’s blend of versatility and stability with a durable upper makes it a great option for daily wear and it looks aesthetic.

The last aspect that I like about this shoe is how versatile the midsole and outsole are. The midsole is composed of a proprietary medium-density AF midsole material which gives this shoe a nice level of flexibility and responsiveness while remaining stable under a variety of loads.

The outsole has great traction and has a minimalist vibe which was awesome during my more athletic-focused training. Whether you’re doing shorter runs, lifting heavy, or wearing these out and about, the outsole will provide adequate traction and is also fairly durable.

STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid Cons

Despite liking the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid as a whole, there are a couple of cons you should be conscious of before investing.

1. Odd Sizing
2. Slightly Limited Ankle ROM When Laced

The first con is that the sizing in this model runs really small. I’d suggest sizing up a half size or a full size to ensure your toes are not screaming at you. I sized up a half size and still found this model to be fairly tight in the toe box. Granted, this shoe has broken in pretty well, but their site recommends sizing up a full size and I’d highly suggest following this.

I went with a half size up to see just how much of a difference there was in size, and I’d suggest you go with the full size up like STRIKE MVMNT recommends.

Another potential con is that when you lace this model full up, you’ll notice a little of a decrease in your ankle range of motion. This is fairly standard for higher-booted cross-training shoes and is just something to be cognizant of. If you’re worried about ankle mobility, then I’d suggest keeping the top two eyelets a bit looser when training or going with a more traditional model.

Performance

Across the board, the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid has performed exceptionally well in all of my tests. I’m going to break this performance section into lifting, agility/plyometrics, and shorter runs/daily wear sections.

Lifting

For lifting, you’re not going to have to worry about the midsole compressing too much in this model. I’ve trained well over 400 lbs in these with deadlifts and squats and across the board, they performed really well at mitigating the load and remaining stable.

This model also has 2.5mm heel-to-toe drop which is a huge perk for athletes and lifters that love having training shoes with lower offsets. You feel grounded in this model and whether you’re lifting more recreational or in niche settings like functional fitness, this shoe does a good job at matching lifting-focused tasks.

Agility, Plyometrics, and HIIT

For agility training, plyometrics, and HIIT workouts, this model is fairly good across the board. It may not feel as responsive as other shoes with thicker midsoles, but I think for most, this model will provide enough reactiveness to promote performance in these realms of activity.

The rubber outsole provides adequate traction on a variety of surfaces and the durable upper prolongs the life of this shoe if you’re doing any toe dragging work like burpees or prone to sprints.

Shorter Runs and Daily Wear

While not being the best option for shorter runs, this model works if you need to tackle them in a workout with them. Generally speaking, mid-top and high-top shoes will not be the most comfortable for running, so if you do need to tackle runs that are around 800-meters in a workout, this model will work, but it may not be the most comfortable.

On a daily wear basis, I’m pretty obsessed with this shoe. I like the clean aesthetics of it and I’ve actually worn these out for a few date nights (yes, I’ve worn my training shoes out for date night…). Overall, if you want shoes to train in and wear out that doesn’t look overly “training shoe-esque”, this is a good model for doing so.

STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid Sizing

With sizing, make sure you check out STRIKE MVMNT’s recommendations for this model. They recommend going a full size up and I’d suggest doing the same.

I normally wear a size 10, but in this model, I’ve been rocking a 10.5 and do find the toe box to be a tad tight in regard to length. It’s not so much to where my foot is screaming, but going up a full size would have definitely been a better call.

Construction

There are a lot of subtle details that go into the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid. I’ll provide some of the biggest callouts for me below.

If you’re interested in the full construction breakdown for this shoe, check out the specs tab on the STRIKE MVMNT’s product page.

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 2.5mm
• Weight: 11.2 ounces (size 10.5 model)
• Medium-Density AF Midsole
• TRES-FRESH Antibacterial Treated Upper/Lining
• CensorPocket™ Lacing System
• Full Rubber Outsole

If you have any additional construction questions, feel free to drop a comment below and ask away!

STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid FAQs

I’ve received a few questions about the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mids on my YouTube channel and wanted to provide answers to some of these questions below.

What is the heel-to-toe drop in the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid?

The heel-to-toe drop in the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid comes in at 2.5mm. This is an awesome drop for lifters and athletes that love training in shoes with lower offsets.

What is the weight of the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid?

For my size 10.5 model, the weight comes out to 11.2 ounces which is fairly light especially for higher-booted cross-training shoes.

Does the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid fit true-to-size?

No, I’d highly suggest going up a full size in this model like STRIKE MVMNT recommends on their product page.

Does the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid have a removable insole?

Yes! The insole is removable in the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid so you can put your own inserts in if you wish to.

Takeaway Thoughts

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed training in the STRIKE MVMNT Chill Pill Mid. It provides a nice blend of versatility and stability and looks great on a day-to-day basis. Plus, the price point is pretty fair for what this offers.

If you have any additional questions about this shoe, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally on Instagram (@jake_boly)!