Reebok - Matching products for APRILSPECIAL

Reebok History

Reebok's roots go back to 1895 in Bolton, Lancashire, where 14-year-old Joseph William Foster - working in his bedroom above his father's sweet shop - designed some of the earliest spiked running shoes. Foster founded his business J.W. Foster in 1900 and later renamed it J.W. Foster and Sons, operating from a small factory on Deane Road, Bolton, which he called Olympic Works. His handcrafted "running pumps" became celebrated among elite athletes, and the shoes were worn by British runners who won medals at the Olympic Games, most famously Harold Abrahams, who won gold in the 100m at the 1924 Paris Olympics - a story later immortalised in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. Foster also made the spikes worn by Nat Lofthouse when he scored the FA Cup final-winning goal for Bolton Wanderers.

In November 1958, Foster's grandsons Jeff Foster and Joe Foster - frustrated by J.W. Foster and Sons' failure to modernise in the face of competition from Adidas and Puma - set up their own company in Bury, a few miles from Bolton. The name Reebok came from an Afrikaans dictionary that Joe had won as a boy in a sprint race; he wanted an animal name beginning with R and found "rhebok" - the grey rhebok, a swift South African antelope. The company formally registered as Reebok in 1960. The original J.W. Foster and Sons business was wound down and absorbed into Reebok in 1976.

In 1979, American businessman Paul Fireman encountered Reebok at the Chicago National Sporting Goods Association trade show and negotiated a licence to distribute the brand in the United States - perfectly timed for the aerobics fitness boom sweeping America. In 1982 Reebok launched the Freestyle, the first athletic shoe designed specifically for women's aerobics; by 1984 it accounted for more than half of all Reebok sales. US revenues grew from negligible levels to over $1 million by 1981 and accelerated rapidly through the decade. In 1989 Reebok introduced the Pump - an inflatable bladder system allowing wearers to customise the fit of their basketball shoe. In 2011 Reebok launched the Nano, the first official CrossFit shoe, establishing a long-running partnership with the CrossFit community. German sportswear giant Adidas acquired Reebok in 2005 for approximately $3.8 billion; Adidas subsequently sold the brand to US-based Authentic Brands Group in 2021 for €2.1 billion. Reebok's global headquarters are in Boston, Massachusetts. The brand's Bolton origins are commemorated in a permanent exhibition at Bolton Museum, which opened in July 2025.

What does Reebok sell?

Classic Footwear

Reebok's Classic range is one of the most enduring in trainers. The Classic Leather - introduced in 1983 - is a clean, versatile low-top available in a wide range of colourways. The Club C is a court-inspired style also from the 1980s. The Freestyle is the original women's aerobics shoe from 1982. The Instapump Fury (1994) is a more technical silhouette that remains popular with collectors and sneaker enthusiasts.

Running and Training

Reebok produce a range of running shoes, training shoes and cross-training footwear. The Nano series - now in its 14th iteration - is the go-to training shoe for CrossFit athletes worldwide. The Floatride Energy range covers everyday running and performance training. Reebok also produce fitness and gym training shoes suited to HIIT, lifting and studio workouts.

Clothing and Accessories

Reebok's apparel range spans activewear, training tops and bottoms, sports bras, hoodies and tracksuits. The Classic Vector logo sweatshirt is one of the brand's most recognisable clothing pieces. Reebok also produce sports bags, caps and socks alongside their footwear and apparel ranges.

Common Reebok Questions

Is Reebok a British brand?

Yes - Reebok was founded in Bolton, Lancashire in 1958 by brothers Jeff and Joe Foster, grandsons of Joseph William Foster who had been making spiked running shoes in Bolton since 1895. The brand has been owned by American company Authentic Brands Group since 2021 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, but its origins are firmly British - a heritage now celebrated in a permanent exhibition at Bolton Museum.

Where does the name Reebok come from?

The name Reebok comes from the Afrikaans word for the grey rhebok - a swift South African antelope. Co-founder Joe Foster found the word in an Afrikaans dictionary he had won as a boy in a sprint race. He wanted an animal name beginning with the letter R, and when he found "rhebok" it felt right. The name was formally registered in 1960.

Who owns Reebok?

Reebok is owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG), a US-based brand licensing and management company. ABG purchased Reebok from Adidas in 2021 for €2.1 billion. Adidas had originally acquired Reebok in 2005 for approximately $3.8 billion. Reebok is now headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

What is the difference between Reebok Classic and Reebok Sport?

Reebok Classic covers the brand's heritage lifestyle footwear - including the Classic Leather, Club C and Freestyle - styled for everyday wear and drawing on the brand's archive dating back to the 1980s. Reebok Sport (or Reebok Performance) covers the active training and running ranges, including the Nano CrossFit series, Floatride running shoes and gym training footwear, designed for performance and functionality.

Does Reebok offer NHS discounts?

Reebok periodically offer discounts for NHS and key worker staff. It is worth checking the Reebok website directly or signing up to their newsletter for the latest information on any healthcare discount schemes. Reebok also run regular sale events and the Classic range regularly features in promotional pricing throughout the year.

When is the Reebok Black Friday sale?

Reebok participate in Black Friday each November with discounts across their Classic footwear, training shoes, running range and apparel. The Classic Leather, Club C and Nano are typically among the most popular discounted styles. Signing up to the Reebok newsletter is the best way to receive early access to Black Friday deals and exclusive promotions.

Are Reebok and Adidas the same company?

No - Reebok and Adidas are separate brands. Adidas owned Reebok from 2005 to 2021, but sold the brand to Authentic Brands Group in 2021. The two brands now operate independently of each other. Adidas is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany; Reebok is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Black Friday History

Reebok participate in Black Friday each November with discounts across their Classic footwear, performance training shoes and apparel. The Classic Leather, Club C and Freestyle are consistently among the most heavily featured styles in sale events, alongside the Nano CrossFit training shoe range. Reebok's Black Friday promotions are available online and, where applicable, in selected retail partners, with signing up to their newsletter giving the earliest access to deals.

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What to typically expect from Reebok

• Founded in Bolton, Lancashire in 1958 - heritage dating to 1895 and Olympic champions
• Classic Leather, Club C and Freestyle - iconic 1980s lifestyle silhouettes
• Reebok Nano - official CrossFit training shoe, now in its 14th generation
• Owned by Authentic Brands Group since 2021, headquartered in Boston
• Bolton Museum permanent exhibition celebrating the brand's Lancashire roots (2025)