Nike Reax 8 TR review

We believe that the Nike Reax 8 TR may be of interest to the beginner or recreational gym goers who:

• want a budget-friendly trainer
• need a shoe for moderate strength training
• prefer bold, eye-catching footwear choices

If you don't want to be heard approaching from the other side of the gym because of squeaky shoes, you may prefer the Nike Air Max Alpha Trainer 6 instead. What's more, this trainer also has exceptional upper breathability and a sportier (but equally striking) appearance.

If you want a budget-friendly option that's more functional and versatile for cross-training, the Nike MC Trainer 3 is a perfect alternative.

Given the unconventional Reax design, we couldn't even guess how much impact protection this Nike shoe offers. So when our machine returned an above-average shock absorption of 85 SA, we were quite surprised.

On foot, this means sufficient cushioning for plyometric exercises like jumps, but we wouldn't choose it as a go-to shoe for cardio-based workouts, as the Reax construction is quite heavy and clunky.

Nike's product description claims that the Reax offers 'responsive cushioning' in the heel. However, our energy return measurements showed that it's merely on par with the average at 55.8%. In other words, it is mildly responsive, but don't expect any pronounced bounce.

The forefoot, on the other hand, proved to be a little livelier with an above-average reading of 61.1%. That made our toe-offs and jumps a touch snappier.

Similar to the Nike Shox, the Reax comprises six pillars to support the heel. These columns split the midsole in half, resulting in a taller stack height of 31.6 mm.

However, the shoe's forefoot stack is more on par with the average at 19.0 mm. Thank makes the ball of the foot and the toes feel rather grounded.

The height difference between the shoe's heel and forefoot stacks is therefore quite noticeable. With a drop of 12.6 mm, the Nike Reax 8 TR has by far the most elevated heel among training shoes (lifters excluded).

This is a bonus for people with poor ankle mobility who want to squat deeper without losing proper form and technique.

The foam component of the Reax platform is made of very firm EVA, showing a high durometer reading of 31.0 HA.

We found that it can take up moderate loads without significant compression. However, it's not ideal for heavy lifting as the TPU pillars have some contraction.

The Reax 8 TR is built on a rather narrow Nike last, making it a no-go for people with wide feet. And even those with medium-width feet should expect a snug, one-to-one fit.

To put a number on it, we created a gel mould of the shoe's interior and measured its width at the broadest point. At 94.8 mm, it sits on the edge between narrow and medium width.

The toebox of this Nike sneaker is also quite tapered. It falls within the narrow range, measuring only 70.1 mm at the big toe.

But at least the shoe's decent vertical space prevents undesirable pressure points on top of the toes and toenails.

We measured its toebox height at a normal 25.8 mm.

Testing the Reach 8 TR's outsole traction on a wet concrete slab, we recorded an above-average friction coefficient of 0.34.

This means the rubber pods on this Nike trainer provide a great bite on common gym surfaces like rubber mats, hardwood, and plywood. It also remains decently grippy on sweaty floors.

Round rubber pods of varying sizes help the Nike Reax 8 TR stick to the gym floor effectively, especially during stationary exercises. Meanwhile, deep flex grooves allow for some forefoot flexibility.

But don't expect completely unhindered foot bending, as this Nike trainer is on the stiffer side of the training shoe spectrum.

Measuring the force required to bend the shoe by 30 degrees, we recorded an above-average reading of 13.4N. Such stiffness makes the Reax 8 TR more suitable for strength training by making energy transfer more efficient.

Nike mentions 'lightweight containment' in the shoe's product description, but our scale shows that this Nike Reax trainer is far from the lightweight category.

Weighing it in a men's US size 9, we recorded 12.8 oz (363g), which makes it by far the heaviest option in our training shoe catalogue. While it's not a problem for stationary workouts, it makes the shoe less than ideal for cardio or any dynamic exercises.

Even though the Nike Reax 8 TR features a basic mesh layer beneath the heavy synthetic overlays, the airflow remains fairly restricted.

Our smoke-pumping breathability test showed rather thin and slow billows of smoke coming from the shoe's toebox.

This, along with the fact that the shoe's quarters showed some transparency in our light test, saved this Nike trainer from the lowest breathability score. On a 1-5 scale, it earned a 2.

Looking at the shoe's mesh up close through a microscope revealed its extremely tough, barbed-wire-like nature. So, at least the shoe lacks breathability for a good reason (more on that in our toebox durability section below).

When we tested the Nike Reax 8 TR for squats and weight training, we couldn't help but notice its resemblance to weightlifting shoes.

The shoe offers a very planted and steady base that's highly effective at minimising side-to-side wobbles. Its sturdy underfoot platform is enhanced by a dynamic upper lacing system that provides a secure feel around the midfoot. The latter comprises 5 pairs of thick webbed strings that connect the laces to the base of the shoe. They run beneath the synthetic midfoot overlays.

The Reax 8 TR showed powerful resistance to twisting in our manual test, earning the highest torsional rigidity score of 5/5.

It made us feel well-supported during single-leg exercises or when picking up an extra load.

The shoe's moderately stiff heel counter (3/5) also contributed to our solid footing, ensuring balance and stability in the heel and ankle.

In terms of width, we found that the Nike Reax 8 TR's midsole is not much wider than that of a typical cross-trainer.

It is only slightly broader than average in the forefoot, measuring 113.5 mm on our calliper.

The shoe's heel width, on the other hand, is on par with the average at 86.2 mm. That contact area felt just right and met our stability needs during the wear test.

And here is the flip side of the Nike Reax 8 TR's limited breathability - a highly wear-resistant upper material!

A 12-second Dremel encounter at a high 10K RPM speed barely left a scratch on the shoe's toebox mesh! Looks like it's going to take a minute before you see the first holes in this Nike shoe's upper.

The mesh lining inside The Reax 8 TR was a little less impressive, but still hard-wearing enough at 3/5. As long as the shoe fits you well and there is no in-shoe shifting or heel slipping, this fabric should last a good while.

Applying our Dremel to the shoe's rubber outsole for 22 seconds resulted in a dent depth of 1.1 mm. This is a standard damage for the training shoe category, and we are not concerned about premature outsole wear, especially if you limit its use to the gym/indoor venues.

However, many Reax 8 TR wearers reported heel-area outsole delamination.

The amount of outsole rubber packed into this Nike trainer is on par with the average at 3.5 mm.

The shoe's stock insole is as basic as it gets, with a regular thickness of 3.4 mm at the heel.

Even though the insole is easily removable, the snug profile of the Nike Reax 8 TR doesn't accommodate thicker or wider custom orthotics.

The tongue padding is very generous in this Nike trainer, offering a double layer of foam with a total thickness of 15.2 mm.

Although it limits the shoe's internal space, it contributes to the Reax 8 TR's highly secure midfoot containment.

No pull tabs are attached to the back of the shoe.

A fully gusseted tongue complements the shoe's extra-thick tongue and dynamic lacing system in locking the foot securely in place.

The Nike Reax 8 TR is a rather basic trainer under £100, which delivers just as much as we would expect from a shoe at this price point.

There is a high chance of developing an annoying squeak within the first weeks of wearing this Nike shoe. It is caused by the plastic and synthetic elements rubbing against each other.

However, some people claim to have remedied this issue with WD-40, baby powder, or even cornstarch.