Details
Brand
Reebok
Heel To Toe Drop
N/A
Breathability
10/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
traction
Key Features
• Outsole geometry for flexibility• EVA foam midsole• One piece mesh upper• Lightweight• Solid pricing
Upper
A good upper will support and stabilize the foot while still remaining flexible and breathable. The upper of the Reebok ZQuick 2.0 is made up of a no-sew, solid mesh construction. Mesh is an extremely common choice for uppers and for good reason.;Most mesh uppers are flexible and breathable, thanks to the holes intentionally woven into them. Since the upper is one solid piece, it is more durable and less likely to rip and tear. The ZQuick 2.0 also features a padded tongue for added comfort. Overall, the upper is solid.
Midsole
The midsole is the piece of the shoe that is responsible for both providing energy return, and cushioning and shielding the foot from impacts. This is mainly due to its location, as it is sandwiched between the outsole and the upper, making it a fairly significant part of any shoe. The Reebok ZQuick 2.0 features a midsole that is made of EVA foam, a very common choice for shoes due to it having inherently light, flexible, and responsive properties. EVA foam is quite springy so it returns energy well, and it’s lightweight is an added bonus that prevents the shoe from being weighed down excessively. EVA foam also retains its shape well meaning it lasts for a long time. In addition, the midsole is designed to geometrically provide flexibility, similar to how the outsole is designed. As a whole, the midsole is solid, and does its job well, but is fairly standard, and does not stand out in any major ways.
Outsole
The outsole of a shoe refers to the part that sits at the very bottom. The outsole of the Reebok ZQuick 2.0 is composed of a standard high abrasion rubber. High abrasion rubber is designed to remain resistant to impacts, and in turn, improve the overall durability of the outsole. The high abrasion rubber is also supposed to provide good traction, though some users have contested this claim, which will be talked about more in the traction section. This blend of rubber is dubbed CRTek and is Reebok’s own unique formula designed to optimize traction and durability, while also still optimizing flexibility through the geometry of its design. Overall, it definitely does a solid, but not an exceptional job at its tasks. The outsole as a whole is decent, but fairly lacking in terms of features.
Breathability
Breathability depends predominately on the upper of a shoe, and this is the case for the ZQuick 2.0 as well. The upper is composed of mesh, which as mentioned above, is great for increasing breathability. This is because the holes woven into the mesh are small enough that the foot is well protected but big enough to allow good amounts of air into the shoe. The outsole also features some ventilation which helps facilitate circulation as well. Overall the breathability of the ZQuick 2.0 is quite good thanks to the upper and to a lesser extent, the outsole.
Comfort
Comfort is definitely something to think about when considering a new shoe. Uncomfortable shoes are something that no runner wants to deal with. Overall, the ZQuick 2.0 is a fairly comfortable shoe, mostly due to its midsole, outsole and upper. The midsole contributes to is made of EVA foam and it provides good cushioning and overall, does a good job providing comfort while running. The outsole contributes to the comfort with its geometry, which is designed to be flexible and allow for natural movement. Finally, the mesh upper is comfortable. The mesh provides good breathability, and more flexibility, both of which are comfortable features to have. As a whole, the ZQuick 2.0 does a good job of providing comfort.
Style
In terms of style, Reebok shoes generally are a bit less popular than some brands like Nike or Adidas. They also tend to be a bit different from more classic styles of running shoes like Asics or Brooks. That said, the ZQuick 2.0 is a fairly stylish shoe. It comes in various solid colors that are generally less on the bright side. The ZQuick 2.0’s mesh gives it a sleek design, and it would not be a stretch to use it as an everyday shoe as well, which is certainly a benefit for any running shoe.
Durability
Durability is another aspect that is very important to consider with running shoes. Bad durability causes shoes to wear out quickly and they will need to be replaced to prevent injury. The Reebok ZQuick 2.0 is fairly good in the durability department, especially when considering that the ZQuick 2.0 are very well priced. The main sources of durability are the outsole, midsole and upper. The outsole contributes to durability with its high abrasion rubber. High abrasion rubber is resistant to impacts, even on road and concrete, making it a very solid choice for the outsole. The midsole contributes once again with EVA foam, which is known for retaining its shape well even after repeated impacts. Finally, the one piece upper mesh is durable thanks to its construction. Overall, for a shoe on the cheaper end, the ZQuick 2.0 is pretty durable.
