STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer Review | Great for Daily Wear?

The STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer is designed to deliver a strong performance in different workout settings with a simplistic and casual appearance. As someone who regularly wears their training shoes on a daily basis, I was excited to test these out.

Over the course of my testing, I’ve really enjoyed the Interval Knit AF Trainer’s stability for lifting, how great it looks for daily wear, and its ability to provide good energy return for short runs and explosive bouts of training.

As a whole, the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer is a stronger performer, but there are a couple of cons with this model that I’ll discuss below.

In this STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer review, I’m going to discuss a variety of topics to help you decide if this cross-training shoe is a good fit for your needs.

On the market for new cross-training shoes? Make sure you try my shoe finder. My calculator matches you models that I’ve reviewed that fit your training wants and needs best.

Who Should Invest In the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer?

The STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer is an interesting training shoe in the fact that it’s a truly good model for training and daily wear. A lot of training shoes work for daily wear, but few can actually look the part for more “formal” wear, and the Interval Knit AF Trainer ticks this box.

I think if you’re someone that wants a minimalist-style trainer that can work well for lifting, cross-training, running (<3 miles), and daily wear, then the Interval Knit AF Trainer could be worth exploring.

The medium-density AF midsole gives this shoe a nice blend of stability and versatility and the Cross-Platform outsole provides a high level of mobility and maneuverability.

In the context of traditional training shoes with more padding and cushion and true barefoot shoes, I’d put this model somewhere in the middle. If that style and context fit your needs well, then you should enjoy the Interval Knit AF Trainer for your training.

STRKE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer

$130

4.7

Stability

4.7

Versatility

4.8

Durability

4.7

Best For

• HIIT Workouts
• Lifting and Cross-Training
• Daily Wear
• Walking
• Short Runs

Falls Short

• For Those That Want More Midsole Cushion

Shop STR/KE MVMNT

Interval Knit AF Trainer Pros

There are multiple pros that come along with the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer’s construction and performance.

1. Good Versatile Cross-Training Shoe
2. Simplistic and Looks Great for Daily Wear
3. Medium-Density AF Midsole and Cross Platform Outsole

The first thing to like about the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer is its versatility. This is a good cross-training shoe for a variety of performance settings and doing a little bit of everything.

This shoe is stable when training heavy and they’re a good shoe for allowing maximal ground contact with the foot and the floor. I also like how well the sole articulates for different types of training and the width of the toe box for accommodating toe splay.

Whether I was doing machine work, training with a barbell, or doing more athletic-focused cross-training sessions this shoe stood up to the test. The sole construction and 2.5 mm heel-to-toe drop gives this model a nice “minimalist-style” fit and feel.

The second pro with the Interval Knit AF Trainer is that they’re also a good daily wear shoe. Even as a full-time shoe reviewer, there are days when I don’t feel like bringing multiple pairs of shoes with me when running errands, working, and then going to the gym.

I like that this trainer truly does a good job for daily wear and looks the part, too. The knit upper construction is simple and clean and this model is void of grandiose branding which I like. It gives this shoe a nice unrefined look that goes well in multiple settings.

The final aspects to like about the Interval Knit AF Trainer is this shoe’s midsole and outsole construction. This model features a medium-density AF midsole construction which gives this shoe a nice blend of stability and responsivenss.

The Cross Platform outsole is also a nice touch with this shoe. This outsole has a multi-directional tread that wraps the entirety of the midsole to give this shoe good traction for different movement patterns.

Interval Knit AF Trainer Cons

The STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer is a good shoe for all-around training, but there are a couple of cons to note about this model.

1. Foot Can Hang Over a Tiny Bit During Lateral Explosive Training
2. Not a Ton of Midfoot Support

The first subtle performance drawback that I noticed with the Interval Knit AF Trainer is that during lateral explosive bouts of training, you may experience a little foot overhang in the forefoot of this model.

This is something that can happen with training shoes that are built with knit and uppers that tend to be lighter and roomier in nature. Compared to other knit training shoes, I think the actual lateral migration in this model is far less, but it is still present to a small degree.

I noticed this most during the landing phases of my explosive lateral jumps. When I really cranked on and tightened the laces I noticed it less, however, the forefoot still migrated slightly when really digging into the forefoot to absorb my landings.

The second drawback to this model is that there isn’t a ton of midfoot support for those that rely on and like having more material on the medial midfoot.

The lateral chassis is this model does a good job for those without this specific ask or need, but if you are in the camp of needing more support, then this could be worth considering.

A good example here would be the athlete that is working to build their foot’s arch and still needs a bit of support in their trainers. The lighter knit upper and lack of a thicker medial midsole material may not work well for those that need a lot of midfoot and arch support.

Performance

To discuss the performance of the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer, I’m going to break this section into a few different parts. I’m going to talk about how this model does with lifting, CrossFit, versatile training, short runs, and daily wear.

Since this shoe is designed to perform in all of these settings, I wanted to put them through a variety of training tests to see where they excel and where they fall short.

STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Tainer for Lifting and CrossFit

For lifting, I really enjoy the performance of the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer for three key reasons. First, I like the lower heel-to-toe drop in this shoe. If you like training on a lower drop for things like deadlifts, then you should enjoy how this shoe fits and performs.

