Reebok Nano Gym Review — The ‘Do-It-All’ Gym Shoe?
Gym rats are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a training-specific shoe to rock during sweat sessions. It’s fair to say, there is a bit of competition in the market with brands capitalising on the Crossfit and strength training boom over the last couple of years. But, while there is no shortage of excellent lifting-focused shoes available to splash out on, not everyone is interested in the minutia of having two separate shoes for resistance training days and cardio days. Some gym goers just want to keep it simple, with one shoe to do it all.
Fortunately, Reebok is here to assist with a new ‘do-it-all’ gym shoe you’re going to love. Reebok has, for at least the last few decades, really been deeply invested in gym wear, and the American company’s latest entry, the Reebok Nano Gym, is a testament to that commitment to the fitness community.
The design of the Nano Gym is simple and effective. Where other brands opt for the most cutting-edge and often gimmicky elements, the Nano Gym takes the less-is-more approach, providing an incredibly stable, comfortable, and durable shoe, without too many distractions or unfamiliar sensations.
Describing it as an “everyday training shoe”, the Nano Gym goes for a fairly straightforward approach for an all-encompassing fitness shoe to suit everyone an anyone. The shoe’s straightforward design allows it to be used for anything from a light weight training session or HIIT-style fitness class to a functional workout. Having something that has that “jack of all trades” feel in your cupboard is quite the bonus when you’re hitting your local gym for a bit of ‘this’ and a bit of ‘that’, hopping from the ski erg to the weight rack and stopping at everything in between.
More room for activities
With stability and comfort in mind, the silhouette of the Nano Gym’s upper is wide and accommodating, so even the most broad-footed of athletes and casual gym-goers will slip into these and have more than enough wiggle room. It allows the wearer enough space in the toe-box and width to get your arches in the best position when preparing for those back squats or box jumps, which is super important for any training shoe and something often overlooked.
Now, due to the width, they are a little ‘bulkier’ (weighing in at 340 grams) than some other more streamlined training shoes, but these aren’t chunky by any means, but rather just wider and more ‘present’, so if you don’t mind that stable, solid feel for your feet that comes with a wider base, then you’ll love the Nano Gym.
One of the standout bits that helps the stability is the shape of the heel cup. Acting like a cradle of sorts, your heel is well locked into the base of the shoe, preventing you from overpronating during training and keeping you in the most optimum position throughout your sessions. But, keep in mind, there is no option for a ‘runner’s lock’ in the lacing system which is an issue for sled pushes and movements where you need additional grip.
As for the sole, it’s also relatively wide with some slightly protruding spots in the heel and midfoot, which helps with side planks and other functional movements where your foot is at more of an angle and putting more weight on the side of the sole.
Is the Reebok Nano Gym for you?
One thing to note, the heel-to-toe drop on the Nano Gym is 8mm, which is fairly high for a training shoe and quite optimum for a running shoe. So, while these work extremely well when hopping from one workout to another, if you’re looking for a completely neutral, flat shoe to do some specific, more intricate powerlifting, for example, something with a 0 to 2mm drop would be better.
The sister shoe to the lifting-focused Nano X, Reebok’s Nano Gym is more cushioned, and not as dense, giving you a lot more responsiveness. If you like a softer ride with your training shoe, then this is a great bet. The shoe boasts a plusher midsole for more dynamic movements and a higher boot for stability and ankle support.
With all that said, the Reebok Nano Gym is a great shoe for those who do a little bit of everything in the gym, and aren’t looking for anything too radical in one direction or the other. As a durable shoe for cardio movements and having the stability to get you moving with a functional workout, the Nano Gym is a solid option, especially at the price (R1,999).
It’s a good all-rounder shoe for beginners to the gym, for the more casual gym goer, or as a daily driver that you don’t mind beating up a little. Generalists will love it for agility work, HIIT, and light strength and resistance training. But it’s not a good choice for powerlifting or more technical movements like deadlifts. The Nano Gym is an excellent choice for machine work in the gym as well as HIIT and cardio classes at F45 or Sweat 1000, but Crossfit fans may want to look at investing in the Nano Gym’s sister shoe, the Reebok Nano X4.
The Reebok Nano Gym is available from Reebok’s online store and selected retailers.
