Thomas: If there is one company that I would like to see dive into the market with a bigger splash, it is Reebok. Their running division seems to quietly put out bangers with no fanfare, no marketing, and little distribution. I just don’t get it.
The RunFast collection is killer, the Floatride Energy is an economy shoe that performs like a top tier trainer, and I would stack the Floatride Run 2.0 up against any daily trainer out there. Still, many runners don’t even know Reebok is in the game.
Dave: The run game has seen its share of Reebok lately, and that is not a bad thing. A brand that was once pounding serious pavement in the 80’s is back. They are definitely onto something and a lot of us shoe hoarders out there are really digging it.
Quick rundown: I’ve tested almost all Reebok offerings over the last few years. I’m a fan of Sweet Road 2, Run Fast Pro/Fast and Harmony. I personally like Reebok’s slimmed-down offerings. I was not a fan of the Energy, which was surprising, since everyone else loves it. It had an awesome fit, but underfoot was too soft. My legs got beat up.
As far as this straight-up everyday trainer, I had the original. The introductory PEBAX offering from Reebok was good, but I still found it too soft. That, combined with the just awful cage for an upper, made it a dud. Most of my dud shoes go out back in the alley here in the LBC, where they’re quickly picked up by the homeless. The Run 1.0 went out back.
Let’s see if these stay in the house.
Thomas: The Floatride Run 2.0 is all about the cushion. The Floatride foam hits the sweet spot for a high mileage daily trainer; soft enough for comfort, bouncy enough to feel peppy.
Some runners seem to hate the soft TPU cage, but it serves a purpose when you combine it with the Floatride foam.
Not only does the cage provide the lateral and medial lockdown with the lacing, but it is also sandwiched on top of the 20% more Floatride Foam to create a springboard feel. Finish off the outsole with lots of high abrasion rubber and you have a soft responsive midsole with teeth.
The upper is 3/4 Ultraknit, a stretchy sock-like knit that will accommodate wider feet comfortably. The heel counter has a rigid backbone covered in thin but soft material. Two pillows on either side of the Achilles provide the heel lockdown. The Floatride Run 2.0’s upper is comfortable— no hot spots and no weirdness. If anything, the toe box was overly generous for my preference. While the shoe fits well, I would have liked to try a size down, as the toe seems a little long.
The shoe comes together while running. The ride is smooth and cushioned but doesn’t feel dead like some easy day trainers can. The 10 mm drop doesn’t interfere with my midfoot running style and the weight is a non-issue at 10.2 oz./ 290 grams for my size US M10.5.
Dave: Midsole. Killer. Hands-down, it rivals Hyper Burst from Skechers Performance, which is one of the best out there. And unless you live under a rock, Skechers has got it going on right now.
Anyhow, Reebok is calling this Floatride Foam. Whatever, it’s PEBAX to me all day. And some damn fine quality PEBAX. It’s so snappy, so leg-freshening, and it can roll.
This shoe is a bit on the heavier side for my size 9, coming in a 9.5 oz., but truthfully, I don’t notice the weight. The shoe review game has spoiled me with light shoes over the years, and while this is heavier than what I usually train in, it disappears underfoot.
Runners who are a fan of feeling efficient and like a little spice in a midsole will love the way the Floatride Run 2.0 handles the pavement. The ripple design on the outsole, combined with a little extra rubber than the previous version is a nice touch. It may have added a bit of weight, but again, I don’t notice it.
The Floatride Run 2.0 is a damn fun shoe to run in— if Reebok used another one of their designed uppers…
Shop Reebok Floatride Run 2.0
Thomas: The toe box is too wide open. During faster paces, I could feel some wiggling around that made the toe-off less secure. This complaint made me wonder if a half size down would have made the shoe a better fit for me.
Dave: Yikes, I have a lot more to say than Thomas.
Let’s start with the upper. It absolutely baffles me why run companies today spend so much time on midsoles, when frankly, the upper is just as– or even more– important. It’s like they forget about it. A good running shoe can have all the razzle dazzle in the world underfoot, but if it fits like shit, good luck.
Reebok dropped the ball here. I’m sorry, we try and speak the truth here at BITR.
The Ultraknit upper is thick. Be prepared for that. It’s also hot on a 60-degree Southern California morning. I never have issues with “foot sweat,” but damn, she’s a toasty one.
Combine this with the hiking-boot style laces and it’s almost impossible to get the upper to mold my foot and lay the laces across the correct areas of my feet. Long story short, the lacing and the upper do not line up well. That gives me a sloppy feeling when running.
A ton of these lacing and fit issues are a direct result of the cage. Runners were very adamant about ditching it from the original Floatride Run 1.0 from last year. Reebok didn’t listen. That doesn’t help when a company doesn’t listen. Scares me for the future.
The foot also needs to be able to line up with the last. For me, it doesn’t. The overall last of this shoe is great, but the cage positions your foot into an odd position.
I’m gonna keep going. The toe box is pointy. Watch out for lips in sidewalks, etc. No diggers yet, but I’ve come damn close.
Shop Reebok Floatride 2.0
Thomas: This is an above-average daily trainer. You will get lots of leg saving miles out of these puppies. I’ve harped on it before, but Reebok should be a consideration when looking at shoes from race day to basic training. Especially if you’re on a budget.
The Floatride Run 2.0 is a super solid trainer with UltraBOOST like feel in a lighter weight package. When shopping, compare the Floatride 2.0 to the Nike Pegasus 36, Skechers GOrun Ride 8 Hyper, ASICS Glideride, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2, Altra Torin 4, and the HOKA One One Clifton 6.
Dave: Disappointed. This is not a knock on the cats at Reebok. I love their stuff, and like I mentioned above, they are seriously onto some righteous stuff! In my opinion, they just laid a dud here.
I’d put the Energy upper on the 2.0, ditch the cage, reduce a bit of weight and find a way to lock the foot in like a racer feels (even though it’s a workhorse trainer). A soft, molding and simple upper could give this shoe some serious clout with some of the best daily trainers out there right now.
Obviously, this is just my opinion, and it’s quite different from Thomas’s thoughts. Either way, I truly wish to see only the best coming from Reebok in the future. They have made running shoes fun again.
But please— ditch the cage. Cage = rage.
You can pick up the shoe at Running Warehouse using the shop link below.
Shop Reebok Floatride Run 2.0
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