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adidas Ultraboost 5X Review: Totally Transformed! Super Light, Super Fun! Compared to Prima and SL 2
Jul 24, 2024
In the video we share all the 00;00 Details for the Ultraboost 5X, 06:11 Comparisons to Supernova Prima and Adizero SL 2, from the run 10:18 impressions Fit and Ride and 16:56 Conclusions.
Far lighter and higher stacked (+9mm front and back) than before. It becomes a top notch max cushion all around performance run trainer while retaining its iconic style, without the infamous plastic midfoot cage and over done underfoot plastics.
$180 and available now.
Initial detailed written review: https://www.roadtrailrun.com/2024/07/adidas-ultraboost-5x-initial-review.html
Samples were provided at no charge for testing purposes with no additional compensation. The opinions herein are entirely the author's
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0:00
Okay, everybody, let's take a look at the Adidas running Ultraboost 5X
0:06
And if you've run an Ultraboost before, this is a completely new experience
0:12
Far far lighter. We come in at 9.85 ounces, 279 grams in a US 9 due to the light boost foam
0:22
And we go up from before to 3929 stack height. So we're max cushion
0:28
We have a torsion system instead of all the plastics. And yes, we still have the prime knit upper
0:35
It is clearly one of the best daily trainers of the year for me
0:40
And I've taken it out now for a run in New Hampshire in the soupy heat
0:45
And I'll be comparing it also to some of Adidas's other trainers and a few others along with
0:50
Fit and Ride. Stay tuned. So before I take them out for a run and give you my impressions, or actually I'm filming
0:58
this after the run, let me give you some details on our Ultraboost 5X
1:05
So the 5X then indicates that this is a lighter version of the Ultraboost
1:11
There is an Ultraboost 5. I don't have my Boost Lite or last year's version
1:19
But I do have, and we'll do a bit of comparisons, the Ultraboost 21
1:24
And of course, prior Ultraboost models were characterized by this huge plastic cage
1:32
No longer here. We have just overlays. They're quite substantial overlays and they're highly reflective
1:40
So that's gone. And then if we look at the underside of the shoe, we used to have lots and lots of plastic
1:50
plus crystal rubber, all kinds of firm elements. And now they are gone as we get Continental rubber front and back, and an X-shaped torsion
2:06
system for stability, and some pop up front. So that's a significant change
2:14
With the Ultraboost Lite of last year, not this one from before, we saw a huge weight
2:23
drop from the Boost Lite foam. The older one here, the 21 from a couple of years ago, came in at a very massive 12.7
2:36
ounces, 360 grams. Last year we came down. Here, the difference between this latest Ultraboost and from two years ago is a massive 81 grams
2:51
lighter with, and this is really important, nine millimeters more stack height of Lite
2:59
Boost foam. The key difference was the Boost foam was so heavy, nevermind the cage
3:07
Last year's did have the Boost Lite foam and we lose 25 grams versus that version with
3:16
nine millimeters more stack height. So this is really, given its weight, we come in in a US 9 and below the magic 10 ounces
3:26
at 9.85 ounces, 279 grams for a max cushion kind of stack height of 39, 29
3:37
The drop stays at 10 millimeters. So let's talk a bit about the upper here
3:44
It is still prime knit. It is thinner than before, of course, no cage
3:50
We still have the stretch knit tongue kind of integral to the whole system
3:56
We still have the plastic clip, the nice kind of squared off rear
4:02
It's still a knit upper. If I was to give the shoe one criticism is that it might be time to re-imagine the type
4:11
of prime knit here because the underfoot platform and the performance here is of a true performance
4:18
trainer, daily trainer, whereas the upper still is sort of in the comfort world
4:24
Now there's nothing wrong with it. It holds well, but I think we could get a lighter weight and yet more performance by
4:31
kind of re-imagining it. So it really isn't too much different than the upper from a few years ago
4:38
It is thinner and of course no cage. To give it some support with all this nice stretch, comfort oriented stretch, Adidas
4:47
put some underlays, as you can see maybe, and these plastic overlays, reflective
4:55
And then we also, as before, have a denser weave through here
4:59
I'll comment on the fit from the run, but they do fit true to size and they're relatively
5:05
roomy, decently held. Now of course the light boost foam here is really, really nice
5:15
Before last year in the Boost Lite version, it was really masked by all the plastics and
5:21
underfoot stuff and the lower stack height. This is a very, very energetic foam
5:26
I think it's a TPU based foam. Adidas doesn't say it's super critical, but it sure performs that way
5:34
For me, it's a more kind of consistently energetic underfoot than say the Power Run PB in the
5:41
Triumph 22. But Adidas has really had one heck of a great year
5:49
