Details
Brand
Reebok
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Hexaffect outsole design emphasizes flexibility and traction• EVA midsole provides dense stability and bouncy responsiveness• Upper portion made from breathable mesh reinforced with faux leather• Heavier than average weight• Rear finger loop makes it easier to put shoes on
Upper
Depending on what specific environment or role a running shoe is meant to function in best, the design of its upper can vary greatly. The Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 is a shoe with an upper that doesn’t demonstrate an obvious single-minded design, instead opting to incorporate features that allow it to fulfill multiple roles. For the purpose of breathability, the inner layer of this shoe’s upper is made from a highly perforated mesh that easily allows air to flow through it and ventilate its internals. For the purpose of durability and protection, several synthetic leather straps have been placed along the medial and lateral sides of the shoe, with particular emphasis given to the forefoot in order to effectively shield the wearer’s toes. Two of these straps are colored differently to denote a tertiary function: added stability with the aid of the Hexaffect Run 2.0’s lacing system. As a result, the upper portion of these Reebok runners is most impressive, although it doesn’t look as appealing from an aesthetic point of view.
Midsole
As is the standard practice when designing a modern running shoe, the midsole of the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 is made from a lightweight EVA foam cushioning. This is a material well-known for its ability to provide excellent support for the underside of the wearer’s feet since the foam is often fairly dense. However, it isn’t nearly as dense as hard plastic, meaning that some pliability is present in order to effectively respond to energy expended by the runner. In a manner similar to a spring, this shoe’s midsole will absorb the energy from a typical foot strike by compressing slightly and then expand explosively, driving the wearer’s foot upwards and forwards to power their next step. It’s a time-tested formula that has led to great comfort and efficiency, making its inclusion in this shoe’s design a no-brainer.
Outsole
The outsoles of these Reebok runners are made from rubber, which is hard enough to resist damage from repeated strikes to the ground while also being bouncy enough to provide adequate responsiveness. Aside from this, the main design feature and selling point for this shoe’s underfoot is its Hexaffect technology from which it derives its namesake. The underside of the outsole is made up of several large lugs shaped like hexagons with large grooves in between each one. The benefits to this design are numerous, in addition to offering excellent traction and stability, the large trenches in between each hexagon allows for a comfortable degree of flexibility that will improve the energy efficiency of each foot strike.
Breathability
Thanks to the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 having a base upper layer of synthetic mesh, breathability is baked into the core of this shoe’s design. The numerous pockets in which this material is exposed allows for air to easily flow into and out of the insides of these shoes, even while a runner’s feet are inside them. Because of this excellent ventilation, a reasonable internal temperature can be maintained while running that should prevent the accumulation of sweat. Unfortunately, this synthetic mesh material is covered in many places by the second layer of faux leather material, meaning that these shoes aren’t as breathable as they could be. This may make the Hexaffect Run 2.0 unviable for use in warmer environments, especially due to the fact that they are heavier than average and will likely lead to excessive sweating in these climates.
Comfort
Although it wasn’t a primary design focus, the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 offers a great deal of comfort due to the secondary benefits provided by many of its components. For example, the titular Hexaffect outsole which provides flexibility and traction also offers comfort for the wearer by preventing them from feeling trapped in overly rigid shoes. The breathable mesh interior also provides comfort for the wearer by serving as a soft cushion and preventing skin irritation from contact. Unfortunately, the higher than average weight for these shoes makes them a bit less comfortable due to the extra energy needed to take each step. However, the vast majority of reviewers agree that these shoes are far from uncomfortable.
Style
One of the reasons why Reebok isn’t as well known as Nike or Adidas despite having been around for roughly the same amount of time is the fact that their sense of style isn’t at the same level as these brands. They simply don’t have the same eye for aesthetics as most big-name athleisure manufacturers, and the Hexaffect Run 2.0 is no exception to this rule. Despite having an inoffensive design, the use of multiple crisscrossing straps above mesh fabric causes these shoes to have a passing resemblance to a pair of Asics. To be fair, they do offer a reasonable amount of colorways that help to bolster its fashionable functionality to a small degree.
Durability
When comparing the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 to most other running shoes of its kind, the durability it provides is very impressive. The design of its hard rubber outsole is meant to take abrasions and repetitive impacts in stride, meaning that it won’t react negatively to stress for quite a while. The upper is also able to provide a reasonable amount of longevity thanks to the faux leather accents, which prevent the much more fragile mesh underlay from being exposed to the elements. However, when comparing these shoes to others in its weight class, they don’t offer nearly as much durability as similarly heavy shoes. This is a bit unfair, considering that the closest equivalent in weight is a trail running shoe or hiking boot, but the fact remains.
