Reebok Nano 9 Cross Trainer Review
Editor’s Conclusion
The Reebok Nano 9 is one of Reebok’s most popular shoes, and for a very good reason. This shoe is one of my favorite little overachievers. If you like to dabble in just a little bit of everything, whether it be running, CrossFit, powerlifting, or basketball, this shoe is made to keep up with your dynamic training schedule. The only thing you can't do in this shoe is swim because you are not allowed to wear shoes in the pool, and the light mesh upper doesn’t perform well when wet.
What I love most about this CrossFit shoe is that it somehow manages to support my feel when engaging in cardio, and it seamlessly transitions to the weight room to offer excellent support and ground feel when engaging in heavy lifts. It boasts a wide toe box for the perfect amount of natural toe splay and packs in just the perfect amount of cushioning. Plus, it comes in a ton of unique color options so you are bound to find a style that speaks to you.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make this shoe ready for just about anything.
What I love most about this CrossFit shoe is that it somehow manages to support my feel when engaging in cardio, and it seamlessly transitions to the weight room to offer excellent support and ground feel when engaging in heavy lifts. It boasts a wide toe box for the perfect amount of natural toe splay and packs in just the perfect amount of cushioning. Plus, it comes in a ton of unique color options so you are bound to find a style that speaks to you.
Below, I wanted to take a deep dive into all of the advanced features that make this shoe ready for just about anything.
Reebok Nano 9 Cross Trainer Review Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Key Features
MIDSOLE
What really makes the Nano 9 shine is the quality of the midsole material. Many cross-training shoes keep the midsole padding pretty minimal to enhance ground feel and movement. This shoe, however, provides users with a good deal of EVA foam materials in the midsole that helps to comfort your feet and gives you plush step-in feel that isn’t found with most trainers. Don’t worry, the foam cushioning found in the midsole is still very lightweight and flexible so you can stay light on your toes for those fast-paced WODs!
The midsole in this shoe is designed to be softer on the forefoot, and a little more firm and rigid in the heel. This dual-density midsole helps to make your runs light and springy, and the firmer heel provides more stability and control when engaging in heavy lifts. The Nano 9 is built for pretty much anything due to the thoughtful construction of the midsole.
UPPER
One thing that users love most about this design is the construction of the upper. It is made from a durable flex weave knit material that really contours to the shape of your foot. It’s so incredibly lightweight and breathable that when you slip your foot inside of the shoe, you can see the color of your socks! While it really shines in a gym environment by working to lift hot air up and away from your feet, it does have a few limitations when workout out in the great outdoors.
Due to the super-thin mesh material, this shoe isn’t great when running in less than ideal weather conditions. Many runners found that the thin upper doesn’t really protect your socks against incoming moisture. If you get caught in the rain or like running in the dewy grass, be prepared for wet socks! However, when working out indoors, the thin mesh works great at keeping your feet cool and dry.
OUTSOLE
The outsole may look like your standard outsole, but it is designed to help increase stability and control. If you look at the design of the bottom of this shoe, you will notice that it utilizes two different types of material on the back end and front end of the outsole called Reebok MetaSplit. The front of the shoe is made with a classic durable rubber, while the rear of the shoe has a more bouncy and tacky finish to help you really anchor down to the floor when engaging in lifts.
It's important to note that while the flex grooves in the outsole increase traction and flexibility on even indoor surfaces, you will lose a bit of traction when running outdoors. The Nano 9 is built primarily for increased stability when lifting or engaging in quick and snappy movements such as burpees or rope climbs. If your workouts are 100 percent indoors, this is an incredibly versatile outsole.
PERFORMANCE
So, who is this shoe for, exactly? Many cross-training shoes lock you into a certain style of powerlifting or circuit training workouts, but the Nano 9 is different. Overall, this is one of the most versatile cross-training shoes out there on the market. The blend of comfort features in the midsole and high-performing outsole makes this shoe great for just about anything.
The improvements to the midsole not only make it great for running but long-distance running as well. It provides excellent energy return, absorbs the impact when running on hard surfaces, and excellent flexibility. The 4 mm drop also provides you with excellent ground feel to really help ground down when engaging in heavy lifts, while the MetaSplit outsole increases your overall stability.
