Verdict from 8 experts and +100 user reviews
8 reasons to buy
- Explicitly designed for HIIT sessions, the SuperRep has impressed plenty of athletes with its performance.
- Many users are elated by the shoe’s comfort. They report no foot fatigue or pain after wearing the pair.
- Nike was able to combine springiness and stability in this unique design, according to lots of reviews.
- With its split-sole built and a special ‘burpee break’ in the forefoot, the trainer offers exceptional flexibility, as stated by many.
- Despite the evidently chunky style, the shoe feels very light on the foot, as multiple wearers say.
- Some HIIT enthusiasts note that the SuperRep is very efficient in accommodating quick transitions.
- Most people feel safe doing skate lunges and other side-to-side exercises, as the shoe offers lateral stability.
- Several buyers note that the mesh material on the upper helps in maintaining breathability.
4 reasons not to buy
- Most users warn that it takes some getting used to as the shoe strays far from a typical workout footwear design.
- Some customers have been put off by the heavy and bulky style of the SuperRep.
- People with wide feet do not recommend the trainer as it feels too tight. However, some of them were able to achieve more space by removing the insole.
- A few Orange Theory buffs find the shoe unsuitable for rowing machine exercises because of the wide and padded out heel.
Bottom line
As the brand’s first HIIT-specific trainer, Nike Air Zoom SuperRep is packed with technologies for every possible challenge in a fitness class. A great number of those who have tested the shoe are unanimously positive about its performance. Bouncy and flexible yet stable and supportive, it ticks all the boxes.
Although not everyone takes to its unusual design, the shoe still comes highly recommended for the habitues of HIIT classes.
Tip: see the best training shoes.
Expert reviews:
- 95/100 by WearTesters
- 97/100 by T3
- 90/100 by Men's Health
- 89/100 by Medium
- 78/100 by Listed Fit
User reviews:
- 4.1/5 by Nike (+100)
- 4/5 by Amazon (+100)
- 3.9/5 by Amazon UK (+50)
- 5/5 by SportsShoes (5)
Video reviews
Good to know
What is it for? Nike designed the SuperRep as its very first trainer dedicated to HIIT. Thus, the shoe can keep you company during cardio sessions, boot camps, circuit training, kickboxing, Body Pump, and Body Combat workouts, among many other agile exercises. Its exuberant cushioning accommodates short-distance runs, adding springiness to the ride. At the same time, it has a flat heel and stabilizing units on the sides to assist in moderate weightlifting.
The idea behind the SuperRep. Nike aims to fill the gap in the training shoe market for group fitness classes. People who do interval training either wear shoes that offer ample cushioning or one with supportive structures, but not both.
With the unique construction of the Air Zoom SuperRep, it promises to lessen impact during plyometrics while also offering flexibility to make burpees and push-ups easy on the feet. It’s almost as if Nike had beginners in mind when they designed this trainer.
Traction. No one wants to slip when they’re doing box jumps, burpees, lunges, and all the other agile movements involved in HIIT exercises. To prevent slippage, Nike lined the bottom of the Air Zoom SuperRep with rubber. This compound is pliable and provides ample grip on various gym floors.
Smooth transitions. The chunky heel features a beveled edge. This assists wearers to land softly on their heels and transition to a midstance position smoothly. The forefoot is also curved upwards, aiding clean toe-offs.
Impact protection. One of the most striking elements in the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep is the transparent layer of the midsole. This unit is called the Air Zoom. It has two pods that are highly responsive to impact. The moment your foot hits the floor, that burst of energy from impact bounces your foot back up, ready for the next step.
The plush cushioning on this model is unlike those used in the Nike Metcon line. Metcons have thinner and denser foams that effectively dull impact but not as bouncy.
Flexibility. The sole is constructed with a significant gap between the forefoot and the heel. This construction promotes bending. There is also the ‘burpee break,’ a deep groove under where the toe bends. This feature aims to make burpees, sled pushes, push-ups, and the likes less strenuous on the toes.
Stability. A unique feature of the Air Zoom SuperRep is the Containment Shield placed on the midfoot. These exaggerated arcs provide lateral support to keep the foot steady during side-to-side movements.
Movement. This Nike trainer features a midfoot plate called the Flyplate. This layer puts your feet in the attack stance wherein the weight is placed on the balls of the feet, allowing wearers to effortlessly move forward when needed.
Supportive wrap. A mesh fabric makes up the front top of the Nike Air Zoom SuperRep. This material is soft, allowing it to hug the foot like a sock to deliver reliable coverage. Another soft and smooth fabric makes up the rearfoot of the trainer. It provides a close fit at the back to aid in the heel lockdown.
Lockdown. Slip the Air Zoom SuperRep with no hassle thanks to its bootie-style construction. If you want extra midfoot security, you can tighten the laces at the midfoot to achieve this.
Nike Alpha Savage
Though the Air Zoom SuperRep is marketed as Nike’s first HIIT-dedicated trainer, the Nike Air Max Alpha Savage can also be a suitable choice. Like the SuperRep, the Alpha Savage features a split-sole construction for flexibility with a rubber outsole for reliable traction.
As for cushioning, the Alpha Savage also uses vacuumed air to reduce shock. However, the Air cushioning in the Alpha Savage is at the heel, not under the forefoot.
Reebok HIIT
Nike isn’t the only brand that released footwear dedicated to survive the grueling moves of interval training. The Reebok HIIT is equipped with a plush EVA foam midsole that serves to lessen the impact of foot landings. A rubber outsole lines the underside of this Reebok workout shoe and has a groove in the middle that facilitates controlled side movements.
As for the upper, the mesh fabric ensures comfort and breathability. It also features an integrated cage that aids in foot containment.
How Air Zoom SuperRep compares
