Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2: The DOR Favorite Returns
By Andrea Myers, Bach Pham, and Matt Klein
2022 has been a quiet year for Reebok, but an important one in regards to their sustainability goals as they shift each model more and more towards sustainable materials. The much anticipated (at least by us) Symmetros 2 features a partially recycled upper that adds a good amount of comfort and security to the shoe. The Symmetros in general was a huge favorite of DOR in 2022, providing an excellent bevel we couldn't stop talking about and a comfortable sole. The shoe outside of the upper returns relatively untouched, which may be to the delight of the Symmetros super fans we've met over the past two years who have also gotten to enjoy the well-designed ride.
Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2Price: $140 at Reebok
Weight: 10.1 oz, 286 g (men's size 9), 8.25 oz, 234 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: Not Provided
Drop: 10mm
Classification: Daily Training Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 is a neutral daily training shoe that features a large slab of Energy foam and a brand-new comfortable upper. A three-layer mesh and wider toebox sit up top, providing a comfortable fit while still providing some security. A traditional stack height sits with a chunky but beveled heel, making this an excellent easy-day shoe for those wanting a shoe that is as comfortable getting miles in as it is being fashionable.
Andrea: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 is a well-fitting, neutral daily trainer. It features Reebok's Floatride Energy foam, which provides a nice balance of cushion and responsiveness. The 3 layer mesh upper and wider toebox provide a comfortable, yet secure fit. This is a shoe that can handle many easy miles thanks to its protective midsole and near full-coverage rubber outsole.
Bach: The original Symmetros was a favorite of the team when it released in 2020. It had a really great bevel, a silky smooth ride, and for the time a decently cushioned midsole. Two years and many more high stacked shoes later, the Symmetros is far less of a higher stacked shoe than it was then and today sits more in the traditional daily trainer role (e.g. Pegasus, SL20, Wave Rider, and others). The latest version is a soft update with a partially recycled material upper that supports a more secure fit throughout.
SIMILAR SHOES: Reebok Floatride Energy 4, Asics Nimbus Lite 3
FIT
Matt: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. The fit is on the wider side in the forefoot, but the volume is a bit low. The midfoot fits normal and features a partially gusseted and thin tongue. The tongue is gusseted farther forward and is secured with a central loop with the laces. The heel fits slightly wider but is secured with a moderately stiff heel counter. There is some mild padding, but those sensitive to heel counters should approach with caution. Security was decent when I tied down the laces. However, I had difficulty getting a consistent level of tightness across the laces. This required a little extra time to make sure individual ones were not too tight or loose. Fortunately, I did not have any heel slippage but did have to work with the laces to find an optimal level of tightness. The mesh upper is comfortable and provides a comfortable fit regardless of running or walking. I would stick with socks with this shoe due to the heel counter and the internal mesh being scratchy. The mesh is flexible and does stretch. This limits its security, making the Symmetros best for running in straight lines with slow turns and during easy miles.
Andrea: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 fits me true to size in my usual women's 9.5. The toe box provides enough width for mild toe splay and I have a full thumb's width from the front of my big toe to the front of the shoe. I would prefer a little more volume in the toe box if I were going to use it for long runs, but it was fine for runs around 1 hour. The midfoot tapers a little and then widens again into a comfortable and secure rearfoot. There is a semi-rigid heel counter and a well-padded heel collar which contribute to rearfoot lockdown. The tongue is thin and is held in place by a lace loop. It is also partially gusseted, with the attachment to the upper further forward on the tongue. This does allow the tongue to fold over the dorsum of the foot when donning the shoe, but it is easy to get the tongue to lie flat on the foot. I would not recommend going sockless in this shoe because the internal mesh is very scratchy. I found the Symmetros 2 to fit comfortably and with a similar fit to the Floatride Energy Adventure 3.0.