If you love to float from workout to workout at the gym and try your hand at just about everything, the Reebok Nano 9 is a great option!
STYLE
I love the overall style of this Reebok CrossFit shoe. It boasts a slim and classic silhouette that sits low on your foot and doesn’t get bogged down in unusual style choices. What I love most about this option is that it comes in a ton of unique color options. Whether you like your shoes understated and classic, or you want a punch of color, there is a style option that you are bound to love. There are even a few color options (such as green, white, and gold) that have an incredibly unique retro color palette that is bound to generate a few envious glances!
FIT
Many users found that this shoe runs pretty true to size. If you are a size 10 in most cross-training shoes, that will likely be the case with the Nano 9. If you are unsure about what size is right for you, be sure to take ample measurements of your foot and compare it to Reebok’s detailed sizing chart to save you a trip to the returns counter.
The Nano 9 is built to fit a little more tightly when compared to previous versions of this shoe. It boasts a very wide toe box that allows your foot to naturally splay inside of the shoe. This contoured fit does have one disadvantage, however. When you lace them up, some users have found that the upper bunches a little bit at the top of the foot. While this bunching won’t affect your performance, it looks a little messy.
PRICE
Overall, the price tag of the Reebok Nano 9 runs pretty par for the course. It’s not exactly a budget-friendly shoe, but it is nowhere near the most expensive cross trainer out there on the market. The updated midsole and outsole construction of this design works to enhance performance, but also extends the overall lifespan of this shoe. When worn every day for lifting or just running errands, many lifters found that this shoe can be worn for over a year before showing signs of wear and tear.
What really makes the Nano 9 shine is the quality of the midsole material. Many cross-training shoes keep the midsole padding pretty minimal to enhance ground feel and movement. This shoe, however, provides users with a good deal of EVA foam materials in the midsole that helps to comfort your feet and gives you plush step-in feel that isn’t found with most trainers. Don’t worry, the foam cushioning found in the midsole is still very lightweight and flexible so you can stay light on your toes for those fast-paced WODs!
The midsole in this shoe is designed to be softer on the forefoot, and a little more firm and rigid in the heel. This dual-density midsole helps to make your runs light and springy, and the firmer heel provides more stability and control when engaging in heavy lifts. The Nano 9 is built for pretty much anything due to the thoughtful construction of the midsole.
UPPER
One thing that users love most about this design is the construction of the upper. It is made from a durable flex weave knit material that really contours to the shape of your foot. It’s so incredibly lightweight and breathable that when you slip your foot inside of the shoe, you can see the color of your socks! While it really shines in a gym environment by working to lift hot air up and away from your feet, it does have a few limitations when workout out in the great outdoors.
Due to the super-thin mesh material, this shoe isn’t great when running in less than ideal weather conditions. Many runners found that the thin upper doesn’t really protect your socks against incoming moisture. If you get caught in the rain or like running in the dewy grass, be prepared for wet socks! However, when working out indoors, the thin mesh works great at keeping your feet cool and dry.
OUTSOLE
The outsole may look like your standard outsole, but it is designed to help increase stability and control. If you look at the design of the bottom of this shoe, you will notice that it utilizes two different types of material on the back end and front end of the outsole called Reebok MetaSplit. The front of the shoe is made with a classic durable rubber, while the rear of the shoe has a more bouncy and tacky finish to help you really anchor down to the floor when engaging in lifts.
It's important to note that while the flex grooves in the outsole increase traction and flexibility on even indoor surfaces, you will lose a bit of traction when running outdoors. The Nano 9 is built primarily for increased stability when lifting or engaging in quick and snappy movements such as burpees or rope climbs. If your workouts are 100 percent indoors, this is an incredibly versatile outsole.
PERFORMANCE
So, who is this shoe for, exactly? Many cross-training shoes lock you into a certain style of powerlifting or circuit training workouts, but the Nano 9 is different. Overall, this is one of the most versatile cross-training shoes out there on the market. The blend of comfort features in the midsole and high-performing outsole makes this shoe great for just about anything.
