4 Unique Running Adventures Across Canada
The word “run” may be one of the shorter words in the English language, but it’s a word that nonetheless packs a lot of punch. Some people run to lose themselves, and others run to find themselves. But one thing about running that is indisputable, regardless of the motivation behind it, is that running outdoors is good for the mind, body, and soul and that it’s guaranteed to take you somewhere.
Speaking of running, 10Adventures recently teamed up with Reebok Canada to see where 4 unique running adventures across Canada would take us! You may have read our review of the Reebok Nano X1 Adventure, where we hit the trails and put one of Reebok’s latest training shoes to the test with high adrenaline outdoor adventures in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. This time around, four of our contributors (and avid runners!) laced up a pair of Reebok’s newly released version of their iconic Floatride performance running shoe–the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure. We again set out in and around some of Canada’s most iconic cities, with outdoor running adventures in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. This article brings you our findings and shares how the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure performed in action.
Table of Contents
Floatride Energy 3 Adventure: The Test
Kelsey – Calgary
We all know how important it is for a running shoe to be versatile. We often look for a shoe that we can throw on for a morning run, perhaps zip around the city streets to run some errands in, and even hit a trail for a walk or run later in the day. Our contributor Kelsey from Calgary agrees that when looking for a running shoe, versatility is key! That’s why Kelsey decided to test out her new Floatride Energy 3 Adventures in a variety of settings in and outside of Calgary, to see if she’d found her match.
Kelsey set out into a blissful, sunny afternoon and started her day with a brisk walk on paved pathways in downtown Calgary. She noted, “they immediately felt comfortable. The best part was the feel of the midsole and outsole, as not only did they elevate the overall comfortability of the shoe, but these features also added a jump to my step.” Kelsey then hopped in the car and headed to one of her favourite spots, nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, near Millarville, AB. Just a short 45-minute drive from Calgary, the small hamlet of Millarville is tucked within the Foothills County and is a sight to behold. With the mighty Rockies as an ever-present backdrop, this area is perfect for escaping the city for an outdoor running adventure, and Kelsey decided to do just that. She hit a gravel road for an early evening run and also squeezed in a quick HIIT workout on a nearby field. Kelsey remarked on her combined run/workout out in Millarville, “The breathable mesh, lightweight feel, and the fact that my foot feels super secure in the shoe when the laces are correctly tied make this a fun shoe to work out or run in—not to mention the added jump in my step!”.
Chris – Vancouver
It’s no secret that one doesn’t need to search too hard to find a beautiful location, ideal for an outdoor running adventure in Canada’s iconic city of Vancouver. Here, you’ll find yourself in the centre of a vibrant and bustling cosmopolitan city, and still, surrounded by mountains, lush greenery, and the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean. Contributor Chris took full advantage of the wealth of opportunities that Vancouver presents when it comes to incredible outdoor adventures, as he headed to the city’s most famous urban sanctuary– Stanley Park. This sprawling urban park that makes up a significant part of Vancouver’s gorgeous Downtown Peninsula is encased in the blue-green waters of the English Bay and the Burrard Inlet. Dense forest, sandy stretches of beach, and several historic sites and monuments make Stanley Park a top destination for enjoying the great outdoors in Vancouver.
Chris set out on a perfect late summer’s morning with his sights set on the world-famous Stanley Park Seawall, a section of the world’s longest waterfront path, the 17.4mi Seaside Greenway. The 6.2mi section known as “The Seawall” wraps around the entire shoreline of Stanley Park and is a mecca for runners, cyclists, and just about anyone seeking some fresh ocean air and stunning natural beauty without leaving the confines of the city. Chris’s initial impressions of the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure after lacing them up to hit the Seawall are best summed up by his own words: “The first thing I noticed was their weight — or lack thereof — and their ability to conform to my foot. I have narrow feet, which often cause my feet to slide around in certain shoes, leading to soreness after significant use. It was quickly apparent that this wouldn’t be a problem with the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure model.”
Sophia – Toronto
Over 2485.5mi east from Vancouver, contributor Sophia slipped on her new Floatride Energy 3 Adventures for a day of sun and outdoor fun in Ontario’s capital city, Toronto. With its downtown skyline chock-full with skyscrapers and its labyrinth of busy and vibrant city streets, Toronto, thankfully, is also home to some incredible Urban Parks, where you can ditch the chaos and trade it in for some zen time in nature. Rouge National Urban Park, located in Toronto’s GTA near Scarborough and spanning up into Markham, Pickering, and Uxbridge, is situated around the Rouge River and covers an area of 75 square kilometres. The Urban park attracts nature-seekers from all over the GTA and features a multitude of unique hiking opportunities that explore its forests, marshes, bodies of water, and even a sweet beach.
