Adidas-owned Reebok is having trouble staying relevant outside of their Crossfit line, and with the activity’s waning popularity, who knows what the future holds for them. On the other hand, their Crossfit line IS popular. However, their popular Nano shoe isn’t the only game in town, now that Nike debuted the Metcon, so Reebok is making attempts to distinguish themselves. They introduced Kevlar into their shoes last year, and continue the trend in 2016.

I had not been a fan of the Nano. Having tried the 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0, I skipped the 5.0. I was very impressed with the 6.0, though. It definitely seemed like Reebok tweaked it to be easier to run in, without sacrificing the stability for lifting. The lack of rubber overlays (like the 3.0 and 4.0) made the fit less sloppy on my foot, which was the big turn-off for me in years past.

The forefoot definitely felt softer and more flexible. It’s possible that a higher emphasis on cardio I’ve noticed in recent years pushed Reebok to make the shoe more conducive to aerobic activities (or maybe some of the awful 5k times in the 2014 Crossfit Games inspired them).

Something I’ve always thought is really cool about Crossfit-specific shoes are the amount of features they have. A low midsole for balance on lifts, a wide toebox for forefoot splay, and heel “spurs” for handstand push-ups. The 6.0 continues adding on with a rough-surfaced wrap around the midfoot to further help grab onto ropes. It’s a small feature, but definitely clever use of a shoe component that’s already there anyway.

Some of the downsides that have been there from the beginning remain, unfortunately. Even with enhanced cushion, the shoe still isn’t ideal for running. It’s even a little heavy  and wide from a sprinting point of  view. They seem to have lengthened the tongue, as well, in what I’d assume is a move to prevent it sliding. I feel like they could have just made it 3/4 booty though, and attached it more to the upper. Saucony has implemented that to great effect. Basically, if you’re just going to the gym and doing a varied strength-training regimen, these are going to be great for your needs. However, if you want a little more all-day comfort and/or plan on pounding some pavement/trail, you might want to look elsewhere.

Verdicts:

• Excellent for Crossfitters and bodybuilders
• Not Bad for the average gym-goer
• Terrible for runners