Reebok FloatZig X1 Review: Ziggin’ While The Others Zag

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Reebok FloatZig X1

RENALDO: Reebok has become one of — if not the — running brands I’m keeping my eye on right now. After taking some time to rebuild outside of the spotlight, it’s caused quite a splash in the running world. With its flagship trainer, the FloatZig 1, we here at Believe in the Run finally realized that a comeback story might be on. Striking again while the hype is hot, Reebok blessed us with a new addition to the FloatZig line — the FloatZig X1 — and it just might be a marathon secret weapon.

RUBY: A few years ago, the now-defunct Reebok Boston Track Club kitted out its athletes with partner brand Adidas’ super shoes because Reebok’s own sneakers weren’t up to scratch. Fast-forward a few years, and Reebok seems to have traded athlete sponsorships for super shoe R&D. The FloatZig X1 is Reebok’s first true player in the super shoe market, and I was hyped to test it out.

While you shouldn’t judge a book (or a shoe) by its cover, the FloatZig X1’s appearance had me rooting for it to run well. Call me a hypocrite since I’ve been critical of Brooks’ eyesore fluorescent yellow colorways before, but the tri-color outsole of bright green blended with blue and turquoise is a great look. A white upper is always a bit of a risk, but a shoe designed for road racing gets a free pass here.

Reebok has labeled this shoe a “high-performance running shoe designed for marathon racing and long-distance training” that’s built with speed and stability in mind. The FloatZig X1 features a full-length carbon fiber plate sandwiched between layers of dual-density midsole foam for a responsive ride, so let’s see if the filling lives up to the hype.

What we like about the Reebok FloatZig X1

RENALDO: If it wasn’t obvious before, I really enjoyed the FloatZig 1 and am absolutely over the moon about the FloatZig X1. From the first slip-on, you can already feel the dual-density midsole react to every push and toe wiggle as you get used to the fit. It’s almost as if the shoe is telling you it’s ready to get going. Keeping the zig-zag motif, which I’m really starting to love, there’s a 1.5 mm rubber outsole cut across each of the segments.

To keep your foot in place, Reebok has created what they’re calling a Speedshift Upper, a super light and breathable mesh that does everything your basic high-performance upper offers. It has a lightweight feel, with breathability and some flex without giving up the shoe’s structural integrity. To top all of this off, Reebok’s added a full carbon fiber plate to the mix to make a very solid racing option for the marathon distance.

The shoe itself performs very well, too. The dual-density foam, combined with the full-length carbon plate, provides a firm yet bouncy ride. It honestly feels like a great reprieve from the super max-cushion wave we’ve all been riding for the past two years in the running sphere. While not advertised with a rocker, the geometry of the FloatZig X1 allows for a very natural roll from heel to toe to toe-off, making strides easy and, most importantly, fun!

For our review pair, Ruby and I seem to have the same colorway: a very bright electric blue that fades into a highlighter yellow and a beautiful, poptastic teal. Once again, the design brings nostalgia not only through its color choices but also by incorporating Reebok’s logo into the shoe’s anatomy.

RUBY: For a high-stack shoe, the FloatZig X1 is refreshingly stable, a product of its dual-density midsole. At first sight, the stack height appears wildly tall, but it really is just how the midsole blends with the upper and the colorway that’s deceiving. Coming in at 33 mm in the heel with a 6 mm drop to 27 mm in the forefoot, the FloatZig X1 is on the lower end of the stack height spectrum when it comes to supershoes and marathon racers.

According to my scale, at least, the FloatZig X1 weighs in at 9.1oz for a US M9, which isn’t super lightweight. In fact, this shoe is certainly heavier than most of its competitors, yet it feels surprisingly light underfoot.

Dubbed the Speedshift Upper, the FloatZig X1’s deconstructed engineered mesh hugs the foot really well for a great locked-down fit that’s true to size. From heel to toe, bottom to top, this is a well-fitting shoe that had me running without any fear of blisters or hotspots, almost feeling at one with my body. The thin, white mesh upper is super breathable and well-ventilated, ideal for summer running. I like the addition of the reinforced upper tip at the end of the shoe to add more protection and durability if you find yourself dragging your feet as you fatigue or if you hit a rock or root.

