Reebok Nano X3 Adventure review

This trainer has "Adventure" in its name to signal its affinity with the outdoors.

Our wear-test results and lab assessments point that the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure is a good match for athletes who want:

• one trainer for both the gym and the trails
• a very hard-wearing and lasting workout shoe
• a well-rounded cross-trainer for both running and lifting

If you don't really need the added ruggedness for the trails and you spend 90% of your workouts at the gym, we recommend the standard Reebok Nano X3 or the top-tier Nike Metcon 9.

The X3 Adventure is also among the hottest (literally) shoes that we have ever tried. People with sweaty feet should stay away from this trainer and get the Reebok Nano X3 instead. 

The heel part of the midsole was of average thickness. Our caliper in the lab measured it to be 25.6 mm thick.

Just like the heel, the forefoot was also of average thickness. The caliper gave out a reading of 17.7 mm.

Being average was not at all bad in the case of the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure. It was still thin enough for us to gain control over our movements. This allowed us to perform well agility exercises. 

The midsole, of course, felt thick enough to protect us from impact. This allowed us to do jump ropes for a sustained period.

The drop of Reebok Nano X3 Adventure is just around the average.

We never had problems with our steps since the heel-to-toe transitions were still smooth. Needless to say, this benefit made our walks and runs easier and smoother, too.

After wearing it for several exercises, we noticed that the midsole of the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure was slightly softer than the typical midsole. This softness allowed us to persist for a little bit longer with our workouts because it helped keep the pain at bay.

In the lab, we used an HA durometer to assess the softness of the midsole. Our device gave it a rating of 21.9.

The removable insole was as thick as the average insole used in training shoes. Our caliper measured it to be 3.5 mm thick.

The widest part of the toebox measured 100.9 mm. This is almost equal to the average, so we do not think that this shoe will be able to accommodate those with wider feet.

However, we strongly believe that this trainer will be a blessing to those who want more wiggle room for their toes. At the big toe, the shoe is 83.1 mm wide, making it significantly wider than average.

We could say that both the lateral and medial sidewalls of this trainer were quite effective in keeping our feet in place. Our side-to-side movements never felt tentative. The Reebok Nano X3 Adventure was a dependable workout partner, indeed, because of this.

During our test workouts, we felt the base of this Reebok training shoe to be mildly protective from painful foot twists. 

In the lab, we tested the shoe's torsional rigidity manually, and we could give it a solid rating of 3 over 5. This score made the Nano X3 Adventure better than many other trainers in our inventory.

The heel counter also showed moderate resistance to twists and squeezes. Back in the lab, its resistance was enough for us to break a sweat when we were giving it a good squeeze.

How did such a lab result translate in the gym? The moderately stiff heel counter (3 out of 5 rating) gave us a secure-enough grasp around the rearfoot. We were confident that the shoe wouldn't be accidentally taken off during aggressive jumps and other movements.

The forefoot part of the shoe platform was of average width. Our caliper measured it to be 108.9 mm wide.

The heel part of the platform was also of average width. Our digital caliper gave out a reading of 85.2 mm. 

We couldn't find any serious fault in the platform. It was wide enough to contain our feet and ensure the stability of our steps. 

Structurally speaking, the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure had the normal flexibility. We did not find it hard to bend and flex our feet when we needed to, such as when we did burpees and mountain climbers. 

Back in the lab, we learned that this Reebok trainer needed 19.0N of force to bend at a 90-degree angle.

Our scale in the lab pegged the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure's weight to be 12.5 ounces or 353 grams. This number makes this trainer slightly heavier than average.

Good thing we did not feel the increase in weight. We never felt our steps being weighed down in any way.

It's clear to us that breathability was not prioritized when this trainer was designed. We can even use it as evidence for global warming! That's how hot it felt!

As seen in the video above, practically no speck of smoke was able to escape through the upper. Even something as bodiless as light found it hard to penetrate. Giving this shoe a rating better than a 1 over 5 would be a crime against humanity. The difference in breathability between the Nano X3 Adventure and the Adidas Dropset 2 (which got a perfect 5) is like the difference between heaven and hell.

If your feet sweat a lot, then expect a deluge when you wear the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure! We just hope that there are socks out there that can absorb all the moisture.

When we examined the upper under the microscope, we saw just how closed-off the material is. It would be a miracle if air (or any other gas) could pass through it.

The lack of breathability, fortunately, came with an undeniable benefit: it felt immensely resistant to abrasion. 

We watched in awe as the upper did not appear in any way affected by our high-pressure Dremel drilling. Compared to the damage seen on the Adidas Dropset Trainer (which got a 1 out of 5 for toebox durability), the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure just looked a little disheveled but never damaged. A score of 5 out of 5 is well-deserved.

The heel also displayed considerable durability. No wonder we didn't see any sign of wear and tear on it even after we used this shoe for jumping exercises that caused it to rub aggressively on our feet.

After our Dremel test, the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure only showed very minimal signs of assault. We gave it a score of 4 out of 5 for heel padding durability as a result. The Nike MC Trainer 2, which got the lowest rating of 1 out of 5, couldn't compare.

This version of the Nano Adventure features a sturdy, outdoor-ready Vibram rubber. Thus, it was not surprising to find that the outsole felt firmer than usual.

When we assessed it in the lab, our HC durometer gave it a rating of 89.4. This score confirmed that the Nano X3 Adventure was indeed firmer than most training shoe rubbers.

But despite being a little firmer than usual, the outsole of the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure still showed just the normal amount of durability. We wouldn't say ban outdoor usage; taking this training shoe outdoors every once in a while shouldn't hurt.

We also pressed our Dremel against it, and it resulted in 1.3 mm of damage. This number does not deviate much from the average.

At 4.1 mm, the outsole of this Reebok trainer is only slightly thicker than average. But we found that this is enough rubber to make the shoe more outdoor-friendly.

The grip of the outsole was dependable on both gym surfaces and moderate trails. It even had a very strong bite on the rope and felt tackier than the previous Nano Adventure.

We did not find any issues with this performance aspect. The renowned Vibram rubber lived up to our expectations.

There were no reflective elements on the Nano X3 Adventure. For safety, it would be best to use this shoe only in well-lit spaces.

The tongue was of average thickness. Our caliper measured it to be 4.4 mm thick. 

It felt quite OK on top of the foot, and we did not have problems with it.

The tongue of the Reebok Nano X3 Adventure was not at all gusseted. It allowed us to move much more freely.

It was also thanks to the not connected tongue that our feet were able to breathe somehow, given that the upper material was pretty closed-off.

The shoe had a finger-loop heel tab that made putting on and taking off the shoe quite easy.

The removable insole was easy to get rid of when we had to free up some space, especially when the shoe felt too hot after sustained workouts.