Bach: The Symmetros new upper fits I would say ultimately true to size. There is enough width the forefoot which helps keep it true to size. but the toebox is a touch low and in it runs just slightly short, but not short enough that I would suggest sizing up. Bombing down hills, I could feel my foot slightly nudging into the front on descent. I also had a little bit of folding of material over the toes on first run, but by second run the shoe adapted and it didn't become an issue again. The rearfoot feels secure and tongue is simple and unobstrusive. I enjoyed how relatively minimal it was while also being just padded enough to lace down without any discomfort. I did not have to lacelock the shoe to get a pretty good lockdown here either. There is some structure on the medial side, but I could have used more to help keep my foot centered. I felt my weaker foot collapsing a touch medially and could have used a little more reinforcement to help center and stabilize my foot. The fit in general is definitely relaxed, with an emphasis on comfort over performance in my book.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Symmetros 2 features the same full-length Floatride Energy foam that provides a moderately soft ride underfoot. A large heel bevel in present the rearfoot, which somewhat offsets a large amount of posterior flare. This makes for slightly clunky initial landing that transitions into a fairly smooth midfoot transition. This makes the 10mm heel drop noticeable regardless of where you land. The forefoot has a moderate amount of flexibility, making for a nice toe-off. This makes landing a little farther forward more comfortable. The Symmetros 2 is best for easy and mild uptempo efforts. The Floatride Foam feels cushioned underfoot but feels like a 10 oz (10.1 oz men's size 9). I have been able to do strides and mild pick ups in this shoe, but would prefer something different for faster efforts. For easy miles and training, this ride is fine and plenty protective. The extensive rubber outsole has been extremely durable. I have 35 miles on my pair with little to no wear on the outsole. Like several recent Reebok shoes, the traction is great on both wet and dry road. I have not taken these on trail to keep the upper clean, but for those who want a durable, moderately soft daily trainer with a substantial heel, the Symmetros 2 is worth a look.
Andrea: The Symmetros 2 has a neutral, fairly natural feeling ride. While the shoe has a significant heel bevel and posterior flare, I was not aware of it because I land on my lateral midfoot. Due to the 10mm drop, midfoot landings feel a little flat, but not so much that I felt like the heel of the shoe was in my way, even at very easy paces. The mild forefoot rocker is not particularly noticeable and further contributes to the shoe's natural ride. This is a shoe that lets your foot do what it wants to do, without guiding motion in any direction. I mostly did easy runs in the shoe, but I did test it for 12x20" strides at mile pace, and I felt like I was fighting the shoe to run at that pace. I think this is due to the combination of the 10mm drop, stiff outsole, and mild forefoot rocker. I felt like I had to run more on my toes than I normally do at that pace to get up to speed. This shoe isn't designed to be a speed shoe, so it is no surprise that I found it lacking at faster paces. I like the balanced cushioning of the Floatride Energy foam and found it perfect for my easy runs. The shoe feels like its stated 8.25oz, feeling not particularly light or heavy on foot. The full coverage rubber outsole provides excellent traction on wet roads and should contribute to above average durability.
Bach: The ride of the Symmetros feels very familiar. For anyone who's run in Reebok over the past two years, you know stepping in exactly what you are going to get: a really smooth, clean, moderate stacked ride. The upper being fairly relaxed and shoe running quite neutral throughout made it best for easy days for me personally. I felt really solid running consistent easy paced miles in the shoe and was able to run split after split with great steadiness. I just had a hard time picking up the pace in the model due to the lack of a performance fit helping me feel confident to drive the shoe. Despite having a lot of similarities with the Floatride Energy 4, I didn't feel the versatility of the Symmetros matched this year's excellent Energy model. What I did find the Symmetros 2 good for was knocking out mile after mile on daily runs and easy paced long runs. Despite not being a max cushioned shoe, it is a very steady shoe which makes turning over easy no matter the distance. This could absolutely be a half to marathon shoe for anyone looking for a very traditional trainer looking to finish comfortably. At under 9 oz, it runs fairly light as well which is nice.
The outsole I found to be confident on all surfaces, from wet to dry to mild trail. I also enjoyed the grip for going uphill, but found the shoe's relaxed fit to be a touch daunting downhill. If you live in a flat zone, the Symmetros will thrive there, but with hills the upper only gives so much support. I have found the outsole to be as durable as ever with no signs of wear after 30 miles.
Lastly, this is a great walking shoe thanks to the well done bevel and a neutral shoe I'd recommend for folks looking to dabble between running and walking, or running and everyday wear. The slightly wider forefoot feels spongy and comfortable at a walking pace which has been excellent for my random daily errands.
STABILITY
Matt: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 is a neutral shoe without any traditional forms of stability. The slightly wider base does provide some inherent guidance, although the midfoot still narrows. There is a significant heel bevel, but this is combined with a large amount of posterior flare. This facilitates a quicker transition forward at heel strike, but does require good control from the muscles on the front of the shin to control the toes lower to the ground. The forefoot is wider, providing a stable base. Outside of those small measures, this a neutral shoe. Those with stability shoes may not do well, but those who want a neutral shoe without any influence on their mechanics will like the Symmetros 2.
