Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros

I'm surprised you (and others) put the Forever FR Energy and the FR Panthea in the same category. I'm on my third Forever FR Energy and love it for long/regular runs and occasionally for tempos. Also have the FR RF 1, which I use for racing and track workouts, and the Panthea, which I use for tempos and track workouts. The Panthea feels a lot more like the FR RF 1 than it does the Forever FR Energy - stiffer, less cushioned, and a little lighter. The differences may be the result of the first two having pebax.

Umm. So it has the same midsole material as the FFE and more cushion than the FFE but is somehow lighter than the FFE. Something doesn't add up unless it has zero outsole rubber and a very minimal upper compared to the FFE.

Yeah I had the same thought. We will see. Even if that weight is a bit off, I think it will be pretty light for the amount of cushion still. The Harmony Road 3 has a lot of cushion for the weight. I'm guessing it will be like 9.3oz maybe? I think the Harmony Road was like 9.3 or 9.5 but this won't have that extra EVA.

As for the Panthea, I do think it it pretty similar to the FFE. The Panthea has a more noticable compression and spring. I think they are similarly cushioned but the Panthea is a bit softer.

The Floatride Energy in the Harmony Road 3 did feel like it was a softer durometer though. I wonder if this will be the same way. That forefoot was super soft and springy and I don't know if that was the durometer or extra stack. The upper was just way too roomy and the hard EVA heel made the ride clunky in back and very divided front and back.

Since we're talking Reebok here; can anyone tell me what the upper is like on the run fast pro compared to the run fast? The midsole feel of the run fast is great but the upper doesn't agree with me too well. There's a bit too much material in the toe box for my foot so it bunches up and gives me blisters on the inside of my foot.

Really want to try the run fast pros for 5k/10k but I'd be interested to hear more opinions before I drop £150 on them.

For 99% of the people the Pro is a pipe dream and an accident waiting to happen.... The "normal" Run Fast is your racing flat for all these guys....

KAV wrote:

For 99% of the people the Pro is a pipe dream and an accident waiting to happen.... The "normal" Run Fast is your racing flat for all these guys....

Why is it an accident waiting to happen? I race in the Streak LT3 and they are only a little bit heavier and have less cushion.

Just run baby

Would you say the Harmony pushes the foot out laterally? Most everyone says the new Asics Novablast is unstable but to a higher Arch rigid foot it's actually stable. Asics NB heel flare on lateral side actually helps you stay neutral to pronated which absorbs your body's shock and creates propulsion. This is of course evident in Kipchoges stride and the lasting "banana shape" of VF to support this.

The new Symmetros should have a firmer durometer...it seems if it doesn't theres a lot of undirected motion which for a lot causes IT, tendons to bark

My problem with the Novablast was not necessarily the stability, but the design of the heel. It felt like it was much higher than a 10mm drop and like a strange clunky shelf. It felt angled strangely aggressively at the very back of the shoe is well. It felt hard to avoid the heel in that shoe and then didn't transition well off of it.

The Harmony didn't seem to push the foot in a direction. It felt neutral in that respect, but the heel was much firmer, stiffer, and clunkier than the rest of the shoe. It was like two different shoes front and back.

These are for sale now, and Reebok is running a 40% off sale right now as well. Who is going to order these ASAP and tell us how they compare to FFE?

I ordered mine. If the weight really is that low and it is just a more cushioned Forever, I will be very happy.

Hi,

I would love to get your perspective once you run in it. My reebok harmony roads I now use as a garden shoe - as you noted before they are a bit clunky on the heel. Now taken over by my new daily trainer Asics Novablast. The forever -I would love to have a more cushioned version of that shoe.

Cheers

Steve

Adifan wrote:

KAV wrote:

For 99% of the people the Pro is a pipe dream and an accident waiting to happen.... The "normal" Run Fast is your racing flat for all these guys....

Why is it an accident waiting to happen? I race in the Streak LT3 and they are only a little bit heavier and have less cushion.

Yeah I don't know what that's supposed to mean. I've raced in the Pro up to the marathon, and felt better than in any other shoe. They actually feel significantly more cushioned than the Streak LT despite less weight.

The upper is fine, never noticed it one way or the other.

I ordered a pair on Monday, but it has yet to ship. They take awhile to ship orders.

I am hoping to slot this in as a recovery/easy (when legs are feeling beat up) shoe.

