
The Reebok FloatZig 1 represents a significant step in Reebok's journey, during the current transformative period for the brand. In 2006, Adidas acquired Reebok, and ever since Reebok played second fiddle to Adidas running line-up. However, Adidas sold Reebok to **Authentic Brands Group (ABG)** in 2021\. Under ABG's ownership, Reebok has been focusing on revitalizing its brand identity and product offerings. The FloatZig 1 and its carbon plated cousin FloatZig X1 are an indication of renewed direction.

In December 2021, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) procured exclusive rights to distribute and sell Reebok products in India. Under ABFRL, Reebok has been focusing on revitalizing its brand identity and product offerings in India. 

The Reebok FloatZig 1 blends two different lines of Reebok running shoe-lines Zig and Floatride. At its core, the shoe utilizes Reebok's Floatride Energy Foam (used in FloatRide Energy series of shoes), known for delivering a responsive and cushioned ride. This midsole however is sculpted into a distinctive zigzag pattern, which is the trademark characteristic of Zig series (Zig Kinetica and Zig Dynamica).

Reebok India has provided us FloatZig 1 shoes for this review.

<ShoeCard shoeCode="008006001M"></ShoeCard>

### What makes up FloatZig 1?

The Floatzig1 side silhouette resembles the other Floatride series shoes such as ‘Energy Symmetros’ and ‘Energy X’.  However, the resemblance stops at the silhouette.  The zig pattern in the midsole, extended heel bevel, flared midsole, and the layer of the outsole connecting from the front to back makes it look distinctive. 

Like other Floatride shoes, Floatzig1 uses Floatride Energy foam which is based on E-TPU, and is well-known for its soft and responsive nature.   Floatzig1 has a generous 37mm stack height, which puts it in the flush daily trainers category.   With such a high stack and a heel to toe drop at 6.5mm, it is an all-round shoe targeting runners of all foot strikes.

At 305g for UK 10, Floatzig1 is on the higher side of a daily trainer.  So it definitely doesn’t seem aimed at speed training or racing. 

**Midsole**

The midsole of the FloatZig 1 is built around Reebok’s Floatride Energy foam, which scores 23 on the HA durometer, indicating a soft, cushioned ride. The foam feels forgiving on landing yet stable enough not to feel too squishy, thanks in part to the wide base, especially at the heel. What sets it apart visually and functionally is the zigzag cutout pattern along the sidewalls.The midsole also features a late-stage rocker design that aims to promote smooth transitions through toe-off. While the rocker is visually aggressive, its actual impact feels subdued, likely due to the foam’s softness dampening the forward roll effect. It’s a platform built more for comfort and stability over long miles than for energetic toe-offs or speed.

**Upper**

The upper construction is fairly standard for a daily trainer. It uses a dual-layered engineered mesh that strikes a good balance between breathability and durability. The upper also has plenty of overlays to give it a structure and keeps it in shape.  Ventilation is decent even during hot conditions, and it feels sturdy enough to withstand months of use. 

The padding around the collar and tongue is generous, adding to the step-in comfort. The fit is secure, with no noticeable hot spots or pressure points so far. It holds the foot well during lateral movements, without over-constraining it.

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**Heel**

The heel area is particularly well-executed. Wide base at the heel, and extended heel bevel work pretty well. A firm internal heel counter provides structure, while the plush padding around it makes the lockdown comfortable. This combination offers both a sense of support and security, ideal for runners who land further back or need extra control during longer efforts.

**Bottom Sole**

The outsole design is one of the more interesting elements of the FloatZig 1\. It uses a rubber sheet glued onto the midsole. This design gives it a consistent contact patch from heel to toe, despite the zig patterned midsole,  contributing to smooth ground contact and probably better durability. The rubber compound grips well on dry and slightly sandy roads, with no slippage even during sharp turns.

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### Why did I consider the shoe?  

Reebok provided us with the FloatZig 1 to test and evaluate as part of their refreshed running range. Given its build and spec, I was curious to see how it performs as a potential go-to shoe for daily runs, especially recovery and easy efforts where comfort and cushioning matter most.