Second, the medium-density AF midsole does a good job of being stable under heavier sessions. I’ve enjoyed wearing these for my heavier leg days when training with both free weights and machine exercises.

Third and lastly, the Cross-Platform outsole construction with this shoe moves really well. This shoe’s toe box bends really well and you get a nice level of flexibility with this shoe when doing unilateral lower body training and cleans where you’re on the toes a lot.

For CrossFit, this show is okay and it will work for most CrossFit settings. The durability of the upper seems strong and abrasion-resistance and the sole does a pretty good job at supporting rope climbs.

I do think the upper may lack a little bite if you s-wrap your rope climbs like me, so that could be worth considering when using this model in this setting. Personally, I like this model best for lifting and more traditional cross-training.

I think if you’re looking into STR/KE MVMNT shoes for CrossFit, then the Haze Trainer, which is built for CrossFit-style training will be a better bet.

STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Tainer for Versatile Training

For HIIT, class-style workouts, and more athletic-focused training sessions, the Interval Knit AF Trainer does a pretty good job on all fronts. The minimalist design gives this shoe a nice level of energy return and ground feedback for plyometrics.

This is definitely a better training shoe for those that love a more “minimalist” feeling shoe when doing more versatile training.

I’d describe this model as being a bridge between barefoot shoes and thicker midsole training shoes when it comes to their “feel” during this style of training. The multi-directional tread is also solid for training on different surfaces like rubber gym floors, wooden floors, and turf.

I haven’t had many slip issues in this model on these surfaces, but for grass training, you may find that the lack of an aggressive lug pattern isn’t the best.

My only two caveats with this shoe for versatile training are the upper and lateral movement drawback discussed above and that this shoe will feel more stable when training versus a trainer with a thicker midsole. If you prefer more material and cushion, then you’ll definitely want to consider this before investing.

STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Tainer for Walking, Running, and Daily Wear

For running, the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer does a pretty good job for runs that are 1-3 miles in length. They also work well for sprint work and I like the anatomical build to them and how much energy return you get from them.

I personally wouldn’t use these for runs longer than 3-miles because I like models with a bit more cushion for my longer or slow-paced recovery runs. That being said, if you like minimalist-style training shoes for this running context, then these should work fine for you.

For walking, I really enjoy the Interval Knit AF Trainer. In the context of walking, I mostly like the blend of stability and comfort you get from the midsole. They feel easy to wear for longer periods of time and I’d categorize them as a bridge between barefoot shoes and traditional training.

On a daily wear basis, I think the key player for this model is their appearance. This is one of the rare training shoes that look really casual and can be worn easily in different settings without them shouting “training shoes”. I’ve worn these out to dinner and to other “formal” settings and never felt out of place with them.

Interval Knit AF Trainer Sizing

The sizing for STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer runs small with its length. That being said, most will want to size up a half size in the Interval Knit AF Trainer. STR/KE MVMNT also recommends sizing up a half size on their site.

Once you size up a half size, the length fits true and should feel like your normal size and the width of the forefoot is what I would describe as neutral and slightly wider. I think this shoe should align with a lot of different foot anatomies.

• STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer Sizing Thoughts: Go up a half size.

If you have additional sizing and fit questions on the Interval Knit AF Trainer or how they compare to other cross-training shoes, drop a comment below.

Construction Details

Below I’ve broken down the key construction details to know about the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer. This trainer is subtle in its appearance, however, it has multiple subtle details that go into it.

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 2.5mm
• Weight: 10.9 (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes

Construction Close-Up

The Interval Knit AF Trainer features a TightKnit™ upper construction around the forefoot, midfoot, and heel with additional layers of ripstop around the boot.

There’s also a TRESH-FRESH antibacterial treatment on the upper which is a nice perk since most will likely wear these shoes for a little bit of everything.

There’s reflective STR/KE MVMNT and additional branding on the tongue. The tongue features a CensorPocket™ so you can tuck your laces if you want to ever hide them.

There are five core eyelets with an additional sixth eyelet for lace-locking and the laces have an asymmetric construction and design for additional midfoot support.

The midsole is built with STR/KE MVMNT’s propriety medium-density AF midsole. This midsole’s materials feel stable yet slightly responsive for jumping and running.

This shoe has sidewall chassis for lateral movement support and is built on STR/KE MVMNT’s cross-platform outsole. The outsole of this shoe is fully rubber and features a multi-directional tread pattern.

This model comes with a removable insole that also provides a little cushion to supplement the more minimalist feel of this shoe.

Takeaway Thoughts

The STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer is really interesting. This shoe doesn’t shout “performance-focused” training shoe from its first appearance, however, after a few sessions this model grows on you.

I think what I like most about these shoes is that they can double really well as training and daily wear shoes. For example, I’ve worn them out to dinner and didn’t feel like I was necessarily wearing “training” shoes even in the nicer setting.

The only drawbacks to this shoe revolve around preferences and intent of shoe use. For example, this shoe may not align for anyone that likes having a bit more midsole with their trainers or a higher drop.

If you have additional questions on the STR/KE MVMNT Interval Knit AF Trainer — drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly).