Reviews You Can Rely On

Reebok Nano 6.0 - Women's Review

A good pick for an overall CrossFit shoe if you are willing to pay the price
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Reebok Nano 6.0 - Women's Review
Credit: Reebok
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Reebok
By Brittany Page ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 11, 2019

Our Verdict

In our previous review, we tested the Nano 5.0. One of the most significant differences between the 5.0 and the 6.0 is the updated Kevlar that is smoother. A shoe with Kevlar! “Is it bulletproof?”, was a typical response from athletes seeing the Nano 5.0 make its breakout in the gym. While we doubt the Nano 5.0 and 6.0 can stand up to bullets, the Kevlar does protect them from damage during rope climbs. The serrated “RopePro” material on the outsole of the Reebok Nano 6.0 is much better at helping our feet grip the rope. Workouts with light to moderate weight lifts are fine in this shoe, but it lacked some of the support we were looking for during heavier attempts. Running short distances during metcon workouts won't be a problem in the Nano 6.0, but for longer runs, we wanted a shoe better designed for runs such as the NOBULL Knit Runner. In general, the Nano 6.0 performs well for most of the demands of CrossFit, but it did not win us over like its newest sibling, the Reebok Nano 9.
REASONS TO BUY
Sturdy platform for lifting
Feel great out of box
Great for rope climbs
REASONS TO AVOID
Fit snug
Overlay on toe box peels
Not great for running

Our Analysis and Test Results

The next version in the Nano series, the 6.0 sports the typical wider toe box design that you will find in most of the previous versions. It comes in a variety of bright colors, solid black, with gum soles, or you can customize your very own design through the Reebok website for an additional amount. The 6.0 has a 4mm heel to toe rise.

Performance Comparison


Nike Metcon 4 XDX left, Reebok CrossFit Nano 6 middle, Nike Metcon 4...
Nike Metcon 4 XDX left, Reebok CrossFit Nano 6 middle, Nike Metcon 4 right.
Sturdy toe boxes, tough upper construction, and protection on the...
Sturdy toe boxes, tough upper construction, and protection on the outers. Nike Metcon 4 left, Reebok CrossFit Nano 6 right, Nike Metcon 4 XD X bottom.

Weightlifting


The Nano 6.0 is fine for lifting light to moderate weights. However, at heavier loads, we weren't as happy with this version of the Nano as we were with some of the other versions of Nanos. At lighter loads, there was no problem in being able to determine where our weight was positioned on our feet. As the loads got heavier, it was more difficult to tell if we needed to make corrections to our balance as our feet were shifting in the toe box, and the insole was as well. Our testers felt that the stability was lacking when it came to lifting in these shoes.

reebok nano 6.0 for women - at lighter weights this shoe did well, but once we got heavier our...
At lighter weights this shoe did well, but once we got heavier our toes started moving in the wide toe box and the insole started shifting.
Credit: Brittany Page

Running


While we aren't searching for the perfect running shoe, you do need a shoe to handle some moderate distance running intertwined with lifting or bodyweight movements in your everyday shoe for CrossFit. One of the long-standing complaints about the Nano shoes is the very wide toe box. Reebok trimmed down on that width with the 5.0 but has gone back to a slightly wider toe in the 6.0 version. This wide toe box design might be one reason our testers did not prefer this shoe for running workouts; we felt there was just a little too much sloppiness in the fit for a good running shoe. The forefoot was flexible for running, but overall the shoes felt clunky on anything more than a 400m run.

reebok nano 6.0 for women - the toe box gives your feet room to breathe, but these felt a bit...
The toe box gives your feet room to breathe, but these felt a bit clunky during runs.
Credit: Brittany Page

Sensitivity


In a good shoe for CrossFit, we look for a shoe that can give us good feedback during Powerlifting and Olympic lifting movements. For instance, are we leaning too far forward or pulling back to hard? The right shoe can translate that movement well to the athlete and help them find balance. We gave the Nano 6.0 an average score for sensitivity. The outsole is a solid platform that plants well during lifts but was lacking during rebounding movements like double unders, burpees, and box jumps. The feedback during these movements made these shoes feel like they were separate from the movement, rather than moving with our feet in unison. We much preferred the newest face in the CrossFit game, the NOBULL Trainer, regarding sensitivity.