Protection
Continuing the trend of comparing these Reebok runners to other shoes, the Hexaffect Run 2.0 is more protective than the average casual running shoe but less protective than the average trail running shoe. The outsole features a tread pattern similar to some trail runners, offering wearers excellent protection from slipping or catching on errant debris they may encounter during a run. The upper also protects the wearer’s feet by adding synthetic leather straps, with particular emphasis on their toes due to a large strap around the forefoot.
Responsiveness
Something that will likely come as a surprise to people interested in these running shoes is that they offer a surprising degree of responsiveness despite their higher than average weight. This can be largely attributed to its bottom half since both the midsole and outsole emphasize energy efficiency. While the midsole is a commonly responsive component in any traditional running shoe, the Hexaffect outsole is the standout element of this shoe’s design. The hex-shaped grooves it features allows for just enough flexibility to ensure that this shoe’s underfoot replicates the spring-like effect demonstrated by its midsole, resulting in a potent combination of forces at play.
Support
Another surprising design aspect of the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 is the fact that it offers excellent upper foot support. The cause for this is the synthetic leather straps that run along the medial and lateral sides. These are particularly impressive in their execution due to the fact that they manage to support the sides of the wearer’s feet without feeling uncomfortable. As a result of this design decision, individuals who ordinarily struggle with pronation may find that they have an easier time mitigating the negative effects of their gait discrepancies while wearing these Reebok runners.
Terrain
Although they may look and feel like trail runners, the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 is not designed with trail running in mind. They are more than capable of handling a variety of low to mid-intensity running surfaces, thanks to their fantastic outsole and upper design, but they won’t provide the same amount of control, durability, and protection that is required for the high-intensity terrain. Stick to tracks, fields, sidewalks, roads, and flat trails that don’t have much in the way of debris or sharp rocks.
Price
The good news is that these Reebok shoes are very reasonably priced. The average cost for a pair of Hexaffect Run 2.0 running shoes is well below $100 since they’ve been rendered obsolete by the release of Reebok’s Hexaffect Run 3.0 shoes. However, the bad news is that this obsolescence has resulted in limited availability when shopping online. Shrewd online shoppers can likely hunt down a pair of these Reeboks with a bit of effort, but finding the perfect color and size can be next to impossible for some.
Drop
The difference in elevation between the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0’s heel and forefoot is about 10 millimeters. This may sound like a lot but in actuality, this is quite common for traditional running shoe design. Thanks to this significant heel drop, runners who wear these shoes are encouraged to use their heels during ground striking as they will have extra support and cushioning to offset the brunt of the impact. This is also the main reason why these shoes aren’t viable for trail running despite offering extra protection and traction since incline running requires a much flatter midsole to ensure proper balance.
Stability
In order to offset the high degree of flexibility provided by this shoe’s midsole and outsole, the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 has a very stable upper. Thanks in no small part to the faux leather straps that cover either side of its upper half, wearers are guaranteed a firm and rigid fit up top that will keep their feet from sliding inside the shoe. Two of these straps offer significant stability due to the fact that they are placed on the top lace eyelets, meaning that they lock down the wearer’s midfoot and help to correct gait abnormalities.
Flexibility
With a shoe as thick and heavy as the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0, it may come as a surprise to find out that they are actually quite flexible. Most of this flexibility is found on the bottom half of the shoe since the Hexaffect outsole itself offers much more give than its appearance would initially suggest. This works beautifully in conjunction with its EVA foam midsole, resulting in enough flexibility to ensure greater comfort without going overboard to the point that the wearer loses control of their footing.
Traction
Although not usually a major concern for casual running shoes, the Reebok Hexaffect Run 2.0 provides excellent underfoot traction. Depending on the runner, it may be too much traction to the point where it can negatively affect their top sprinting speeds. However, it can still be justified as an important design feature when considering the fact that the extra weight of the shoe will naturally require more grip in order to effectively run. Also, a benefit to this shoe providing more grip than the average runner is the fact that it will allow wearers to run on more environments that would otherwise be inhospitable to the casual running shoe, such as hard dirt or gravel. However, it bears repeating that these are not trail running shoes and will not work to the same degree as footwear designed explicitly for hiking or off-road running.
Bottom Line
Don’t let its initial appearance be deceiving: this is an exceptionally well-designed shoe. Reebok has been neglected by casual runners for a long time for flashier and more expensive products with far weaker performance. The Hexaffect Run 2.0 may be tough to hunt down in the ideal size and color, and it may not look as good as some of the top Nike or Adidas products, but they are a seriously solid pair of runners that will ensure a smooth running session for hundreds of miles.
