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The Under Armour TriBase Reign 5 and Reebok Nano X3 are both cross-training shoes designed to do a little bit of everything. Both of these shoes have been strong performers in the gym, so is there a clear winner?
If you’re considering the UA TriBase Reign 5 versus the Nano X3, then it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the key differences between these shoes because they each have their own list of pros and cons.
For example, although the Nano X3 and TriBase Reign 5 both made my best cross-training shoes round-up, they landed on this list for slightly different reasons.
UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 Performance
To break down the performance differences between the UA TriBase Reign 5 and Reebok Nano X3, I’ll cover how these perform in a wide range of contexts. I’ll discuss their performance for lifting, CrossFit, versatile training, short runs, and daily wear.
This way, you can cross-reference and see which cross-training shoe aligns with you best in relation to how you train on a normal basis.
Testing the UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 for Lifting and CrossFit
When it comes to lifting, the Reebok Nano X3 and UA TriBase Reign 5 both deliver fairly strong performances across the board. I think if you’re wanting either of these shoes for general strength work, then you’ll enjoy their overall stability.
In the Reebok Nano X3, the Floatride Energy foam midsole’s stability feels fine when deadlifting over 500 lbs and they’re stable enough to support squats around 400 lbs. Plus, their full rubber outsole has a good level of traction for lifting on different surfaces.
Similar to the Nano X3 and its midsole, the TriBase Reign 5’s Micro G Foam midsole is dense and stable enough for 500+ lb deadlifts and 405 lb squats and the outsole with the TriBase tech provides a nice level of traction.
The TriBase Reign 5 does have a slightly denser midsole compared to the Nano X3 and this model’s stack height is a little higher throughout since it has a lower heel-to-toe drop, which could be worth considering for barbell-focused athletes.
Another consideration to think about with the Nano X3 and TriBase Reign 5 is their heel-to-toe drop differences. In the Nano X3, you have a heel-to-toe drop of 7mm, and in the TriBase Reign 5, you have a much lower heel-to-toe drop of 2mm.
If you like a higher drop or a little more “heel” when lifting, then I think you’ll resonate better with the Nano X3. Conversely, if you like a flatter shoe for training, then opt for the TriBase Reign 5 as it’s closer to a zero-drop shoe.
In the context of CrossFit, both of these shoes have performed well and have proven to be well-rounded shoes for the demands of different CrossFit WODs. The Nano X3’s new Lift and Run chassis system gives them a nice feel for run-focused WODs.
Additionally, I think the Lift and Run chassis system adds to this shoe’s overall versatility for high-volume box jumps and double-unders. The ROPEPRO+ feature has also been reworked on the Nano X3 so this shoe doesn’t break nearly as fast as the Nano X2.
The TriBase Reign 5’s midsole also makes them a good contender for giving you a nice level of stability and versatility for most WODs. I think if you like trainers with “denser” or more stable feels to them for CrossFit, then you’ll enjoy this shoe.
When it comes to rope climbs and general durability, the outsole wrap in the TriBase Reign 5 and WARP upper do a good job of resisting abrasion and general breakdown issues.
Compared to one another, the Nano X3 and TriBase Reign 5 both work really well for CrossFit, but if I had to give a slight edge to one of these shoes I’d give it to the Nano X3 as I think it has a slightly wider range for WODs.
Winner: For lifting, it’s a tie and I’d suggest opting for the shoe that has the heel-to-toe drop that best aligns with your preferences. For CrossFit, both shoes are great, but the Nano X3 is taking the win for its versatility.
Reebok Nano X3
UA TriBase Reign 5
Testing the UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 for Versatile Training
When it comes to versatile training including activities like HIIT, athletic-style sessions, and class-style workouts, I’ve enjoyed the performance of the TriBase Reign 5 and Reebok Nano X3.
The Nano X3’s outsole provides a nice level of traction for multi-directional work and its Flexweave upper has a nice level of security for locking the foot down. If you want a shoe for jumping, doing agility with, and lifting, the Nano X3 excels.
On top of this, I find the Lift and Run chassis system to give this model a little more “pop” when doing explosive training. Whether I was doing broad jumps, skater strides, or agility work, I enjoyed how responsive the Nano X3 felt.
This shoe does take a little more time to break in, but once you have the midsole broken in and maneuverable, I think the Reebok Nano X3 will be a strong shoe for most needing a trainer for versatile workouts.
