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I recently tried 14 different types of composite toe work shoes so I could evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of all of them (you can view that article here – best comp toe work shoes). For that article I tried three of the most popular types of Reebok composite toe shoes and my conclusion was this:
My Conclusion: Reebok Composite Toe Work Shoes are consistently more lightweight and more comfortable than the average composite toe shoe on the market today. I was actually a bit surprised how much I liked them. After trying 14 different comp toe shoes across a range of brands, I found the Reebok Sublite shoes to be the lightest in weight, and to also provide the most under-foot comfort. This is the current price of the Reebok Sublite shoes at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
I love the Reebok Sublite memory foam insoles that are designed in a way that helps relieve stress off the bottom of my foot:
If you are looking for a low-top athletic-style composite toe work shoe, I don’t think you can do any better than Reebok composite toe shoes. I tried the Reebok Sublite, Reebok Astroride, and the Reebok Fusion Flexweave, and honestly they are all quite similar.
I personally liked the Reebok Sublite shoes the best, but the Reebok Astroride shoes were a very close second (the Reebok Astroride shoes were probably my second favorite composite toe work shoe out of the 14 shoes I tried). The Reebok Fusion Flexweave shoes I didn’t think had quite as much under-foot comfort as the other two Reebok styles, but the Reebok Fusion Flexweave shoes were the most breathable composite toe shoe I tried (across all brands).
In this article I want to discuss the three Reebok composite toe shoes that I tried, and address both the advantages and disadvantages (yes, there are some drawbacks) to using Reebok composite toe work shoes. Some other popular brands, like Nike, don’t currently make composite toe shoes, and I think these Reebok shoes act as a great alternative.
Reebok Composite Toe Shoes
Reebok Sublite Cushion Composite Toe Work Shoes
I tried 14 different comp toe work shoes, and these are by far my favorite based on comfort. The memory foam insole they use on these shoes (Reebok calls it “Memory Tech Massage”) provides a level of comfort under the foot that none of the other composite toe shoes I tried could match.
When I weighed 14 composite toe shoes (various brands), this shoe tied for the lightest weight out of all the shoes. My size 12 men’s weigh 0.94 pounds per shoe. The design is extremely flexible and responsive, and truly feels like you are wearing a lightweight athletic shoe for work.
These are best used for indoor shoes, and might be especially helpful if you stand on your feet all day. Certain light-duty outdoor jobs on smooth terrain might also find these shoes to be a good fit. But it is important to understand that these shoes aren’t built for heavy-duty work in outdoor environments.
Like most all athletic work shoes, these shoes have a minimalistic design that prioritizes lightweight comfort. Textile uppers and foam midsoles won’t survive rugged work and shouldn’t be thought of as a work boot replacement. But from my experience, no other athletic composite toe work shoe can match the lightweight comfort of these Reebok Sublite shoes.
Click here to buy these Reebok Sublite Cushion composite toe shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes. To read more, visit out Reebok Sublite Work Shoe Review.
Reebok Astroride Strike Work Composite Toe Shoes
These Reebok Astroride Strike composite toe shoes are very similar to the Reebok Sublite shoes we discussed first, they just use a different type of memory-foam insole, and altogether, weigh a bit more than the Reebok Sublite shoes. When I tried 14 composite toe shoe across a wide range of brands, the Reebok Sublite shoes were my favorite, but these were my second favorite (across all brands).
Overall, this is another great lightweight indoor option, and if you don’t like the grooved outsole of the Reebok Sublite shoes from earlier, perhaps you like the outsole design on these shoes better. But these two Reebok shoes are very similar, and fill the same need, so which is best for you might come down to style.
I personally thought the massage insoles on the Reebok Sublite shoes were more comfortable, but it is important to stress that the memory foam insoles used on these Reebok Astroride shoes are also very comfortable, and are more comfortable than insoles used in other brands that I tried.
Reebok really does a great job at making comfortable comp toe shoes that feel like lightweight athletic shoes, and these Reebok Astroride shoes fit that description perfectly. Yes, these shoes have both a toe and heel overlay for extra abrasion resistance, but like most Reebok work shoes, these are best used for indoor jobs or light duty outdoor work on smooth terrain.
Click here to buy these Reebok Astroride Strike comp toe work shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.
Reebok Fusion Flexweave Composite Toe Work Shoes
How do these Reebok Fusion Flexweave shoes compare to the other two Reebok composite toe work shoes from above? I’d say the other two shoes have more under-foot comfort, but this Reebok Fusion Flexweave shoe is more breathable. I actually named this Reebok Fusion Flexweave shoe the most breathable composite toe shoe.
If you look at the photo gallery above, in the last photo I’d tried to capture just how breathable these shoes are. When I held them up to the light, you can actually see through these shoes. If you work in a hot climate, these might be your best option.
