Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure Performance Review

Last year, we got word of Reebok’s renewed push into the running market with its FloatZig line. Then, we positively reviewed Reebok’s new daily trainer, the FloatZig 1. So, it wasn’t a surprise for an Adventure (AKA trail running) version of the FloatZig to show up at WearTesters HQ. But, how does the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure stack up to its many trail-focused competitors?

It’s also important that you understand the kind of runners who are reviewing these shoes. You can find full descriptions of Drew and Arune’s running at the bottom of this article. As for trail running, Drew does it whenever he’s testing trail shoes and increasingly now that he lives in Colorado. Meanwhile, Arune has built up to 30-35 miles of running per week (mostly on a treadmill) and this is his first trail running shoe review.

What is the Reebok Floatzig 1 Adventure?

Reebok describes it as:

LIGHTWEIGHT AND VERSATILE TRAIL RUNNING SHOES FOR ANY OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST

The outdoors are for everyone. Get out there and experience the mental and physical benefits of nature in these men’s Reebok trail and road running shoes. They’re built with full-length Springy Floatride Energy foam in a Zig shaped geometry that provides lightweight cushioning and energy return. A gravel and trail specific rubber outsole with angled lugs helps you keep your footing on uphill climbs and steep descents.

Fit

Arune: I’m really torn in this category, though let me give you the basic answer you want, I recommend going TTS (true to size) with your standard Reebok size, which is a Men’s 9.5 in my case.

I should remind y’all that I have a big ole Hobbit forefoot and a relatively normal width mid foot. So I was pleasantly surprised that the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure actually fit more comfortably for me than the standard FloatZig (which felt a bit more narrow and short).

While the forefoot is generally quite accommodating for my slightly wide feet, I was a bit thrown off by the way the toe box tapered at the front – there are moments where the shoe feels short and narrow despite offering pretty great toe splay.

My mid foot also felt a bit wide for the shoe once the recent LA heatwave and a few solid miles caused my feet to swell. It wasn’t enough to make me want a wider fit but it was noticeable and something that bothered me frequently enough to mention here.

I’ve also never had a pair of true trail runners and I definitely felt the difference. Is that normal, Drew?

Drew: I think Reebok’s idea here was to streamline the fit so that the wearer gets more security on the many uneven trail surfaces often strewn with rocks and roots. And I feel the back half of the shoe feels more secure in a good way. But the forefoot is where the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure loses me. As Arune mentioned, it tapers just a bit too much.

In trail running, while you want a tighter fit, you also want room to spread your toes in the forefoot. Spread toes increase balance and therefore stability as trails get tougher. That’s just not possible here, so it relegates the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure to non technical trails. That’s ok, just something to be aware of if you say, live in Colorado, and find yourself on difficult to navigate rock-filled trails on the regular.

Upper

Arune: I covered a lot in the Fit section but I want to circle back to that Los Angeles heatwave that I mentioned, because it confirmed that the mesh upper is quite breathable and comfortable in 100 degree temps. It also feels really thin and flexible on foot, which aids with the aforementioned toe splay.

I should add that the plush heel padding is incredibly comfortable but didn’t fully prevent heel slip for me.

Now, let’s talk about the looks. This is 100% what a Reebok shoe looks like to me as a kid born in the 80s and I’m glad to see the company leaning into this aesthetic with their runners. You know a classic Reebok shoe when you see it. The bright colors, the shape, and no one else does it like the Big Bok (Editor’s Note: that’s not a real nickname).

It’s also part of what makes the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure a FUN shoe, as we’ll discuss more – these look like shoes made for dynamic movement and you wanna move fast with these bright colors on your feet.

And it’s time for Drew’s favorite part of my upper sections.

Drew: I’d rather hear you recap the current General Hospital storylines.

Arune: So, you see, Sonny and Jason are on the out because Jason became an FBI informant to protect Carly, But she’s Sonny’s ex-wife and–

Drew: OH GOD…I retract my request, just annoy me with more laces convo.

Arune: The laces are WAY too long.

But, you know what? These shoes stay laced and they ain’t coming undone unless the packs of wild coyotes near the LA River catch up with you and tug on them (Editor’s Note: How wild can an animal be if it lives in the middle of LA?).