Rather than a totally exposed outsole, Reebok’s grooved rubber layer covers the midsole foam, adding durability and grip. While many supershoes have been criticized for their performance — or lack thereof — in wet and slippery conditions, the FloatZig X1’s added outsole traction should give you the confidence to send it rain or shine.

What we don’t like about the Reebok FloatZig X1

RENALDO: Honestly, the FloatZig X1 feels like Reebok almost knows exactly what you need in a racer. Almost…

The first thing that jumps out at me is the tongue. This could have really benefited from a more elastic tongue. Something I noticed right away is how stiff the tongue can feel when adjusting or pulling, which leaves the shoe feeling only a tad bit off when compared to the comfort of its competition. “Cheap” is a word I don’t want to use here, but it’s unfortunately the first thing that comes to mind.

For $200, you don’t want anything to feel cheap. Next is the plate itself. It sits a little high in the midfoot, something that isn’t bad at all on the run, but once you’re run is over, you’ll want to get this shoe off pronto. If I had to guess, this is probably what wearing pumps feels like.

RUBY This doesn’t really fit as a true complaint, but it is something to be aware of. Unlike the majority of shoes on the market now, as a 130-pound female, I’ve found that the FloatZig X1 needs to be broken in a bit, though this may be different for larger runners. Worded differently, the FloatZig X1 felt better after logging 20-plus miles than it did out of the box. I’ll admit, my first run was underwhelming. If I hadn’t read Reebok’s marketing material, I wouldn’t have placed the FloatZig X1 in the supershoe category, and I’m not sure I would now, either.

The FloatZig X1 is missing the bounce and responsiveness of other brands’ superfoams, so I question how much it would save your legs over a marathon. It’s no secret I want a soft, bouncy ride out of my supershoes, but runners who prefer a firmer feel might really like them. I still don’t think it offers the same energy return and responsiveness of other supershoes, though for a first iteration, Reebok has done a good job. I’d compare this shoe with the original Asics Metaspeed Sky and Saucony Endorphin Pro: a big improvement on old-school racing flats, but still stable and firm underfoot. It’s safe to say Reebok has entered the supershoe market, but it’s roughly 5 years behind the major players like Nike, Asics, and Adidas. That said, we’ve seen how quickly Puma has closed the gap, so it might only be a couple of years until Reebok has itself a comparable supershoe.

Not to pile on, but the midsole stack height gives the false expectation of a softer, highly cushioned shoe. The takeaway: not all high-stack shoes are super soft and squishy. The more densely packed midsole foam makes for a firmer ride. Call me a hypocrite, but by no means is the shoe firm just firmer than other supershoes. This could be the perfect shoe for runners who don’t enjoy the super soft and potentially unstable feel of other supershoes.

One other thing to note is that the gap in the outsole rubber is the perfect rock pocket! While I didn’t feel anything on the run, on several occasions afterward, I found small sticks, rocks, and other debris lodged in the outsole cutout.

Final thoughts on the Reebok FloatZig X1

RENALDO: The FloatZig X1 has been my go-to shoe ever since I received it. We’re in the middle of Summer Grit here at Believe in the Run, and it’s been the greatest companion I could ask for on these super hot (hottest ever?) Baltimore summer runs. It’s easy to run in — a real no-muss, no-fuss marathon shoe that will keep you going for many, many miles. And at $200, it’s kind of a steal for what you’re getting. A breath of fresh air to the marathon distance, I’m super excited to see what Reebok creates next.

RUBY: I can honestly say this is the best Reebok shoe I’ve run in. Okay, I’ll admit it’s also the only one I’ve worn, but seriously, this is a great trainer. While the FloatZig X1 is a couple of iterations from being competitive in the supershoe market, I’ll continue wearing it as an uptempo daily trainer, perfect for steady and long runs.

As I’ve mentioned above, if you enjoyed the first-generation supershoes with their denser midsoles and slightly firmer feel, check out the FloatZig X1. Retailing for $200, the FloatZig X1 is significantly cheaper than other marathon racing shoes, making it a more affordable training option for long workouts and faster runs.

Not to flog a dead horse, but this isn’t a trampoline underfoot; however, what is lost in bounce is compensated (in part) by stability. Most importantly, remember to give this shoe a couple of chances before you make up your mind: like a fine wine that gets better with age, the FloatZig X1 needs time to shine.

You can pick up the Reebok FloatZig X1 for $200 directly from Reebok by using the buttons below.