Reebok Nano X4 Training Shoe Review: Does the Gym Shoe Live Up to the Nano Legacy?

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When building your ideal workout wardrobe, it quickly becomes apparent that the shoes you wear in the gym matter. A good pair of gym training shoes can help provide a solid foundation for your workouts and help you achieve those personal bests behind the bar, below it, and beyond. There are plenty of good cross-training shoes on the market, but no brand or shoe has become synonymous with fitness quite like Reebok and its Nano training shoe.

The shoe has gone through quite a few adaptations through the years and this year’s version of the shoe, the Reebok Nano X4, is said to be the perfect blend of old and new. Constructed with a more breathable and lightweight fit, this all-new profile from one of fitness training’s most reputable brands is gearing up to be the shoe of choice for anyone looking to make gains in the gym.

So, should you invest in a pair of Nano X4s for your gym workouts? I got the chance to lace up these shoes for a few workouts and put the new Nano X4 through its paces to help you figure out if the Reekbok Nano X4 is the right gym shoe for you. I wore the shoe for a CrossFit workout, a few F45 cardio and hybrid classes, as well as F45 resistance training workouts. Giving the shoe a go in these different types of workout settings gave me some great insight into the shoe and the type of athlete it would best suit. So, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of the new Reebok Nano X4 training shoe.

A new breathable upper

For this latest iteration of the hit shoe, Reebok says it has focused on removing unnecessary material in the upper and featuring redesigned footwear technology throughout. These latest innovations have resulted in what Reebok says is the most breathable Nano iteration yet. The Nano X4 is said to be ultra-lightweight, all while remaining focused on stability and premium performance support.

The Nano X4 introduces a completely redesigned upper with all-new Flexweave Material engineered with a Midfoot Ventilation Panel for increased breathability, durability, and a premium look and feel. With this technology and design underfoot, athletes can focus on their workout and not the discomfort of a heavy-weight shoe or overheating foot.

While previous models of the Nano were quite rigid, the Nano X4 features an improved version of the Flexweave Knit for better foot containment, when you’re doing your lifts, and flexibility when you’re amping up the cardio. The flexible upper hugs the foot pretty well while also ensuring you get more toe spring for dynamic, explosive movements, like burpees and plyometrics. It’s flexible where you need it to be, which is right around the top of the toe box and structured where you need it to be, around the lateral and medial sides of the shoe.

I didn’t have any issues with my feet ‘spilling out’ of these shoes, nor did I have any issues with flexibility when I needed the shoe to be flexible. The upper is so comfortable, you get that ‘perfect fit’ feeling straight out of the box, with no need to wear them in. Around the middle part of the shoe, you’ll also see a return to the older-gen Flexweave mesh panels for mid-foot ventilation and increase the airflow in the shoe. As a result, breathability in this shoe is great, my feet didn’t feel hot or uncomfortable during workouts, whether I was lifting or doing more cardio-based workouts.

One downside to the Nano X4 is the fit. This time around the shoe has a narrower fit than the previous version. I was a little disappointed in the width of the toe box and was looking forward to experiencing that signature wide toe box the Nano has become known for. In terms of fit, these are pretty true to size, but you can go up half a size or a full size if you’d like more width in the shoe. Even though the shoe isn’t as wide as previous iterations, it should fit most people just fine.

A mid-sole with oomph

Moving to the back of the shoe, you’ll find a more streamlined version of the L.A.R (Lift and Run) Chassis that debuted in the previous version of the shoe. This is essentially a TPU piece that contains the heel and extends all the way up to the metatarsal bones of the forefoot, the midsole.

The heel part of the chassis features a dome that is filled with the Floatride Energy foam with a 7mm drop. This foam is designed to flatten out and stabilise the heel when you’re lifting and give you more comfort and cushioning when you’re running and jumping. The heel feels very stable and is relatively easy to run in. It’s a more responsive feeling shoe but it’s far from a mushy running shoe. If you’re used to a more cushioned, ultra-flexible shoe, then the X4 may take some getting used to but it’s ideal if you prefer a denser feel to your midsole, rather than a bouncier, more plush training shoe.