In the past, the last three or four years, they focused a lot on Adizero, on all those
5:55
great racing shoes. But here, and up-tempo trainers, all pretty aggressive. But now they're really focused on the everyday runner
6:07
And you might ask, well, what's the difference to the Supernova Prima, which has yet another
6:15
new foam, Dreamstrike Plus. It definitely is super critical because they say it is
6:20
Well, the Prima weighs just a tiny bit more and is a little bit less stack height
6:28
As you can see, it not only has this crystal type rubber, but the support rod system underfoot
6:38
It is definitely a little bit more stable. And its upper is not a traditional kind of knit
6:46
It has less stretch. This is a more secure upper. We could put this upper on our 5X here, and we'd really, really have an all-out winner
6:59
So this shoe is more for your longer run, kind of up-tempo, or even daily training
7:06
But your longer run where you kind of want a bit more stability
7:11
I think it may be a better choice for the beginner runner, who really wants to be sure
7:16
to have a bit more stability than our Ultraboost 5X, which is a more fun shoe, but a little
7:25
bit less stable. So it kind of depends. If your mileage is relatively low and you want something super exciting with a lot of
7:34
cushioning, go here. If you want something a bit more reliable, still with an energetic ride, you can see
7:40
the foam is relatively soft. But the EVA, the durable EVA, which is outsole grade, the support rods, is a little bit firmer
7:51
So a more stable option. And then while we're talking Adidas, there's one more I'd like to kind of compare for you
7:58
in the lineup. If you want to go lighter in your training shoe
8:03
And we're really not too far off the stack height. We're 36-27, whereas in our Ultraboost 5, we're 39-29
8:15
So we're pretty close to the stack height. But here, this is a much lighter shoe at 8.45 ounces, 240 grams
8:24
Also a 10 millimeter drop. It is more flexible, you can see, than our very decently flexible now Ultraboost 5X
8:37
This is sort of your lighter duty, maybe, fun and fast shoe in the lineup
8:43
It's a great one, too. I've really enjoyed my runs in this. It's definitely a daily trainer
8:48
It's kind of the kind of shoe maybe for the high school or college runner, or for your
8:53
kind of faster, shorter days where you're not really pushing the miles, but you want
9:00
something snappy and quick. A very, very nice shoe. So our Ultraboost 5X kind of sits in the middle, if you will, between the Prima and
9:13
the lighter, here, let me see if I can get it, and the lighter SL as kind of the all-around
9:20
daily trainer. So Adidas really has a full line from the lightweight trainer, and of course you've
9:26
got your Boston 12 for your tempo work, even racing, through to the steady long run shoe
9:36
the more stable one, and sort of the fun max cushion. So I've taken them out on the road here in New Hampshire
9:42
I'm going to give you my impressions. It was a really clear, clear picture that this is a very exciting shoe from Adidas that
9:50
really, really competes well in the max cushion kind of category against shoes such as the
9:56
Triumph 22, the Vomero from Nike, the New Pegasus, the Elios from 361, Nimbus from Asics
10:06
It's the lightest of the bunch with the most stack, and it competes very strongly
10:12
So Adidas really on a roll. Let's take them for a run. I'm a few miles in here with our Ultra Boost 5 going through the woods here on this road
10:25
Portsmouth, beautiful. A little cooler. So there's quite a sensation here, the ride
10:34
That big heel has lots of rebound. The midfoot is stable because of the torsion
10:43
You got still 29 millimeters up front, but with the 10 millimeter drop, you really feel
10:50
driven down to the toe off, which is also super energetic. What a contrast to the heavier, last light boost, ultra boost with all that plastic underfoot
11:05
in the cage. This is a true, true training shoe, daily trainer
11:12
We're at 9.62 ounces, 273 grams, US 8.5, so under 10 for a US 9
11:25
Shoe reminds me right away of, but I think so far I'm preferring, is the Saucony Triumph 22
11:33
A little bit lower stack height. Little 10 millimeter drop, bit heavier
11:43
This is definitely smoother and more energetic, and the Triumph's a great shoe
11:48
Everything I'm filming today for this review is on the GGI Action 4
11:53
I'm really liking the quality of the video here, but let's talk fit of our Ultra Boost 5
12:00
Of course, we've got a prime knit upper always, and you can see full thumb up front
12:12
I think if you have a super narrow foot, you might go half size down because they are a
12:18
little long. We're not really feeling that. Lace up was super easy
12:24
Of course, we've got a knit tongue. The rear clip, you can see there, sort of the gray, solid but not overdone
12:37
The midfoot, we've got our straps or our logos. They're not the cage, but they're fairly thick straps
12:43
They're highly, highly reflective. Then on the inside, we have some overlays
12:49
This is a knit upper that really works, unlike some of the prior prime knit
12:56
