Reebok Floatride Vitality X Introduction
I ran my first marathon in a Reebok pace shoe: the Floatride Run Quick. I wished one thing which was mild, energetic, and comfy.
At the moment, the Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit was virtually unattainable to purchase and the Run Quick was one of many solely different trainers that used PEBA in its midsole. With the introduction of tremendous footwear from different manufacturers, I haven’t raced in a Reebok since then.
From 2005 to 2022, Reebok was a subsidiary of Adidas. Throughout this time, Adidas spent cash on creating their very own marathon tremendous shoe however didn’t spend something on creating a Reebok tremendous shoe.
Reebok athletes had been allowed to race within the Adidas Adios Professional as a result of there was no aggressive Reebok racer. Reebok has not created a maximalist racer with a stiff, carbon-loaded midsole, till the Vitality X.
Reebok states that the Vitality X was designed for marathon racing and long-distance coaching. It weighs 9.1 oz (258 g) for a males’s US 9 which is comparatively heavy for a racer, particularly contemplating that it has a forefoot solely carbon plate. It has a 6 mm drop and prices $170 which is far decrease than the common tremendous shoe.
At the moment, the Vitality X isn’t very broadly out there. You may’t purchase it in Malaysia or Singapore however I managed to discover a pair in Thailand. Reebok trainers have been way more troublesome to seek out since Adidas offered Reebok.
Reebok Floatride Vitality X First Impressions
My first run was a steady-paced 10K and I actually loved it. Clean, steady and full of life was how the trip felt. The factor that I favored most about it was how pure its transitions felt- the trip felt “acquainted”.
It began raining closely in the course of the run and the higher picked up various water weight within the padding across the collar which isn’t factor contemplating it’s a racing shoe.
The shoe that it jogged my memory of was the Skechers Razor 4. Each footwear will not be tremendous stiff as a result of they’ve carbon within the forefoot solely. The Vitality X felt softer and extra rockered than the Razor 4.
The Vitality X felt extra like a coaching shoe than a racer to me because of its relaxed transitions and its substantial weight.
Reebok Floatride Vitality X Higher
The Flexweave higher is mostly comfy with good foot lockdown. I discover the match to be a bit longer than common however nonetheless true to dimension. It really works finest for me with medium-thick socks. The toe field and the midfoot are fairly slim so I don’t suggest it for wide-footed runners.
Breathability is sweet however removed from one of the best in the marketplace. I discover the rear of the shoe to be a bit too cumbersome with an excessive amount of padding across the collar for a racing shoe.
There’s some vital tongue slide as a result of there isn’t a loop on the center of the tongue for the laces to undergo. There’s additionally no reflectivity on the Vitality X.
Reebok Floatride Vitality X Sole Unit
The Vitality X doesn’t really feel like a brilliant shoe, however I didn’t anticipate it to since you get what you pay for and it has a $170 price ticket, not a $250 one.
It appears like a pace coach, a bit mellower, a bit slower and a bit decrease to the bottom than a brilliant shoe. It doesn’t possess that magical sensation that appears like you may run just like the wind once you put it on.
I used it for quite a lot of paces and it feels most comfy between 4:30 and 5:30 per km (7:15 and eight:52 per mile). Its carbon plate setup is the factor that holds it again essentially the most from desirous to go sooner than 4:30 per km.
Paces slower than 5:30 per km additionally really feel comfy, nevertheless I discover that it urges me to go sooner once I’m doing straightforward paces. It feels very steady, even at sluggish paces because of how large its base is, so I’d contemplate it a flexible shoe.
The forefoot plate within the Vitality X does two issues, it retains the forefoot from flexing in order that the rocker can work, and it makes the forefoot extra snappy in order that power isn’t misplaced throughout toe-offs. The truth that it isn’t full-length makes the shoe much less propulsive as a result of some power continues to be misplaced within the midfoot the place the shoe flexes.
Lengthy runs within the Vitality X are actually pleasing. It has a gentle forefoot rocker which makes transitions really feel environment friendly and easy. The trip may be very smooth with out feeling mushy so it doesn’t take a toll in your legs.
Floatride foam, which makes up the midsole of the Vitality X is comparatively smooth and bouncy however the rebound isn’t as nice because the market leaders ZoomX, Lightstrike Professional, and Profly X. It’s additionally a bit too heavy for racing. It jogs my memory of a heavier model of Saucony’s PWRRUN PB.
Outsole sturdiness is superb as there’s loads of rubber on the outsole. You’ll don’t have any sturdiness points utilizing the Vitality X for coaching runs. The Vitality X is among the most sturdy racing footwear I’ve examined.
There are tiny bumps on the outsole rubber however traction continues to be under par. I slipped as soon as whereas it was raining and the pavement was moist as a result of the bumps don’t chunk into the bottom.
Reebok Floatride Vitality X Conclusions
The Vitality X just isn’t the tremendous shoe that I hoped for from Reebok. It feels extra like a pace coach than a racer because of its 9.1 oz (258 g) weight and its forefoot solely plate. The forefoot plate doesn’t supply as a lot propulsion as a full-length plate.
The Vitality X will attraction to you if you wish to strive a pleasant carbon-plated shoe for the primary time or if you would like a racer however you don’t like stiff tremendous footwear. It’s additionally a very sturdy shoe that can be utilized for loads of speedwork coaching.
For the Vitality X to be aggressive with the quickest footwear in the marketplace, it must drop not less than an oz. of weight. They’ll do that by including cutouts into the centre of the midsole or by decreasing a few of the outsole rubber. It additionally wants a full-length carbon plate in order that it features springboard ahead propelling help.
$170 is an effective value level however for $10 much less, you will get the ASICS Magic Pace which is a stiffer, firmer shoe that feels sooner. The Artist from Atreyu is one other less expensive possibility if it’s in the stores in your area. The Skechers Razor 4 is the closest shoe to the Vitality X. It has the same trip however is 1.1 oz (31 g) lighter and $40 cheaper so I’d fairly purchase the Razor as an alternative.
I received’t be utilizing the Vitality X for racing as a result of I’m fortunate sufficient to have sooner, lighter footwear out there. For racing, I desire one thing with a stiffer, extra aggressive trip.
The Vitality X is nevertheless one of the best long-distance racing possibility within the present Reebok lineup and I’m sure I might have run my first marathon sooner had I run within the Vitality X.
