With the release of Reebok’s Nano Gym 2.0, a lightweight shoe designed for a variety of sorting activities, we asked Tal Short, the brand’s director of training footwear, how Reebok is able to build sneakers with such low mass, yet still provide support for our sweatpants.
How Reebok made the Nano Gym 2.0 20% lighter
At 10.6 ounces (about 300 grams), Reebok’s second-generation gym shoe is about 20% lighter than the original, but as a “do-it-all” sneaker, how has the company managed to maintain a stiff training experience while still providing float-like comfort? “We worked on streamlining the design and removing any bulky or unnecessary materials that were not critical to the performance of the shoe,” explains Short, who adds that sustainability remains important. “The upper, in particular, was redeveloped to facilitate a lock-in fit with lightweight yet durable breathable zones, while the midsole remains highly responsive and stable with spring-loaded foam. The gym-specific Flex Groove outsole provides additional grip and stability where it’s needed most,” he adds.
What is Floatpulse Foam and how does it improve performance?
For beginners, Reebok’s gym offering is designed as a gym-based shoe, or as a hybrid shoe for busy people who find themselves changing environments from time to time. To that end, the Reebok Gym 2.0 aimed to build on the original’s level of comfort, while adding the convenience of a lower weight for added portability. As Short said, an engineered mesh upper is made even more lightweight, yet durable, thanks to carefully positioned breathable zones. But there’s another side to Gym 2.0 that gives as much as it gets. “I’m most excited about the FloatPulse foam in the midsole,” Short revealed. “It’s an ultra-responsive foam that creates high-rebound energy return, so it supports explosive movements in the gym and can take athletes’ training routines to the next level.”
Why Nano Gym 2.0 is designed for HIIT, HYROX and functional fitness
Fitness sneakers are a growing product line among major footwear brands and Reebok’s Nano iterations have long been lauded for the innovative advancements made in this area. Notably, the Gym 2.0 is lightweight and stable, but is also able to provide flexibility due to the cleverly designed Flex Groove outsole, which has been designed with a myriad of exercise activities in mind. Flex grooves provide a rubber grip, and strategically placed channels to provide greater flexibility when turning, jumping or squatting.
“The Nano Gym 2.0 offers ultimate versatility,” Short concluded. “Whether you need a reliable alternative to your regular gym routine, want to try a new fitness class, or perhaps just dip your toes into HYROX, you can do it all confidentially.”
Reebok Nano Gym 2.0 to release on July 16th, 2026 reebok.com With an MSRP of $100, and will be available in a variety of unisex colorways, with additional styles becoming available throughout the summer.