It's definitely a running shoe kind of fit and hold, not a kind of lifestyle with gimmick
13:04
kind of approach. It's really good. It's very humid today. Breathability seems pretty darn good
13:12
So for a number of years where we couldn't say Adidas trainers were fun, we've got a
13:20
fun, fun shoe here. In fact, I'd say Adidas has three fun, super practical trainers this year each, and it's
13:31
sort of category or silos, they call it. You've got the Adizero SL2, the light, flexible, fast one
13:43
You've got the Supernova Prima, stable, Dream Strike plus supercritical foam, kind of the
13:52
steady long run shoe. Then really right in the middle, we have our new Ultra Boost 5, which I would say with
14:08
its 39-29 is a super modern daily trainer. I wouldn't put it for the up-tempo work
14:19
There you'd go with Boston 12 and the Plate, but for general all-around training with a
14:27
lot of cushion, lively toe-off, plenty of Continental rubber, the torsion at midfoot
14:36
to kind of move you off the heel, which isn't overly soft and certainly isn't low with the
14:42
10-millimeter drop. Really fun energy they talk about. Well, here for sure they have it, and I'm thinking back to the original blue shoe, the
14:54
Energy Boost. They may have kind of brought back some of that great spirit in a modern, modern fashion
15:03
here with the Light Boost and a knit upper that actually works
15:09
So we're at the Wentworth Coolidge Mansion, built in the mid-1700s and assembled from
15:14
all kinds of buildings. It was the colonial governor's mansion. What a spot on the water
15:21
So Adidas talks about young people not having energy. Well, this is an energetic, fun, fun ride here
15:31
I think one of the best training rides of the year. It's just very smooth
15:39
There's a lot of well-controlled, but rebound pretty much at all paces
15:46
Even slow paces are fine. I think the 10-millimeter drop really helps
15:51
It's very comfortable. You know, I'd probably prefer not a knit upper, but this is one of the best I've ever experienced
15:58
Better held than, for example, the Mizuno Neo Vista up front. It looks narrow, but I think because of the stretch, the give
16:09
I'm sure Adidas is looking at all those Pegasus fans. Even the new Pegasus doesn't match up to this one in terms of just consistent, deep cushion
16:19
lots of energy, plenty of kind of toe-off, great grip from the Continental
16:25
It's really, really fine. Very, very smooth and polished ride here. Suitable for just about any kind of training, but plenty of other Adidas for your faster
16:37
stuff, you know, your Boston 12 or the Adizero SL2. So they really have done a remarkable job getting a real complete lineup for this year
16:47
across all the categories running in all their business silos. I'm going to keep going
16:54
Okay, same scene. The conclusions here for our Ultraboost 5X. One of the best max cushion daily trainers of the year
17:06
Might even be the best if you can accept, if you will, the stretch knit upper, which
17:15
is probably its only weak point. This upper holds well. It's comfortable
17:21
It's a bit warm. It's probably the only thing that hasn't really been changed in the shoe
17:28
And I might suggest that Adidas go with a lighter material here in the future, but the
17:33
Ultraboost has a distinct silhouette, which is maintained here. There's really no big problem with the upper
17:42
It just would be make it even better, even lighter. The ride here is a lot of fun
17:50
If you've run in Ultraboost in the past, those super heavy kind of bulbous looking shoes
17:58
this is a completely different max cushion experience. It still has some of those lines, some of the kind of look, but this is a true performance
18:08
running shoe. And of course you can get the 5 with the cage and so on and so forth
18:14
Really a lifestyle shoe if you wish. If you're a runner, I would consider this one before that
18:23
In terms of the ride, it's very well cushioned. The light boost foam here finally shines
18:30
Last year it was a little bit hamstrung by all the plastics, which are now all eliminated
18:36
And we have, except for the X-Torsion, which gives it a bit of midfoot stability and also
18:41
creates a snappy flex point, characteristic flex point you often see in Adidas to give
18:49
you some push off. Is it the shoe for your up-tempo interval workouts
18:55
Probably not. Is it the shoe for your kind of middle miles, daily miles where you want a big smile from
19:01
every run? Absolutely. If you have a very narrow foot or a very narrow and low volume foot, you might consider sizing
19:10
down half a size because as I showed you, there's quite a bit of toe box length here
19:16
that could assist the hold. The hold was fine for me. The clip works well and it's just a comfortable, if a bit warm, upper
19:28
So we also have a full written review, initial written review over on roadtrailrun.com and
19:37
we hope to have a multi-tester review real soon of the Adidas Ultra Boost 5X
19:45
Adidas strikes again in 2024. Thank you very much for watching. Have a great run
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