Details
Brand
Reebok
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• EVA foam midsole• Mesh upper with NanoWeb overlays• Flexible• Unique midsole geometry• Solid pricing
Upper
The Zquick Dash has an upper that is made of mesh. Mesh is another extremely common choice for uppers, as it has a lot of benefits. Mesh is inherently breathable due to the holes woven into it. It is also inherently flexible for the same reason. In addition to this mesh, the upper also features Reebok’s NanoWeb technology. These are overlays that add some additional support to the mesh and make it more stable overall. They make the shoe tighter or looser depending on the laces as well. Finally, the upper features a special liner inside that is designed to make it softer and fit more comfortably without abrasions while running. The upper of the Zquick Dash is a pretty strong component of the shoe and does its job very well.
Midsole
The midsole has the job of returning energy with every step, and also providing cushioning from the impacts of running. The midsole of the Zquick Dash is composed of EVA foam, an extremely common choice for midsoles. EVA, or ethylene-vinyl-acetate, is frequently used for midsoles because it is lightweight, springy, and retains its original shape well. This all culminates in a responsive and durable midsole. The midsole also features Reebok’s special Z-Rated midsole geometry. This careful and calculated design is similar to that of tires, and is supposed to add more traction, stability, and cushioning. Finally, the midsole features grooves. These grooves are designed to redistribute impacts when pressure is put on them. This contributes to a more stable stride overall. The midsole of the Zquick Dash as a whole is pretty solid, and definitely does its job of cushioning and providing good response.
Outsole
The outsole of the shoes is a critically important piece that helps with grip and durability. The outsole of the Zquick Dash is made of CRTek Rubber. This is a special blend of rubber that is designed to be very resistant to abrasions. It is placed in key areas throughout the outsole where impacts commonly occur. This rubber material is also designed to provide good grip, and does a pretty good job at that, particularly on concrete. The outsole is also textured in a particular way to add some extra grip. The outsole overall is not super impressive, but is decent and at least provides some grip and durability.
Breathability
The Zquick Dash luckily does a good job with this due to its upper. The upper of a shoe usually heavily influences its breathability, and this is the case for the Dash as well. The mesh allows air to flow into the shoe very well thanks to the previously mentioned holes it has. Apart from this, the Zquick Dash doesn’t do too much to promote breathability, but it doesn’t really need to, as the upper does more than enough. Breathability shouldn’t be an issue for the Zquick Dash overall.
Comfort
The Zquick Dash is a pretty comfortable shoe overall, thanks to its midsole and its upper. The midsole contributes with its EVA foam and its special geometry. The EVA foam in the sole helps reduce shocks and impacts, which makes each stride more comfortable and smooth. The special geometric design of the outsole adds some extra flexibility, and also helps redistribute shocks more evenly throughout, adding even more comfort. The upper contributes with its great flexibility and breathability, which are a result of the mesh design. These features combined with the stability of the NanoWeb overlay make the shoe a very comfortable fit from above. Overall, comfort in the Zquick Dash is pretty good thanks to the midsole and upper.
Style
When it comes to style, Reebok shoes tend to be a bit less popular than some brands like Nike or Adidas. They also usually offer a bit of a departure from more classic styles of running shoes like Asics or Brooks. The Zquick Dash embodies this idea, and has a very sharp and minimalistic design. It is offered in several colors, some bright and some more discrete. The shoe as a whole is pretty stylish, and could probably be used as an everyday shoe with one of the darker colors as well.
Durability
Durability is another very important trait to consider with shoes. The Zquick Dash’s main sources of durability are the midsole and outsole. The midsole contributes to durability once again with its EVA foam. EVA is a very durable material, as it retains its original shape well, even after repeated exposure to impacts. This makes the midsole stay effective, even after many miles. The outsole contributes to durability with its material and design. The CRTek rubber is very resistant to abrasions on its own, and also is put in common impact areas on the bottom of the shoe. This adds to the lifespan of the outsole a great deal. These are the two main features that contribute to the durability of the Zquick Dash, and they do a pretty good job at that.
