The women’s ABR Trainers are lightweight, low-profile platform shoes meant for athletic use. There are many reasons to like them. They are nice looking shoe; simple profile, slim looking, and they come in an attractive color-mix of black, white and gray. I do a lot of cross training and this shoe is ideal for much of what I do. As a fitness trainer with more than 18 years of experience, I’ve had the opportunity to try plenty of shoes. These shoes are useful for training with weights or for running; they are a nice hybrid similar to the the Nike Metcon 3 or the Reebok Nano 7, and very similar in weight and shape to those shoes.

The uppers are lightweight. These shoes can be used for running and the gym, however they are better suited to be used for short distance than for long-distance running, due to the lean padding. That doesn’t mean you can’t run in them; you can most certainly do a lot of short distance such as sprint work. There is sufficient padding in the heel, where it needs to count. The tongue and the welded, stretch mesh upper are thinner, but they still provide the foot a good-measure of comfort.

It’s a seven eyelet shoe; the placement of the upper two eyelets used in conjunction with the laces will get you a nice heel-lock, if you lace up them up to the throat. Use a butterfly lacing pattern, and you’ll get a great fit. I found the shoes to be comfortable for gym work and running. One thing I look for in shoes is stability. The outsole utilizes an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, and this is low enough to keep you flat-footed when doing Olympic style movements such as push presses and jerks. The outsole uses a combination of cross-cut lugs and and channels as flex grooves in somewhat of a sawtooth shape to give you flexibility when moving. Great for gripping terrain. The instep uses what the call their Rope Ready™ Zone.

The toe-box has a bit of reinforcement to it. I found the shoes to be excellent on an indoor track, but a bit too pillowly when using weights for many of my balancing exercises; I felt that I needed a bit more stability. The insert is an Ortholite® 2mm construction sockliner. Overall, a very nice shoe. Priced at under $99.00, they will do you well. Overall, I would definitely feel comfortable recommending these shoes. They’re a wonderful addition to the running arsenal as a natural, neutral trainer ready to support you for many miles.

FEATURES & BENEFITS

• High-performance training shoe
• Enhanced comfort, stability, and traction
• Ideal for cross training and any heavy workout

SPECIFICATIONS

• 8 mm heel-to-toe drop
• Welded, stretch mesh upper
• Toe reinforcement
• Ortholite® sockliner
• Rope Ready™ Zone
• Imported

Final scores are as follows:

Cost 5/5

Weight 4/5

Function 4/5

Durability 4/5

Comfort 4/5

Cushion: 4/5

Stability: 3.5/5

Flexibility: 3.5 

Pull tab for easy on and off

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.

*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.