There are lots of reasons to get excited about the new year, but for the team at WearTesters, it’s hard to beat the thrill of knowing you’ll get to try out the newest models of your favorite shoes – from cross training, to running, to basketball. And the Reebok Nano X5 is no exception.
The Reebok Nano series is one of our longtime favorites. It’s a shoe synonymous with everything from CrossFit, to functional fitness, to some of the most spirited, tribal debates between folks at gyms across the world.
The team here has worn every iteration of the Nano since it launched; and while we had some real questions about the direction of the line, we felt that last year’s Reebok Nano X4 marked a distinct improvement that could signal a return to form.
So when pairs of the Reebok Nano X5 arrived at WearTesters HQ, we were excited to see how they stacked up to some of our recent favorite training shoes. Does the X5 bring the Nano closer to again ruling the fitness world, or is it a step back?
Please note that while Reebok sent us pairs of the Nano X5, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.
Reebok Nano X5
Price: $150
Weight: 12 oz. / 340g
Drop: 7mm
Sizing: True to size
How do the Authors Train?
Arune Singh (age 43, 5’11”, 210lbs): Trains daily with functional fitness programming provided by 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.
Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Trains daily with a focus on running, strength training, and mobility. He writes the majority of our running shoe reviews and runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and his growing affinity for long-distance races. He regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races. His strength training and mobility regimen center around maintaining flexibility and lifting heavy to build power as a counterbalance to all the running he’s doing. His number one focus is staying injury-free so he can keep up the sweet gig of reviewing shoes for a living.

What is the Reebok Nano X5?
Reebok describes it as follows:
“Happy Nanoversary! To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the iconic training shoe, Reebok set out to make the most comfortable version yet. These unisex shoes have a dual-density midsole with firmer foam in the heel for stability and more responsive foam in the forefoot for comfort while running and jumping. A plush collar keeps the foot locked down and eliminates distractions. A decoupled, Metasplit outsole enhances runnability.”

Training
Arune: Look, I’ll be honest: you’re not going to hear any complaints about the Reebok Nano X5 as a training shoe from me.
[Editor’s Note: Arune, you’re supposed to save this for the end.]From the moment the Reebok Nano X5 hit my feet, I knew this shoe was going to be a lot of fun. Everything just feels right – from the way your heel sinks into the cushion, to the wider toebox that allows for full toe splay.
This is the kind of training shoe that truly seems like it can do it all. And truthfully, it does it all QUITE well, even if at first glance you’re not quite sure if it’s any different than the Nano X4 or X3.
Most people picking up these shoes will do so for lifting, and they’re in for a treat – starting with the dual-response EVA midsole that provides cushioning without losing groundfeel. That means your high-intensity and high-impact movements won’t beat up your feet (or any other joints either).
When it comes to core lower-body movements like squats or lunges, the decoupled, Metasplit outsole grips the floor while still allowing for natural foot movement. The Nano X5 extends its remarkable performance to cleans and snatches (movements where other shoes often lose their stability once you get on your toes). There’s an awesome energy return from the midsole that I don’t think I’ve felt much with a training shoe – like a controlled bounce that rewarded me for planting my feet and got me back up on my toes quickly when needed.
The exceptional stability carries over to single-leg movements, like Bulgarian split squats or Romanian deadlifts, where I felt more stability than in nearly any other training shoe in quite a while. No wobbling, no readjusting. Somehow my foot felt in the right place every time I set up for the movement.
That of course continues to bodyweight movements too, as the premium Flexweave upper moves with your foot instead of restricting it – meaning everything from burpees to skaters feels natural but secure.
I know that the phrase “no notes” is overused online, but I truly have…no notes. Not even any complaints about the laces [Editor’s Note: which is saying something given Arune’s history with lace-based grievances].
You feel the same way, Drew?
Drew: With the amount Arune gushed over the Reebok Nano X5, I think I can just call it good, right?
[Editor’s Note: Then you’re not getting paid.]Alright, I guess we’re doing this.
The Reebok Nano X5’s stability is elite (as Arune mentioned multiple times), but what really impressed me is how natural the Nano X5 feels despite the elite stability. When I get this much stability from a cross training shoe, the back end typically feels clunky, which makes any type of fast movement, cardio, or even walking a bit balky. There’s none of that in the Nano X5.
Walking feels normal. But then as soon you plant your foot, it’s not going anywhere unless you want it to. And based on my previous experiences testing training footwear, this is one of the rare shoes that achieves this feeling.
The cushion under the toebox is a plush EVA like you’d find in a modern running shoe. That pays dividends for any movement, and we’ll get to that later. The heel uses a more normal blend of EVA, or I should say, one you’d expect on a cross training shoe. It’s got minimal squish and stays firm as the weight piles on your back for exercises like PR-level squats. This contributes to the great stability while still offering a bit of cushion for landings, walking, and agility drills.
And speaking of agility, the Reebok Nano X5 is one of the most agile Nanos since the early days. It moves nicely with the foot and the Metasplit outsole allowed the right part of my forefoot to grip the floor at the right time as I did things on uneven surfaces like the admittedly subpar turf installation at my local gym.
For all those reasons, it’s my favorite lifting shoe right now and is one of the few shoes that can compete with and beat the GORUCK Ballistic Trainer.