The FFE/FFE2 is my workhorse trainer. Most of my miles are in the FFE. Love that shoe.

The Panthea is new to my rotation and I am still figuring out how I want to use it, but liking it so far for long runs.

The The RF is a good shoe too, but I prefer a shoe with a plate in it for WOs. I have been using the ZFFK, but that is not readily available anymore, I am going to try out the endorphin speed. If reebok comes out with a carbon plated shoe trainer or race, I am definitely trying it.

So mine just arrived. I ordered a half size down like in the FFE (9 instead of my normal 9.5). Unfortunately, I am now unsure what to do. The shoes both have 9.o printed on them, but it is very clear via the fit and measurement that the right shoe is a half size smaller than the left. So it could be that the right shoe is accidentally a half size small or the left shoe is accidentally a half size big. I'm inclined to think it is the right shoe accidentally being an 8.5 labeled as a 9. My right foot is a bit bigger than my left, but it is clear that there was some type of production error or mislabeling of one of the shoes. Either way, I am going to have to order at least another pair since these two do not match up despite the label on them.

Other than that, these shoes really seem like they are going to be awesome. The upper is super light and airy. The heel counter is real comfortable. Good lockdown. The offset lacing is like the FFE 2. This upper really seems like a lighter and more breathable version of the FFE 2. It is in between that upper and the RF 1. Basically exactly the type of upper I want in a daily trainer. It has just enough for comfort in the heel counter and tongue and is super light and airy overall. The left foot fits perfectly.

In the midsole, it seems like this will be a real winner. It is like the FFE but a bit more. It is the Floatride Run 2.0 midsole in comparison to the Panthea midsole. The heel bevel feels nice too and the heel doesn't feel like it will be too clunky.

The weight does seem to be in that 8.7 oz range that is advertised when comparing it in hand to the Panthea and Freedom 3 that I have. I think this will be a perfect workhorse trainer. You get a full TPU midsole, lightweight/airy/comfortable upper, great outsole coverage, and all in only 8.7 oz. I think this can replace shoes like the FFE and Triumph 17 unless you really want the firmer ride of the FFE.

I'm really impressed here other than the inconsistent fit issue. I will probably end up ordering a pair of 9s and 9.5s to see which shoe I got is the actual sizing. I'm guessing I will end up sticking with the 9s and my right shoe was a half size small based on the fit of the FFE and Run 2.0. I don't think there will be an issue in either size though since the lockdown is quite easy to achieve and the forefoot seems a tad more accommodating than the FFE upper do to the airy upper (shape otherwise seems pretty similar).

I ordered 9 and 9.5 (normal size) as well. I anticipated needing to size down a half size like I do with the FFE 1 and 2. Mine are arriving Wed/Th.

I’ve been intrigued by Reebok running shoes for a while. I’ve heard good things about them, but they all seem incredibly low stack and cushion compared to many other brands. Almost like every shoe they make is Kinvara 10 cushionining.

cheesewiz wrote:

I’ve been intrigued by Reebok running shoes for a while. I’ve heard good things about them, but they all seem incredibly low stack and cushion compared to many other brands. Almost like every shoe they make is Kinvara 10 cushionining.

They definitely have that end covered. The Run Fast Pro is an excellent short distance racer, the Run Fast is an excellent performance trainer, and the Forever Energy and Panthea are in that versatile lightweight trainer category.

For beefier workhorses, they have had the Harmony Road and Floatride Run 2.0 but each had some problems. The Harmony Road had an annoying firmer EVA heel section that ruined the ride and the fit was too roomy. The Floatride Run 2.0 has an awesome midsole with a problematic caged upper that also acts as a bit of a stiffening rim over the midsole and is a bit much. That one isn't bad once it loosens up a bit and if you don't tighten the laces much, but could easily be an excellent shoe with an upper like the Symmetros.

Anyways, Reebok overall is building out a great lineup but has some adjustments to make in a few spots. I'd like to see less firm EVA rims on the Floatride shoes and no more caged uppers. I'd like to see them come out with some higher-stack plated Floatride and Floatride Energy shoes as well.

They have been killing it on the outsoles and they have two fantastic midsoles. The uppers on the FFE 2, Run Fast, Run Fast Pro, Panthea, and Symmetros are also great.

Back to your point, the Symmetros would probably be the beefier workhorse to try out. The Panthea and Forever Energy are closer to something like the Kinvara.