Review: Adidas Ultra Boost running shoes

rumbataz

A couple of weeks ago I got myself a new pair of trainers to replace my trusty but very old Asics Gel Kinsei II trainers. I went for Adidas Ultra Boost running shoes as I wanted to improve my running.

Well, they are certainly unusual trainers. I went for the bright yellow ones so they're not discreet, although you can get them in black too. They're not cheap either and will cost over £100 so I really wanted them to be worth the money!

The construction is unlike any other trainer that I've come across. The top is a mesh fabric that has a small amount of elasticity in it. The sole is comprised of small bits of a foam-like material all stuck together. It's a bit like very large grains of rice glued together. Beneath the sole is a thin black rubber tread.

But the biggest surprise was when I discovered that there no tongue on the trainers. There's just a hole that you put your foot through. I was actually going to send the trainers back as I couldn't get my foot in! They appeared way too tight. I rechecked the size and it seemed fine.

So the first challenge was to get my foot into the trainers. The absence of a tongue makes this process very difficult. You have to insert you foot at an angle and pull and stretch the top fabric around your foot until you've got your heel in. If you've got wide feet, as I have, the process of putting on the Adidas Ultra Boost running shoes is going to be very difficult initially,

However, I'm glad I persevered.

I wore them for a few daily walks of around 6km each and they felt really good. Very light on the feet and a quite remarkable bounce to each step. Almost a bit like an energy recovery system that assists the next step. The cushioning and bounce feels very strange the first time you experience it. But you get used to it.

I also wore the trainers for the entire day a couple of times as I wanted to see how comfortable they were after 7-8 hours of wearing them. The answer is very comfortable.

The top mesh material hugs your feet and forms a snug glove-like grip around you foot.

My first proper run with them was a 6k run on a treadmill. With my old trainers I struggled at reaching 5k without running out of breath and feeling tired.

With these Adidas Ultra Boost running shoes, the 5k was achieved with relative ease and I went on to 6k and could have done a bit more if I had wanted to. So, the shoes really do help with my running.

I've since done two 5k runs outdoors and the shoes absorbed impacts really well and helped with running by providing a spring after each step, helping to get the next step going with less effort.

So, if you're after a good pair of running shoes and are prepared to put up with the odd design and the difficulty of actually getting your feet into the trainers, then I highly recommend the Adidas Ultra Boost running shoes.

imposter2.0

What are they like for cycling in?

rumbataz

I wouldn't use them for cycling. They're really for runners. The mesh top is very breathable so your feet are going to get chilly.

imposter2.0

I was joking.

soutermon

Can you possibly tell me if the "hole" as you put it where your foot goes in loosens at all? My wife, like you, has wide feet, and the lack of tongue makes this part quite tight on her ankle. She has just received a pair and we are debating if we should return them or not. The rest of the shoe is a snug, but comfortable fit.

Cheers

lostboysaint

Placebo effect?

Would they be any better than a properly fitted pair of trainers? (I always go to a specialist shop and try plenty of pairs as well as running in them before I buy them)!

cruff

(Checks forum URL...)

Nope - it IS a bike forum

Rule 42

rumbataz

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19779347#p19779347]soutermon[/url] wrote:

Can you possibly tell me if the "hole" as you put it where your foot goes in loosens at all? My wife, like you, has wide feet, and the lack of tongue makes this part quite tight on her ankle. She has just received a pair and we are debating if we should return them or not. The rest of the shoe is a snug, but comfortable fit.

Cheers

Nope, the hole does not expand - it's fixed. However, getting your feet in can become a lot easier as you adopt the required technique: insert foot diagonally and keep the hole open all around using your fingers so that the material does not get snagged on your foot. I can put these on within seconds now. They are a very snug and comfortable fit.

If the shoes are tight on the ankle then I suspect your wife is tightening the laces up too much - which is what you would normally do on shoes with a separate tongue. I've experimented with lace tightening on the Ultra Boost shoes and figured out that a relatively loose lace, double-knotted works best. Because the hole is fixed, your feet aren't going to move around at the heel and ankle so there's no gain in doing up the laces really tightly - try tying them up loosely with a double-knot and see if the tightness on the ankle eases.

They've enabled me to do several 10KM outdoor runs since the beginning of the year already. I also have a new pair of Asics Gel-Nimbus 17 trainers which are my gym and walking shoes. These are supremely comfortable and very, very easy to get your feet into - you can wear them all day long with no issues whatsoever. I have run in them a couple of times on 5KM runs but the Adidas Ultra Boost shoes are in a different league when it comes to running.

So, it all depends on what you want: the ultimate running shoes or fantastic all-purpose trainers. Personally I'm happy to have a dedicated pair of running shoes as I want to do my first half-marathon this year.

I use the Asics Gel-Nimbus 17 for cycling too (hybrid bike, flat pedals) and they work really well as cycling shoes too. I woudn't use the Adidas Ultra Boost shoes for cycling though, as the sole seems a bit too soft.