### Ride in FloatZig 1

The step-in feel is excellent.  It is soft, forgiving, and immediately comfortable. The Floatride Energy foam works well over longer durations, delivering consistent underfoot comfort without feeling too mushy. However, due to the wide midsole platform and the way the energy is absorbed across the base, I felt the ride is a little muted. There’s less “pop” or rebound when compared to other responsive daily trainers.

That makes it suboptimal for speed workouts or tempos, but for easy miles, recovery jogs, and long slow distance runs, it shines. The aggressive rocker is designed to promote forward roll, but due to the softness of the foam, the effect is less pronounced. It’s there, you can feel it subtly, but it doesn't propel you forward dramatically.

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**Comfort and Fit**

With 80 km logged so far, the comfort level remains high. The shoe fits true to size with a slightly snug fit. No signs of irritation or pressure points, and it holds the foot very well during the longer efforts. The plush padding contributes to the wearability of the shoe for longer runs.  However, breathability can be an issue for longer runs in hotter-weather.

**Stability** 

Thanks to its broad base and structured heel cup, the FloatZig 1 feels stable, even when taking corners or running on uneven surfaces. This makes it a good choice for runners who want a little extra support without switching to a full-blown stability shoe.

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**Road Grip**

Monsoon season here in Bengaluru, and lately it has been raining in the mornings.  The shoe’s grip has been excellent to tackle the conditions. Even on sandy or dusty roads, the shoe maintains traction. The outsole rubber, while not overly aggressive in tread design, offers dependable grip for dry and mildly wet conditions.

**Durability** 

So far, wear and tear are minimal. The outsole rubber layer shows hardly any degradation, and the upper has maintained structure without signs of fraying. Given the build quality and materials used, I expect the shoe to last upwards of 800 km, making it a strong value proposition for high-mileage runners.

**Aesthetics & Ergonomics**

I like the look of the shoe.  The vibrant pink-to-white transition on the outer wall of the midsole and black upper & outsole suggests, and the generously placed overlays, gives the shoe an aesthetic that is modern but inspired from Retro designs. **Chunky Aesthetic** with zig pattern is in line with the recent trend of bold, expressive, maximalist sneakers.  The design has enough street appeal to wear comfortably for casual outings, not just workouts.

### Review Summary
<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="008006001M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Excellent comfort, ideal for long and easy runs",
    "Stable base adds confidence on uneven surfaces and during long mileage",
    "Outsole and upper materials suggest high durability",
    "Bold aesthetics: Gradient midsole and chunky silhouette offer strong visual appeal",
    "Secure fit with good lockdown; true to size with no break-in issues"
  ]}
/>

<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "At 305g (UK 10), it’s on the heavier side for a daily trainer—not ideal for speedwork or races",
    "The wide base reduces responsiveness and energy return",
    "The rocker design doesn’t translate into a forward roll due to the midsole softness",
    "At ₹15,999 retail price, the shoe is priced on the expensive side; there are more versatile options at this price"
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
  <p>
    The Reebok FloatZig 1 blends plush Floatride Energy foam with a bold zigzag midsole design. 
    It excels in comfort and stability, making it ideal for easy, recovery, and long runs. Though it looks fast because of its rocker, 
    its weight and muted ride limit its use for speedwork. Durable materials and a snug fit make it a solid daily trainer for high mileage. 
    The striking aesthetics also make it versatile enough for casual, everyday wear. The full retail price is on the expensive side.
  </p> 
</InfoCard>



Comfortable and Soft cushioning for longer runs, but has the bounce and versatility to handle tempo runs

Reebok FloatZig 1 Review


The Brooks Ghosts are a no-brainer daily trainer, if not for millions, definitely for thousands of runners out there. The series that started in 2008 continues to be the hot favourite daily trainer. Spoiler alert - Ghost 16 takes this series a step above. The popularity of Brooks in India is quite good with many rocking the Ghosts, Glycerin and Adrenaline for their training. In fact, we see many cricketers now wearing Brooks. 

