Reebok Forever Floatride Energy Initial Review: Light, Lively, and Well Priced Super Foam

Article by Mac Jeffries 

Update: Read our full multi tester review of the Forever Floatride Energy HERE

Editor's Note: 
Mac is a new RoadTrailRun reviewer with an interesting background. He is a former collegiate defensive lineman who runs to fill the competitive void left after school and to stay in shape. He is in his late 30s, runs 50-80 mpw, and at 6’3”, has come down from his playing weight of 275 to a steady 205l lbs for the last 10 years. Jeff’s PRs are 19:30, 1:33:xx, and 3:23:xx; he also teaches and coaches XC & T&F. Welcome to the RTR team Mac!
 

Reebok Forever Floatride Energy ($100)

Introduction

Mac: The battle of midsoles continues, as does the resurrection of Reebok as a serious contestant in the running market. After the Floatride’s debut with a fantastic Pebax midsole but iffy upper, Reebok hit back to back home runs with their Floatride Fast and Floatride Fast Pro models. The Forever Energy uses a NEW midsole technology - that they simply call Forever Energy - that is a new TPU/TPE (think “Boost” or “Everrun”) based midsole that manages to be much lighter than the norm. What they ended up with is a fantastic shoe for Easy to Tempo efforts for only $100. Shoe Market: take notice.

Pros:

Mac:  The midsole is cush with great energy return, the upper is simple (in a good way), weight is among the best on the market for a TPE midsole, and did I mention it is only $100?

Cons:

Mac:  shoe laces are too short, sizing is big (definitely order a half size smaller), and insole is non-removable (you can still remove it quite easily), and collar may come up a bit too high for some.  

Stats

Forever Floatride Energy ($100)

Men's: 8.7 oz / 253 g  Women's 7 oz /202 g

Offset:10mm

Available February 2019

First Impressions and Fit

Mac: First, let me stress: ORDER A HALF SIZE SMALLER, and if you are between sizes already, consider ordering a full size smaller. I wear a 14 in virtually every running shoe on the planet - which sometimes leads me to resent companies such as Nike, Adidas, Salomon, and yes, Reebok, which often only offer their premium shoes up to a size 13 - but I took a chance on ordering these after hearing that they run large, both in length and width. Glad I did, because the size 13s fit me perfectly, and I would have missed out on the most pleasant surprise I have had early in this new year. (By contrast, I could ALMOST make the size 13 Floatride Fast work on my size 14 foot with a thinner insole, but I ultimately sold them after a couple of runs.) Aesthetics are highly personal, but I really like the clean, simple look of these *coughSPEEDcough*, with the only flash coming in the diagonal white scheme sloping from the Achilles to the ball of the foot.

Upper

Mac: (Reminder: I am reviewing a shoe that is a size smaller than what I usually wear.) The upper is very simple, in a good way. Most of it is an engineered mesh that reminds me of the New Balance Beacon. It has just enough stretch to conform to the foot, and feels secure at all speeds. I am somewhat of a toe-box snob, and although these don’t have the exaggerated last of an Altra or even the anatomical shape of a Topo, there is very little - if any - toe crowding. Toe splay is more than adequate. Lace lockdown is good, although I replaced the laces with something just a little longer so I could use all of the upper eyelets. 

Tongue stays in place well with a traditional slot to work the laces through. One possible negative for some: the collar comes up just a touch higher than most of my shoes - including at the achilles - so that is just barely grazes the bottom of my ankle. This has not led to any irritation, but it is something to consider.

Midsole

Floatride Energy is an expanded pellet TPU (think Boost) foam that it said to be more responsive and springy and lighter than traditional EVA foams. The foam here is clearly not Boost (Reebok is owned by adidas but does its own thing from everything we can tell)  as the pellet grains seem much smaller and it is lighter. It will also allow Reebok to offer other "super foam" based shoes at a great price as Energy comes in at $100, Grasse Road at $120, and Harmony at $120. See RTR's 2019 Reebok preview here.

Mac: The midsole is where this shoe absolutely shines. It feels like running on Boost or Everrun - maybe just a touch firmer - but at 1-2oz lighter than TPU shoes of the same size. The result is a ride that is both firm and responsive, and just a joy to run in. Plus, being a polymer instead of a foam, I expect these to be much more durable - resistant to compression - than traditional EVA.

Outsole

Mac: The outsole is a single piece of rubber with good traction. The outsoles of the Fast and Fast Pro were lauded, and this one is in the same category. I have run on wet and dry asphalt, and I detected absolutely no slippage on wet roads (definitely a point over the Beacon).

