About Reebok In 1890, shoemaker J.W. Foster developed a running shoe that bristled with spikes. At the time, the innovation looked odd; today, it's practically standard gear for sprinters and gazelles. The single pair of shoes spawned a century-long tradition of innovative fitness gear. Today, Reebok designs gear for many sports-including CrossFit, dance, and yoga-and even invites customers to design their own shoes.