Adidas Ultraboost 21 review – Sleek running shoes that put a spring in your step
“Go faster, Daddy”, bellows my son as I’m hurtling around a park while pushing him in the buggy and panting like a chain-smoker who has just run a marathon.
I’ve been desperate to see what I can do in my shiny new Adidas Ultraboost 21 running shoes since they arrived – the only snag is today I’ve got to push an excited three-year-old. I bet Eliud Kipchoge never had to put up with this.
The running shoe industry has undergone a revolution over the last few years thanks largely to Kipchoge’s sub 2 hour marathon in a pair of bright white Nikes with a humongous sole.
Manufacturers have been in a foot race to produce a new breed of super-duper running shoes that use this heel technology to maximise bounce and help save a few precious seconds that can be the difference-maker.
At £160 a pair the Adidas Ultraboost 21s are certainly not cheap, but they are around £100 less than their Nike rivals making them far more marketable.
Over the following weeks I try these sparkling speedsters on ice, snow, gravel, roads and mud.
My first impressions are of a springy, sleek and ultra light running shoe – just 340g – that make me want to be standing at the start line of a race.
They cruise over everything and I especially love how grippy they are on frosty mornings.
These high-performance shoes are made from recycled ocean plastic and are extremely comfy too.
They are a slightly tighter fit than the Brooks Levitate range – my go-to running shoe and yardstick.
The snug design benefits from an inbuilt trainer sock which adds extra support.
Adidas claim this latest version provides 6% more boost than its predecessor through an exaggerated heel curve that helps with every step.
More than anything what this shoes give me is confidence – something not to be sniffed at since peak performance is based on mental strength as much as muscle memory and technology.
Knowing you’ve got an extra boost – even if it is minimal for the average runner – is going to be huge asset when you hit the hard yards.
Are they going to magically guarantee me a 5k or marathon PB? Not without training.
But if I keep pounding the parks and pushing the buggy, in these running shoes I will go faster.
Bring on race day.
Product: Adidas Ultraboost 21
Price: £160
Rating: 5/5