Protection
Protection in the Zquick Dash is decent, though not exceptional. The main factors in this are the midsole and upper. The upper protects the foot via its cushioning and geometric design. The EVA foam cushioning helps protect from shocks and impacts while running, which makes each stride more smooth and safe. The special grooves also help redistribute impacts and add to the protection of the midsole as well. The upper contributes with its synthetic overlays that help hold down the mesh. These overlays make the shoe much more stable from above, which helps prevent twists and sprains that can commonly occur while running. Overall, the protection of the Zquick Dash is not bad, but definitely not amazing either.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness is shorthand for the way that a shoe can return energy and is heavily dependent on the midsole, as it is the part that returns energy the most. As a result, the Zquick Dash is pretty responsive thanks to the use of EVA foam in the midsole. The EVA foam is a naturally responsive material because it is very springy, and as such, it returns energy pretty well. Apart from this, the Dash doesn’t do too much to promote responsiveness, but the shoe as a whole is still fairly responsive thanks to its midsole.
Support
The main sources of support in the Zquick Dash are the upper and the midsole. The upper adds support with its mesh design and its NanoWeb overlays. The NanoWeb Overlays secure the foot very well, as they are tied to the lacing system as well. This security, paired with the flexibility of the mesh, make the foot very supported from the top, which makes for better strides overall. The midsole contributes once again with its EVA foam and with its special geometry. Both of these features help to absorb and redistribute impacts in the best way possible, to make for a more cushioned and supported stride.
Terrain
When it comes to terrain, the Zquick Dash should fare pretty well on most commonly ran on terrains. Dirt, grass, or concrete all should not cause any issues for the Dash. Like most running trainers, the Dash will probably be most effective on city-like terrains, but they should be fine for light off-road running. On more extreme terrains like mountainous or icy regions, they probably should not be used, however. The shoes are usable in rain as well, though they are not waterproof so caution should be exercised.
Price
Price for the Zquick Dash is not amazing, but the shoe is definitely on the cheaper end for trainers. It runs a bit cheaper than most popular trainers on the market currently which is definitely a plus. For what is received in terms of features, the shoes are pretty good too. Additionally, for certain sizes, the Dash can be found for even cheaper. Overall, the price of the Dash is fair, and is a pretty decent value for what is received.
Drop
The drop on these shoes is definitely on the lower end, measuring around 4mm. The ZQuick Dash favors a more minimalist styled drop, which might appeal to some. Overall, the drop seems fine for this shoe, and probably won’t be an issue for most.
Stability
The Zquick Dash is a pretty stable shoe overall thanks to the upper and the midsole. The upper adds a great deal of stability with its NanoWeb overlays, which secure the upper of the shoe down and make the foot snug and secure. This makes random twists and turns of the foot less likely, which is great for injury prevention. The midsole contributes to stability with its cushioning. It absorbs shocks and impacts, which makes the ride more stable overall.
Flexibility
Flexibility is heavily contingent on the upper, as that is the part that secures the foot down. Luckily, the upper of the Zquick Dash is made with a pretty good quality mesh. As mentioned above, mesh does a great job with flexibility, as holes are intentionally woven into it. Another factor that contributes to the flexibility are the grooves and geometric design of the midsole, which allow the shoe to flex appropriately with each step. Overall, the flexibility of the Zquick Dash is definitely good.
Traction
For the Zquick Dash, traction won’t be much of an issue for most commonly ran terrains. City terrains will have the best traction, but grass or dirt shouldn’t cause any major issues for the Zquick. This is largely due to the outsole, with its CRTek rubber, which is a very well gripping material. Once again though, it is not advised to use the Dash on more extreme terrains, as the traction might not be suited enough to running.
Bottom Line
Overall the Zquick Dash is a pretty solid running trainer. It offers decent, if not amazing, technology, and also has the flexibility to be used as an everyday shoe. For the price, it definitely is a decent buy as well. For anyone seeking a more casual everyday trainer that can also be used generally, or for other physical activity, the Zquick Dash is definitely not a bad choice.