Like its predecessors, the Ghost 16 sticks to its legacy, i.e. a premium experience, courtesy of its comfortable cushion ride. I’m someone who prefers lightweight trainers, but there is something in Ghost that makes me pick them day in and day out. The cost or the pricing also matters massively for me, and getting this pair during the festive sale back in October 2024 for under ₹5,000 was a massive steal deal. I remember training for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024 edition massively using the Ghost 15 ([review here](https://shoegeeks.in/review/brooks-ghost15-007002015/)), and that didn’t change for the 2025 TMM cycle, except for now lacing up the Ghost 16 (until I was forced to be off schedule), and have run over 275 KMs already on them. I have run over 275 KMs on the 16th, and here’s my in-depth review of this classic daily trainer. 

<ShoeCard shoeCode="007002016M"></ShoeCard>

##### What makes up Brooks Ghost 16?

The Ghost series remains a classic neutral daily trainer, built for comfort. On the surface, there aren't any visible changes from its predecessor. The biggest update in the 16 is in the midsole —something I had on my wishlist when reviewing the Ghost 15. DNA Loft V3 replaces the traditional V2 (used in Ghost 15), whereas the stack height at 12mm, remains unchanged, targeting the heel strikers and to those who seek more cushioning. Brooks checked two off two from my wishlist, shedding some weight while keeping all the loved elements intact, with the Ghost 16 weighing 278g (UK 8), down from 286g in the Ghost 15. 

In India, the Ghost 16 has a max retail price of ₹15,499, but even at the time of writing this review, it was available at a 50% discount, making it a steal deal from all fronts. 


**Midsole**

The midsole of Ghost 16, uses DNA Loftv3, the one used in super-cushion shoes like the Glycerine, and an upgrade from DNA Loftv2 used in Ghost 15. The DNA Loftv3 uses nitrogen-infusion technology, where nitrogen gas is injected into EVA foam to make the foam more lighter, softer and responsive. The increased softness of the midsole is evident with a durometer score of 25, as against 27 in its predecessor. 

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Ghost 16 also sees a mild increase in stack height, both in heel and forefoot, at 36mm and 24mm respectively (against 35mm and 23mm), continuing with its traditional offset of 12mm, largely benefitting the heel strikers. There’s an insole, though without any characteristics for relevant reasons, unlike we see on the other trainers which uses a more softer component than the primary midsole to give a plush-feel to an otherwise firm ride.

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**Upper**

Brooks continues to ace in comfort with its upper, which uses a dual-layered engineered mesh. The upper is well structured and while at glance it doesn’t look breathable, this is where it surprises us, courtesy hundreds of vertical perforations which enhances airflow. The toebox gets roomier, giving your toes some much-needed space to wobble around during your long runs.

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The eyelet design is also pretty standard. It has 6+1 configuration, with 6 eyelets for regular use and an extra eyelet for heel lock lacing. The tongue is non-gusseted and wobbles around sometimes, specially in the longer runs, but feels plush and comfortable.     

**Heel**

Like its predecessor, the heel counter in the Ghost 16 feels firm and secure. The TPU base on the heel counter is quite rigid to make sure your ankle isn’t wobbling around while running.  The heel counter is generously padded and spacious enough, making sure comfort isn’t sacrificed either. For someone with haglund deformity, I did not feel any sensitivity issues on my achilles, even with all those padding. The heel also gets an additional external reinforcement, with reflectors over them for visibility when running in the dark. 

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**Outsole**

The outsole remains the same like the Ghost 15, and it's good news. They are still thick, almost spanning through the outer, making it durable. The rubber pattern also remains unchanged, featuring several segments, rather than one piece of rubber, which the brand calls is segmented crash pad, put in there to offer smoother transition through the gait. 


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##### Why did I consider this shoe?

Like said earlier, the Ghosts are a no-brainer, primarily for its comfort and durability. I have had the Ghost 15 during my marathon training and loved them, so picking up Ghost 16 was an easy choice. Add the affordability with discounts in India, it becomes a solid value for money that's hard to ignore.

##### Ride In Ghost 16

I have already logged over 275 KMs on Ghost 16 over a couple of months, putting these through a variety of runs on them, mostly easy and the long runs, because that’s where they bring life. The Ghost 16 introduces a new nitrogen-infused midsole and gains some stack. This made the ride a little more plush compared to its predecessor, yet the plush was apt enough and didn’t feel like an overdose. There’a a marginal response as well. 

