Reebok Floatride Power X Introduction
I ran my first marathon in a Reebok velocity shoe: the Floatride Run Quick. I needed one thing which was gentle, energetic, and comfy.
At the moment, the Nike Vaporfly 4% Flyknit was virtually unimaginable 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 growing their very own marathon tremendous shoe however didn’t spend something on growing 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 Power X.
Reebok states that the Power 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 Power X isn’t very extensively out there. You’ll be able to’t purchase it in Malaysia or Singapore however I managed to discover a pair in Thailand. Reebok trainers have been far more tough to seek out since Adidas offered Reebok.
Reebok Floatride Power X First Impressions
My first run was a steady-paced 10K and I actually loved it. Easy, secure and vigorous was how the journey felt. The factor that I appreciated most about it was how pure its transitions felt- the journey 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 a great factor contemplating it’s a racing shoe.
The shoe that it jogged my memory of was the Skechers Razor 4. Each footwear aren’t tremendous stiff as a result of they’ve carbon within the forefoot solely. The Power X felt softer and extra rockered than the Razor 4.
The Power X felt extra like a coaching shoe than a racer to me as a result of its relaxed transitions and its substantial weight.
Reebok Floatride Power 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 measurement. It really works finest for me with medium-thick socks. The toe field and the midfoot are fairly slender so I don’t advocate it for wide-footed runners.
Breathability is sweet however removed from the perfect 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 important 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 Power X.
Reebok Floatride Power X Sole Unit
The Power X doesn’t really feel like an excellent 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 seems like a velocity coach, a bit mellower, a bit slower and a bit decrease to the bottom than an excellent shoe. It doesn’t possess that magical sensation that seems like you possibly can run just like the wind if you put it on.
I used it for a wide range 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 probably the most from desirous to go quicker than 4:30 per km.
Paces slower than 5:30 per km additionally really feel comfy, nonetheless I discover that it urges me to go quicker after I’m doing straightforward paces. It feels very secure, even at gradual paces as a result of how huge its base is, so I’d think about it a flexible shoe.
The forefoot plate within the Power 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 Power X are actually pleasurable. It has a gentle forefoot rocker which makes transitions really feel environment friendly and easy. The journey could be very tender with out feeling mushy so it doesn’t take a toll in your legs.
Floatride foam, which makes up the midsole of the Power X is comparatively tender 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 haven’t any sturdiness points utilizing the Power X for coaching runs. The Power X is likely one of the most sturdy racing footwear I’ve examined.
There are tiny bumps on the outsole rubber however traction continues to be beneath par. I slipped as soon as whereas it was raining and the pavement was moist as a result of the bumps don’t chew into the bottom.
Reebok Floatride Power X Conclusions
The Power X shouldn’t be the tremendous shoe that I hoped for from Reebok. It feels extra like a velocity coach than a racer as a result 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 Power X will attraction to you if you wish to attempt 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 Power X to be aggressive with the quickest footwear in the marketplace, it must drop at the least an oz of weight. They will do that by including cutouts into the centre of the midsole or by decreasing among the outsole rubber. It additionally wants a full-length carbon plate in order that it beneficial properties springboard ahead propelling help.
$170 is an effective value level however for $10 much less, you may get the ASICS Magic Velocity which is a stiffer, firmer shoe that feels quicker. The Artist from Atreyu is one other less expensive possibility if it’s available for purchase in your area. The Skechers Razor 4 is the closest shoe to the Power X. It has an analogous journey however is 1.1 oz (31 g) lighter and $40 cheaper so I’d quite purchase the Razor as an alternative.
I gained’t be utilizing the Power X for racing as a result of I’m fortunate sufficient to have quicker, lighter footwear out there. For racing, I desire one thing with a stiffer, extra aggressive journey.
The Power X is nonetheless the perfect long-distance racing possibility within the present Reebok lineup and I’m sure I might have run my first marathon quicker had I run within the Power X.
