There is always a temptation to write off any running shoe that looks too nice as unsuitable for serious runners. How good can a shoe without neon green flashes and luminous laces really be for running, after all? Show
And the Adidas Pure Boost is a very stylish shoe – nicer than almost all of my non-running shoes, to be honest. So I had the nagging thought that it might not really do the job when on the road. After one run, I was able to banish such preconceptions. Received wisdom suggests that it isn’t the best idea to go for a long run the first time you wear a pair of shoes. That is undoubtedly good advice, but I felt comfortable enough after 10km of my first run in the Pure Boost to extend it to 25km, my longest distance for a couple of months. The knit upper is loose and seriously comfortable, moving with your foot so you never feel restricted when running. I suppose those who are used to a snug, supportive fit on the top of their shoe might not take to it, but it’s hard to argue with this level of comfort.  (Image credit: PR) On the base of the Pure Boost lies Adidas’s Boost sole tech, which makes for a cushioned and bouncy ride over any distance. Compared with the Adidas Supernova or Ultra Boost, which also have a Boost midsole, the Pure Boost is lighter, less cushioned and aimed at faster road sessions rather than longer training runs. Its wider base – especially in the front half of the shoe – and firm-gripping outsole are also focused on city running, giving extra support and traction for tearing around sharp corners. The grip is good, even on wet roads, and the wide base gives a pleasing feeling of solidity when you do round corners (although if you’re wise you’re never going that fast around a blind turn in the city). That said, the impressive grip in wet conditions is undermined by the knit upper, which is entirely pervious to water. So while you might not fall over when you splash through a puddle, your foot will be drenched. But it’s worth putting up with the occasional soggy foot to have a supremely comfortable, handsome running shoe that can genuinely be worn anywhere. Having tried both the Pure Boost and the Supernova, I’d say the latter is more comfortable and supportive over longer distances – but that’s not to say the Pure Boost was uncomfortable on long runs, while its extra flexibility in the upper and wide base makes it a winner for everyday training runs. If you need a versatile shoe, look no further than the Adidas PureBoost. With great cushioning, a responsive run, and impressive looks, I was able to wear this thing for any occasion. I took it on a distance run, run to the coffee shop, and I've even hit the gym for a few hours. It does it all. Just make sure you are back home before it rains! Pros
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Audience score Best price Ranking Popularity # of colorways Adidas Pureboost reviewAdidas created this lightweight version of their famous Ultra Boost for city and roadrunners. You won't choose to run in these for lengthy runs, but they are excellent for short runs or getting around town. The incredible comfort and stylish design will make sure you get where you need to go with comfort and style if you can swallow the heavy price tag. Simple, versatile designAdidas didn't fail with this iteration of Pure Boost. Its simple design allows you to wear it running, to the gym, or use it for casual use. You can slip this shoe on, run around town, and arrive in style. I purchased the all-white variant, and even though I beat the shoe up, it never became that dirty. Now I wash my shoes regularly, but other than yellowing in the Boost material I couldn't find any issues with it. That being said if you run in a muddy environment I would stick to one of the darker colors. Breathable, supportive upperThe Adidas PureBoost comes with a supportive upper, that doesn't minimize breathability. Although great for long hot runs, running in the rain will not be an enjoyable experience. The Boost material gets wet quickly, and with the lack of an insole, your foot pounds the wet Boost with every stride. Learn from my experience, be home before the rain starts! The tongue on the PureBoost is interesting. Adidas used a “taco” style folding tongue which at first made me worried. Three layers of any material covering your foot from fresh air is a bad idea, right? Well, somehow Adidas made this awkward tongue breathable and somewhat functional. I can’t say the tongue is poorly designed because it works fine, but I don't understand why they had to make it so difficult. There was one spot on the bottom of the tongue where all three layers are sewn together which caused irritation around the toe. Nice roomy toeboxPureBoost fit true to size with me. The upper is