Reebok OSR Sweet Road SE

I was surprised when I first saw a pair of running shoes at a Reebok store. Since Reebok is mostly known for crossfit shoes and apparel, I was skeptical at first about the quality. However, the affordable price of $100 compelled me to give it a try. Named after a road in New York where the Syracuse cross country team trained, this shoe is said to be responsive and lightweight, perfect for uptempo workouts.

Fit and First Thoughts

When I first tried them on, the fit was almost perfect. A little bit big for a size 9, but not too big that it would cause blisters. The midsole was a little bit stiffer than the other shoes I was used to, and the heel drop also felt higher. The outsole looked solid and could probably last for at least another 400 miles. The tongue was also bigger than the ones I’m used to, but it was soft and flexible so wouldn’t pose much of a problem on runs. The heel counter was hard and sturdy, which can support the foot and keep it from overpronating. Overall excited to try these on for runs!

Aesthetics

At first glance, they look really cool. The bright orange and blue colorway might stand out too much for some people, but I like the contrast. The bottom of the shoe has some neon rubber pieces in the midsole that probably add to the cushioning. Striped overlays on the sides of the midsole and back of the shoes add to the sleekness of the design.

Kooshride Foam Midsole

The foam felt slightly firmer and more responsive than the New Balance Fresh Foam that I was used to. I wasn’t able to bend the shoe much with my hands, but on a run it’s actually quite bouncy and flexible. The increased cushioning on the midfoot made it easy for me to get on my toes and run up hills. In addition, the 8mm drop helped a lot with relieving the stress from my Achilles and calves.

Grippy Outsole

What I really enjoyed about the outsole was how grippy it was. Even when running down a steep gravel hill, I didn’t slip and slide as much as I thought I would. The thick black rubber outsole runs along the outer edges and covers the majority of the forefoot, exactly whereI, and most runners need it most. I found that the shoe was especially good for turning on tight city corners.

Weight and Drop

The weight of the shoe came in at about 9 ounces (255g) for the men’s sizes, and 7 ounces (200g) for the women’s sizes. The heel-to-toe difference was 8mm, but felt like a little more. It bothered me a little bit that my foot was always forced to lean forward during runs, but the relief from my calves and Achilles pretty much ruled it out. I tried the shoes out on a tempo run at around 6:15/mile pace for 4 miles and felt comfortable, with no pain in my feet or calves, even up hills.

Upper

I really liked the thin fabric upper to the shoe because it provided a lot of extra breathability and made the shoe feel really light. I didn’t really feel much extra air going through the air pockets that were placed at the arch, but it can probably help with relieving some stress from the arch on longer runs

Summary

Overall I think that Reebok did a phenomenal job on the Sweet Road 2, especially since running shoes aren’t even their main focus. The grippy, lightweight shoes, made me feel light and fast. It made running up steep hills and turning tight corners fairly easy, and is definitely worth its $100 value. However, it does lack the stability and cushioning needed for long runs that are 8 miles or more.

This shoe is a very comfortable, lightweight neutral trainer. It fits me better than any shoe I have worn in 40 years and is just a great all around trainer. (I have bought 4 pair since September to get in front of a model change.)