The UA TriBase Reign 5 also performs well for versatile training and this shoe has a slightly more “athletic” fit to it compared to the Nano X3. This model’s WARP upper provides a nice level of security for explosive and multi-direction training.
The Micro G Foam midsole adds a nice level of responsiveness to this shoe’s performance or jumping and the TriBase tech in the outsole help give this shoe a balanced and stable feel when doing single-leg training.
Winner: Both shoes work well for versatile training and I think if you want a flatter shoe that has a more athletic fit, then go with the TriBase Reign 5, and if you want a shoe for a bit of everything then go with the Nano X3.
Either way, I don’t think you can really go wrong with either of these for versatile training. One small consideration is that the Reign 5 may be a little less durable when training outdoors, but that’s a pretty niche training limitation.
UA TriBase Reign 5
$130
Best For
- Recreational Weight Training
- CrossFit
- Cross-Training & Athletic Workouts
- HIIT Workouts
- Lower Heel-to-Toe Drop Lovers
Falls Short
- For Wide Feet
- For Longer Runs
Testing the UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 for Short Runs and Daily Wear
For short runs that range from 400 meters to 2 miles, both of these shoes can work. It’s worth noting that these models do have slightly more stable midsoles, so they’re not ideal for running longer distances.
For runs programmed in WODs, I like the Reebok Nano X3 slightly better than the TriBase Reign 5. This shoe’s chassis system and the overall ride can be a little more forgiving for runs on the Assault Runner and outdoors.
The TriBase Reign 5 can also work for this running context, but I actually prefer this shoe better for sprint work. The denser midsole and lower heel-to-toe drop feed really well into this activity.
If you’re investing in one of these shoes with the intention to use it for short runs here and there, then I would say the Nano X3 will take the edge over the TriBase Reign 5 for this context.
For daily wear, both of these shoes can technically work, but you may want to actually pass on using either of them for day-to-day use if you want to get out of your investment.
If you’re absolutely deadset on picking up one of these shoes for daily wear, then I’d go with the Nano X3 as it’s a little wider, has more casual-looking colorways, and has a full rubber outsole for durability purposes.
Reebok Nano X3
Best For
- Recreational Weight Training
- Functional Fitness and CrossFit
- Athletic-Style Training
- Short Runs/Sprints
- Casual HIIT
Falls Short
- For Minimalist Lovers
- For Long-Distance Running
UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 Construction
To break down and compare the construction of the Reebok Nano X3 versus the UA TriBase Reign 5, I’ll cover different areas on each shoe and provide insights into their differences.
Hopefully, this helps break this section up a little bit and make it more digestible. For more detailed construction breakdowns make sure you check out my individual review for both shoes.
Outsole
The UA TriBase Reign 5 features a full rubber outsole and it features TriBase tech through its midfoot. The forefoot has two deep grooves and the heel is slightly beveled. This outsole has a good level of traction and stability to it.
The Reebok Nano X3 also features a full rubber outsole and it has grooves going from midfoot to its forefoot. The heel has a different tread patterning and overall this outsole comes with a nice level of grip and protection for the midsole.
Midsole
The UA TriBase Reign 5 features a Micro G Foam midsole with a relatively consistent stack height. This shoe’s midsole is dense and stable and this model has additional outsole overlays that protect the medial and lateral midfoot’s midsole.
The Reebok Nano X3 features a Floatride Energy Foam midsole and it has a decent level of denseness to it, but it is a little more responsive and forgiving than the Micro G Foam midsole. This shoe features ROPEPRO+ tech over its medial and lateral midfoot’s midsole.
Upper
The UA TriBase Reign 5 comes with Under Armour’s signature WARP upper and this cover the forefoot and midfoot. The heel has a fairly rigid construction and a bit of mesh padding to provide additional boot security.
The Reebok Nano X3 comes with a Flexweave upper that extends from the forefoot to the midfoot. The boot is enclosed with the TPU from the Lift and Run chassis system and it has a fair amount of structure and padding to it. The chassis system injects in the medial and lateral midfoot as well.
Laces and Tongue
The UA TriBase Reign 5 is built with an asymmetrical lacing system that follows the shape of the foot. This model has five core eyelets and a wide mesh non-gusseted tongue with one loop on the middle of the tongue for tongue security.
The Nano X3 features a traditional lacing system with six core eyelets with a seventh eyelet for lace-locking. The Nano X3’s tongue is built with a padded mesh, it’s not gusseted, and it has two loops for additional security. Both shoes feature good midfoot security.
