Review: Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5

Reebok has released the third version in their much-vaunted Zig Kinetica series with version 2.5 of the shoe. The standout lifestyle shoe continues the line’s tradition of melding classic kicks vibes with the latest and greatest in athletic footwear technology. Scroll on for our World Exclusive review of the Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5!

Specifications

Before we get into our look and wear experience with the Zig Kinetica 2.5 here’s a look at the shoe’s specs from Reebok:

• Textile upper
• Lace closure
• High Rebound Cushioning – Floatride Fuel is light and responsive, delivering an energized cushioning experience
• A Wave of Energy – Zig Energy Shell surrounds the foam midsole to channel and return the kinetic energy of your stride, and has a bold aesthetic
• Innovative Zig Energy Bands outsole stretches and snaps back to help return energy with each step

Design

The Reebok Zig Kinetica series has included throwback sneaker elements since its high-profile Cardi B and Conor McGregor-powered launched in the spring of 2020. The Kinetica 2.5 takes the classic vibe to a new level with a design, silhouette and main colorway that is very reminiscent of the still popular kicks of the 1990s. This is of little surprise given the popularity of classic athletic shoes that often originated over forty years ago. The fact that the Kinetica 2.5 is a lifestyle shoe enables its creators to throw in as much of the old school as they like.

The Zig Kinetica 2.5’s upper is made of a modern, lightweight fabric like the first and second iterations of the shoe. A synthetic leather overlay that is placed over large sections of the upper to give the shoe a definite retro feel straight out of the pre-internet era. The vintage influence is topped off with a felt strip over the outside toe area of the Kinetica 2.5.

Reebok’s unmistakable logo runs on the outside of the upper with a peek through effect since it is partially covered by the overlay. It is placed on the tongue and the back outside sole as well. “REEBOK” is embroidered on the signoff area just above the heel with a Zig logo etched into the shoes rubberized rear bumper.

The Zig Kinetica 2.5’s tongue is extremely padded like those found on 90s kicks wear. It is made of the same fabric as most of the upper however and accented with a section of synthetic leather that works to hold its laces in place. The top of the tongue is oversized to reinforce the retro look of the shoe.

The corded laces on the shoe are back for a second time following the use of flattened laces on the 2020 Zig Kinetica. Corded loops that match the laces are placed on the back of the Kinetica 2.5. They can be used to carry the shoe or to pull them on from the back.

The Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5’s sole is its standout feature in our opinion. It is fully functional with its Floatride material, Energy Bands, and Energy Shell. These are assembled into an eye-catching, in your face package that would make any shoe that it is used for stand out. We particularly like the shape and grooves in the shell that create an appearance reminiscent of muscle tissue.

The Zig Kinetica 2.5 oversized silhouette reinforces its retro look. The sole and upper are combined to give the shoe a robust, bulky look that hearkens the cross trainers and basketball shoes of the 1990s. Throw in the shoe’s launch colorway of white / off-white/ black and classic teal and you have a pair of kicks that respectfully gives a nod to the end of the last millennium while rocking a look built for the 2022.

Fit

The Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5 has a fit that is slightly on the bigger size. We recommend going half a size down from your normal athletic shoe size for them. This pays off for both fit and appearance. The latter is because the Kinetica 2.5’s large silhouette can make you appear to be wearing oversized shoes if you don’t rock them in the appropriate size.

Once laced up on your feet the Zig Kinetica 2.5 provides a snug fit from toe to heel. There are not tricky areas with slipping, annoying rubbing, or hotspots to worry about. This is the case from the moment we put on the shoe throughout over a month of use.

Getting your feet into the Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5 is quite straightforward. All you have to do is raise the tongue up a bit, slip your feet into the shoes, and lace them up. Not extra adjustment such as using the cords in the heel area or loosening up laces is needed. Our only fit suggestion is using all of the eyelets on the Kinetica 2.5. There is one row left unused when the shoe was unboxed. Lacing through them makes the length of the section of laces that you tie up more manageable. Doing so also makes the shoe look better!

Ride

The Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5 lives up to its billing in the ride department. It is a shoe that you can walk around in all day.

The cushioning, responsiveness, and energy return of Reebok’s Floatride and Zig shoes are all there to produce a sole that is in sync with your foot motion from the time your heel hits the ground to when you push off with your toes. The result is a ride that is extremely comfortable and bouncy.

The Zig Kinetica 2.5 is strictly lifestyle shoe and marketed as such. We do not recommend running with it despite its great ride. The weight of the shoe simply does not lend with itself to anything beyond casual wear and some gym work. The synthetic leather portions of the upper are also based on throwback athletic shoe technology that we have moved beyond since the 90s.

Ventilation

The mesh portion of the upper on the Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5 provides a good degree of ventilation. We’ve worn the shoe indoors and outdoors in temperatures ranging from 50 to 80 degrees Celsius and have yet to experience sweaty feet or wet socks. Our activities included walking up to two miles and working out at the gym.

We thought that the synthetic leather portions of the upper would adversely affect the air flow in and out of the Kinetica 2.5. However, this was not the case. We think that this is because they were essential and exoskeleton over the upper that were strategically placed. They also did not occupy a great amount of the upper’s surface area.

In the Gym

The Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5 performs quite admirably as a workout shoe for upper body weightlifting exercises. Strip out of your streetwear and into workout clothing without worrying about a shoe change is a stop in the gym is on your daily itinerary with the Kinetica 2.5 on your feet.

The shoe provides a wonderful level of foot support and stability for every chest, back, shoulders, biceps, and triceps exercise that we did with them on. This included moves in which we used barbells, dumbbells, cable apparatuses, kettlebells, and a TRX suspension trainer. The Zig Kinetica 2.5 will not work for leg exercises, however. Its sole is just too thick to give you the foot contact that you need for the likes of squats, leg presses, calf raises, and various deadlifts. The push off provided by the Floatride sole works well for box jumps if you don’t mind some small creases developing on the synthetic leather portions of the upper from your landings.

Durability

The Reebok Zig Kinetica 2.5 is a well-built, robust shoe that has shown little signs of wear even after a month of everyday use. The colorway that we choose has a bit of white that can pick up dirt but the materials from which the shoe is made make stains dem daily wear easy to clean with a wet wipe. We haven’t picked up any scuff marks along the way on either the upper or the very durable and well-protected outsole and midsole.

As previously mentioned, the synthetic leather sections of the upper can pick up minimal creasing based on the type of gym exercises that you wear the Kinetica 2.5 for. They won’t if you just use the shoe as a casual piece of footwear.

Bottom Line

We’re ecstatic to see Reebok continue the Zig Kinetica line with version 2.5 of the shoe. It is the quintessential combination of modern and classic sneaker technology for an era in which both are beloved by casual and hardcore sneakerheads alike. The shoe currently has a price point of $120 to $125 depending on its colorway. This is a steal for such a quality and visually appealing piece of footwear in inflation-heavy 2022.