Drew: So Arune is right about the laces. They’re both too long and are super secure when tied.

The achilles pads at the heel helped keep me locked in and I didn’t get any heel slippage. The upper breathes well, looks awesome, and feels comfy all around.

Other than the aforementioned taper at the toes, the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure has a very good upper.

Midsole/Ride

Arune: I’m 210 pounds and am considered a heavy runner to all these running shoe companies. But as someone who weighed 240 pounds back in January, my relationship with running has changed dramatically.

This means I find a greater variety of shoes work for me in ways they wouldn’t before and that’s definitely true with the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure.

Let’s start with the Floatride Energy Foam that’s in the midsole – it’s one of our favorite running foams here at Weartesters and this is somehow even bouncier to me than the non-Adventure version (which could also be due to the aforementioned weight loss). I tend to be a heel striker and that benefits me here as the heel foam is especially responsive, really pushing me through a more natural gait than many other runners.

Speaking of the ride, I mentioned this is my first true trail running shoe and I think I may well be the perfect audience – the shoe is so light that I forgot about the big 4.5mm big lugs on the sole and enjoyed how I moved on everything from loose gravel to muddy inclines.

Off road is where these shoes shine, as one would expect – on the road I felt like I wanted a bit more pop and energy return, but on the simple trails I felt like I was getting just what I needed. I moved nimbly and quickly without ever feeling unstable, something that I have experienced with other max-cushioned runners when I’ve tried taking them out in similar conditions.

Drew, you’re much more experienced than me in this area. How did my experience compare to yours? Am I making bad assumptions about trail running?

Drew: The beauty of trail running is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it. And it sneakily involves a lot of power hiking because some uphills are just too gnarly to run…even for the most elite trail runners in the world.

But generally, trail running shoes have firmer midsoles to help with stability, and that’s why the cushion of the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure can shine. It’s bouncy and has good energy return but isn’t too squishy. I actually find this version of Floatride is a great fit for trail shoes.

What wasn’t a good fit were the six channels (the Zig in FloatZig) found in the midsole just above the outsole. They are rock and mud collectors. While they look cool, midsole holes of any type are a bad idea for trail shoes. All they do is help you take part of the trail home with you.

Traction

Arune: While I haven’t tried the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure on any complex trails, I found the grip to be wonderful on wet surfaces and on gravel.

No complaints on my end.

Drew: The Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure’s outsole is a very simple pattern but it does a fantastic job. Slippage was rare and confidence was high when zooming down trails.

Is the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure worth $150?

Arune: For someone like me who is just beginning to explore trail running, this is the cost of an average daily trainer and so it’s in line with my expectations.

This isn’t a shoe I’d treat as a road or treadmill shoe for your daily miles, but it’s also not meant for that. The Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure is meant for going off-road and in that regard it didn’t disappoint.

There may well be better options at that price, as Drew can better note, but this feels like a great first trail runner to use as my point of comparison moving forward.

Drew: The area right around the $150 price point is a crowded one in the trail space but most of the shoes I like better than the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure are priced at $160 or above. So I think the value here is fair. You’re getting what you paid for. Also, Reebok always has coupons so you’ll typically be able to find this shoe for 10-25% off.

Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure Summary

Arune: Acknowledging that this is my first trail runner, the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure is a great shoe for the casual trail runner like me and I plan to get lots of miles in with these across some state parks this summer.

Drew: Thinking of the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure as a beginner’s trail or hiking shoe is the right way to approach it. It gives you everything you need to start having trail adventures without the bells and whistles you may or may not need depending on how far you go down the trail running rabbit hole.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 42, 6’6″ 195lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Arune Singh (age 42, 5’11”, 220lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming from Deadboys Fitness, founded by Colby “Seth Rollins” Lopez and Josh Gallegos, along with logging 30-40 miles of running per week. He also has a medical history of Sleep Apnea and Myasthenia Gravis, meaning Arune’s focus is on lean muscle mass.

Disclosure

While Reebok did send pairs of the Reebok FloatZig 1 Adventure to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.