If you’ve been a Nano user since the start you knew immediately the 5.0 was a different animal. Out of the box it had a completely different feel to its predecessors; stiff, flat, and not all that comfortable. Of course it looked the part, with gritty Reebok Crossfit design and “Kevlar” branded across the side. But as loyal Nano users, it let many of us down in terms of feel and performance.
After a year of lackluster reviews and abundant feedback, Reebok made certain to listen to its customers, releasing the highly updated 6.0 back in July. At first fit you can immediately tell…Reebok nailed it.
Although the 6.0 is constructed on the same platform at the 5’s (they only change the bottoms every two models), the upper was entirely reconstructed, and had a “ready to go” out-of-the-box feel, similar to the 3.0 and 4.0 models.
In addition, updates were made to the tongue, which was attached to the upper in the 5.0 model and led to some discomfort on top of the foot. It now feels much more comfortable, similar to older models.
The 6.0 is noticeably less stiff as well, which means a shorter break in period, if any, and they are comfortable to wear for hours on end. Parts of the shoe kept the Kevlar material however, so the construction was designed for a more comfortable fit without sacrificing durability. Also, a new abrasive fabric was added to the inner arch side of the shoe to protect against damage from rope climbs.
I waited to release this review until after I had worn the shoe for a few weeks. Many sites had reviews up immediately after the 6.0 was released, however I felt I couldn’t give an accurate assessment of the shoe after only wearing for a few workouts.
As mentioned, the shoe feels great out of the box, but I will say that that feeling has worn off over time. The shoes are still extremely comfortable to wear for hours on end, as I’m a coach and on my feet teaching classes for hours. However, the material they replaced over the toe seems to be breaking down quickly and loosing structure. I suppose this is the result of Reebok answering to it’s customers complaints. I expect a good 6 months of life from the 6.0’s from daily wear and weekly workouts.
PERFORMANCE:
- Feel solid and stable for Squats, Deadlifts, KB Swings, etc.
- Wearable for short distance runs. May not be the best for longer distance.
- Responsive, not too bulky for cutting, jumping, ladder drills, etc.
COMFORT:
- Very comfortable out of the box.
- Good snug fit across the top of the foot that holds it securely in place without discomfort.
- Sustained comfort for longer periods of standing, etc. No back, knee, heel pain.
- May want a running shoe for longer runs.
DESIGN:
- Great updated design. New logo on side looks better than the big number 05 from previous version.
- Color options limited upon first release, currently six average options. Expect more colorways from Reebok in near future.
VALUE:
- At $129/pair, in line with competing performance shoes.
- Worth the price if serious/regular Crossfitter or functional fitness athlete.