And even though I think the Reebok Sublite shoes and the Reebok Astroride shoes have more under-foot comfort, these shoes are still very comfortably. But they just don’t use the memory foam insoles like the first two Reebok shoes do.
If I’m working indoors standing on my feet all day, I’m personally using either the Reebok Sublite or the Reebok Astroride Strike shoes. But if you are doing light duty work outdoors in a hot climate, these Fusion Flexweave shoes might be the best choice.
Overall, these are still shoes meant for light duty. Yes, there is a toe and heel overlay for extra abrasion resistance, but these shoes won’t take a beating like a pair of leather boots. You aren’t wearing these types of shoes for abrasion resistance, you’re wearing them for comfort and breathability.
These Reebok Fusion Flexweave shoes can deliver some relief on those hot summer days. They are extremely flexible and have that lightweight design that Reebok composite toe shoes are known for (my size 12 weighs 1.01 pounds per shoe).
Click here to buy these Reebok Fusion Flexweave composite toe shoes available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Wide sizing is available for these shoes.
Comparing the Memory Foam Insoles for Reebok Composite Toe Shoes
I really like the memory foam insoles used in certain styles of Reebok Work Shoes. There are actually two different kinds of memory foam insoles they use: “MemoryTech Massage” and “MemoryTech”. Both are very comfortable, but I give the slight edge to the “MemoryTech Massage”.
MemoryTech Massage Insoles
These are my favorite and are the insoles used in the Reebok Sublite shoes. Not only do these insoles have the memory foam that provides premium cushioning under the foot, they also are grooved in a way that helps relieve some stress off the bottom of my feet.
In the video below I tried to capture as best as I could just how soft these MemoryTech Massage memory foam insoles are:
MemoryTech Insoles
These MemoryTech insoles are used in the Reebok Astroride Strike shoes. This insole is also extremely comfortable and provides great cushioning under the foot. The only difference here that I can tell is this insole doesn’t have the groove pods along the top like the MemoryTech Massage insoles from above do.
In the video below I tried to capture as best as I could just how soft these MemoryTech memory foam insoles are:
Overall, these two insoles are very similar, and both provide more under-foot comfort than I’ve experience from other brands on the market today. As I’ve said throughout, if you spend long work days on your feet, these Reebok composite toe work shoes are a nice way to find some relief.
Comparing Weight Data of Reebok Composite Toe Shoes vs Other Popular Brands
I compared 14 composite toe shoes, including these Reebok composite toe work shoes. Here is the weight data for the 14 shoes that I compared (weight is based off of one size 12 men’s shoe):
| Shoe Name | Weight (lbs) | Photos |
| Reebok Sublite Cushion | 0.94 | view my photos |
| Rockport Truflex | 0.94 | view my photos |
| Reebok Astroride Strike | 0.99 | view my photos |
| Reebok Fusion Flexweave | 1.01 | view my photos |
| Timberland PRO Drivetrain | 1.03 | view my photos |
| Danner Run Time | 1.15 | view my photos |
| Kodiak Ramble | 1.25 | view my photos |
| Caterpillar Streamline | 1.26 | view my photos |
| Carhartt Force Nano | 1.28 | view my photos |
| New Balance 589 | 1.32 | view my photos |
| KEEN Utility Flint 2 Low | 1.38 | view my photos |
| Caterpillar Argon | 1.62 | view my photos |
| Skechers Greetah | 1.60 | view my photos |
| Kodiak Quest Low | 1.69 | view my photos |
My Conclusion for Reebok Composite Toe Shoes
Ultimately, these Reebok composite toe shoes proved to consistently be lighter in weight than the competition. I also found the under-foot comfort to the best out of all the composite toe shoes that I tried.
I feel confident in recommending Reebok composite toe work shoes for indoor jobs where you are standing on your feet for long periods of time. They also make sense for light-duty outdoor work in hot climates where breathability is important.
As I have mentioned throughout, one drawback to Reebok composite toe shoes is durability. And in fairness to Reebok, this isn’t a Reebok issue, it is an issue with athletic-style work shoes. These types of athletic work shoes are made with textile uppers and lightweight foam midsoles. They aren’t built to take a beating like a leather work boot is.
Yes, these Reebok composite-toe work shoes have toe and heel overlays to add extra abrasion resistance, but don’t expect these shoes to offer the protection and long term durability like a pair of leather work boots will. If you need a low-top option with a little more durability, I’d recommend Keen work shoes.
Because of this, these shoes are best used for indoor jobs, or light duty outdoor jobs. Not only are the textile uppers not durable enough to handle a rugged environment, the outsoles don’t have deep lugs or a raised heel that might be needed for certain outdoor terrains. Because these shoes don’t have a raised heel, they also might not make sense for those of you climbing ladders all day.
But if you are looking for a work shoe that feels more like a running shoe than it does a work shoe (see my favorite running work shoe), then these Reebok composite toe shoes are, in my opinion, your best option on the market today. They have a lightweight comfort and responsiveness that other brands don’t match.