The Fitness Market is growing rapidly. More and more people are exercising every day, and with that in mind people are always on the lookout for a great shoe to fit their exercising needs.
There are a lot of different shoes to choose from, not just in terms of brand, but also specific designs that each brand offers.
The Reebok Speed TR Flexweave might be a great option for anyone that is doing a wide variety of training from CrossFit and Bootcamps to sprints and plyometrics. Let’s check out what this shoe is all about.
Design and Construction of the Reebok Speed TR Flexweave Cross Training Shoe
Starting from the heel, the Reebok Speed TR Flexweave features the duracage heel clip. This is provides heel and ankle support. Although this piece is a bit stiffer than the rest of the shoe, it still has a good amount of give and flexibility.
The low cut design around the ankle makes way for ankle mobility for exercises like back squats and cleans.
The sole of the shoe is partially constructed of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). This helps to reduce the amount of “squish” you get in your shoe when lifting weights, ensuring plenty of stability and support.
The mesh flexweave design offers to important benefits. First the shoe is incredibly light weighing in at just about half a pound. Also the flexweave design is breathable so you don’t get that soggy and sweaty feeling toward the end of your workouts.
Build Quality and Durability
Probably the most important thing for a training shoe is the build quality. Afterall you’ll be running, jumping, ducking and diving in these shoes! If the build quality isn’t up to snuff, they’ll fall apart quickly.
The Reebok Speed TR Flexweave is a lightweight shoe that breathes well, but don’t let it fool you, it’s built extremely well. In fact even after training in them 3-5 days a week for a few months, I have hardly noticed any deformation in their shape or fit.
It can be frustrating when you spend money on a pair of shoes that initially fit well, only for them to stretch out and not give you the proper support when exercising.
There are subtle design choices in the Flexweave that add to its long lasting construction. For example a small leather like layer around the toe to minimize damage in instances where your toes may drag in exercises like burpees, mountain climbers, etc…
I liked the Flexweave so much I actually purchased a second pair as my “walking around” shoes, and they’ve held up incredibly well even as we’re transitioning into the winter months here in New England.
Cushion and Support
Despite being minimlist in design, the TPU plate of the shoe (thermoplastic polyurethane) is on the stiffer side giving excellect stability and a surprising amount of support for those high impact moves like jumping rope or burpees. The 3mm drop of the TR Flexweave also encourages proper running mechanics for those sprints or short runs.
Grip
Grip is important for those who may be exercising in outdoor bootcamps or those who do exercises like rope climbs. The sole of the TR Flexweave is well textured providing a great amount of grip and stability. The Speed TR Flexweave also features Reebok’s “ropepro” rubber on the medial side of the sole, giving extra durability and grip for rope climbs.
I also found the grip to be excellent when doing exercises with fast change of direction, such as lateral shuffles, skater jumps, and grapevines.
The pattern of the grip on the bottom also wides in the forefoot of the shoe to mimic the metatarsals (bones) in the foot. This gives a very natural and planted feel to the shoe.
Fit and Sizing
Typically I wear a size 9.5 to 10 depending on the brand. The Reebok Speed TR Flexweave fits me perfectly at a 9.5, giving plenty of comfort for my slightly wider than average foot. For comparison I wear a size 10 in the Nike Free. If you find yourself fairly true to size with your footwear, I would suggest possibly ordering a half size smaller than usual.
Uses
The Reebok TR Flexweave is a minimalist designed TPU sole cross training shoe. The mesh of the toe box allows for breathability and flexibility for those technical gym moves like kettlebell swings and box jumps. The sturdy ankle support is perfect for things like squats and deadlifts. Although not specifically a running shoe, short distances (1 mile or less) can be done comfortably in the TR Flexweave.
Price and Options
The Reebok Speed TR Flexweave comes in both men’s and women’s sizing and is typically priced a bit more affordably than the very popular Reebok Nano. The shoe also does not say the words “CrossFit” on them anywhere, which might be important to those who like the Nano, but don’t do CrossFit specifically.
The shoe also comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, so there will likely be a style that appeals to you in your size.
Summary of the Reebok Speed TR Flexweave Cross Training Shoe
The Reebok TR Flexweave is a great all around sross training shoe for gym-goers who are doing a wide variety of exercises and movements. From weight lifting to running and just about everything in between, the TR Flexweave can handle just about anything your workout may throw at you.
While it might not be the best shoe for longer runs or competitive Weightlifters, it’s a solid option for an all around workout shoe.
