Details
Brand
Reebok
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Lightweight mesh, textured synthetic overlays and textile lining provide breathable support• Pull-tab on heel for a better fit• Midfoot webbing stabilizes the foot and offers visual appeal• Sculpted EVA footbed provides comfortable cushioning and responsiveness• EVA sockliner cushions while absorbing impact• Low-cut design allows the ankle to move freely• Durable rubber outsole• Forefoot grooves for flexibility• Lightweight tooling gives a long-distance running shoe look• Reebok Delta branding in heel
Upper
The upper is made of lightweight materials that provide support and breathability: textured synthetic overlays, mesh, and textile lining. The midfoot webbing helps stabilize the foot and adds some visual appeal. Its low-cut design allows the ankle to move freely for a natural gait and smooth transitions. The pull-tab on the heel helps create a better fit and makes it easier to put the shoe on and take it off. The Reebok Delta branding in the heel adds to the stylish look. The toe cap adds protection to the forefoot. The collar and tongue are padded, and the laces give a snug fit. The lightweight tooling gives the shoe a look of a long-distance running shoe, and the flexibility makes it comfortable and easy to run in for both daily and longer runs.
Midsole
The midsole is made of two thin layers of lightweight EVA foam. The bottom layer is sculpted EVA, which provides supportive cushioning that conforms to the shape of the foot and helps bounce the foot into the air after each landing. The top layer is an EVA sock liner that cushions landings and absorbs the impact to protect the joints in the feet and knees. The foam is flexible enough for natural motion and provides a small amount of arch support. The heel-to-toe drop helps reduce the impact on joints while encouraging natural movement and forward momentum.
Outsole
The outsole is made of durable blown rubber. Treads cover the forefoot area and the perimeter of the heel and have good grip on roads and hard surfaces. Grooves run across the forefoot for flexibility during push-offs, and a deeper groove connects the heel to the forefoot in order to improve transitions and promote a natural heel to toe flex. The outsole also helps stabilize landings, protect the bottom of the foot from bruising, and adds a slight spring to the wearer’s step.
Breathability
This shoe has good breathability. The upper is mostly mesh, which is especially good for ventilation during long-distance runs. There is webbing around the midfoot and overlays around the laces, connecting the lacing system to the toes, and synthetic material around the lower part of the on the heel, the bottom of the midfoot area, and the toe cap. The synthetic material is stitched on, but the stitching did not cause blisters or irritation for testers. The areas covered by the synthetic material are small enough that they do not block airflow or cause hot spots.
Comfort
The Speedlux 2.0 has a lightweight, comfortable fit. The width is medium and the length is true to size. The outsole is made of blown rubber, which adds an extra layer of cushioning underneath the foot. The midsole has two thin layers of cushioning. Some testers noted that the shoe does not have a lot of cushioning, which is not recommended for runners who are injury-prone or who have plantar fasciitis or pain in their feet. Some retailers even list the Speedlux 2.0 as half cushioning. The EVA sockliner cushions landings and absorbs shock to prevent discomfort on the feet and legs. The sculpted EVA matches the shape of the wearer’s foot for a comfortable and supportive fit. In the upper, the tongue and collar are padded and the textile lining is soft and comfortable. The laces, midfoot webbing, and heel counter help provide a secure fit. The mesh is comfortable and allows air to flow in and out of the shoe in order to stay dry and cool. The heel loop makes it so the heel does not get crushed and the shoe can easily go on and off. The low weight and responsiveness make the shoe comfortable to wear on both short and long distance runs.
Style
The men’s shoe comes in four choices: Black /Black/Silver, White/White, Collegiate Navy/Smoky Indigo/White/Pewter, and Alloy/Black/White/Silver. The women’s shoe has three options: Black/Fresh Blue/White/Silver, Meteor Grey/Violet/Asteroid/Vital Blue, and Blue/Lilac Shadow/Deep Cobalt/Electric Flash/White. Testers noted that the shoe has an appealing look. It has a low-cut design for free ankle movement and better transitions, and a heel loop for a more comfortable fit that makes it easier to put the shoe on and take it off again. The midfoot webbing adds visual appeal and stability, the Reebok Delta branding in the heel gives the shoe a sleek look, and lightweight tooling provides a long-distance running shoe look.
Durability
The Reebok Speedlux 2.0 has good durability in some areas and not as good in others. The outsole is very durable, with the blown rubber able to go over rougher surfaces or longer runs without showing signs of wearing down. The midsole was fine for most people, although a few testers found that it started to wear down after several runs due to its thinness. The upper also had no problems for most reviewers, although the high amount of mesh and webbing instead of overlays means that the upper materials start to wear out sooner than other running shoes. Improving the durability in the upper are the toe cap to protect against debris, the heel counter for structure, and the heel loop that allows the heel to be pulled up and adjusted for a better fit.