Contributor Sophia who currently lives in Scarborough set out to run one of her favourite trails in the park, the 2.2mi long Vista Trail Loop. The undulating trail heads through dense forest on a tightly packed dirt path, heads over bridges and also features a wooden staircase built into a steep slope. Sophia felt there was no better place to test out her new kicks than on a trail she runs frequently, she remarked, “I run various trails in Rouge National Urban Park on a weekly basis, the terrain is diverse and challenging at times and so I felt it would be a good place to put the shoes to the test.” She continued, “I loved the thickness of the outsole immediately, it made me confident before even getting started, that my feet would stay comfortable during my trail run.” Sophia also noted the versatility of the shoe itself stating, “After my run, I headed home to shower, then threw the shoes right back on to meet a friend for dinner and an outdoor music event downtown.”
Esther – Montreal
A little further east, we connected with contributor Esther who took her new Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Adventures for a spin in Jarry Park Stadium, a sprawling urban park in Montreal’s borough of Villerary-Saint-Michel-Parc. The former home of the Montreal Expos, Jarry Park has long been a hub for outdoor sport and recreation. Today the park is a popular hang-out for adventure seekers looking for a green oasis in the heart of the city.
Esther laced up for an early evening run as the summer sun began to set, stating that she was really impressed when first putting on the shoes. Esther elaborated, “they felt super comfortable and the cushioning was great. I felt well supported.” Esther hit a concrete pavement that zig-zags through the park then swapped it up and continued on the grass to get a feel for both terrains. She remarked, “while I was running, I noted that the mesh material on the surface of the shoe really did make a difference and allowed my feet to properly breathe. The soft cushioning is a feature I really appreciated because the impacts while running were greatly reduced.” She felt that when comparing the shoes to other running shoes she has used in the past, the added cushioning and support were the main features that stood out.
Floatride Energy 3 Adventure Overview
Product: Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Adventure–A performance running shoe built for an outdoor adventure.
Price: $130.00 CAD
Brief Pros: Super lightweight, maximum comfort, supportive, versatility, stylish without being flashy.
Brief Cons: Wider fit, firm midsole and outsole (not a con for all!)
Would we recommend them? Yes! All contributors unanimously agreed they’d recommend the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Adventure to friends and fam.
Technology
Reebok’s team created the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure with two main focuses in mind, a performance running shoe and a running shoe built for an outdoor running adventure. Building on the foundation of Reebok’s premium running product, they emphasized the use of sustainable, recycled materials when creating the shoe and also included elements similar to other outdoor equipment, like durable laces that you might find on a hiking boot. The technology behind the Floatride Energy 3 Adventures is what makes it such a versatile shoe. You can put some miles in on the road, on the trails, and even head to the bar with friends later, while staying comfortable in a shoe that tops the charts in performance and style.
Reinforced Toe and Heel – Reebok included extra layers at high wear areas. This adds durability and extra protection from water. Kelsey noted, “One of my favourite parts was the feel of the midsole and outsole, as not only did they elevate the overall comfortability of the shoe, but these features added a jump to my step. I instantly wanted to hop around!”
Recycled Plastic Mesh – The mesh that makes up much of the top and side of the shoe is made of recycled plastic and is super breathable and durable. It allows for quick drying if the trail or roads are wet and won’t weigh you down. Sophia found this to be the case when she hit a wet section on the outskirts of a marsh, “I tried to divert to avoid a puddle and ended up plunging my foot into another puddle in the process. A quick shake and a few strides later, I noted most of the moisture didn’t penetrate the shoe and I was good to go!”
Recycled Plastic Ripstop – Made of 100% recycled plastic materials, the ripstop adds lightweight durability. Kelsey weighed in on this product feature, “the recycled plastic ripstop that adds lightweight durability instilled energy into my run and workout.”
Midsole and Outsole – The newly designed midsole and outsole deliver comfort and performance both on the road and on light trails. Esther chimed in, “I could tell that these shoes would adapt very quickly to the change in terrain and would hold up nicely in a variety of settings.”
