You can only transition from a fitness enthusiast to a professional runner if you take your gear, pace, and form a bit more seriously.
The first step to doing that is to take a look at your running shoes. If you have the perfect cushion for your feet while working out, everything else will improve naturally – your gate, form, and even your technique.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to find reliable and good running shoes in today’s market. There are many options, each tailored to suit the specific requirements of different runners.
Among these, the Adidas Ultraboost shoes have managed to catch the attention of the sports and fitness communities. While designed stylishly enough to pass as lifestyle shoes, the Adidas Ultraboost models also promise certain performance-enhancing features that can support heavy-duty workouts and strenuous running.
But is that really the case? In this article, we shall fact-check the claims and find out if the Ultraboosts can, indeed, serve as running shoes.
Are Adidas Ultraboost Running Shoes?
While Adidas Ultraboost shoes are often associated with lifestyle shoes, they are also perfectly suited to serve as running shoes as they are designed based on runners’ insights and fitted with the proprietary Boost technology to provide great energy returns with each stride.
Despite featuring the stylish “athleisure” look, the Ultraboost shoes can perform well for athletes and professional runners. With lightweight outsoles, a midsole made with premium BOOST material, and the Linear Energy Point feature for delivering excellent responsiveness for gait cycle improvement, Adidas has curated the perfect product for runners.
Moreover, most Ultraboost models have a greater heel stack height. This is done to provide an extra layer of stability and cushioning for runners who strike the ground with their heels.
While higher drops make the shoes more suitable for heel strikers, the shoe designers ensured that midfoot or toe-strikers also get some extra support by adding a flared heel in most of their models.
Apart from these, there are many other features that contribute to the efficiency of the shoes, such as excellent arch support, high durability, and adequate support from a high platform and wide base.
All of these features combined make the Ultaboosts a very good option for serving as mileage or recovery shoes. On the other hand, with so many amenities jam-packed into a single pair of shoes, it’s only natural that they are a little bit on the heavier side.
This can be sort of problematic for runners as most would prefer light shoes to make their runs easier and more efficient. But if you can power through this slight hiccup, the Ultraboost shoes might make the perfect companion to your running escapades.
Pros
When it comes to providing high-quality products, Adidas is known to deliver magnificently. As such, there are many pros to using the Adidas Ultraboost as your running shoes.
Here are some of them:-
Excellent Fit
You would think that the fit of your running shoes will depend solely on the size that you pick for yourself. But that is not always the case.
Other factors like ergonomics, design features, and comfort play a huge role in determining how well your shoes fit around your feet. And in the case of Ultraboost, the reviews are more than flattering.
The socklike knit upper hugs your foot comfortably and maximize the arch support. The upper portion of the shoe is built with a high-performance recycled material called Primeblue.
The fit would feel ideal if you chose the right size so that there is about half-inch of space in the toe box to leave some wiggle room. In fact, the toe boxes are proportionate to the width of the shoe. So, if you’re wide-footed, you no longer have to worry about an uncomfortable fit due to uneven dimensions.
All things considered, when you slip on your pair of Ultraboosts, you would hardly need to tie the laces to tighten the shoe.
Performance-Enhancing Shape
When you look at the sleek and stylish design of a pair of Ultraboost shoes, you would think that it’s all for the aesthetics.
However, some of the design features are meant to support high-impact activities like running as well. For example, the spherical heel offers excellent heel support and prevents any foot-related injuries or pain.
Similarly, the shoes feature a “rocker” build. This implies that when you are standing while wearing a pair of Ultraboosts, you would feel like you are more inclined to tip forward and back.
This mechanism ensures that you have the maximum power needed to propel you into your next step while running, saving more energy and helping you recover your natural gait.
Maximum Comfort
Athletic shoes need to be comfortable and provide a good soft layer for cushioning rough impacts. With Adidas Ultraboost, you get the best of all these features.
According to the brand, the newer models have 6% more BOOST capsules compared to the previous versions. So, you get that extra cushion to support high-impact runs.
The cushioning also ensures that you sink into the sole of the shoes with each step you take. While this may sound bad, it ensures that you have the maximum energy return to jolt your feet into taking the next step.
Great Durability
You would want your running shoes to last quite a while. But that is often not the case because these shoes are subjected to intense pressure and rough impacts in the process of training and workouts.
Fortunately, Adidas Ultraboost shoes are designed to withstand the test of time for as long as possible. They use some of the most durable and strongest materials to build the shoes.
So, all the design features, as well as the overall shape of your Ultraboosts, will remain intact for longer periods.
Fantastic Energy Returns
One of the most impressive qualities that make Ultraboosts a good pair of shoes for running is the exceptional energy returns they offer.