Protection
The Speedlux 2.0 offers some protection. The rubber outsole protects against bruising from rocks and debris on the ground. The midsole is too thin to protect much against bruising, but it does cushion landings and the EVA sockliner protects the feet and lower legs by absorbing shock. The upper uses a lot of mesh to protect against heat, minimal stitching to protect against blisters, and a toe cap and heel counter for protection against stubbing. The midfoot webbing and heel counter protect neutral runners from rolling or sliding.
Responsiveness
This shoe is very responsive, with reviewers commenting on how responsive the midsole is. The outsole’s blown rubber helps bounce the foot back into the air with each step. The forefoot grooves allow natural movement during take-offs and the flex groove connecting the heel and toe helps create smooth transitions. The midsole’s sculpted EVA foam helps propel the foot back into the air, and it being so thin improves ground feel. The small drop also helps the runner keep going forward. The upper has a lot of mesh, minimal overlays, and webbing, and a low-cut design to allow free movement of the forefoot and ankles.
Support
The Reebok Speedlux 2.0 offers minimal support. The midsole uses two thin layers of EVA foam, with the bottom being a sculpted footbed and the top being a sockliner. The amount of arch support is suitable for people who do not normally need arch support, as the foam is thin. Runners who normally require extra support will likely need to use a gel insole. The upper has light padding in the collar, tongue, and mesh. Testers found that the heel is not very supportive compared to similar running shoes.
Terrain
The Speedlux 2.0 is a road running shoe. It is able to be used for daily running and slightly longer runs on surfaces such as sidewalks, dirt or paved roads, gravel, concrete, etc. It can also be used for indoor training. It is not a suitable shoe rough trails with lots of ascending, descending, or objects, or wet or slippery terrain such as mud, ice, or snow.
Price
This shoe cost just over half the average cost of a running shoe when it was initially released at full price. It is lightweight, comfortable, breathable, flexible, and responsive, which make the shoe a great deal. However, it is not as cushioned or supportive as other neutral shoes, so some runners may need to wear gel insoles for additional support. This adds to the overall cost of the shoe, and some people prefer a shoe with more built-in cushioning. Current pricing ranges from 45% off to full price, with certain colors and sizes being less expensive than others.
Drop
The heel-to-toe drop for this shoe is 9mm. This is slightly below the standard drop of 12mm. It is slightly more stabilizing than the higher drop and has slightly less forward momentum and slightly more evenly distributed cushioning, which means the muscles and tendons will grow a little stronger. It takes some strain off the back of the foot, and does not cause soreness during the break-in period like low or no drop shoes can sometimes do.
Stability
This is a neutral shoe, with only minimal stability features. The outsole’s rubber treads grip roads to stabilize landings. The midsole’s EVA foam cushions landings and has light support, but does not stabilize the bottom of the foot. The upper has a heel counter for stabilizing the heel and the midfoot webbing to stabilize the arch. This can prevent injuries from rolling the ankle or sliding inside the shoe but does not slow over-pronation.
Flexibility
The Speedlux 2.0 has good flexibility, especially in the forefoot. The outsole has grooves between the forefoot treads that allow the toes to push off easily. The flex groove makes transitions natural and smooth. The midsole’s thin layers of EVA foam can bend easily and do not slow the motion of the foot. The upper’s mesh and textile lining are very flexible, while the heel and midfoot webbing are less flexible but still allow free movement, especially due to the low-cut design of the shoe.
Traction
The Reebok Speedlux 2.0 has good traction on roads, paths, and indoor surfaces. Its treads give good grip during runs or while ascending or descending hills in the road. The grooves allow the wearer to pick up speed while the treads help stabilize landings. The shoe does not get good traction on trails, mud or ice, which can cause slippage.
Bottom Line
The Reebok Speedlux 2.0 is a great shoe for a neutral runner who does not need additional cushioning or support. It is lightweight, breathable, responsive, flexible, and comfortable to wear. It has a nice-looking yet unique style and gets good traction on roads. It has pretty good durability and offers a little bit of protection, support, and stability. Its great price makes it an attractive choice, especially for someone who is new to running and does not want to spend a lot on a pair of shoes. Potential areas to improve include more support and cushioning and better durability in the midsole and upper, although these changes would add more weight to the shoe. Overall, the Speedlux 2.0 is great for neutral runners’ daily to long runs, but over-pronators or those who are prone to injury would be better off with a stability or cushioned shoe.
