Reebok Floatzig 2 Performance Review

Last year’s Reebok FloatZig 1 immediately took a place on our Best Budget Running Shoes and Best Running Shoes for Beginners lists. We also reviewed the slightly beefier trail variant. It was a solid shoe that had some areas where it could easily be improved. So when the Reebok FloatZig 2 arrived with a new midsole foam and a couple other tweaks, we were eager to dive into testing. 

Did the Reebok FloatZig 2 and its incredibly appealing price point become an even better shoe?

What is the Reebok Floatzig 2?

According to Reebok, the FloatZig 2 is “springy” and “made with a supportive upper, energy-returning Superfloat+ cushioning and responsive carbon rubber. Translation? You get a soft, smooth ride through easy miles and fast-paced runs.”

This is the first time a brand has translated its own marketing speak for us—definitely not needed, but it made me chuckle. And it makes my job easier.

Cushion

Arune: The cushion and resultant ride of the FloatZig 1 was perhaps our favorite feature of what became a standout daily trainer of 2024.

And somehow, Reebok’s made it even better with the sequel—something that we don’t necessarily expect from our favorite running shoes.

The new SuperFloat+ foam combined with re-engineered ZigTech in the midsole makes this an even springier ride than the first iteration. Reebok touts even higher energy return with each stride, and that’s absolutely true here. The FloatZig has gone from an awesome beginner-to-intermediate running shoe to something every runner will appreciate with how it encourages a more efficient gait, rolling perfectly from your landing through toe-off for maximum speed.

This is how a running shoe should feel underfoot: so lively and fun that you’re not thinking about the shoe because you’re too lost in the ride. You can enjoy an easy run with the FloatZig 2 but also pick up the pace when you want to work on some speed training.

I’ll say this: I don’t recommend the FloatZig 2 as a walking shoe. This is a bouncy midsole and not stable enough for me to do anything in it but run. That’s not a knock on the shoe, but it is something worth noting as you think about what you want from your purchase.

Drew, how was it for you?

Drew: The new, supercritical SuperFloat+ foam is both lighter and bouncier while maintaining a high degree of stability. Floatride Energy is a good foam, but SuperFloat+ blows it out of the water in every way. It’s an all-around upgrade that improves impact protection in addition to weight and springiness.

It’s still a little bulky, and you’ll have to work to pick up the pace; but once you’re there, the ride makes it easy to maintain a quicker cadence. The Reebok FloatZig 2 is more comfortable and adept at easy or recovery paces, but it’ll speed up in a pinch.

I found it could go 8+ miles without issue. It’s a little bulky and firm for double digits, but that’s not really the target audience. The target audience is young runners, those running for cross-training with other sports, and beginners. All of them will find this midsole more than adequate and a great value at its $120 price point. It’s a rare shoe that delivers this underfoot experience for such a low price.

Support

Arune: As I noted above, this is a shoe meant for moving at least at a leisurely jogging pace. Walking around in it caused some ankle and lower back pain because it wasn’t stable.

However, this shoe has a wider base than the previous iteration, and that means you’ll get full toe splay in the FloatZig 2—a welcome bit of news for slightly wide Hobbit-footers like me.

Drew: The Reebok FloatZig 2 has a generous toebox which allows for toe splay and improves stability. And though the foam is bouncy, I didn’t experience the instability that Arune did. I found it great for casual wear and getting in my run. It’s got just enough support to be a good vacation shoe in addition to a dependable daily trainer.

Traction

Arune: I had no issues on hot pavement, gravel, and even slightly wet roads.

There’s a whole lotta rubber on the sole, and this is the kind of shoe where the midsole will give out well before that sole shows much wear at all.

Drew: The dry traction of the Reebok FloatZig 2 delivers even on dusty paths. However, I had trouble with wet/dry transitions and some wet roads and sidewalks. The open nature of the ZigTech pattern behind the outsole rubber leaves some areas uncovered, and that can be felt with slight slippage in some conditions.

It’s not enough to dissuade me from recommending the shoe but is something to be aware of in case you have another choice on wet days.

Upper

Arune: The engineered mesh upper is accommodating, walking the fine line between sock upper and a more traditional running shoe upper. The result is a ton of comfort with the way it hugs your foot without ever strangling it. Even when you pull on those laces, the shoe never feels suffocating and—guess what—the laces are always the right length even with my more voluminous foot. [Editor’s Note: May we all rejoice. Arune is at last fully satisfied with a shoe’s lace length.]

The upper also looks awesome. This is a shoe that screams both 90s vintage Reebok vibes and summertime fun. I got a lot of compliments running around LA in these, and folks of my age [Editor’s Note: 43 for those scoring at home] really recognized the Reebok aesthetic of their youth. I hope the company continues to combine new technology with retro looks because they have a real winner on their hands.

Drew: The Reebok FloatZig 2 is so aesthetically pleasing—probably the best-looking Reebok running shoe…ever. The upper is also plenty breathable up front with padding in the right places. The tongue and heel collar especially up the comfort. And the nature of the tongue being semi-guesseted with the shoe’s internal half-bootie helps prevent the tongue from slipping as well as helps lock in the midfoot. Great job by the design team to absolutely nail this upper.

Is the Reebok Floatzig 2 wide foot friendly?

Arune: Yes, absolutely. Choose your normal running shoe size, and you’ll be very happy. I’m not saying a true wide fit wouldn’t be appreciated, but this standard fit will accommodate a whole lotta people like me who find running shoe sizing to be rather inconsistent.

Drew: The Reebok FloatZig 2’s length is perfect so going true-to-size is the move for narrow, average, and wide-footers. The FloatZig 1 had enough room for most wide-footers, but the improved toebox opens this up to almost all runners.

Is the Reebok Floatzig 2 worth $120?

Arune: Absolutely YES.

This is a versatile running shoe that is priced well below the median daily trainer cost of $150 and accommodates a number of different runners based on the geometry we’ve discussed.

Now for some heavier runners like me it wouldn’t be my first choice, but it’s a versatile shoe in my arsenal and one I can take out for some short, fun runs.

Drew: Last year’s FloatZig 1 was $130. The Reebok FloatZig 2 is $120 and packs a better midsole, improved upper/fit, and weighs less. I can only think of one other instance in my 10+ years of reviewing shoes where a shoe line went down in price versus the previous model and got a lot better at the same time. This is a big win for anyone that’s considering this shoe.

How to use the Reebok Floatzig 2

The Reebok FloatZig 2 is best used for daily miles at an easy or recovery pace, jogging, or general use. It’s also useful for looking good [Editor’s Note: *WINK].

Reebok Floatzig 2 Summary

Arune: It’s still only summer, but Reebok already has a strong contender for one of the year’s top daily trainers in the FloatZig 2–one perfect for all kinds of runners.

If I were recommending shoes for new runners, the Reebok FloatZig 2 would be near the top of the list–and I can’t imagine many folks not enjoying it. 

Drew: The budget market for quality running shoes, especially post-tariffs, is a desert. In this forced analogy, the Reebok FloatZig 2 is an oasis. [Editor’s Note: Drew just went from mere reviewer to poet…] And it’s a high-performing oasis at that…which I guess means crystal clear, pure water. [Editor’s Note: Okay, this analogy is now lost in that same desert and dying of thirst]. If you want to keep your spending on a running shoe low, the FloatZig 2 is the only $120 option that maximizes value.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): 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 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): 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 provide pairs of the Floatzig 2 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.