Hows’ the cushioning on these shoes? Are they anything like Hoka shoes?
No, nothing like the Hokas, at least in my experience. To me, the Hokas are the most cushioned shoe I’ve ever run it…you can really smoke downhill, and they absorb a lot more impact than other shoes. The Adidas don’t have near the same cushioning. That being said…I prefer to run in the Adidas. They feel much “faster” to me, whereas the Hoka feels clunky, and I do run faster in the Adidas.
This is the specific shoe: http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/ADI1674/mens-adidas-energy-boost/
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Awesome shoes but not built like Hokas.
They’re good if you want something that will support heel striking and future injury.
What about them supports heel striking? They are no different than any other running shoe. People who heel strike are going to heel strike in any shoe you give them until they take the time to change their running form.
That said, I have been told that I dance on my toes as I run. I find the boosts to be very responsive in addition to feeling cushiony. Also, my legs do not feel as beat up as with other shoes I have done long runs in.
The adidas Boost feels very bouncy…a great sensation when trying to run faster; or for someone who doesn’t like mushy cushioning.
thanks, any idea what some good alterntives to the hokas are but without the height? Altra torin, Hoka Kapua (spelling?)
While the boost is cushy, it is not so much about the absorption but rather the rebound/return. It’s like they bounce. It has a very lively ride. I’m still trying to gauge how they feel on long runs. Still, I can’t bring myself to lace up my glycerins or 1080s and opt for the energy boost instead.
Don’t really have any good ideas on alternates for the Hokas. My Boosts are my go-to shoes…I really love running in them. While they aren’t as cushiony, they are far more responsive/bouncy than the Hokas. I flat out enjoy running in them more.
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Our local fleet feet had a contraption that demonstrated the bouncy-ness of the midsole material; it was remarkable how the metal ball rebounded much higher vs plain EVA.
I went in and bought them immediately! They feel amazing to walk in.
I ran in them for a few months; they feel remarkably different and springy. However I began to notice that my knees would really hurt. I have a feeling it’s related to the lower drop as well.
I tried the adios boost as well and, immediately, had the same knee pain.
In any case, I stopped running with them and went back to Nike Pegasus; much happier.
I think adidas should use this material for walking/casual shoes. They don’t work for me for running.
While the boost is cushy, it is not so much about the absorption but rather the rebound/return. It’s like they bounce. It has a very lively ride. I’m still trying to gauge how they feel on long runs. Still, I can’t bring myself to lace up my glycerins or 1080s and opt for the energy boost instead.
I just bought the Supernova Boost 6… I’ve been in Kinvara and Cortana for years but the bouncy feel of these is amazing. However, I’ve done a few runs and am really worried I want to go back to the 4mm drop. The Adidas has a 10mm (I believe) and it’s obvious to me it’s more when running.
Anybody switch to Adidas from a low drop shoe and find it sucked or find it didn’t change at all? I’m coming up on my 2 week exchange period and need to figure out if I should go back to Cortana.
If anyone wants to get rid of their 11.5 boost shoes let me know. They are a great shoe. I have run in the Energy and Adios.
I can’t say I was a big fan of the pair I got last year when they first came out.
The midsole material is quite responsive, but I find there is too much of it. I have a mid-foot plant and prefer less of a shoe, so it really wasn’t the right choice for me. No matter. I figured it was worth a try. I do hope they come out with a racing flat that uses this material. A thin mid-sole made of this stuff would be dandy.
One odd thing is that the shoes cut my opposing ankles with the plastic insert they put in the inner heel of the midsole. I ended up having to run with long socks if I didn’t want to come back a bloody mess from a long run. I’m not sure if they eliminated this piece in later models.
I run in the Energy Boost, and they are easily the best shoes I have ever run in, but they are not without issues. I think the heel is too bulky, and sticks out of the rear too far. I scrape pavement often in these. I think the cushioning is perfect, and the ride is excellent. I came from the Brooks pure series which have a 4mm drop, to these, and I while the transition was noticeable, It wasn’t a deal breaker at all. I don’t concern myself much with how my foot strikes the ground.
I ran a 12 minute PR in these at Chicago… that PR had stood since 2006.
thanks, any idea what some good alterntives to the hokas are but without the height? Altra torin, Hoka Kapua (spelling?)
Try the Newton Energy - lots of Newton naysayers out there but the Energy is a totally different shoe, much more of a traditional running shoe feel with minimal drop (they say 6mm but its certainly more like 4mm on par with the Kinvara. I can feel the difference in the 6mm Asics Hyperspeed, and the Energy’s arent even close to that. The lugs aren’t noticeable, the shoe is pretty light & very very cushy, livelier than Saucony Kinvara but bottomless cush, a rare combo in one shoe. Past several years I’ve been going lighter & more minimal in my shoe choices but the Energy has me regressing bigtime. I can do long runs & tempo runs in one shoe and they don’t leave my feet hobbled afterwards. I’ve run in them (though not exclusively) since September through a long run focus, probably have ~400 miles on them and they’re as good as new. On occasion I have even swapped out the cushy stock insole for a flattened out old Saucony insole to make them less cushy for tempo runs. They’re just plain great and if Newton has more of the same planned for the 2014 improvements, i will be a customer.
Got these shoes, since they are well cushioned, and have no arch molded into the midsole (I have flat feet).
They are a little heavier than most of my trainers, but feel quite fast due to the boost midsole. Even used them for an early season race instead of flats (I typically use 5.5 oz. Nike Lunar Racers), and noticed less of a dead leg feeling coming off the bike due to the springiness.
The midsole starts off really soft on impact, then quickly firms up. That means it does a great job of taking the shock out of heelstrike without being mushy. Love the technology. They feel much more like a regular shoe (just with a great midsole) than the Hokas.
Just bought the Adidas Energy Boost 2. And off course run 5K with them as soon as I got home.
First impression is good. A nice bouncy feel and it felt like I could run a bit faster more easy in them. Maybe a bit on the soft side for some but I like that.
The upper lacks some support in corners but not really an issue.
I’ve used the Adidas Supernova Glide in my shoe rotation for years going back to the first model, and I very much like the latest model Supernova Glide 6 with the Boost technology. I think they are the best shoe I’ve ever worn, and it has the most comfortable upper I’ve ever tried. I don’t notice that much of a different ride feel from the prior versions of the Glide with the new Boost technology, and suspect the bigger ride difference is with the Energy Boost model which I have not tried. The ride is smooth and well cushioned, but I don’t notice a bouncy feel like has been described by people who use the Energy Boost. I routinely use/rotate shoes that have minimal drop (Kinvara, Newton) all the way up to the “larger” drop like with the Supernova Glide, and I don’t notice any material difference in feel with the Glide 6. I thick the shoe is fantastic all around, and I log some pretty heave weekly mileage in it.
I have tried Hoka and LOVE the Boost. I personally think the run feel in the Boost far exceeds the Hoka, and to me they felt about as cushiony. I’m now 54 and have been running for 40 years. The Boost REALLY make my knees feel better. I have been in them for IM and in 5k, with and with out socks. I put Superfeet (black) in them for the tad bit of support I need.
I have also raced in the Adios Boost. I really like these too, but I think I prefer just a bit more of a rocker bottom.
So, I love them, right! The ONLY problem I have, and this is big, it that they are the only shoes that have ever irritated the top of my arch. I’ve tried every lacing system known to mankind and can’t seem to solve it. I would welcome any thoughts. Otherwise, my search for shoe nirvana continues.
The shoe does fits small…I went one full size up!