Protection
When it comes to protection, the ZQuick 2.0 is not bad, but could certainly be better. The main proponents of protection in this shoe are the upper and the midsole. The upper contributes by supporting the foot and stabilizing it from above. It does this with its snug fit, that holds the foot down securely while still being flexible and offering a good range of movement. The mesh helps out quite a bit with this. The midsole contributes with its EVA foam, which is placed throughout to absorb shocks from stepping on the ground, and from other hard impacts. EVA foam does a pretty good job of cushioning, which provides protection to the feet and legs from general running injuries. Apart from this, however, the ZQuick 2.0 does not offer much else in the way of protection. Overall, protection in this shoe is decent but could be better.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness basically boils down to how well a shoe can return energy with every strike on the ground. The midsole in the case of the ZQuick 2.0 does a decent job overall, once again, thanks to the EVA foam. EVA is a fairly springy and responsive material, meaning that with every stride, it does a good job of returning the energy. This is useful in facilitating a better stride, and for speed. Apart from this midsole foam, however, the ZQuick 2.0 is not optimized for maximum responsiveness. That said, the responsiveness of the ZQuick 2.0 is definitely acceptable.
Support
The main sources of support in the ZQuick 2.0 is the upper and midsole. The upper contributes once again with its solid mesh design. By holding down the foot from above securely, much support is provided while running. In tandem with the flexibility provided, this makes for a very supportive, but not restrictive step. The midsole comes in again with its EVA, which provides support through cushioning, as previously mentioned. Overall, the support in the ZQuick 2.0 is pretty solid.
Terrain
The ZQuick 2.0 can be used on many types of terrain, including dirt, grass, or some trail, though they will definitely excel on road and concrete type terrains. Some users that noted that in wet conditions, the shoes felt a bit slippery, so caution should definitely be exercised on wet surfaces. The ZQuick 2.0 also should not be used on more extreme terrains, like technical trails, mountains or ice.
Price
Price is definitely an interesting spot for the ZQuick 2.0. Currently, some sizes can be found for fairly cheap, which would make the ZQuick a pretty good value buy for what it offers overall. If not on sale, however, the ZQuick is pretty average priced and even arguably a bit on the higher end. Basically, depending on the deal you get, this shoe can either be a very good value, or a fairly average one.
Drop
The drop on these shoes is fairly low, measuring around 4mm. Most trainers have a drop that is around 8-10mm. The ZQuick seems to favor a more minimalistic style of drop, which may appeal to some. Overall, the drop seems fine for this shoe, considering it is also a fairly lightweight shoe.
Stability
The ZQuick 2.0 is pretty good when it comes to stability, mainly due to the upper, and to a lesser extent the midsole. The upper contributes to stability once again through its ability to secure the foot snugly from above. This makes the overall stride much more stable and secure. The midsole helps stabilize through its foam, which absorbs shocks and impacts to make for a smoother ride. Apart from these features, not much is present in the ZQuick 2.0 to promote stability. These two aspects do a fairly good job overall though, and the ZQuick 2.0 is a decently stable shoe.
Flexibility
Flexibility is a useful feature that can help prevent strains and twists from common missteps on the ground. The flexibility of the ZQuick 2.0 is pretty good, thanks to the upper and outsole. The flexible mesh upper is not only durable but allows for natural movement. The outsole contributes with its specially designed geometry, which Reebok claims is designed to promote the most flexibility possible. These two features together make the ZQuick 2.0 a shoe that flexes well.
Traction
Traction refers to the grip of the shoe on different surfaces. The traction will be best on the surface it was intended for, road and concrete surfaces, but other commonly ran surfaces, including light trails shouldn’t present any major issues. Again, the only thing to watch out for is wet conditions, as some have found the shoe to not provide enough traction on wet surfaces. Overall though, traction likely won’t be an issue unless dealing with water.
Bottom Line
Overall, the ZQuick 2.0 is a fairly good shoe for anyone seeking a casual, lightweight trainer to run in. Its ability to double as an everyday shoe is an added bonus as well. For its general price, it is fairly average, but if found discounted, the shoe definitely returns a good value. All that said, the ZQuick 2.0 offers some good, if not exceptional, technology, and is a solid shoe overall.