For some the 7mm drop in the shoe may be a step too far in a training shoe. While the Nano X4’s 7mm drop will have you more pitched forward for lifts, that pitch may help for Olympic weight lifting movements, like a clean, where that increased heel height may offer an advantage to someone who struggles with mobility.

Having said that, the ground contact and stability of this shoe is great and it doesn’t feel like they’re pitching you forward as aggressively as a running shoe would. The feeling I got from the Reebok Nano X4 is more structured, rigid and built out. So, if you’re somebody who wants a higher heel and a shoe that feels a bit more ‘built out’, then the Nano X4 can be a great pick. If you’re somebody who likes a more minimal shoe with a flatter foot position and an ultra-flexible feel then you may want to look at other options.

Improved grip

Now let’s talk grip and slippage. The outsole of the Nano X4 remains relatively the same as previous models, it’s still a flat contact wide outsole. The traction pattern is still the same, which ensures that the X4 offers great traction on multiple surfaces, whether it’s an indoor track, rubber floor, wood surface, or outside tarmac. The shoe also still has the RopePro outsole wrap that comes up on the side of the shoe to ensure it’s still a great rope climbing shoe in a CrossFit setting.

The insole of the shoe has also been improved. This time around you’ll get a rough, grippy insole rather than the smooth textured insole we saw in the previous model. This goes a long way to help with slipping and movement inside the shoe. If you want even more lockdown in the shoe, you can take things up a notch with grip socks but most people should be fine with the level of grip provided with the standard insole.

The shoe’s excellent grip, both inside and outside the shoe makes it ideal for things like burpees and box jumps, where you need more stability. The grip and responsiveness for box jumps and burpees is noticeably improved when wearing these training shoes in the gym. For box jumps, you feel really planted when landing on the box and you can easily spring back onto the box with each rep in your set.

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A dynamic shoe for any athlete

There’s no question the Reebok Nano X4 is a better shoe than its predecessor. While the shoe looks and feels very similar to last year’s version, Reebok has done a lot to make improvements to this new iteration and solve some of the issues athletes raised with the previous model. The new Nano is essentially a streamlined version of its predecessor. The shoe is now more lightweight than ever, with a woman’s size 4 UK clocking in at 265 grams, making it a great shoe for dynamic movements in the gym.

The Nano X4 is designed for use in a CrossFit-style workout setting where you’re doing a pairing of box jumps, a lift, and maybe some mono-structural cardio-based movements. In this format, it’s a great shoe. It’s stable, relatively flexible, and offers great grip. When wearing this shoe in a CrossFit setting it truly shines and does exactly what it’s designed to do. It’s versatile but leans on the stable side, giving you the best of both worlds if that’s what you’re after in a training shoe.

However, when taken out of its natural habitat the Nano X4 may struggle a little. I’m used to wearing a more cushioned, ultra-flexible training shoe on hybrid, cardio, and HIIT training days at F45, so wearing the Nano X4 in this environment took a little getting used to. At first, I struggled with the rigid ‘built out’ structure of the shoe but once I became accustomed to the feel of the shoe, I started to appreciate the Nano X4’s structure and stability in dynamic bodyweight movements. My burpees have never felt better and the medial support was a game changer for someone like me who struggles with pronating and my knees collapsing in.

In terms of strength training and lifting, the Nano X4 shines in heavily loaded movements, like barbell back squats and even front squats. They’re very responsive and the power delivery is super impressive. I noticed the biggest difference in power delivery when I was squatting. When I got to a heavy 5 rep max I could feel an obvious difference in the stability and power delivery in these shoes.

I couldn’t say the same for deadlifts, the Nano X4 isn’t technically perfect for deadlifting because of the 7mm drop. I’m used to deadlifting in a much flatter shoe so I struggled with the mechanics of the higher heel raise in these and I really had to concentrate on adjusting my form to lift as heavy as I usually would in my deadlift. However, some people may find that they like to lift with more heel and the higher drop may align better with their lifting mechanics than a flatter shoe with say a 2mm drop. It all comes down to preference.

As far as general compression and stability, the Reebok Nano X4 is a winner of note for most lifters and athletes. If you’re already a fan of the Reebok Nano training shoe, this model is a definite upgrade from previous versions, and you’re bound to love it. Overall, it’s a versatile shoe for many types of workouts and is a pretty well-rounded shoe for lifting and cross-training.