Reebok Nano X5: análisis y review

It's hard to go wrong with Reebok's flagship Nano X5 trainer if you are in search of the following:

• a well-rounded gym shoe for anything your coach throws at you
• a competent cross-trainer for Crossfit workouts and competitions
• a durable training shoe with great value for money

Certain aspects of the Nano X5 may not sit well with some athletes. Consider the Nike Metcon 10 if you prefer something lighter, more accommodating in the toebox, wider in the midsole, and bendier in the forefoot.

The Nike Free Metcon 6 is another excellent option to consider if comfort means better shock absorption in the heel, a highly flexible forefoot, and a below-average shoe weight.

And if you don't lift any heavy weights and want your gym shoe to double as a day-to-day walking companion, the On Cloud X 4 is a great catch.

The Reebok Nano X5 introduces a new cushioning setup called DualResponse, featuring firmer foam in the heel and softer foam in the forefoot.

Our lab tests confirmed that the latter increased the shoe's forefoot shock absorption from 66 SA to 71 SA, making it better cushioned for high-impact activities such as running and jumping. In fact, it now offers better impact protection for the ball of the foot than the average cross-trainer!

The heel, on the other hand, remains moderately cushioned at 80 SA to provide stability for weightlifting. This also aligned with the firmer compound used in this part of the midsole.

Measuring the shoe's energy return, we found that its forefoot showed a touch of pop at 58.4%, supporting more energetic takeoffs during burpees, treadmill runs, and other HIIT exercises.

The heel, however, has less bounce at 53.1%, providing a very planted, grounded base for strength-training exercises.

While the Reebok Nano X5 doesn't feel like a tall cross-trainer per se, we found it to be slightly more elevated than the other trainers.

Our caliper measured its heel stack at 27.0 mm, which is the same as in the previous two Nanos.

The shoe's forefoot stack turned out to be on par with the average at 18.9 mm. It mutes out some of the ground feel in exchange for better impact protection.

If you prefer a more connected, down-to-earth underfoot experience, consider the Reebok Nano 2.0, which features a 15.3 mm forefoot stack.

At 8.1 mm, the Nano X5's heel-to-toe drop is slightly taller than average. It's a gentle slope that's neither too flat nor too elevated, making it comfortable for a wide variety of gym exercises.

But please keep in mind that it can feel too tippy for deadlifting.

According to the shoe's product description, Reebok 'set out to make the most comfortable version' of the Nano yet.

But there is only that much comfort you can pack into a cross-training shoe without compromising stability.

The Nano X5 feels moderately firm, with its primary cushioning foam showing 29.9 HA on our durometer. We were able to squat with up to 220 lbs (100 kg) without feeling any worrisome compression underfoot.

A slightly softer, bottom-loaded piece of foam is placed in the shoe's heel area. With a durometer reading of 25.5 HA, it helps to balance out the firmness with some cushioning to make jumps, walks, and runs less jarring in the Reebok Nano X5.

Meanwhile, an even softer compound is used for the shoe's forefoot area. At 20.5 HA, it is significantly more forgiving than the other two foams, increasing comfort and shock absorption where it's most needed in a cross-trainer - the ball of the foot.

We obtained a one-to-one mold of the Reebok Nano X5's interiors by filling the shoe with custom liquid and leaving it to solidify in the fridge.

The gel mold didn't appear narrow, so we were surprised to find that its broadest section showed only 93.8 mm! This means the Nano X5 is notably snugger than the average and its main rival, the Nike Metcon 10 (99.4 mm).

But on a positive note, the shoe's toebox fit looks more reassuring with a regular width of 73.6 mm. It's not aggressively tapered and accommodates all five toes comfortably.

With a toebox height of 23.9 mm, the shoe's vertical space can feel limiting at the toes.

But luckily, the rest of the shoe's toebox isn't lined with thick material or heavy overlays, which would limit wiggle room.

Testing the Nano X5's outsole traction on a slab of wet concrete, we recorded a surprisingly low friction coefficient of 0.25. It is lower than the Nano X4 (0.33), indicating a downgrade in the shoe's grip.

