Reebok Nano 7.0 Newly Revised and Updated

The Nano 7.0 has a great lockdown. You can lace them up tight to provide the virtual immobilization you need for lateral movements and box jumps. The wide toe box of the Nano 6.0 is still present, allowing you to spread your toes out for a foundation when you do squats or deadlifts.

There aren't any straps, velcro, BOA discs, tongue pads or anything else to back up the laces. But reviewers concur that the laces pull tight and will not work their way loose. We would have liked to see tongue padding, to protect from pressure points, but that's not enough of a problem to be a deal-breaker.

Though lifting support is strong, and your feet won't slip or take the full brunt of a box jump or barbell squat, we found that the stability is less during pivoting movements. You could play a game of backyard soccer or basketball with no problem. But a more serious game, that has you running, jumping, turning, stopping, and changing direction constantly, would be hard with the Nano 7.0. You could back it up with an ankle wrap, though, and the wrap won't interfere with the shoe's fit.

Finally, the TPU plastic heel cup on the outside of the shoe adds to stability and motion control. TPU is a strong, practically heatproof polymer that helps stabilize your heel without adding weight or limiting movement.

The Reebok Nano 7.0 is a sturdy shoe that will stay together, with no fraying, tearing, or excess outsole wear after months of heavy activity. Part of the secret is the Nanoweave, Reebok’s patented outer shell. It acts as an exoskeleton, protecting the shoe from shock. Under the Nanoweave, the shoe is made from ventilated synthetic mesh. Even scuffs won’t stand a chance against the Nanoweave, which adds grip during climbing activities as well as protecting the uppers and inner lining from shock.

The Nano 7.0 isn't uncomfortable, but it isn't designed with comfort as a top priority either. If you are lifting heavy weights, you will appreciate the added stability and tightness. When you do double unders or other jump rope exercises, you'll be glad for the firm stabilization and support that keeps your feet from pounding the gym floor. But the Nano 7.0 is lacking in longer runs, anything more than a short warmup jog before other activity. That's because there is no forefoot or midfoot cushioning, and the outsole has no splits or other aerodynamic features. Reebok addressed this in the Nano 8 and went as far as to add an uber flexible and comfortable split sole for the new Nano 9.0.

Reebok went all out with the materials for the Nano 7.0. It is practically a space-age cyber shoe, one as versatile and capable as the athletes who trust it for support and performance.

The Nanoweave upper shell is seamless. There's no risk of abrasion, friction, or fraying. The weave is also flexible and breathable. It offers extra protection and adds to the overall life of the shoe.

Inside the shoe, Reebok placed a molded midsole backed by a sockliner. The midsole is CMEVA, or compression molded ethylene-vinyl acetate foam. A block of foam is compressed into a mold that gives the midsole (and outsole) its distinctive shape. When heat is applied, the foam block expands and takes on the shape of the mold. The result is a custom-shaped, ridged, contoured shape that holds up over time and is ultra-resilient. The sockliner aids in snugging the foot.

The bottom part of the outsole is abrasion resistant high impact rubber. Though it's not the most flexible, the rubber will absorb the impact of even the most strenuous activity, keeping your feet pain free and letting you move on to the next part of your circuit. Though admittedly not the most comfortable shoes, Reebok made clever use of materials with the Nano 7.0. The result is a shoe that will go the distance and not ever let you down.

Though it may not be a performance factor, we have to respect the Nano in all its gens because it just looks cool. Both men's and women's sizes come in any colorway you could imagine. If we could, we'd buy a pair to match each of our lucky compression shorts.

The cool factor starts with the outsole. The forefoot is divided into five ridged sections, bordered by a round perimeter ridge with a pronounced side foot curve. It looks fast and stable. The midsole is chunky enough that its color frames the whole outside of this shoe. One of our favorites is the orange midsole, which bleeds, ombre style, into the bright yellow outside heel cup. You can see the elevated heel when you hold the shoe and examine it.

The Nanoweave gives the whole outer and upper a look like flexible chain mail, something that will let you move while protecting you from any intrusions. The laces lock tightly over the thin tongue, and the entire shoe looks more like an extension of your foot than an additional tool. In a change from tradition, the Reebok logo is more prominent than the CrossFit logo. The Nano has Crossfit right in the full name, but the shoe isn't just for WOD devotees. Anyone who wants extra stability and superior protection during their activity should try on a pair. Reebok shrunk the CrossFit branding to reflect the universality of their product.

The Reebok Nano 7 is not a lifting shoe. It has a heel lift, but not the severe kind you would look for in a dedicated lifting shoe. The sole is too thick, too--shoes for squatting typically have thin soles, with enough rubber to give you traction on the gym floor. That's because too much support in the sole can make you unstable when you stand and do barbell exercises. The Nano 7.0 does not have an internal wedge to assist with a squat range of motion, either. You could remedy that with a wedge insert from Rogue Fitness if you wanted more suitable lifting shoes.

But we know you probably aren't here looking for lifting shoes. You want something versatile that will let you lift, but also support you during cross-training activities. You want a shoe you can wear for a grocery run on the way back from the gym, without carrying a pair of old beater sneaks to change into. The Nano 7.0 can do that for you. But though it's not for lifting, the Nano 7.0 is like a lifter in its lack of flexibility. It won't pinch your feet, or crowd your toes together, or cause pain when you stand in your pair for too long. But it also just plain doesn't have the twisty, bendy sole or springy arch that you'd look for in a runner. As long as you are aware of that, and not looking to jump straight from lifting into outdoor cardio, you and the Nano 7.0 will get along just fine. The Nano 9, the latest and greatest at the time of this writing, does have a runner-friendly split sole if that is something you are after.

The Nano 7.0 is like creatine powder. It is fantastic for bursts of motion, like maxing out on pullups and then grabbing a jump rope for some double unders. It will give you a stable platform for standing up and doing barbell squats. The grip and traction keep you standing, no matter what, on a gym floor or an outdoor track.

But also like creatine, the Nano 7.0 is not suited to more sustained strength or endurance training. You may be able to run a 5K in these, but you'd be better off and have less post-run soreness with a pair of dedicated running shoes. The Nano 7.0 does not have the supportive or flexible sole that you need for longer runs. It is built for sprints or intervals where the easy interval includes walking.

Even more than sprints, though, the Nano 7.0 is made for lifting. The heel is supportive, without excess padding, and helps lock your feet in place. The heel is slightly elevated, helping with a range of motion for barbell squats. You can use the Nano 7.0 for farmer carries, but you may find the sole and heel a bit stiff for this purpose. Laces fit tightly, and usually won’t cause a problem, but the nonpadded tongue doesn’t provide a lot of lace tension protection. The shoe has excellent traction, both on the outsole and upper, and the Nanoweave protects against scuffing and tearing.

The wide toe box rounds out the features that suit the Nano 7.0 so much to lifting. You are able to spread your toes, making a stable and solid foundation. The shoe is breathable, with mesh and weave synthetic uppers to let air circulate. If you want a supportive shoe that is lightweight enough to help you forget you have it on, and you aren’t looking to run more than three miles or so at a time, the Reebok Nano 7.0 will make you feel right at home.