When/Where to Use
The word versatility continuously came up across the board with all contributors. The shoe is designed to perform on outdoor road running adventures or light trails. The idea is, you can put in a few kilometres on the city streets and then hop in the car to drive somewhere more remote and hit a trail, all in the same shoe. Kelsey shared, “the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure features are much more suited for running on gravel, tarmac, and through parks than my previous shoes.” Chris also weighed in on his experience, “these shoes would do just as well in the convoluted forest paths that wind through Stanley Park, and even those in steeper terrain on the north shore. But it shouldn’t be limited to running; this is the perfect shoe for exploring a new city while travelling!” In short, the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure is a great choice for a wide range of outdoor adventures whether it be running, walking, or exploring. It’s the perfect shoe to throw in your bag for an active weekend away or a holiday that will have you on your feet and exploring lots.
Performance
Kelsey – “I would rate these shoes as a 9/10 for comfortability. While I loved the added jump to my step and the breathable mesh, my heel slipped slightly during sharp turns, but then I tightened up the laces, and I was good to go. I have narrow feet, so these shoes may also be a tiny bit wide in the heel! On a different note, despite being brand new, the well-worn feel of these shoes seem likely to eliminate any chance of blisters forming.”
Chris – “I would rate the shoes at an 8/10 for comfort while running. My favourite thing about this shoe is how well it conforms to my foot. It feels like it was designed for me — not a feeling I’ve ever experienced before with a running shoe.”
Sophia – “I give the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure a 10/10! I can’t get over how light they are, like featherlight! The colours and design are so my style and I felt like they captured “nature” remarkably well in this shoe, just like I blended right in with the forest and the sunshine.”
Esther – “I would give these shoes a 9/10 in terms of comfort. Unfortunately, my exact size was out of stock, so they were slightly big but still very comfortable to run in.”
Pros
Supportive
The design of the outsole was created with performance and comfort on both the road and the trails in mind. Our contributors noted that the outsole in particular put a pep in their step and as Kelsey put it, “elevated the overall comfortability of the shoe.” And Chris, noting, “There was just enough firmness in the midsole and outsole to feel supported by the shoe, without the need to break them in over multiple running/training sessions.”
Breathable
We can thank the use of recycled plastics for the crazy amount of breathability this shoe brings! Chris chimed in with his take on the breathability of the shoe, “Breathability can be hard to come by in a running shoe, but my feet always felt comfortable and dry even at the top end of my pace.”
Lightweight
No one likes a heavy shoe that weighs you down! Esther shared how she noted the lightness of the shoes right off the bat, “When I first removed the shoes from the box, I noticed how light they were, they are not a bulky shoe, therefore, can be worn for casual walking or running which is ideal.”
Stylish
The colour scheme on the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure is without a doubt eye-catching, Chris stated, “with the mix of blues and greens, accented by the pink salmon eyelets, the shoes seemed designed for Vancouver itself!” The shoes are also available in more neutral colours and shades for those that prefer a more low-key look.
Cons
Wide Fit
Kelsey found that she had to tie her laces super tight to keep her narrow feet in place which may mean wearing thicker socks if you have narrow feet is a good call.
Firm Midsole/Outsole
Some contributors felt that the firmness of the midsole and outsole made walking in the shoes a few times before running necessary. Others remarked however, that they felt no need to break the shoes in, as they were super comfy and formed to their feet right away
The Verdict
All of our contributors agreed that the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 Adventure performed incredibly well when put to the test on various outdoor running adventures across Canada. Everyone agreed that the weight (or lack thereof!) of the shoe, paired with the level of support and durability that the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure brings to the table made this shoe stand out. If you’re looking for a versatile shoe to add to your arsenal of outdoor adventure gear, the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure is a fabulous choice!
Now, some final words from our contributors!
“I also feel that if I forgot my hiking boots for a more technical hike, these shoes would make for a decent substitute, thanks to the toe protection, grips on the soles, and overall support.” – Kelsey
“Even amongst a horde of seasoned joggers and exercise mavens, I felt like I had the shoes to keep up with the best of them.” – Chris
“This shoe is a major upgrade for me, not only in performance but definitely in style too!” – Sophia
“ My favourite thing about this shoe is that it is very versatile. This shoe can be worn comfortably whether I am running or walking and can be worn casually as well.” – Esther
A big thanks to Reebok for the opportunity to test out the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure! We loved them! To shop the Floatride Energy 3 Adventure online, head to Reebok Online Shop | Reebok CA and Reebok Floatride Energy 3.0 Adventure Running Shoes | Sport Chek or visit your closest Reebok or Sport Chek to shop in-store.
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