The improvements to the midsole not only make it great for running but long-distance running as well. It provides excellent energy return, absorbs the impact when running on hard surfaces, and excellent flexibility. The 4 mm drop also provides you with excellent ground feel to really help ground down when engaging in heavy lifts, while the MetaSplit outsole increases your overall stability.
If you love to float from workout to workout at the gym and try your hand at just about everything, the Reebok Nano 9 is a great option!
STYLE
I love the overall style of this Reebok CrossFit shoe. It boasts a slim and classic silhouette that sits low on your foot and doesn’t get bogged down in unusual style choices. What I love most about this option is that it comes in a ton of unique color options. Whether you like your shoes understated and classic, or you want a punch of color, there is a style option that you are bound to love. There are even a few color options (such as green, white, and gold) that have an incredibly unique retro color palette that is bound to generate a few envious glances!
FIT
Many users found that this shoe runs pretty true to size. If you are a size 10 in most cross-training shoes, that will likely be the case with the Nano 9. If you are unsure about what size is right for you, be sure to take ample measurements of your foot and compare it to Reebok’s detailed sizing chart to save you a trip to the returns counter.
The Nano 9 is built to fit a little more tightly when compared to previous versions of this shoe. It boasts a very wide toe box that allows your foot to naturally splay inside of the shoe. This contoured fit does have one disadvantage, however. When you lace them up, some users have found that the upper bunches a little bit at the top of the foot. While this bunching won’t affect your performance, it looks a little messy.
PRICE
Overall, the price tag of the Reebok Nano 9 runs pretty par for the course. It’s not exactly a budget-friendly shoe, but it is nowhere near the most expensive cross trainer out there on the market. The updated midsole and outsole construction of this design works to enhance performance, but also extends the overall lifespan of this shoe. When worn every day for lifting or just running errands, many lifters found that this shoe can be worn for over a year before showing signs of wear and tear.
Comparison to Previous Versions
If you are considering opting for the Reebok Nano 8 to save a few bucks, I may need to stop you. There have been some serious changes made to the overall construction of the Reebok Nano 9 that makes it really outshine previous iterations. One of the biggest changes made to the Nano 9 is the contraction of the midsole. This shoe provides more comfort and stability when compared to the Nano 8. This updated version makes it ideal not only for lifting but long-distance running as well, while the Nano 8 is designed more towards weightlifting alone.
On a superficial level, the Nano 9 is overall a more stylish shoe. It boasts a slimmer and sleeker frame when compared to previous versions, and comes in more color options that appeal to a wider variety of users.
On a superficial level, the Nano 9 is overall a more stylish shoe. It boasts a slimmer and sleeker frame when compared to previous versions, and comes in more color options that appeal to a wider variety of users.
Verdict
If you are anything like me, you can’t really commit to a dedicated workout routine. Some days I’m a runner, other days I’m a powerlifter, and others I’m zipping around the gym doing burpees like a madman. The Reebok Nano 9 understands my manic workout routine and provides me with enough support, flexibility, and control to accommodate any and all workouts. As I said before, it’s a classic overachiever!
It’s one of those rare shoes that can provide stability and control to your movements without the need for bulky and heavy materials.
The only downside to this shoe is that isn’t exactly built for the great outdoors. The lightweight mesh upper doesn’t protect your feet from rain or dewy grass, and the minimal traction on the outsole can get a little slippery on unpaved trails or wet sidewalks.
If you are on the hunt for a shoe that is stylish, versatile, and comfortable, you can’t go wrong with the Reebok Nano 9!
It’s one of those rare shoes that can provide stability and control to your movements without the need for bulky and heavy materials.
The only downside to this shoe is that isn’t exactly built for the great outdoors. The lightweight mesh upper doesn’t protect your feet from rain or dewy grass, and the minimal traction on the outsole can get a little slippery on unpaved trails or wet sidewalks.
If you are on the hunt for a shoe that is stylish, versatile, and comfortable, you can’t go wrong with the Reebok Nano 9!
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