Reebok's big running return

adidas offloaded them last year / perhaps more incentive to be competitive

Nope.

Reebok has had Pebax foam in the Floatride series for a long time.

Mizuno has had plates in their shoes for a long time, granted they weren't carbon fiber.

It took Nike to sandwich a carbon plate between a high stack of Pebax to make us all comfortable buying $200+ running shoes....lol.

Alan

I agree with everything you wrote but Reebok could still apply the new technology and design in an well-designed package and market the hell out of it. A lot of runners like to try the "next, new, better" version of something. If Reebok can build a Vaporfly and then make it look cool, people will try it.

I, on the other hand, am happy with my Vaporfly 2s and have one pair for tempo runs, one pair for racing, and a pair in the box. Rotation of the best running shoe I've ever had...

The V2’s were only supposed to have a minor upgrade in the upper (more padded tongue, different upper material) over the V1’s. But the V1’s for me seemed to run a bit faster.

False.

Reebok stopped putting Pebax In their Floatride shoes right around 2020 (it may have been for the 2021 models).

Adidas, who owned them at the time, basically ordered them to stop using Pebax in their shoes.

Why?

And PEBAX is not the end-all. That all PEBAX Invinceble shoe, after putting it through some mileage was more of a ‘slumping-dud’, than a super-duper wowser.

I don't know the real reason. What I've been told is that the sales of the pebax based Reeboks were taking enough away from Adidas that someone noticed.

The run fast 1 was an amazing shoe, surely the number of shoes coming out of China from so many companies suggests similar foams are already available... Erke, Li-ning, Qiaudon, Anita, XTep, 361 etc... All have similar stuff and the prices are begining to be driven down.... Some of the stuff coming out of there is comparable to the big brands and available at a fraction of the cost.

I'm rooting for Reebok to turn it around. They put some great shoes out for a few years there until Adidas put the kibosh on them (for 10k on down, the Run Fast Pro was my favorite racer of all time). Just hoping they don't scrap everything and churn out yet another $150+, super cushioned, 9 oz trainer with pointless carbon fiber plate.

When did Reebok start using Pebax? I was under the impression that it was pre-Nike's use.

Plates have been used in running shoes for a long time. It's not JUST a carbon fiber plate that makes these new shoes 'faster'.

Pebax is a big deal but you also have a lot of other technological advancements tweaked and added to running shoes that improve and direct energy return.

And in 10 years we'll be back to minimalist lol.....

Alan

There's no reason they can't if they put enough r&D and talent on the project.

There are plenty of smart engineers they can poach from bigger brands with the promise of reinventing Reebok. There are a lot of people that would rather be part of that reinvention than just making the next shoe for one of the biggest established brands.

At the end of the day even if I never intend to run in a Reebok shoe the more companies out there making legitimate contenders is good for the consumer.

Reebok and Puma do this once every five to eight years. "We were one of the first running brands, it's our heritage," etc. Then they put out really good shoes for a couple of years before easing back into their hiding places.

They should merge and name the new company Periodic Phoenix.

You're not wrong. I remember wearing a pair of Reeboks back in 2009 for a marathon. Great shoe. They had a few models that got really good reviews. And then you didn't hear anything from them from about 2012 to probably 2018 as a running brand. I think during that samr time, they went heavy into Crossfit from a shoe and marketing standpoint.

I remember how good the Puma Faas Series of shoes were. They got great reviews and were really nice to run in. This was probably 2012-2014. Then *POOF* they are out of the running game until probably late 2020 if not later.

The biggest challenge Reebok faces is, well, there is only so much space on retailers' walls. It's the same issue Puma faces, Diadora, 361, Mizuno and others have, as well. Very well reviewed but it's hard to convince people to fork over $150 for some shoes when you (or anyone you know) have no experience with the brand and only have them online where people can't feel/touch/see them.

The Pebax Floatride shoes were great, kinda like the old Boost Adios, but lighter. They should bring that back.

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I'll believe it when I see it. If they can just catch up to Skechers or Altra in the run segment they'll be doing great. Wonder what training group they'll waste money on next!

Poach engineering talent

invest a lot of money.

Hire the best athletes.

live at altitude.

hire a coach - a very good coach that treats athletes well.

My last Reebok's were a pair of instapump fury's.

I heard that Hanson’s is trying the new Reebok shoes and is debating jumping ship at the end of 2024 when their contract with Brooks ends.
I hope this doesn’t happen as it seems like Reebok is an every 5 year deal and I like the Hanson’s. I think this would be a death sentence for the team.