Reebok gave this shoe a slight name shift, now calling it the Speed Her TR. With the name change, there were some aesthetic updates, but the major technologies of the shoe remained the same. See the latest version pictured above.
August 2019You won't break the bank or be disappointed when you purchase the Speed TR. It is one of the most versatile shoes in this review and our testers found themselves picking these out of the pile often. The only downside to the Speed Tr is that it lacks some of the support we needed on our heavy lifting days. For a general shoe for everyday CrossFit needs that can also handle your heavy lifts, check out our Editors Choice Winning NOBULL Trainers.
You can be rest assured that most days you walk into a CrossFit box you will probably be picking something up. It could be a barbell, kettlebell, or any odd assortment of strongman implements, so you want a shoe that can aid you in lifting anything that comes your way.
We are pleased with how the Speed TR shoes feel for light lifting movements. If your workout calls for high rep lifts paired with runs or jumps, then this shoe is a great choice. You probably won't pick these as your favorite one rep max shoes, however. If you want a dedicated lifting shoe, but prefer a lighter feel, then go to our review of the Inov-8 Fastlift, our Top Pick for Lifting WODs. The Speed TR did beat out our other lightweight contender in this review, the Minimus 40. While the Minimus felt too squishy for any lifting movements, the Speed TR is a great blend of comfort and support.
Straight up long distance running shoes are really not the best fit for all CrossFit workouts. In our running testing, we aim to find a shoe that can be comfortable enough for short to medium distances, and yet still take on the lifting requirements of a good shoe for CrossFit.
Our shoe testers raved about how much they liked running in the Speed TR shoes. In fact, these shoes are the only ones in our review to score a 10 on our running matrix. They have just the right amount of cushion without being overly squishy, unlike the Minimus 40 shoes which compromise their lifting support. As one reviewer put it, the Speed TR's are “great for running and light load lifting.” Reebok's other shoe in this review, the Nano 7.0, on the other hand, did not impress our reviewers on its running performance. While the Speed TR shoes are flexible and light, the Nanos feel stiff super clunky on runs.
The sensitivity score of a shoe in this review will reflect how easy it is for the athlete to determine where their weight is positioned on their feet. When performing Olympic lifts it is important to feel where subtle corrections in balance need to be made. Leaning too far back, for instance, could result in landing smack on your bottom in the middle of a lift, and we've all been there. That's why we pay close attention to how sensitive a shoe is during our heavy lifting tests.
We were pleased with the Sensitivity of the Speed TR shoes. We were not struggling to feel if our weight was too far forward or if we were leaning too far back in these shoes. Our Editors Choice winning NOBULLs, however, did score better in the sensitivity category. While the Speed TRs began to falter under a heavier load, the NOBULLs still offered the same high level of sensitivity. We much preferred the sensitivity of the Speed TR shoes over that of the Minimus Trail shoes. The Minimus Trail shoes are a nice light option similar to the lightness of the Speed TR shoes, but just too minimal to effectively translate weight shift.
A good shoe for CrossFit needs to support an athlete through a variety of movements. CrossFitters need enough ankle support to handle some runs on uneven terrain and yet not limit ankle flexibility for Olympic lifts. We look closely at many aspects of the shoe to test its overall supportive capabilities.
It was a surprise to find that one of the lighter shoes in this review also offered good support. The Speed TR is remarkable at its ability to support an athlete under a moderately heavy lift without feeling super stiff or clunky. Perhaps part of what makes this shoe feel supportive despite its light weight is the “flared outsole” according to Reebok, that gives it a slightly wider base without making the shoe itself feel wide inside. Our favorite general purpose shoe that outscores the Speed TR in the supportive category is the NOBULL Trainer. Its solid feel is hard to beat. Surprising to many of our testers was how much more supportive the Speed TR is over Reebok's other shoe in this review, the Nano 7.0. It would appear from this review that the Nano series is slipping with the 7.0 version.
When trying to make a light shoe, manufacturers must also make sure it is durable. We looked closely for any damage during our testing to help you purchase a shoe that will last. Protecting our feet is also a concern during some CrossFit movements, so shoes were ranked according to this aspect as well.
With the light feel of the Speed TR we were a little worried that it might not withstand the damaging friction of rope climbs. To our pleasure, we discovered that the shoes grip well with their added “RopePro” at the instep and showed no damage at all.
Hot and stuffy shoes are not ideal for high-intensity workouts. We aim to find a shoe that is breathable to help us push just a little harder in our workouts.
The Speed TR is our highest ranking shoe in breathability. These shoes have a thin mesh overlay that lets a ton of airflow into your feet. Our reviewers in the arid Arizona climate, as well as the sticky, humid East Coast all, agreed that the Speed TR shoes kept their feet cool. Breathability is one area that the Speed TRs have a leg up on the NOBULL Trainers. They also outperformed the Minimus 40 shoes which are slightly similar in design to the light Speed TRs.
We can't talk about shoes without addressing comfort. Who really wants to buy an uncomfortable shoe after all? In our search for a good shoe for CrossFit, we paid close attention to any hot spots that might be forming during workouts, as well as the overall feel of the shoe while simply standing and walking throughout our day.
The comfort of the Speed TR's was often one of the first things that reviewers would note about the shoes. Part of what makes them so comfortable is their soft feeling sole, but not so soft as to interfere with moderate weight lifts. The thin mesh uppers are also nice, in that they do not put too much pressure on any one part of the foot. The Speed TR shoes are far superior to the other Reebok shoes in this review, the Nano 7.0. The sole flexibility is part of what sets the Speeds apart from the Nanos. Just barely outscoring the Speed TR shoes in this review is the NOBULL Trainers. Their comfort at high loads on the lifting platform gave them a leg up on the Speed TRs.
The Speed TR shoes are a great choice for an all-purpose shoe for CrossFit. You may especially like this shoe If you are used to working out in traditional running shoes. This shoe has the lightweight feel of a running shoe but the added stability and versatility of a training shoe.
Ringing in at around $100, the price of the Speed TR is on par with others in our review. However, it's the second highest scoring model in the fleet, which makes it an incredible value.
