adidas Pureboost 5
You’ve probably never heard of these shoes—Adidas Pureboost. Yet, they are superior. Probably the best pair in the whole Adidas range. Let’s break it down step by step.
There are three Adidas models that could be considered max-cushioned: Ultraboost 5, Ultrarun 5, and this one—Pureboost 5.
Ultrarun 5 is simple. Dull foam, basic mesh, yet reliable and stable.
Ultraboost 5 is complicated. Bouncy foam, a special plate to make it more stable, and a knitted upper—which I absolutely hate.
And now, Pureboost. With the same bouncy foam. No plate to restrict it. And the best possible mesh solution.
It’s amazing—you’ll get it in a minute.
First, let’s talk about the foam. It’s LIGHTBOOST—super soft, super bouncy. You feel the energy with every step. It’s playful. And also well-cushioned. You can easily land on your heel and feel almost zero shock. Even bigger runners above 100 kg will appreciate that. An added bonus is the durability of this technology—it’s the longest-lasting on the market. It outperforms all PEBA or EVA foams. An absolutely amazing combination.
However, this softness, bounciness, and cushioning come at a price—stability. The foam compresses a lot to provide those features, and that compression can vary with every step. Half a millimeter to the left on this step, half a millimeter to the right on the next. This creates additional pressure on your stability muscles and ligaments. Experienced runners can handle it easily, but beginners should be aware of this issue.
It’s worth mentioning another new Adidas model that everyone loves—Adizero Evo SL. It features an even bouncier foam, but it’s even less stable and less durable. So even fewer people can really benefit from it. Of course, all the reviewers are experienced runners and love it. But most viewers would actually prefer this one. However, like I already said, they’ve probably never even heard of it.
The next big thing about these shoes is the upper, combined with lockdown elements. We see a well-engineered mesh with zones for extra breathability and zones for extra support. This makes the shoes very versatile—they work well in both cold and warm weather. A great combination. The lockdown is also excellent: on top of the reinforced mesh, there’s heel support to prevent wobbling and a large central element to grip the foot firmly. An amazing setup that any runner will appreciate.
Another thing I love about these shoes is the transition. They are extremely flexible. That’s not great for fast running, but for training, it’s fantastic. You can truly train all your foot muscles to make them stronger for race day. I give this a 5 out of 5 because, from this perspective, they’re excellent.
Comfort is solid. The heel collar is small, but extra padding made from premium materials makes up for it. The tongue has the same solution. However, the insole is absolute garbage. Basically, all premium Adidas models have the worst insoles on the market—even worse than their cheap models. I have no idea what they were thinking.
The grip is solid, with a reasonable tread pattern on the outsole, making it suitable for any surface. And as we already covered, durability is outstanding. This foam lasts longer than any other on the market, so you can rely on it.
Conclusion
These shoes are amazing for almost anyone’s training. They are bouncy, well-cushioned, well-fitted, and offer a great transition that helps improve performance.
However, they’re probably not for true beginners, as the instability will challenge their unprepared legs.
Also, they’re not ideal for race day—they’re a bit heavy and not built for that purpose.
With this knowledge, I hope you can make a wise decision for your next purchase.
There are three Adidas models that could be considered max-cushioned: Ultraboost 5, Ultrarun 5, and this one—Pureboost 5.
Ultrarun 5 is simple. Dull foam, basic mesh, yet reliable and stable.
Ultraboost 5 is complicated. Bouncy foam, a special plate to make it more stable, and a knitted upper—which I absolutely hate.
And now, Pureboost. With the same bouncy foam. No plate to restrict it. And the best possible mesh solution.
It’s amazing—you’ll get it in a minute.
First, let’s talk about the foam. It’s LIGHTBOOST—super soft, super bouncy. You feel the energy with every step. It’s playful. And also well-cushioned. You can easily land on your heel and feel almost zero shock. Even bigger runners above 100 kg will appreciate that. An added bonus is the durability of this technology—it’s the longest-lasting on the market. It outperforms all PEBA or EVA foams. An absolutely amazing combination.
However, this softness, bounciness, and cushioning come at a price—stability. The foam compresses a lot to provide those features, and that compression can vary with every step. Half a millimeter to the left on this step, half a millimeter to the right on the next. This creates additional pressure on your stability muscles and ligaments. Experienced runners can handle it easily, but beginners should be aware of this issue.
It’s worth mentioning another new Adidas model that everyone loves—Adizero Evo SL. It features an even bouncier foam, but it’s even less stable and less durable. So even fewer people can really benefit from it. Of course, all the reviewers are experienced runners and love it. But most viewers would actually prefer this one. However, like I already said, they’ve probably never even heard of it.
The next big thing about these shoes is the upper, combined with lockdown elements. We see a well-engineered mesh with zones for extra breathability and zones for extra support. This makes the shoes very versatile—they work well in both cold and warm weather. A great combination. The lockdown is also excellent: on top of the reinforced mesh, there’s heel support to prevent wobbling and a large central element to grip the foot firmly. An amazing setup that any runner will appreciate.
Another thing I love about these shoes is the transition. They are extremely flexible. That’s not great for fast running, but for training, it’s fantastic. You can truly train all your foot muscles to make them stronger for race day. I give this a 5 out of 5 because, from this perspective, they’re excellent.
Comfort is solid. The heel collar is small, but extra padding made from premium materials makes up for it. The tongue has the same solution. However, the insole is absolute garbage. Basically, all premium Adidas models have the worst insoles on the market—even worse than their cheap models. I have no idea what they were thinking.
The grip is solid, with a reasonable tread pattern on the outsole, making it suitable for any surface. And as we already covered, durability is outstanding. This foam lasts longer than any other on the market, so you can rely on it.
Conclusion
These shoes are amazing for almost anyone’s training. They are bouncy, well-cushioned, well-fitted, and offer a great transition that helps improve performance.
However, they’re probably not for true beginners, as the instability will challenge their unprepared legs.
Also, they’re not ideal for race day—they’re a bit heavy and not built for that purpose.
With this knowledge, I hope you can make a wise decision for your next purchase.
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