Latest revision as of 10:08, 17 September 2015

The Adidas Energy Boost 2 has a new material in the midsole (see 'Adidas Boost Foam' below) which changes how this shoe feels. The Energy Boost is immediately comfortable and the foam makes a noticeable difference to the ride. Sadly the Boost is a traditional design, with the typical raised heel and I would not normally recommend considering it. However, because the boost foam works so well, and because removing the insole reduces the drop to 7mm, I think it's worth considering. The insole is about 3mm in the forefoot and 5mm at the heel. Without that extra, the shoe is 14mm/21mm. Note that the Boost and the Boost 2 are virtually identical. I could not find any differences other than the "2" on the label. I've rated the Adios as "worth considering." (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Adidas Energy Boost top

Adidas Energy Boost bottom

Adidas Energy Boost inside

Adidas Energy Boost outside

1 Characteristics

• Why you’d buy it. The new foam makes the Boost more comfortable and long lasting.
• Cushioning . The Boost is well cushioned, and the cushioning has far more spring than conventional EVA foam. There is some evidence that this improves Running Economy.
• Drop. With that the insole removed, the Boost has 7 mm of drop, which is more than I'd like.
• Structure. This shoe uses single density of foam, with no grooves to improve flexibility.
• Flexibility. The Boost is less flexible that I would have expected, partly because the foam does not have any grooves, and partly because of the extensive outsole.
• Outsole. There is a hard rubber covering most of the contact area of the shoe, which improves longevity.
• Shape. The shoe is does not match the shape of the human foot, so cutting open the toe box for comfort is a good idea. (I recommend cutting open the toe box of virtually all running shoes, with the exception of a few shoes like some Altra shoes. When you have some worn out shoes, you should try cutting open the toe box. I've found that it's a big improvement, allowing my toes to move naturally and engage for toe off, as well as reducing the possibility of blisters.)
• Upper. The upper is inflexible and fairly thick, with poor breathability compared with most shoes. There is a plastic 'skeleton' over the shoe from the ball of the foot back which adds weight and reduces comfort without seeming to add much value. However, it never caused me any discomfort.
• Tongue. The Boost has a tongue that is partially attached to either side of the upper. I found that this worked well, as it felt like a conventional tongue that stayed in place perfectly. The tongue has thick, soft padding.
• Lacing. The flat laces work well and remained tied.
• Heel Counter. The heel counter is part of the overall plastic skeleton.

The Energy Boost is immediately comfortable, with a light, flexible upper with no noticeable seams. I'm thankfully Adidas has used a traditional tongue and laces, rather than a sock style upper or Velcro fastening. And while the sole has the traditional raised heel, there is none of the multi-density foam or other intrusions that are so common. I think a lot of people will buy the boost because of its immediate comfort, but stay with it for its extraordinary characteristics.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Adidas Energy Boost at Zappos Buy Adidas Energy Boost at Road Runner Sports Buy Adidas Energy Boost at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Adidas Energy Boost at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

3 Visualizing the Attributes of the Adidas Energy Boost

How Adidas Energy Boost compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Adidas Energy Boost compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Adidas Energy Boost compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Adidas Energy Boost compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

4 Adidas Boost Foam

The Adidas boost uses a new type of foam in the sole that has more bounce and is more resilient. Adidas demonstrates this extra bounce by dropping a steel ball on their new foam and EVA, the industry standard foam. Because of the extra energy return in their new foam the ball will bounce much higher than on EVA. However, when we run our feet do not bounce off the ground, but have a short period of sustained contact, often called the 'stance phase'. So when your foot lands, it seems that the boost foam would return the landing shock back up your leg rather than absorbing it, which is less than ideal. It would be good to see a study that looks at how the boost foam changes the stresses on knees and hips compared with a standard running shoe. Regardless of how the bounce impacts your running, the increased lifespan of the new foam is appealing. Having a shoe that lasts longer is obviously good, but Adidas also claim that the new foam is more consistent through most of its lifespan, rather than gradually decaying in the way EVA does. Adidas also claims that their new foam does not change characteristics in extreme temperatures like EVA does.

Adidas Energy Boost. The foam used in this shoe looks a little like Styrofoam/polystyrene, but it's actually remarkably tough to cut. You can also see a small indent in the top of the midsole where the foot pod would go.

5 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
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