Receiving the new Reebok Forever Floatride Energy has brought a sense of nostalgia for me. While I do have Reebok apparel for sports, I have not considered this brand for running shoes for a very long time.
To put things in context, I grew up in the 1980s when aerobics was the most popular form of exercise, dance inspired movies like “Footloose” and “Flashdance” were the rave, and the Reebok Pump were the coolest shoes you could put on your feet.
Fast forward to today. Running is the new “in” exercise and there has been a notable change from heel to midfoot striking when you are considering new shoes. Consequently, shoe designs have changed to fit this new era of exercise and subsequent running style. New brands of running shoes have emerged and many of the older brands have been hard-pressed to evolve and update to follow the trends.
Reebok, in terms of the running scene, has followed this new trend. I now associate Reebok shoes with fitness and specifically gym workouts, bootcamps, crossfit training and Spartan Races. For running, however, Reebok had not made my list until now with the Reebok Forever Floatride Energy running shoe.
First Impressions
The Reebok Forever Floatride Energy uses a foam midsole for lightweight responsive cushioning. Think “Boost” by adidas in terms of the foam midsole but with a few modifications. The shoe’s medial midsole geometry is engineered for a neutral foot motion and a 10mm heel offset. It also incorporates a lightweight heel counter for locked-in heel stability. The shoe also has a full carbon rubber outsole for a smooth ride and durability; and it uses a mesh upper for breathability and support. This model is designed for everyday running and for all running levels.
The design of my pair was a combination of cobalt, navy and white upper, and gold coloured soles. Not my first choice of colour combination and the materials, design, and lacing system all look ordinary. It was not ugly, just perhaps a generation behind and nothing to get excited about. To be fair, a good pair of running shoes is not made by the outer design but by the inner substance.
While the aesthetics of this pair of running shoes was not up my personal liking, it was time to put them on to see how they perform.
I wear a size US10/UK9 generally, and while there are some brands and shoes that run true to size, this one does not. Typically, US10 translates to EUR 44, but in this case Reebok’s US10 is set to EUR 43. The size of this shoe is about a half to a full size bigger than standard. This is something to note; it is not a big deal if you try it on at the retail store but be aware if you order online.
In regards to price, at S$139, I do think that this pair of Reebok offers good value against similar models. Competing brands in this quality range are priced at premiums of 20% or more of the cost of the Reebok Forever Floatride Energy.
On The Go
I clocked three runs with this Forever Floatride Energy: a 6km interval session, a slightly fast 5km run and an easy paced 10km run. Keeping in mind that this pair is half to a full size bigger than what I need, surprisingly there were no issues.
For the interval session, I thought that the pair was not too responsive. Perhaps the soles were a little too thick to have a good feel on the ground, but the responsiveness was not where I wanted it to be. The reality is I was just pushing things a bit, this model was never meant to be a track shoe but they responded like they should under the conditions.
For the 5km and 10km runs, everything was great. The cushioning was supportive, there were no pressure points on the shoes, and it was generally breathable. On top of that, the Traction was acceptable to running in the recent wet conditions. There were no complaints on these runs and, after all, this is why the Reebok Forever Floatride Energy were made.
Who should purchase the Forever Floatride Energy?
In summary, Reebok’s Forever Floatride Energy is relatively cheap and is a versatile pair or shoes. If you can get past the dated aesthetics and get a size that fits you perfectly, I think you can get good value out of this pair of shoes.
If you are budget conscious and do need a decent pair that can do daily errands and general running routines, this is a good pair to have.
If you’re a serious runner and already have your good pair of shoes for race day but need a second pair of trainers as a spare, then the Reebok Floatride Energy will not disappoint.
Or if you’re a serious runner and already have your good pair of shoes for race day, but need a second pair of trainers as spares, then the Reebok Forever Floatride Energy won’t disappoint.
The Reebok Forever Floatride Energy is now available for S$139 in two designs: Crushed Cobalt and Black. They can be purchased at Reebok stores and selected Royal Sporting House stores listed below. Additional collections and colorways will launch throughout the year.
Where can you purchase?
- Reebok: Velocity City @ Novena #02-58/59, Suntec City #02-468, Vivo City #02-111/113/li>
- Royal Sporting House: Tanglin Mall #01-21/24, ION Orchard #B4-26, Causeway Point #02-02, Tampines Mall #02-17, Junction 8 #02-15/16, North Point #02-43/45, Compass One #02-22, Parkway Parade #01-58/59/62, Jurong Point #03-24/25, Bukit Panjang #01-33/34, JEM #03=-37/39/40