Cardio
Arune: One thing we continually mention is that training shoes aren’t good for running.
Well…Reebok has other ideas.
I am pleasantly surprised to say that I enjoy running and sprinting in the Reebok Nano X5. This isn’t about to become my daily trainer; but I found a very natural, comfortable gait when I was running in the Nano X5 for warmups, programmed sprints, and even when I took it outdoors to walk my dog.
The aforementioned midsole cushioning also lends itself perfectly to rowing, where I set multiple PRs in these shoes. I’ve enjoyed the Nano X5 so much that I haven’t used any other training shoe on the rowing machine since I got it.
I’ve also worn the Reebok Nano X5 for some martial arts classes and found it wasn’t bad in that context either. Though I’m not sure the shoe was really made to take repeated, frequent beating against a heavy bag or pads.
Drew: Arune said he was “pleasantly surprised” with the cardio performance, and I 100% agree with that sentiment. While I won’t go as far as to say I enjoyed running in it, the Reebok Nano X5 handled itself well for 1-3 miles. Warmup miles, sprints, biking, jump rope, and the stair climber are totally doable in the Nano X5 – something I rarely say about training shoes these days.
The forefoot is just cushioned enough and the outsole flexible enough that the Nano X5 doesn’t feel rigid and uncomfortable when pushing hard into the ground during harder cardio efforts. It also rolls along nicely when the speed isn’t high and the goal is just to get blood pumping through my legs.
It’s one of the better options if you need a shoe that can handle a solid amount of cardio alongside weight workouts.

Comfort
Arune: In the Nano X4, I found the shoe felt just a smidge small. I wished it was a bit wider and a bit longer, but it was good enough.
With a newly-widened base, the Reebok Nano X5 has a more natural foot shape and will accommodate more feet than recent models. Add in the midsole I keep raving about, and it’s shocking to have such a comfy shoe that otherwise feels so light.
Cushioning and comfort usually mean bulk, but the Reebok Nano X5 keeps it light and lean.
No notes, as I keep saying.
Drew: The Flexweave upper on the Reebok Nano X5 crumples a little weirdly at the toe until it gets broken-in, but it feels a lot like a good knit build. It molds nicely to the foot, and there’s plenty of room in the toebox for toe splay (which pays dividends on lifts where your feet are planted and searching for extra strength).
I had such a good experience with the upper and all-around comfort of the shoe that I wore it for a long, cross-country travel day that included lots of airport walking and the foot swelling typical from a long flight. I can’t think of a better compliment for the upper…only a small portion of the shoes I own get called upon for travel days.

Fit
Arune: You’re noticing a trend… The Reebok Nano X5 fits exactly the way you want. Go TTS (true-to-size) with your standard training shoe size, and you should be set, unless you have a very wide foot.
I went with my standard 9.5, and even my Hobbit feet felt accommodated.
While my heel didn’t come out of my shoe, I almost had a tad too much space at times and felt a bit of heel slippage. It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but I’m curious how more standard-sized feet do in these.
Drew: My fairly standard feet enjoyed the extra room in the Reebok Nano X5 and never felt like they were swimming in the shoe. I didn’t experience the heel slippage that Arune did and stayed firmly planted on the footbed, despite trying some agile moves in these bad boys. Lengthwise, my normal size was perfect.
So, to steal a phrase from Arune, no notes [Editor’s Note: I also have no notes on this joke.]

Aesthetics
Arune: The Wife Test is the ultimate test for me: will she say, unprompted, that these look good?
The answer is yes. I received the White/Black/Energy Red colorway, and it’s made for the LA dress code of casual, but purposeful.
One day, Drew and I will be wearing our Reebok Nano X5s in Erewhon as I convince him to spend $23 on a Hailey Bieber smoothie.
Drew: This will never happen. Also, who’s Hailey Bieber? [Editor’s Note: Wikipedia]
Arune: Oh, it’ll happen. [Editor’s Note: why does it feel like Arune knows something we don’t…?]
But back to the shoes. The only real downside for me is that these shoes get dirty fast. The outer midsole and upper both got dirty really quickly using a rower, and those stains don’t want to come out. It’s a risk with any white upper, but I was surprised how fast these picked up coloring from the rower straps.
Drew: The Reebok Nano X5 looks solid: still like a cross training shoe but upscale enough to get worn by me on a long travel day. Still, I’m not wearing it casually very often…except maybe to Arune’s and my Erewhon smoothie date, I guess. [Editor’s Note: So it is happening…]

Is the Reebok Nano X5 worth $150?
Arune: It’s worth so much more.
Sure, it’s a $10 increase over last year’s X4, but this X5 comes out the gate strong with everything and sits in the median training shoe price point.
As I’ve noted above, there’s nothing the Reebok Nano X5 didn’t do well, and the price is nothing but fair – in addition to being cheaper than so many competitors.
Drew: Yes, the Reebok Nano X5 is worth $150, but the $10 price increase is a hard pill to swallow. Nothing in the materials changed enough to warrant the increase; so it seems entirely inflation-based…in which case I’d understand a $5 increase…but $10 feels a bit steep.
Luckily the Nano X5 performs well enough to justify the $150 price simply because basically all of its competitors are also priced at $150.

Reebok Nano X5 Final Verdict
Arune: The Reebok Nano X5 is my new favorite training shoe of the decade and a contender for my favorite training shoe of all time.
This shoe is excellent in all categories, enhanced my training, and doesn’t break the bank.
Buy this one with confidence, and then grab a second pair once Reebok has some sales. Hell, maybe you’ll even want a third because I can’t imagine how a Nano X6 could improve on it.
Drew: The Reebok Nano X5 is the new best Nano ever and one of the best cross training shoes on the market. Any complaints about it are relatively small, and it offers high performance all-around. If you’re in the gym on a regular basis, this is a top-tier option.
Any comments or comparisons to the Metcon 1 OG?
Metcon 1 OG is a more minimal shoe. Nano X5 is more stable, has more cushion, and a more comfortable upper. They’re similar in flexibility and durability. Outsole is close but maybe a slight win for the Nano X5.
Cool, thanks for the reply!