less stretched than competitors like the UltraBoost, but this shoe has a wider toe box so you should be fine even with wider feet like me. The upper is less stretchy than a PrimeKnit upper, but for a shoe made for the city, it works great. Your foot feels solid and doesn't slip around when making sharp city street corner turns. The mesh style upper covers most of the shoe, except the heel. The inner heel has a very comfortable soft material for a more comfortable fit. A taller pair of socks is almost necessary as the tall heel counter can cause irritation to most runners. Comfortable and lightweightAlthough this is a neutral and minimal shoe, it is still very comfortable while being lightweight. It doesn’t offer as much cushioning as the Ultra Boost we have all come to love, but where it loses on cushioning, it gains in overall contact with the ground. Don’t count on running with these on anything but road surfaces. The thinner boost midsole means that your foot will take a larger impact of all the rocks and uneven terrain you run on. As an under-pronator, I enjoyed the wider Boost midsole in the forefoot. There was a lot of support and cushioning of the lateral side of the foot making it a much more comfortable run. With this iteration of PureBoost, Adidas decided not to include an insole with the shoe. When you put the shoe on, you are stepping on the Boost foam itself. This places your foot closer to the ground, but as mentioned before running on rocks and other debris can cause pain in your foot. What I recommend is going a half size up, if your current size is already tight, and putting in a thin insole. It changes the shoe from being a 10k max recommendation to a half marathon capable shoe. It’s crazy how much a good insole can do! While you're changing the insole, swap the laces too. The ones that come stock are nice and stylish but come untied making them a no-go for performance-based runs. Great amount of cushioningAs with most Boost runners, this shoe still offers a great amount of cushioning without sacrificing energy return. The 8mm heel-toe drop allows for a more responsive and neutral performance encouraging you to go fast. If you're looking for a sprinting shoe, look elsewhere. They make this shoe for those mid distances where you need a good balance between responsiveness and comfort. FlexibleThe stretchweb outsole was very flexible. It allowed for a comfortable run with easy transitions. We did not see a return of the Continental rubber outsole on this shoe, but the rubber outsole was a bit thicker than its Continental branded counterpart. The outsole still has plenty of life left after about 100 miles of long recovery runs, tempo runs, and getting around campus. Although not as durable and grippy as its Continental rubber counterpart, the EVA rubber outsole wears well and you can expect to get a few hundred miles of use. Overall performanceI would recommend adding an insole to these shoes. It makes for a more comfortable ride without adding much weight or complexity. The responsiveness is about what you would expect if you have worn a Boost midsole shoe before. Great for running distance, not so great for super fast runs. Specs (official)Compare popularity InteractiveCompare the popularity of another shoe to Adidas Pureboost: Sebastian Tota Hey, I'm Sebastian, a runner with about 4 years of experience, mostly in mid-distance races. With 30+ miles a week of running, I enjoy all training days from track workouts to half marathon Sunday runs. I rotate about 3 shoes at a time while running to make sure I give each running technology a run for its money, and to give the best opinion I can while not being bias. Recent Times: Mile: 5:54, 5k: 19:58, 10k: 43:27. Are adidas PureBOOST good running shoes?Many runners thought that the upper and midsole didn't work well together. I disagree and found the adidas PureBOOST DPR to be a fun shoe to run in with looks of a super model. The knit upper on the PureBOOST DPR is the most comfortable from adidas that I have tried. It is beautiful in its simplicity. Are PureBOOST as good as Ultraboost?The speaker recommends choosing the Ultra Boost over the Pure Boost due to its superior features and performance, despite the higher price. Are PureBOOST 23 good for running?In summary, we have in the adidas Pureboost 23 an ideal shoe for those daily workouts that has some of the most outstanding adidas materials but does not incorporate the most advanced technologies that can be found in models intended for a more intensive use by many running fans. Is PureBOOST good for gym?PureBOOST GO are the perfect all-around shoes. It can used for gym sessions, leisurely walks and short/easy runs, whether indoors or outdoors. It is very casual and suitable for city runners. |
