The Lowdown
If you’re looking for a simple shoe to walk in, go to the gym, or just throw on for summertime, the Reebok Nano X1 is easily one of our favorites. My wife has grown so accustomed to them during her recovery that even though she has other shoes to exercise in, these are always in rotation for her.
Overall
Pros
- FlexKnit is comfortable giving JUST enough wiggle room for comfort
- Wife’s praise of these, when wearing after knee surgery, means they truly are comfortable
Cons
- The heel could potentially wear out ahead of the rest of the shoe
When my wife decided she would finally have knee surgery to repair her torn ACL and meniscus in early May, we knew it would be a while until she truly got back on her feet. But now that she’s been in physical therapy, there’s been only ONE shoe that she’s trusted through the process — Reebok’s Nano X1 cross-trainers.
Available in a host of different colors, including some that are Reebok Members only, Jess opted for the Grey/Core Black/Orange Flare colorway, which looks fantastic in person. Built for workouts, the Reebok Nano X1 has been great for physical therapy as my wife has transitioned from cast to crutches to knee brace using these sneakers.
The woven Flexweave upper sole of the Reebok Nano X1 is lightweight, which is something you’d want from a sneaker, and the internal “Floatride” Energy Foam cushion under your feet will last for miles. Jess was a bit intrigued with the heel of the X1 as it curves in a bit, adding a bit more of a snug fit around her heel, which she says is great, but be mindful of wearing no show socks with these as the ridges will rub and irritate your heel if the sock isn’t raised enough.
I was so intrigued by the Reebok Nano X1s that I had to ask for a pair (because I am greedy like that). I wanted something that would blend in seamlessly when I was commuting to the office and hold up during any workout, whether it was a HIIT or a gentle stroller walk with our daughter.
The Reebok Nano X1s just feel amazing in every scenario. My feet are snug within the shoe; however, the flex knit material allows you to wiggle around a bit. There’s enough grip at the bottom of the sneaker that on flat uncarpeted surfaces like at a gym, you’d be perfectly fine lifting or squatting without feeling like you’d injure yourself, a huge upgrade from my tried and true flat Converse.
If you’re looking for a simple shoe to walk in, go to the gym, or just throw on for summertime, the Reebok Nano X1 is easily one of our favorites. My wife has grown so accustomed to them during her recovery that even though she has other shoes to exercise in, these are always in rotation for her.
I feel like, over time, the rubber heel will degrade, but at that point, it may be time to swap them out anyway. I typically wear a men’s size 9.5, and the size fits perfectly for me. If you tend to size up or size down for your running shoes, I would just stick with what usually works for these, as they are true to size.
The Reebok Nano X1 sells for $129.95; they are available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: FlexKnit is comfortable giving JUST enough wiggle room for comfort; Wife’s praise of these, when wearing after knee surgery, means they truly are comfortable
What Needs Improvement: The heel could potentially wear out ahead of the rest of the shoe