By Kieran Alger
Boost lives on in the new re-engineered Adidas Ultraboost 5 – an everyday running shoe that puts a bigger stack of a new formula Light Boost foam underfoot in a bid to punch up the energy on your runs.
Does it do enough to put Boost back in the big time? We’ve done the testing to find out. Read my Adidas Ultraboost 5 review to see how it stacks up against the latest running shoe rivals.
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Before the avalanche of super shoes like the Nike Vaporfly, there was the Adidas Ultraboost. With its innovative wedge of lively, bouncy, springy and cushioned TPU midsole foam, Adidas’ daily trainer earned instant popularity back in 2015. But with the onslaught of superfoams in the decade since, it looked like Boost might be finally on its last legs. Not so. At least not yet.
Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price
The Adidas Ultraboost 5 stack height packs 39mm at the heel and 29mm under the forefoot for Nike Pegasus 41-style generous 10mm drop.
The Adidas Ultraboost 5 weighs in at 10.2oz in my US men’s 9 test shoe. That’s almost identical to the Adidas Supernova Prima (10.1oz) and a touch lighter than the Nike Pegasus 41 (10.5oz).
Launch price for the Adidas Ultraboost 5 was set at $180. That’s at the higher end and pricier than the likes of the Nike Pegasus 41 ($140), the Saucony Ride 17 ($140) and other recent additions to Adidas everyday running shoe line-up including the Supernova Prima ($160) and Supernova Rise ($140).
Stats
Adidas | Ultraboost 5 |
|---|---|
Best for | Road / Daily miles |
Support | Neutral |
Cushion | Medium cushioning |
Stack Height | 39mm heel 29mm forefoot |
Drop | 10mm |
Weight | 10.2oz /289g |
Suggested Retail Price | $180 |
Fit | True to size |
Rating | 8.0/ 10 |
Design
The big upgrade here comes in the midsole with a new-formula Light Boost foam that uses the same base material from last year’s Adidas Ultraboost Light 1 but crucially that’s been re-engineered to spring back quicker as your foot hits the ground, putting more energy into your runs. Adidas says the foam “saves weight, offers significantly higher cushioning and 2% more forefoot energy return.”
The lighter foam allowed Adidas to increase the stack and put more Boost underfoot. There’s now 9mm more foam right across the foot. To control that bigger stack Adidas added a new torsion system – an X-shaped plate in the middle of the foot – to deliver support in the transition from touchdown to toe off. A moulded external heel counter also enhances that security and adds more control.
Up top, there’s a new Primeknit upper with varying levels of structure and flex. The uppers shoot for that combination of breathability and support but only where you need it.
The outsole features a generous covering of grip and durability-boosting Continental rubber.
Adidas Ultraboost 5
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Fit
In testing I ran in a US 8.5. That’s a half-size smaller than I’d usually run in Adidas shoes. Generally speaking Adidas running shoes come up narrow on my wider, higher feet and dropping half a size just wouldn’t work. But the Adidas Ultraboost 5 are surprisingly roomy and flexible. There’s a lot of stretch across the toe box – and enough length – so even half a size down I had quite a roomy, pliable feel.
I got good heel hold, lockdown across the midfoot was reliable and there’s a relatively unfussy, easy fit that disappears nicely on the foot. However, unless you like your shoes snug, I’d still recommend going for your regular shoe size.
Performance
I’ve covered north of 30 miles in the Adidas Utlraboost 5. I mixed up the time, distance and pace with some easier 5kms, longer runs up to 90 minutes and some faster miles to test the Adidas Ultraboost 5’s faster-run credentials. All of that was on asphalt, some of it in the hot summer sun.
Hands up, I’ve not laced up a Boost shoe for a while. I honestly thought Boost had had its day and was headed for the fashion shelves. So I came to this review with an open mind, or at least not expecting much. Now while I wasn’t blown away by the performance, I was gently surprised. There’s a competent comfort here that would certainly suit a casual runner or someone looking for a general use, gym-run crossover shoe.
Like the Nike Pegasus 41 or the Saucony Ride 17, the Adidas Ultraboost 5 feels easy from the start. It’s got that instantly run-ready appeal, with good step-in comfort and an unfussy fit. It’s immediately natural.
When it comes to the ride, I’d describe it as competent but also wholly unremarkable. That bigger stack of rejuvenated Boost foam is soft and nicely cushioned without being soggy. There’s a little energy in the toe off but that rebound falls short of the lively, punchy, propulsive rides that you’ll now find from more aggressive – and more fun – daily trainers. It can’t keep pace with an Endorphin Speed 4, for example. And it certainly won’t blow your socks off.
There is a balance here though. It’s a happy-enough shoe for easy hour-long runs, offering a good reliable platform to run off and ample road protection. It ticks along without really offering anything amazing but you also know what you’re going to get in each step.
Like the Nike Pegasus 41 and the Saucony Ride 17, it disappears into the background and lets you get on with business. It’s cushioned and supportive with good grip and I was perfectly happy clipping along in it, knocking out easy miles. Even if it wouldn’t be my first choice shoe.
My Verdict
The Adidas Ultraboost 5 is perfectly competent but in many ways, largely unremarkable. Comfortable, easy to run in, somewhat versatile and nicely balanced. Just not that exciting.
There’s nothing glaringly wrong with this shoe. The uppers were a bit thick and hot on longer runs in the mid-summer. They could be more breathable. The Boost midsole doesn’t quite deliver the punch and versatility of an Endorphin Speed 4, or the snap and response of a HOKA Mach 6.
There are shoes that offer more cushioning and protection, too. Despite that extra wedge of Boost across the foot, the Ultraboost 5 still isn’t as plush as shoes like a Brooks Ghost Max 2 or an ASICS Gel Nimbus 26.
Perhaps the biggest issue with the Utlraboost 5 is that it doesn’t really deliver the versatility of Adidas’ own new Supernova Prima that comes in cheaper.
But if you want a balanced shoe that’ll happily eat some gym cardio, cater for everyday miles and look good for casual wear, the Ultraboost 5 will cover all of that happily. But there are many cheaper shoes that’ll also tick those boxes. Just without the retro style appeal of Adidas Boost legacy.
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