reebok nano 6.0 for women - we felt planted and stable during lifts, but the sensitivity was...
We felt planted and stable during lifts, but the sensitivity was lacking in all of our rebounding movements like box jumps and double unders.
Credit: Brittany Page

Support


Shoe manufacturers have a tough job of trying to blend the perfect shoe that can be worn for weightlifting, running, box jumps, and everything in between. CrossFit shoes need enough support for lifts, yet still have enough cushion and flexibility for running. Reebok made some updates on the fit as compared to the 5.0, making these fit the foot more anatomically and naturally. Our testers loved the heel shape and cushion and noted they felt zero slip during workouts.

reebok nano 6.0 for women - the heel shape and cushion on the nano 6 kept our feet locked in. no...
The heel shape and cushion on the Nano 6 kept our feet locked in. No heel slips during workouts!
Credit: Brittany Page

Protection and Durability


In the search for a suitable shoe for CrossFit, you want to make sure your new shoes can handle some tough conditions. Insert Reebok 6.0's keyword here, Kevlar. Reebok infused parts of the upper with Kevlar to prevent the fabric on the shoe from rips and tears. They also added a “DuraGrip” layer to the toe box to add protection during CrossFit movements in your WOD like burpees, toes to bar, and sled pushes. Our testers found that the only downside to this is the synthetic overlay on the toe box starting to separate from the mesh.

Rope climbs are the true test for any CrossFit shoe as the friction caused as the rope slides on shoes can really tear up the instep as well as the soles. The Nano 6.0 employs razor edge tread patterns on the forefoot in combination with their “RopePro” technology. The 6.0 had a nice bite on the rope during climbs with very little damage to the midsole from abrasion.

The RopePro technology was razor sharp during our climbs. These had...
The RopePro technology was razor sharp during our climbs. These had a great bite on the rope.
The DuraGrip toe box and Kevlar offered great protection during our...
The DuraGrip toe box and Kevlar offered great protection during our workouts. The only downside? The synthetic overlay started pulling away from the mesh.

Breathability


Nobody likes hot feet in the middle of a workout, so we paid close attention to breathability during our testing. We put these shoes through the wringer in the hot, dry climate of Colorado in the summer. Our feet got hot in these shoes, resulting in one of our lowest-rated shoes for breathability. It could be the combination of Kevlar and the textured synthetic material of the uppers, but these shoes gave very little breathing room.

Comfort


Comfort, of course, is very subjective in a shoe for CrossFit. Our shoe testers ranked the Nano 6.0 lower on the comfort scale, and these shoes just didn't seem to move very well with our feet. There is a hard plastic piece that wraps around the heel cup that does not give at all when leaning your weight from side to side in a lateral lunge, for instance. More than one reviewer noted that when standing in them for long periods, their two smallest toes would go numb. The Nano 6.0 does have a spacious forefoot that allows your foot to breathe and move while keeping your heel in place; one of the plus sides to the 6.0 is the lack of a break-in period. Our tester reports putting these on and feeling great right out of the box and into the gym.

reebok nano 6.0 for women - these shoes just didn't seem to move very well with our feet. they...
These shoes just didn't seem to move very well with our feet. They do lack a break in period though. You can put wear these right out of the box and into the gym.
Credit: Brittany Page


Value


The Nano 6.0 is one of the more expensive shoes in our review, and isn't a home run for the price, according to our testers. If you need to keep your costs down, check out our Best Buy. We feel that you should have a more comfortable shoe overall when spending this much money on a shoe for CrossFit.

Conclusion


Continuing in Reebok's Nano series, the 6.0 has returned to the wide Nano toe box that they are known for. The Kevlar-reinforced upper, in combination with the razor edge “RopePro” technology, is a great improvement for helping our feet bite down during rope climbs. Unfortunately, the material did show some wear and tear, and the toe box started to peel after a few workouts. If you are searching for a shoe that can stand up to light lifts, bodyweight movements, and some short runs, then the Nano 6.0 will do the trick. We just hope they will bring back the Nano 2.0 someday!

reebok nano 6.0 for women - the nano 6.0 performs well as an all-purpose crossfit shoe. keep in...
The Nano 6.0 performs well as an all-purpose CrossFit shoe. Keep in mind that you might still want a pair of lifting shoes for your heavy one rep max attempts though, as these are better for light to moderate loads.
Credit: Brittany Page

Brittany Page