When you land your foot with each stride and compress the midsole, the BOOST material quickly stores the accumulated energy.
The energy is then released when you propel your foot off the ground, providing you with a spring-like sensation for improving your sprints.
This feature is good for improving running efficiency and reducing fatigue.
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Cons
Despite the many upsides, there are some reasons why people prefer not to use Ultraboosts for running.
Heavy Weight
One of the major concerns with most Adidas Ultraboost models is that they tend to be on the heavier side. To give you a better idea, a typical size-7 Ultraboost pair will weigh around 9 oz, which might not be ideal for long runs.
Most runners prefer that their running shoes be lightweight and comfortable. So, the heavier weight is a major turn-off for many of them.
Primarily Designed for Heel Strikers
The Adidas Ultraboost models feature high drops. Some of their latest versions, for example, have a 10-millimetre drop. So, the angle of your feet inside the shoe is bound to be very steep.
Higher drops are specifically beneficial for people who land each stride with their heels first (heel strikers).
On the other hand, people who tend to land on the balls of their feet will face some problems while wearing shoes with higher drops.
Expensive Price Tag
There are many reasons why Ultraboosts have a relatively higher price tag. They are made from premium materials, provide tons of performance-enhancing and design features, and feel extremely comfortable and plush.
However, the cost of the shoes might be a major downside for people who cannot afford them.
Even some professional runners fail to justify the high price tag and look for other alternatives instead.
Are Adidas Ultraboost Good for Running?
Yes, Ultraboosts are excellent for supporting your running needs. They can serve as a really good daily trainer as well as the perfect product for recovery and easy miles.
While there are some downsides associated with the weight of the shoe, there are many upsides to look forward to as well.
The cushion, for instance, protects your feet from any kind of impact and minimizes the risk of injury. Thus, the Ultraboosts are suitable for running over different terrains, whether it is a treadmill or an uneven landscape.
Similarly, the support for high energy returns also ensures that you maximize the efficiency of your runs and have good support for the recovery phase.
Ultraboost might even be one of the best running shoes developed by Adidas in recent years. For example, if we compare the pair with Adidas 4DFWD 2 and Solarglide 5, the two most successful running shoes of the brand, we see that Ultraboosts have an edge in multiple areas.
Both Ultraboosts and Solarglide have a 10mm heel drop, which is ideal for running. 4DFWD 2, on the other hand, has an 11mm heel drop, which is only suitable for athletes and prominent heel strikers.
Weight is a primary issue with Ultraboosts. But upon looking closer, there is not much difference between Solarglides, 4DFWD, and Ultraboosts. The latest Solarglide model weighs around 335 grams and is the lightest of the three. 4DFWD, the running shoe with the best athletic features, weights 352 grams. Finally, Ultraboosts come second at 340 grams, which is not a major deviation from either of the competitors.
In terms of width, both Solarglides and Ultraboosts have medium-wide toe boxes while 4DFWDs cater to people with narrower feet and people who like more snug fits around their forefoot.
In terms of flexibility, customers rated 4DFWD as the most flexible of the three, a quality that is important for running shoes. Ultraboosts come a close second. However, Solarglides are criticized as they feel too stiff for a pair of running shoes.
Finally, the forefoot height of Ultraboosts comes to about 20.5 mm, 21 mm for 4DFWDs, and 26mm for Solarglides. So, Solarglides are designed to offer maximum toe-off and propulsion and are primarily used by toe strikers.
On the other hand, Ultraboosts and 4DFWDs try to keep uniform cushioning throughout the entire sole to accommodate different types of runners.
Based on the comparison with some of the best and high-performing running shoes in the industry, Adidas Ultraboosts can definitely be considered ideal for running.
Is Ultraboost Good for Long-Distance Running?
Adidas Ultraboost shoes are also suitable for running over longer distances as they are durable and provide excellent support and stability to your feet.
However, some runners prefer to use them only for short runs and easy miles because they are slightly heavier than other running shoes on the market.
But if you can power through the weight aspect and train yourself in those shoes, they are perfectly suited for heavy-impact long-distance running as well.
How Many Miles Can You Run In Adidas Ultraboost?
While the Ultraboosts are designed to withstand longer distances, experts recommend that you replace them after recording a maximum of 500 miles while wearing them.
That’s because of the fact that the insoles and midsoles of your shoe get damaged due to the excessive pressure applied to them. This might render the design features ineffective. So, they might not be able to support high-impact runs after a while, leading to increased risks of injuries.
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Winding Up
Adidas Ultraboost shoes are highly versatile. While they are excellent as running shoes, they also have the aesthetic appeal to serve as lifestyle sneakers for casual and semi-formal outings.
The shoe’s design features, coupled with the quality of build and comfort, make it an excellent choice for professional runners.