REEBOK REALFLEX REVIEW

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Reebok has officially jumped on the bandwagon of barefoot running "or natural running." That may be understating the significance of this event, Reebok has not just created a "natural running" shoe. No, no, they have perfected natural movement. 

 Natural movement. Perfected. ( From Reebok Site)

76 strategically placed RealFlex sensors independently adapt to your environment, providing tailored protection and performance. With a sole that is 20% lower to the ground than conventional running shoes, RealFlex brings you closer to your training surface for a more responsive, more natural feel.

The Video below does a good job at marketing the shoes, I like how they talk about these shoes being built to protect you on pavement but the video is all out in the mountains...lol

When watching Reeboks technology video (shown below) you are off the top saying to yourself maybe they do know what they're talking about. The thing is, they are saying all the right things in the video. Here are a few quotes below:

"barefoot or natural running actually makes a lot of sense from a bio-mechanic standpoint."

" Bio-mechanically speaking it makes sense because when you land on your forefoot you land with your knee bent so all the shock absorption happens in your muscles not your joints. When you land on your heel all that shock is taken up by the joints in your knees and ankles and hips"

So reading those quotes your saying to yourself that Reebok has done their homework and maybe they are buying into the Barefoot running idea.

But quickly you see their true colors, after talking up Barefoot running they say the following statement... "But we want to take that and improve it — namely by adding protection" If you truly believe that barefoot running is the best for you, would you say you can improve it, and then would you go above that and say to improve it you'll add protection to make it better??

Reebok seems like they put alot of padding on the heel of the Realflex, why is this? Reebok tells us its for running down hill. I kinda think its for all those heel strikers that will buy these shoes because of the hype and now they won't complain because their heels will be protected, and they will continue to run improperly.

One Thing I must say is that Reebok has made a great shoe to go head to head with the Nike Free, I just wish they went alittle more minimalist.
Reebok made a pretty shoe that looks great and is comfortable, but is it really a barefoot shoe?
They made the sole more flexible which is great, they made the shoe alot lighter which is great but when it comes to the padding there's still too much between your foot and the road.

Reebok say the Realflex is natural running perfected, I say it's marketing dollars perfected.

Does the Realflex's heel mess with your running?

I find it funny that if Reebok was making a true Barefoot shoes, that they would give it a raised heel, does that make sense?

The heel only allows you heel strikers out there the option to heel strike if you chose.

It's interesting that in the video at the start they speak of fore foot running then at the end they are talking about heel padding??? Whats up?

Reebok say's:
There's two problems with barefoot running. One is landing on the forefoot on hard man-made surfaces such as concrete tends to induce stress fractures. We want to protect that.

So we're taking your foot and raising it up off the ground and protecting it throughout the foot with 76 sensors each designed to serve a specific purpose under your foot. Back in the heel the sensors are joined together. That's going to give you heel impact. One of the other issues with running barefoot is that when you're running downhill you can't land on your forefoot so you're going to need that heel protection and this build that in. On the lateral side of the back of the shoe we build those posts a little square to give you support and stability. Up in the forefoot we link those pods together. These nine pods right here are what's giving you the impact protection up in the forefoot.

All combined it gives you the feel and motion of natural running but with protection. That's the difference with RealFlex.

I have a problem with this.... The whole point of barefoot running is to stay away from all the unnatural padding that we see in the everyday running shoe. How can they say this is a barefoot shoe then talk up all the padding ???

It's funny that Reebok has 76 pods called "sensors" but these sensors lifts your foot higher away from the ground.

Every shoe does this to some extent. Vibram FiveFingers even do it. 

So is Reebok's Realflex a good addition to the Natural  Running Movement?

I would have to say no, the shoe looks like any other running shoe that gives you alot of padding at the heel, so you can heel strike, They try to make it sounds like the Reebok Realflex is something new.... Have they ever seen the Nike Free?? I must say that the realflex is a great shoe I'm just disapointed that Reebok didn't go all the way..

I'll let you make your own choice...

Nike Free Vs. Reebok Realflex