TRIED & TESTED
Images : Courtesy adidas
More Boost
for Your Buck
I have always maintained that you don ’ t get good or bad shoes , merely the right shoe for you , versus the right shoe for me . And when it comes to the new adidas Ultraboost 21 , I think this could be a great running experience for you .
– BY SEAN FALCONER
I
rather liked the Ultraboost 20 , both in terms of the ride and the looks of the shoe , so when I saw the new Ultraboost 21 , I was a bit taken aback , because it features what looks like a substantial increase in width and height of the Boost midsole in the heel area . Adidas says it is actually just 6 % more than the previous model , but to my eye it looks more – and to be perfectly honest , I didn ’ t like the look of the shoe at first . However , as the days went by and I ran more in the shoe , I actually came to quite like it after all . I think one just has to get used to the different look .
The important thing to note is that while the shoe may look like it has a massive ‘ platform ’ of Boost in the heel , with a resultant steep drop in stack height from heel to toe , the look is a bit misleading . You see , the foam rubber wraps up the sides of the heel a bit , creating a cradle that cups the heel . This means your heel rests within the midsole , rather than on top of it , which translates to a more stable ride . The actual drop is actually still a normal 10mm . However , the trade-off of this extra midsole material is a wee bit more weight added to the shoe .
Going for a Firmer Ride
But that ’ s only half of the change … the real biggie is the addition of the Linear Energy Push ( LEP ) System – the yellow midfoot shank you see when you turn the shoe over . This is basically a development of the Torsion system that has been used in adidas shoes for years , to provide midfoot stability and structure by making the shoe both stiffer and springier , but here it has been extended further into the forefoot than before . This is specifically to make the shoe ’ s forefoot less flexible , and adidas says the shoe is 15 % stiffer than its predecessor , and thus 20 % more responsive on toe-off .
In other words , they ’ re going for the same effect as a plate in the midsole , and to be honest , when I ran in them the first time , not having read up on them yet , I actually thought it was a plated shoe ! Which means that the LEP System works – and this snappier transition from heel to toe is accentuated by the bevelled ( rounded ) heel .
Another interesting change is the use of crystal rubber for most of the outsole – the translucent white and pink sections – instead of the traditional grippy Continental rubber , which is only used at the front end of the shoe . This crystal rubber is supposed to be more durable , but the trade-off is that the shoe ’ s landing is now a wee bit louder . I decided I could live with that if it meant my shoes lasted longer .
This takes me back to what I said about the right shoe for me versus the right shoe for you . I prefer my shoes to have a less firm , more flexible feel , and have always been more of a lightweight trainer kind of guy , so the current trend towards maximalist builtup midsoles is not quite doing it for me as yet , but I will add that I am getting used to firmer midsoles thanks to all the plated shoes now entering the market , so I reserve the right to change my mind about the Ultraboost 21 within the next few runs in the shoe .
Happy Feet , Happy Runner
In recent years adidas has brought out a number of shoes with a Primeknit + bootie upper that fits the foot like a sock . In short , I love these uppers , not just because they fit my wider feet better than an upper constructed in mesh sections with strengthening overlays to maintain shape and form , but also because they are made from Primeblue recycled materials containing at least 50 % Parley Ocean Plastic . However , I did initially find the fit of the Ultraboost 21 a bit tight in the forefoot , but a bit loose in the collar area .
The other thing I noticed at first was the lacing system , which is housed in the plastic adidas logo pull-outs attached to the sides of the upper . On my first run in the shoe , I had to stop and loosen the laces , because I had synched them too tightly , but that caused slippage in the collar , and the shoe does not offer extra eyelets for higher lacing to address this . I therefore found that changing my lacing set-up by skipping the lower eyelets made my wide feet happier , while ensuring a secure fit at the collar to eliminate slippage .
I think this is the secret to success for this particular shoe . Get the right fit in the heel , and the shoe will perform well for you , but if you don ’ t , the heavier weight of that heel may accentuate slippage . As I said , I ’ m still getting used to the firmness of that forefoot , but as a huge fan of Boost shoes , I ’ m definitely going to persevere with these .
GET THEM HERE
The adidas Ultraboost 21 is available in a vibrant white and fluorescent yellow colourway on adidas . co . za and in adidas concept stores , at the retail price of R3599 .
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