Weight, Heel-to-Toe Drop, and Insole
Both of these shoes have thin foam removable insoles and their weights are fairly comparable. The main difference between these shoes in this construction category revolves around their heel-to-toe drops.
- Reebok Nano X3 Weight and Drop: 13.25 oz (for my size 10 model), 7mm Heel-to-Toe Drop
- UA TriBase Reign 5 Weight and Drop: 12.35 oz (for my size 10 model), 2mm Heel-to-Toe Drop
If you have additional questions about the UA TriBase Reign 5 versus the Reebok Nano X3’s construction, drop a comment below.
UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 Sizing
While there are some similarities that exist between the UA TriBase Reign 5 and Nano X3’s sizing, there are also some key differences to keep in mind. Both of these do run fairly true with their sizing, though, and I’ll cover some anatomical differences below.
If you have notably narrow feet, then you may want to size down a half-size in both the Reebok Nano X3 and UA TriBase Reign 5. Both of these shoes can feel pretty spacious for this foot anatomy.
For neutral-width feet, you should be safe going true to size in the TriBase Reign 5. In the Reebok Nano X3, you’ll want to size down a half-size if you like a snugger fit and stay true to size if you want a little more room in your toe box.
For wide feet, I’d suggest passing on the UA TriBase Reign 5 as it likely won’t give you the width you need to feel comfortable while training. In the Reebok Nano X3, wider feet should aim to go true to size in this model as it has more width, relatively speaking.
- UA TriBase Reign 5 Sizing Thoughts: Go true to size for most athletes and lifters.
- Reebok Nano X3 Initial Sizing Thoughts: True to size for most. Narrow feet, go down a half size.
If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the UA TriBase Reign 5 and Reebok Nano X3, drop a comment below and I can help you out accordingly.
UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 Durability
When it comes to the durability of the UA TriBase Reign 5 and the Reebok Nano X3, I think both shoes should do a fairly good job at lasting a while in most training contexts.
Neither of these models has given any indication that there are glaring durability issues, which is great because the Reebok Nano X1 and Nano X2 were prone to breakdown issues during CrossFit workouts.
The Nano X3’s reworked ROPEPRO+ is a lot denser and it doesn’t feature the same lip that would regularly break in the older models when J-lock climbing.
The TriBase Reign 5’s WARP upper tends to do a good job with abrasion, and the extended outsole over the toe box protects this model’s upper from toe-dragging contexts like burpees and prone to sprints.
The only area that could be problematic with the TriBase Reign 5’s durability is with outdoor training. With its grooved forefoot, the midsole can be a little prone to showing some signs of wear and tear as you dig into the forefeet on concrete.
That being said, if you’re using either of these shoes for general strength training, CrossFit, and cross-training in the gym, you should be fine with both of these shoes’ overall durability, especially if you limit their daily wear use.
UA TriBase Reign 5 Vs Reebok Nano X3 Price
For the Reebok Nano X3, you can expect to pay $140 USD, and for the UA TriBase Reign 5, you can expect a price point of around $130 USD.
Both of these shoes have seen a price increase compared to their predecessors. The Nano X3’s price went from $135 USD to $140 USD, and the TriBase Reign 5’s price went from $120 USD in the Reign 4 to $130 USD for the 5.
I think if you’re trying to save money, then going with the Reebok Nano X2 or UA TriBase Reign 4 can be a great strategic move to spend less. Both of these models are strong performers despite the newer iterations being overall better.
For cost-conscious athletes, I’d say if you’re wanting a shoe for a little bit of everything and CrossFit, go with the TriBase Reign 4. Then, for lifters with wider feet that want a versatile shoe, the Nano X2 can be a great shoe for everything sans rope climbing.
Reebok Nano X3
UA TriBase Reign 5
Takeaway Thoughts
The UA TriBase Reign 5 versus Reebok Nano X3 is an epic cross-training shoe showdown due to both of these shoes delivering really strong performance. To be honest, I think these are two of the better shoes from these companies over the last few years.
The TriBase Reign 5 delivers a well-rounded performance with a slight “athletic fitting” bias, and the Nano X3 feels like it’s back to its old form being a great option for CrossFit and versatility.
If you’re on the fence between these shoes, I’d go with the model that best suits your performance, heel-to-toe drop, and colorway preferences, as I don’t think either shoe will really miss if you align with them.
If you have additional questions about the Reebok Nano X3 versus UA TriBase Reign 5, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).