While you can still expect a decent grip on common gym surfaces like rubber mats, hardwood, and plyo boxes, you may wish for a stronger bite if they get dusty or wet.

The entire length of the Nano X5's outsole is slitted with horizontal and vertical lines to improve flexibility. The slits are especially deep in the forefoot, forming the shoe's decoupled Metasplit outsole.

Given the Nano X5's focus on comfort and increased runnability, we expected to see some improvements in its forefoot flex.

But alas, it still required more force (12.2N) to bend by 30 degrees than the average cross-trainer. This means that it didn't get any bendier than its predecessor (11.8N), and if you need minimalist-like flex, try the Nike Free Metcon 6 instead.

But the good news is that the Nano X5 is not overly stiff and has enough give to perform lunges, planks, sled pushes, and burpees comfortably.

Might the newer Nano impress us with a lighter construction? Regrettably, no.

The X5 tips the scale at 12.0 oz (340g), which is neither lighter than average nor than the previous X4 at 11.7 oz (332g).

Even the typically heavy Nike Metcon shoe undercuts this Nano X5, weighing only 11.0 oz (312g) in its 10th iteration.

Where the Nano X4 proved to be one of the most breathable Nano editions yet, the updated Flexweave upper on the Nano X5 blocked some of that ventilation.

Hovering the shoe's half-cut upper over the LED light indicates that its air channels are small and limited to the toebox.

A close-up microscope shot of the material shows how its sturdy plastic weaves inerlace with thicker threads to form a dense, nearly air-tight fabric.

However, because it still allowed some smoke to pass through during our breathability test, we kept the score at a middle ground of 3/5.

One feature that remains consistent in the Nano series is its reliable stability and support.

Even though Reebok ditched the sturdy Lift and Run Chassis of the Nano X4 in favor of the more subtle TPU caging, we felt no tangible decrease in lateral stability of the Nano X5.

In fact, we noticed an increase in the Nano X5's torsional rigidity, going from 4/5 to a maximum of 5/5 as the new version resists twisting even better!

This Reebok trainer feels incredibly planted, be it a grueling leg day or an instense workout class with lots of side-to-side movements.

A stiff, sculpted heel counter further enhances the shoe's secure foothold and rearfoot stability. Its stiffness also earned a high score of 4/5 in our manual test.

The Nano X5's platform is not the broadest we've seen among cross-training shoes (think Nike Metcon 10), but it offers plenty of contact area for a firm and confident stance when jumping or lifting.

The width between its most extended contact points in the forefoot showed 110.4 mm on our caliper. This is on par with the category average.

Its heel also proved to be sufficiently broad, measuring 86.0 mm on our caliper. We are also glad to see that the shoe's midsole doesn't get too narrow in the midfoot area.

Given the robust nature of the Nano X5's upper, we don't have to worry about burning through this Reebok shoe before the new edition comes out.

Its tough Flexweave upper sustained a 12-second encounter with our Dremel like a pro, earning a high score for toebox durability - 4/5!

The textile inside the shoe's heel collar also promises a long lifespan. Remaining practically unscathed in the Dremel test, it also earned a high durability score of 4/5.

Although it looks like the shoe's outsole is being chipped away like butter, the actual damage measured only 1.0 mm deep. This is within the normal range for cross-training shoes and is a good sign of long-term longevity.

And the fact that the Nano X5 packs as much as 4.1 mm of rubber further reassures us in its outsole durability.

Measuring the shoe's insole thickness, our caliper returned a standard reading of 3.9 mm. It's the right amount of underfoot padding that adds comfort without creating a sinking sensation.

There is also an option to remove the insole in case a custom orthotic is necessary or preferred.

With a tongue thickness of 7.0 mm, there is ample buffer on top of the instep, preventing lace bites and pressure points.

There are no pull tabs or finger loops, but the structured heel counter makes on-and-off quite easy.

A fully gusseted tongue contributes to a secure midfoot hold, which is particularly useful for keeping the foot in place during dynamic lateral movements.

The Nano X5 saw no price hike from the previous version. And while it costs more than the average cross-trainer, it is a flagship offering from Reebok whose value is well aligned with the price point.