Andrea: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 is a neutral shoe with some mild guidance features in the heel. The significant heel bevel in combination with the posterior flare may help heel strikers to transition more smoothly from initial contact to mid stance. As a midfoot striker, I was not aware of the heel bevel and transitions felt pretty flat due to the 10mm drop and mild forefoot rocker. The firmer outsole and secure rearfoot do provide some mild stability to an otherwise neutral shoe. Runners who want a shoe to get out of the way and let the body do the work will enjoy the Symmetros 2.
Bach: Despite a wider base than the usual, the shoe runs quite neutral. I felt the upper's lack of support on the medial side led me to wanting to cave my foot inward. The shoe has just enough guidance through the heel bevel, minor crash pad, and forefoot rocker helping promote forward movement while the slightly firmer sole also helps prevented any issues to arise. On days where my legs were on the tail-end of a back-to-back though, I could definitely feel the shoe's neutral stance on the run and wished it was either had a more dialed in upper or wider base through the middle. Anyone with medial stability needs may want to look elsewhere while someone seeking a stable neutral shoe probably should consider the more dialed in Floatride Energy 4 first.
Thoughts as a DPT: Posterior Heel Flares
By Chief Editor Matt Klein
Posterior flare, or posterior heel flare, refers to an additional extension of midsole behind the heel (calcaneus). While many individuals will have clinical experience with this, there is limited evidence on its impact on biomechanics (mostly because it has not been studied extensively). The research that is out there has made a few suggestions about the impact on the body. The initial evidence has found a trend in increased anterior tibialis (the muscle in front of your shin) activation (Queen, 2004). The speed at which the front of the foot transitions toward the ground at heel strike increases (Daryabor et al., 2016). Women tend to increase the amount of knee flexion during landing and the first part of having their foot on the ground (stance) (Queen, 2004). Impact force was decreased in walkers with a shoe with posterior flare, but the vertical impact peak was increased (Daryabor et al., 2016). The research on runners has suggested that how people deal with this is unique and can vary considerably (Queen, 2004).
A posterior flare with heel bevel is an interesting combination. Both posterior flares and heel bevels may reduce loading rates, potentially for different reasons (Daryabor et al., 2016). Kinematically, how someone will react to that will vary. It is our (my) bias to suggest a beveled heel given its similarity to the shape of the heel bone. The increases in knee flexion seen in female runners may also place the knee in a position that may increase stress on the patellar tendon. This can be problematic if the individual has a history of patellofemoral problems or is not conditioned to handle that tensile stress. Further issues may arise for those with inadequate strength of the anterior tibialis muscle. This muscle helps control the lowering of the front of the foot after initial contact of the heel. Its irritation is a common source of symptoms in those diagnosed with shin splints. If someone has adequate conditioning of this muscle, they may be fine. However, especially among newer runners, where shin splints are common, this may not be ideal.
Like any component of a shoe, the heel design can be used as a tool. The challenge with any tool is whether it is appropriate to put in a shoe and whether the individuals wearing the shoe will be able to adequately use it. From our perspective, this tool has more risk than reward and heel designs may be better off going in the opposite direction (bevels) as much of the industry continues to do.
References
Daryabor, A., Saeedi, H., Ghasemi, M. S., Yazdani, M., Kamali, M., Nabavi, H., ... & Amini, N. (2016). Influence of heel design in an orthopedic shoe on ground reaction forces during walking. Prosthetics and orthotics international, 40(5), 598-605.
Queen, R. M. (2004). The effect of positive posterior heel flare on muscle activation, kinetics, and kinematics during running gait. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The Symmetros 2 features a solid upper update that provides a bit more fit while still staying fairly secure. The midsole design does need an upgrade. While great when it came out, the Symmetros series needs an upgrade. The posterior heel flare is clunky despite the bevel. I would reduce this and increase the length of the bevel to provide a smoother ride for heel strikers. I would encourage Reebok to take the weight saving from this and to increase the width of the midfoot. Given the softer sole, some inherent stability is needed. As there is no plate or aggressive stiff outsole, a wider sole can easily create this. On that same note, I completely agree with Bach below. There is a great deal of overlap between the Symmetros 2 and the Floatride Energy 4. I would encourage Reebok to turn the Symmetros 3 into a higher stack training shoe, which will create some differentiation and will require a wider midfoot for the maximal design.
