Earlier this year, Reebok gave us the Nano X1. This training shoe brought us all the latest and greatest in comfort, versatility, and aesthetics. But you already know that evolution never stops. This time, Reebok combined forces with the one and only Rich Froning — long-time partner — to create the Nano X1 Froning, an iteration on its predecessor.

The X1 Froning is a nod to a rule that Froning lives by: face the storm head-on. In a press release from Reebok, Froning says, “When bison see a storm, they run straight into it. They square their shoulders, brace against its power and keep moving forward. It’s their natural instinct to face it head on and never try to avoid its powers, knowing they’ll be in it a shorter amount of time than if they ran from it. This mindset is an important metaphor for life. There’s always going to be storms coming at us, but if you turn to meet them head on, you’ll come out better on the other side. It’s through this adversity that we grow.”

This sentiment was built into the very foundation of the Nano X1 Froning, with a storm-inspired print on the upper. The elastic strap to help hold down the laces keeps you feeling secure and strong — which is exactly how you need to feel when you’re facing something challenging up ahead, whether it’s a storm or WOD.

Here’s what else Reebok and Froning have in store for us.

What to Expect From the Nano X1 Froning

A 3-Tiered Lacing System

Froning has spoken before of his three pillars in life: faith, family, and fitness. This was incorporated into the shoe to both represent what gives Froning inspiration in life, and also to give you the secure foundation you need when training.

Floatride Energy Cushioning

With the Nano X1 Froning, you get the cushioning you need for running, sprints, and burpees and the stability you need for movements like box jumps, thrusters, and the Olympic lifts. It truly is a shoe for everyone and everything, built in such a way that it’ll carry you through your whole WOD, no matter what it throws at you.

A Brand New Upper

Froning wanted to help create a shoe that he could easily put on and take off. The new upper features a stretch bootie construction for comfort and convenience.

An Extra Dash of Froning

They didn’t stop at the storm design. Look to the heel tab and you’ll see “Boston Designed. Cookville Validated” – a nod to both Reebok and Froning’s homes. They’ve also included “Galatians 6:14,” which Froning has tattooed on the side of his torso. (For the curious, Galatians 6:14 reads, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

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The Nano X1 Froning officially drops July 21, which is Froning’s birthday. Stay tuned for availability at The WOD Life!