Since I have already run in the Ghost series, the experience here didn't surprise me. Ghost 16 did not require any break-in, and felt comfortable right from the first run. The longest run with the Ghost 16 was the 30K, and it felt comforting throughout. I remember the Ghost 15 giving me a dragging feeling once the exhaustion kicked-in, but fortunately that wasn’t the case here. Unlike the previous one, I did feel that running on my forefoot was a bit of a struggle but I got used to it. Probably the increase of stack height is playing a role here. My easy runs are typically negative splits, with the last few KMs typically dipping under 5:00 min/km, and the Ghost 16 does well. I even laced them up for speed intervals, and they felt okay for occasional uptempo runs but not certainly built for speed. 

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**Fit & Comfort**

I’m just saying it's a 10 on 10 here. Let’s move on to the next section. Should we? ;)

The comfort kicks in the moment you unbox the Ghost 16. First and foremost, they fit true to size for my UK 7. I had no issues slipping into the shoes and lacing up, a problem I have had with trainers like the Saucony Endorphin series. My feets are narrower, and while the Ghost 15 I recon gave me a snug fit, the Ghost 16 feels spacious on the forefoot, which is definitely a plus.The wide variant is usually available in India, but as of this review, I couldn't find one. The heel counter, upper, and tongue are all generously padded, adding an extra layer of comfort. Though such padding compromised breathability, the Ghost 16 felt more breathable than its predecessors. A very few times I felt that the shoes felt a bit warm were on a hot day in Mumbai when the temperature soared beyond 30°c. With the summers kicking in, the Ghost 16 will be my go-to trainers for the next couple of months.

**Stability**

While the Ghosts are technically a neutral trainer, the stability they have offered has always been a bonus, despite being a high-stack shoe with 36mm on the heel. The wide base on the forefoot, subtle arch support, structured upper, flared midsole and the rigid heel counter work together to provide a stable ride. 

**Durability**

After comfort, if there’s another contributor for the success of the Ghost series would be its durability. The outsole rubber is over 4mm thick, and in my mileage on them of over 275KMs, there is barely any wear and tear. Saying that, I did see some wear and tear in the medial side of the midsole, more towards the forefoot. This is likely due to my gait, where my shoes tend to brush against each other during runs. The outsole rubber has a good amount of traction, and my occasional runs over some wet or muddy surfaces were satisfactory. I expect the Ghost 16 to comfortably go-beyond 800 KMs.

##### Review Summary

<ReviewSummaryCard shoeCode="007002016M"></ReviewSummaryCard>

<ProsCard
  title="PROS"
  pros={[
    "Feels comfortable throughout",
    "Highly durable and offers good traction",
    "Feels stable",
    "Lighter than predecessor",
    "Breathable",
    "Responsive than predecessor",
    "Affordable with round the year discounts",
    "Accommodates wide foot"
  ]}
/>


<ConsCard
  title="CONS"
  cons={[
    "Less versatile",
    "No gusseted tongue",
  ]}
/>

<InfoCard title="RECOMMENDATION">
The Brooks Ghost 16 stays true to its legacy as a dependable neutral trainer. It checks most of the boxes for a solid daily trainer. The comfort continues to be top-notch here. The ride feels stable and the overall build sounds durable. More importantly, it doesn’t drill your pocket. These factors make Ghost 16 an all-weather easy-to-recommend trainer. 

For beginners, this can be a one shoe do-all, whereas for experienced runners, this can be an easy effort and recovery effort trainer. II would pair it with the Asics Noosa Tri for short intervals, Saucony’s Endorphin Speed series for long intervals and tempo workouts, and Nike’s Alphafly or Vaporfly for the race day. 

Just as I said at the start of this review, the Ghost 16 is a no-brainer and is a must have for seasoned runners. The improvements over  its predecessors builds more confidence, and makes them a year-round dependable choice. *The Virat Kohli of running shoes, maybe? ;)* Saying that, I do agree that there’s always a scope for improvement. I would love to see the Ghost 17 with improved versatility and an even more reduced weight. But hey, we all have seen the rumours of what’s coming a few months away. Fingers crossed\!
</InfoCard>


Ghost 16 is a classic daily trainer, with top-notch comfort, apt cushioning, breathable upper, good stability and a durable construction

Reviews

Reebok FloatZig 1 Review

Brooks Ghost 16 Review