Andrea: I think Reebok has made a pretty solid shoe in the Symmetros 2, but there are a couple changes I would like to make it work better for my mechanics. I would recommend they reduce the drop to 8mm to make it potentially work for more runners and increase the volume in the forefoot to make the shoe more comfortable for longer runs. Otherwise, I am pretty impressed by the fit and neutral ride of the Symmetros 2.
Bach: My biggest recommendation would be to consider widening the midfoot further to help really extenuate the bevel and make for a more stable ride. The Symmetros in its current state feels like it overlaps with the Floatride Energy quite a bit. Creating a more stable, possibly higher stacked base could help put more separation between the two pairs. I don't think the upper would have to be changed in that case, as the widening would solve a lot of the issues here. I also echo Andrea in providing just a little bit more space in the forefoot.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Matt: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 is for those who want a neutral daily trainer with a little more forefoot width who want a moderately soft ride for easier miles. The new uppers looks and feels good, provide a slightly relaxed fit throughout. Those with normal to mildly wide feet will like the fit as long as you are content with a show that has a little less volume. The midsole is softer with a great transition at the front of the shoe. The heel, despite being beveled, is a little clunky due to some posterior flare. Those who land farther forward or who want an obvious/grounded heel will like this ride. Best for daily training and easy miles, the Symmetros 2 returns bringing a bit of a blast from the recent past.
Andrea: The Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros 2 is for runners with neutral mechanics who prefer a slightly higher drop shoe and a minimal forefoot rocker. While it was fine for me as a midfoot striker, I think that rearfoot strikers will get a different and smoother ride out of the shoe than I did due to the significant heel bevel and posterior flare. Runners who have a higher volume forefoot may find this shoe a little too snug, particularly for longer runs. The Floatride Energy midsole provides responsive cushioning that makes this shoe an ideal choice for easy running.
Bach: The Symmetros 2 is a daily mileage grinder for neutral runners who are seeking a really traditional, non-super stacked trainer. This could be a central kind of shoe in a runner's lineup that rides well, providing good traction for a multitude of situations, and has pretty solid durability despite being a lighterweight shoe. It would be a great shoe to pair with just about anything from speed day to racing. I would suggest still the Floatride Energy 4 for someone who is looking for just one shoe to tackle a variety of things with due to it's more streamlined ride throughout, but for anyone who wants a neutral trainer in tandem with something more fun and interesting, this is a great daily training filler to check out. This is also a great neutral walking shoe thanks to the excellent bevel providing a quick transition.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B+ (Comfortable shoe with slightly wider forefoot)
Performance: B (Slightly clunky heel with smooth front half. Best for daily training and easy miles)
Stability: B/B- [Neutral] (Narrow midfoot and relaxed upper keep ride neutral)
DPT/Footwear Science: B/B- (Nothing new. Needs less posterior flare to make bevel stand out more)
Personal: B/B- (A comfortable casual shoe but an average ride by today's standard. Consistent for those who want it)
Overall: B
Andrea
Fit: B+ (Good lockdown thanks to well integrated upper and padded heel collar, forefoot volume could be increased to improve comfort)
Performance: B+ (Great for easy runs where you do not want a very rockered ride. Geometry not ideal for faster paces.)
Stability: B (Neutral) (well done heel bevel and posterior flare, good lockdown, but remains a very neutral shoe.)
DPT/Footwear Science: A- (I appreciate that Reebok made a less rockered, lower stack shoe in a maximalist world)
Personal: B+ (I like the neutral ride and secure lockdown of the shoe, but the 10mm drop makes the shoe feel a little flat to me.)
Overall: B+ (A well fitting, neutral shoe that will work best for heel strikers with a lower volume forefoot.)
Bach
Fit: B+ (Slightly short toebox and relaxed fit diminishing versatility, but still quite a comfortable upper otherwise)
Performance: B+ (A great daily mileage grinder that can go a variety of distances)
Stability: B (Relaxed upper and slimmer medial side keeps the shoe quite neutral)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (Not a huge change this time around to make anything standout)
Personal: B/B+ (When I'm either fresh or taking this out for the easiest of miles, I did really enjoy the lack of thinking I had to do in the shoe, but when I was feeling fatigued the ride doesn't feel as fun or helpful as other higher stacked shoes)
Overall: B+ (Though the grade is a touch low, you should not be deterred if you are in the market for a neutral lighter weight daily trainer that's durable and has a clean ride)
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