Reebok Nano 5.0 |

Why I love this shoe

At first glance, the Reebok Nano 5.0 looks like it could stop a bullet. Well, that could just be because they have “KEVLAR” etched into the side of them. Or are they? Either way I don’t suggest trying to find out. If you know anything about me you know that I am really hard on my shoes. In fact, I used to wear the New Balance Minimus all the time and they were an awesome shoe. But awesomeness doesn’t outweigh the longevity of the Minimus. Unfortunately, I would go through a pair every 5 months and I just didn’t have the stomach to shell out close to $100 that frequently for something that should be lasting a little longer. In steps the Nano 4.0 and bam! I’m blown away at how much abuse these things took. I hiked, biked, lifted, ran, and sweated all over these things and they stayed relatively intact and comfortable during the 7 months I had them. Then the 5.0 came out and I had to give them a try. At about the same price point as the Minimus, I picked up a pair of the 5.0 and I’m still wearing them 8 months later. There are only two negative things I can say about them. First, the break-in period; they are a stiff shoe so the break-in period is a little longer than your typical athletic shoe. Second, if you’re climbing rope the material that contacts the rope gets eaten up pretty quickly, but fortunate for me I don’t climb ropes!

Let’s get down to the brass tacks

Below I will be rating various aspects that I feel are essential in finding a great product. My rating is based on a scale of 10, 1 being the worst and 10 being excellent.

Durability: 9 Bullet-proof!

Weight: 9 As durable as these shoes are, they are relatively light weight.

Comfort: 8 Tongue needs more padding. I don’t recommend long distance running in these shoes.

Sizing: 9 No need to size up or down. Note: I have a slightly wider foot and these shoes give my feet enough room.

Grip: 9 The tread is amazing, I’ve never slipped in these shoes.

Training Shoe: 9 My Reebok Nano 5.0 haven’t failed me yet. They have just enough padding to make them comfortable enough to use every day outside the gym but also not too much that would affect my squatting. The design of these shoes also allow a lot of lateral support, when I’m doing plyometric or agility work I don’t slide off the sole of my shoes.

Works well on: grass, gravel, gym floor, wet surfaces.

Where I buy my shoes and why

Okay, so this isn’t that important and it is a little off subject but I needed to say something about the store I get my shoes from and why I am willing to pay a premium for buying through them. Zappos.com, they made me a life long customer. The first time I purchased a pair of shoes from them, the Inov-8 barefoot style, 3 months later I almost wore a hole right through the side of the shoe. I called Zappos.com and explained my situation and they instantly gave me a credit before even sending the shoes back. Okay, their customer service is great but they also ship next day for free! Whaaa! Yeah, these guys are amazing. You may pay a little more but you are getting a 1-year warranty on your shoes and great customer service if you ever need to send your product back.