Ride

Mac: My longest run in these is 13 miles, and my hardest was a 10 mile run that included 5 miles at tempo, and the shoes simply disappeared on my feet. They are slightly firmer than my Beacons and my Skechers Razor 3s, and definitely firmer than my Saucony Freedoms. The flex seems to occur just at or behind the ball of my foot, which feels very natural. These have 10 mm of drop - which is more than I am used to - but not at all unpleasant, and actually welcomed towards the end of longer efforts.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Mac: Reebok simply hit this one out of the park. Here is a shoe priced at $100 that is relatively lightweight, well cushioned, responsive, springy, and most of all: fun. I smile every time I lace these up. Right now, I can see myself doing nearly all of my training runs - replacing my Freedoms for Long Runs and my Beacons for Tempo and Interval work - in these. I will still pull out my flats for my fastest reps and track sessions, but I may still give these a chance. I have run 45 miles so far and see zero - zero - compression or outsole wear so far. 

Are they perfect? No. I would like to see the collar a touch lower, slightly longer laces, and the sizing fixed (although the sizing issue helps me here, as I otherwise wouldn’t be able to wear this shoe). But honestly, 2 of those 3 you can fix yourself by ordering a half size smaller and switching out the laces.   

Mac's Score: 9.9/10

-.1 for the high collar; no points deducted for the laces or sizing which can be easily remedied by the buyer. Major points for Value, Ride, Technology, and Fun Factor

Comparisons

New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon (RTR Review)

Mac: This is a sad one for me, because the Beacons have been a mainstay for me for months now from anything from Easy Runs down to Tempos… but although the Beacon is lighter, the Forever Energy does everything else better for me: road grip, midsole, fit… plus, the Forever Energy has a wider range of paces and is $20 cheaper. I feel like I am stabbing a close friend in the back, but: Advantage: Reebok Forever Energy.

Skechers Performance GORun Ride 7 (RTR Review)

Mac: I liked - not loved - the SGRR7, but the Forever Energy does everything better. Not close for me: Forever Energy.

Saucony Freedom (RTR Review)

Mac: The Freedom has been another mainstay for me for Easy and Long Runs, but I have always had to modify them to get them to work for me. The Forever Energy has a much more secure upper, is lighter, has a less mushy midsole, and is $60 cheaper. Advantage Forever Energy.

Skechers Razor 3 Hyper (RTR Review)

Mac: This is the only shoe that I am picking over the Forever Energy, but only for specific purposes: Long Distance Racing. The Razor 3 is significantly lighter - if gaudier - with just as much midsole spring and protection. Even though the upper is more secure in the Forever Energy, the weight difference is more than enough to make me choose the Razor 3s for any race that matters. For most anything else, though, I am picking the Forever Energy.
The Forever was a personal purchase. The opinions herein are entirely the author''s.

Editor’s Note: Joining Mac, and soon others here at RTR, I ran for the first time today in the Forever Energy, an easy indoor 3 miler before a 25K trail race tomorrow. I was sent a half size up from my normal and they were long, very long maybe close to a full size long. Interestingly overall foot hold was totally fine. Update: Reebok sent me a true to size pair and length is fine, maybe a touch long. I would not size down any further. I now wonder if my early sample (and maybe Mac's as well) was off in length as the difference is noticeable. 

I concur with Mac that this simple upper just works and agree that the heel collar is a touch high or to firmly padded on the medial side.

The overall under foot midsole feel is very reminiscent of the springy zing of Skechers Hyper Foam with less of the Boost bounce of adidas and far less firmness than Everun in the Freedom. Other key differences between Forever and Razor, 6mm more drop, and while we await stats what feels like more heel stack, and a more substantial heel outsole which keeps the heel from bottoming out a slow paces as Razor does for me . Key differences with Freedom again more heel cushion, and a far better upper with real heel counter. 

The result is a very lively springy and stable ride. They have a distinct snappy flex point similar to say an Adios 4 or Boston but are more cushioned in the forefoot.  The construction has zero plastic pieces or EVA to control Boost’s bouncy lateral forces and none are needed. 

This is a far livelier springy foam than React but not as silky softer smooth in energy return as the Pebax in the Reebok Fast and Pro,  Vaporfly 4 %, and Peg Turbo. Compared to the pure Zoom X Pegasus Turbo the Forever Energy is certainly more responsive if not quite pillowy soft…and as result far more stable than the Turbo. 

Compared to the mostly all midsole as outsole and relaxed upper Beacon you will get almost equally as much cushion, somewhat less at forefoot with more at the heel but a springier more dynamic cushion, a more performance oriented upper, more drop, and plenty of outsole rubber for wear, stability, and a lively toe off. Yes they will weigh more.

We titled the review with mention of “super foam” and indeed Floatride Energy foam earns it in this well put together performance trainer at a reasonable price. I can well see Forever Energy being a top 2019 marathon racer pick for many. More to come in our upcoming full review.

Read reviewers' full run bios here

The product reviewed was provided at no cost. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.

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