Shoes are built on a last – the basic footbed shape – with the midsole and upper stitched or glued onto it . Many running shoes are therefore the exact shape of your foot , and because you ’ re running on a layer of midsole foam rubber , the shoes can sometimes feel a little unsteady underfoot . So , like fatter tyres on a car , giving the shoe a slightly wider footprint can make the shoe feel a bit steadier , and that was my impression the first time I put on these shoes . The midsole flares outwards down to the ground , giving you that wider footprint and steadier feel . That said , this is not actually for stability , but for extra cushioning . Read on and I will explain .

Back for More Boost

Much of my recent weartesting experience with adidas shoes has focused on the adizero adios range – the

top-of-range plated shoes being used by the world ’ s elites to set World Records and win Olympic medals , with Light Strike midsoles – but I remain a massive fan of the adidas Boost shoes . I was privileged to attend the launch of the patented Boost foam rubber at the company ’ s HQ in Herzogenaurach in Germany some years back , and I have been a fan ever since , as I really enjoy the soft cushioning and springiness of this midsole material .

Since those first Boost shoes came out , with just about a complete midsole of Boost foam rubber , adidas has tended to add a firmer EVA compound to the Boost to give it a cradle or layer , which compliments the Boost . In other words , the Boost provides the springy cushioning , the firmer cradle or layer guides that springiness in the right direction . In this shoe , the lower layer of the midsole is Boost , which runs from the heel to just behind the toes , and the firmer Solar Glide layer above that runs the full length of the shoe . Adidas has also introduced what they call ‘ Boost Pillows ’ for increased energy return , which accounts for that flared , wider footprint I spoke of .

What Else Has Changed ?

In comparison to the previous model of the Solar Glide , the fifth edition has a slightly higher stack height , although with the same 10mm heel drop ( from 36mm in the heel to 26mm in the forefoot ), and this is to accommodate slightly more Boost foam for enhanced cushioning . That , in turn , means a more cushioned forefoot , which is the most noticeable difference between the two shoes . They ’ re supercomfy to run in . Also , the forefoot is a bit more spacious – more room for the toes to

wiggle – and of course , that wider platform of the shoe is noticeably more stable .

In the midfoot area , adidas has included its Linear Energy Push ( LEP ) 2.0 plastic shank , the latest development of the company ’ s long-running Torsion System . Basically , it ’ s an X-shaped insert , which you can see ‘ pull-outs ’ of on the sides of the midsole – those four pink lines are the ends of the four arms of the X , and when you turn the shoe upside down , you see the centre of the X in the middle of the arch area . This shank provides elasticity between the heel and forefoot , giving the shoe great springiness as you transition from heel to toe , and because the arms of the shank extend quite far into the forefoot , the shoe really does perform well in this regard .

The heel collar features more padding , but still has a hollowed section right where the Achilles sits , which is really comfy , and the tongue is now a bit more padded , too , to keep the top of your foot happy . However , my personal favourite change is the introduction of a Primeblue circular knit upper , which means 50 % of the material comes from recycled Parley ocean plastic waste . It literally means that recycled plastic bottles have been fished out of the ocean and converted into thread that is worked into the material of the upper . This never ceases to amaze me , no matter how many times I write about it .

Final Thoughts on the Shoe

When I read that each shoe weighs 335 grams , I thought they may feel a bit on the heavy side , but they feel light on the run , and I enjoyed the extra cushioning that is responsible for pushing the weight up a fraction from the previous model . Meanwhile , the Continental rubber in the outsole provided great grip on various surfaces , as well as grip when cornering at speed – and as I wrote earlier , I do enjoy a bit of speed !

Images : Courtesy adidas