It might not sound much, but these small steps will hopefully add up to bigger sustainable strides from shoe giant Reebok. And boy, do we need them, when you consider the figures that show over 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away in the UK each year, with the majority going to landfill (trainers are a main culprit here because they are made from multiple man-made materials that are practically impossible to recycle). Personally, I like the Reebok Nano X1 Adventure best due to its reworked upper construction and my runner-up would be the Reebok Nano X1 GRIT. I would highly suggest looking into these models if you’re considering the Reebok Nano X1 because their upper construction is a bit more durable. Laces and Tongue If you’re squatting HEAVY we’d still recommend you go for a specific lifting shoe with a wooden sole and high heel to toe drop, but for 95% of athletes weightlifting in a gym, the Nano range will do the job.

In addition, the Reebok Nano X1 features Reebok’s signature Floatride Energy Foam midsole, while the Nike Metcon 7 utilizes Nike React Foam in the midsole. Both shoe’s midsole changes have decreased their overall stability slightly under the barbell. This shoe is okay for lifting, and it works for a variety of activities. Since owning this model, I’ve trained up to 525 lbs in them, and their stability was okay. Were they as stable as something like the Reebok Nano X? The Metcon 6 brought to the table this new upper with giant-sized perforations. The Metcon 6 uses the new super-breathable upper. Can you see the sunshine shining through the upper? The Nike Metcon 7’s reworked midsole with Nike React Foam gives this shoe an interesting blend of responsiveness and stability. The forefoot in this model is fairly easy to compress while the heel with the Hyperlift insert is much more stable. Factor in the mid-foot lateral and medial wraps and this model provides a variety of performance feelings.One concern was durability and how this would hold up versus more sturdy shoes, but there’ve been no issues to report yet. Reebok is now on the 11th iteration of the Nano, a shoe that has become nothing short of symbolic in the CrossFit world. The Nano X1s are easily some of the most comfortable training shoes I’ve ever worn, and that’s saying a lot because I’ve worn a few versions of this shoe that I absolutely despised (*ahem* Reebok Nanos 5 and 6). I honestly love these workout shoes so much that I’m hesitant to see what changes Reebok makes to the next generation of the Nano. I always say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” If you want an all-round training shoe that offers support for every type of functional fitness workout and is sustainable to boot, you’ll love the Reebok Nano X1 Vegan. Just like the hugely popular Nano X1, it is responsive, fast, super-cushioned and lightweight and - save for a little reduction on breathability – its performance isn’t compromised by its use of plant-friendly materials. The midfoot in the both the Nano X and Metcon 6 are dual density to give a softer forefoot and firmer rearfoot. The aim of this is to give some cushioning on a short run, and add stability under the heel with lifting weights. The Nano X claims to be more ‘runnable’ than ever, and I can vouch for that. The Metcon 6 has also seen significant improvements in performance when running since the previous iterations. If we look first at the new heel drop (+3mm versus all previous versions) this takes the Nano X1 much closer to the feel of a more traditional running shoe.

This is where the tough outsole wraps up around the sides of the shoe at the midfoot. Why? For grip when climbing ropes – and to protect the upper from friction. Previously I had rated the Nike Metcon 6 as better for running than the Nano X – and that’s still the case – but the Nano X1 has now become better.) The flexweave knit upper results in breathability yet durability, so you definitely don’t have to worry about your toe poking a hole in the toe box after a few workouts with burpees or lunges.

Reebok Nano X1 Intro

Other than that the shoe was comfortable, breathable and I was looking forward to putting it through its paces. According to Tal Short (Reebok’s Senior Product Manager) this was the most tested element of the Nano X1’s and has been incorporated with the purpose of increasing overall comfort and ‘runability’ of the shoe. Another difference with each shoe and how they perform with versatile training is their overall sizing and fit. If you like having a bit more toe box room, then the Reebok Nano X1 will be a better shoe for you.

Reebok has dropped the singular focus on CrossFit, and made a shoe with wider appeal in the process.

In contrast, the Nano X1 has something that can hardly be identified as a rope climbing supplement. There’s a small Ropepro label down on the side, and there’s sort of a tough area that looks like it would be good for getting a “pinch” grip on a rope. Here’s the RopePro area on the Nano X1. It’s quite minimal. For most of us, the weight savings is worth it. There are A LOT of differences between the Reebok Nano X and the Reebok Nano X1. For starters, the Reebok Nano X has a 4mm heel-to-toe drop and the Reebok Nano X1 features a 7mm heel-to-toe drop. The Reebok Nano line has consistently been 4mm until this year, so the change in the Nano X1 was a fairly big deal. One of the biggest discrepancies between Nike Metcon and Reebok Nano models is their overall sizing and fit. Generally, the Nike Metcon models run slightly more slim while the Reebok Nanos have a slightly wider toe box. Reebok was the original CrossFit shoe, launched in 2011 and now on its 10th version. Up until the Nano X, the Reebok shoe featured the official CrossFit branding. The Nano was unchallenged in the CrossFit shoe market until 2015 when Nike launched its Metcon, working with some of the sport’s top performing and most influential athletes.