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Almost every sport, from basketball to golf, has its own line of shoes to meet the needs of the athlete. If you're running a marathon, it's easy to find shoes that shave seconds off your time (like top brands like Nike, On, Brooks, HOKA, New Balance, Saucony, and Asics). But what do you wear if you just want to go to the gym? Visitors to the gym are no exception to this rule. From the best weightlifting shoes to cross-training shoes, you'll find something for every style: CrossFit, Olympic lifting, and high-intensity interval training.
As a long-time sneaker writer, I've had the opportunity to try out hundreds of different shoes at the gym, and I've tried every sneaker you can imagine—tied in Converse All Stars, squats in the air. Jordans and weightlifting in virtually every wide range of trainers on the market.
But my favorite sneakers aren't the coolest. This is the Reebok Nano X4, a simple, versatile cross-trainer that was released earlier this year. Breathable, durable and tailored for many common exercises, this desert island shoe has become my go-to for every workout. And at less than a hundred bucks right now, it's also an absolute steal.
Reebok Nano X4 Pure Gray in 3 colorways was $99 ($140) at Reebok
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The Nano can be traced back to the partnership between Reebok and CrossFit in the early 2010s. The idea was to create a shoe that was level enough to provide support during heavy lifts and dynamic enough to provide speed and acceleration during high intensity interval training (HIIT).
Running shoes are usually very bouncy due to the cushioning of the sole and heel, which is not ideal for weight lifting. Nanos are designed to be more adaptable, and with the X4, the latest iteration, the philosophy of universal function seems to have been perfected. You don't have to do CrossFit to reap the benefits: they're ideal for any workout or functional fitness, especially HIIT classes like Barry's Bootcamp or HYROX.
Courtesy of image
One of the best things about the Nano is how simple it is. When the shoe was released back in January, an ad in its inaugural campaign mocked other trainers for their much-touted accessories and bonus features, meaning the other shoes had unnecessary junk.
The Nano, on the other hand, looks really smartly streamlined. It's incredibly light at just 12 ounces (that's three-quarters of a pound), and the silhouette has a spartan, stripped-down minimalism that's also very aesthetically pleasing. That's exactly what you want in a best-in-class, versatile sneaker that you can rely on in every situation. Nothing special needed – just a successful day at the gym.
Act fast before the sale ends with sale colors like Ash, Black/Cyan/Laser Pink, Blue Slate, Dynamic Red, White/Black/Reebok Gum, Hyper Green/Black/Vector Red and Pure Gray 6/Black/Orange Flare.
Related: We tested dozens of running shoes. These are best for rocky, uneven terrain