The Ultraboost, Adidas popular running shoe franchise, is loved by runners for its comfort and cushioned construction, but its recent iterations have been met with mixed response.
Some runners say the Ultraboost 22 weighs the foot down with its thick outer sole. It's hard to pick up pace and speedwork feels heavy and laborious. Some male runners also complained that the Ultraboost has moved to be more of a female shoe.
Following their feedback, the brand has released Ultraboost Light, which features new material at its core - the Light Boost. Adidas says the new iteration has "30 per cent lighter Boost materials, resulting in a performance running shoe designed to offer epic energy, ultimate cushioning, unrivaled comfort, and responsiveness,"
MORNING RUN
I tried the Ultraboost Light for a weekend morning run, and while it's true that the shoe is lighter, it lacks the Boost cushion the franchise is loved for. In other words, comfort, especially for longer distance, is somewhat compromised.
The outer sole feels decidedly thinner so if your legs aren't strong enough to bounce on their own, then these new running kicks won't be of much help.
The first few strides feels like the shoe is a hybrid between the Ultraboost 22 and the Supernova but I believe that no shoe can have it all— either the pair is good for long runs (Ultraboost 22) or speed work (Supernova).
I completed 7km on my first run, and while the run felt comfortable, the shoe did not feel exceptional, especially considering it's RM869 a pair. To me, it's a pared-down version from the comfort that Ultraboost delivers, with the same high price tag. A lot of runners are willing to fork out a huge sum for shoes that can go the distance but this one, at least to me, doesn't hit the mark.
The shoe fit, however, is excellent- the toe box is wide, the mid sole isn't narrow and the heel isn't loose. Traction is also excellent, thanks to its partnership with Continental that supplies its rubber sole. I tried it on puddles and watery steel surface, and the shoe remained stable throughout.
The initial base colourway for Ultraboost Light is white. I feel that the white colourway trend for high-end running shoe has been going on for too long so this feels repetitive. And boring.
RUNNING GOAL
Adidas footwear product marketing category director Simon Lockett says the creation of the show stems from the notion that running is a personal pursuit.
"Everyone has a different goal and therefore, different requirements for their shoes. That is why we're continuously looking at ways to improve our products for the running community,"
Perhaps, this time around, I am not the target group for the shoe. I still need adequate cushioning more than lightness for my hilly, morning run and any compromise on comfort would decrease my speed and overall running joy.
Shop running shoes from popular brand at pocket-friendly prices using Zalora Promo Code.
