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Once upon a time, the Samba wasn’t adidas’ most popular shoe. Its famous Ultraboost line has dominated sneaker store shelves for nearly a decade as some of the best running shoes of all time. This summer, adidas upped the ante with its Ultraboost 5X sneaker, a lightweight and remarkably comfortable iteration of the performance-driven shoes. I’ve been testing the adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers for well over a month — read on for my honest review.
From the get-go, adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers‘ mesh construction is remarkably breathable — enough for the breeze from my open door to blow through the toe box as I lace them up to go outside. This PRIMEKNIT upper is rounded out with a sock-style design that’s equal parts secure and stretchy, cradling the foot and providing the perfect fit. While the tongue isn’t as plush as those on other adidas running shoes, the Ultraboost 5X makes up for it with mobility and stability. And with its traditional 10mm drop, it offers ample calf and heel support with every stride.
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Once I walked out the door, the Ultraboost 5X’s X-shaped TORSION system and Molded External Heel served me — a constant overpronator — well on my morning laps around the block, correcting my gait from the ground up without the bulkiness of other stability running shoes I’ve tested. My inconveniently large size 14 weighs 12.8 ounces per shoe, which still stands up well against other big brands’ flagship runners. For comparison’s sake, previous Ultraboost iterations in size 9 weighed as much as 12.7 ounces, so the 5X offers an impressive decrease while adding nine extra millimeters of Light BOOST foam: the most responsive cushioning system powered by the brand’s signature Boost tech.
Weight aside, trusty heel-to-toe comfort truly sets adidas’ Ultraboost 5X sneakers apart from previous pairs. After a couple of steps in these top adidas sneakers, the emphasis on energy return was evident, and that’s all thanks to the airy and responsive Light BOOST midsole.
Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm
Materials: Textile lining and upper; Continental Rubber outsole; made with a minimum of 20% recycled content
Special features: Torsion system; Light BOOST midsole
Colorways available: 10 in men’s sizing; 9 in women’s sizing
Moving down to the outsole that’s crafted with grippy Continental Rubber, the adidas Ultraboost 5x sneakers can tackle unpredictable surfaces, be it in the city or for a light hike. In my case, these cushioned running sneakers were able to withstand some early morning dew on city pavement, but such excellent traction can certainly take on messier streets and tougher terrains. And even though I haven’t got a nighttime run in, I know I’d stay on track thanks to the upper’s reflective stripes.
I even wore the Ultraboost 5X sneakers to the gym in place of my typical adidas workout shoes, spending time on the stair climber and rowing machine, only to realize they’re just as equipped to take on all types of daily exercises — not just running. So whether your training days are full of fast-paced workouts or personal marathons, the Ultraboost 5X is equipped with the comfort and stability necessary to power through either and more.
Another factor that’s hard to ignore is their redesigned look. adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers’ streamlined silhouette distinguishes itself from trendier, chunkier running shoes just enough to serve as a pretty stylish option in its own right.
adidas Ultraboost 5x Sneakers — Testing Verdict
The wholly transformed silhouette and construction make the Ultraboost 5X an absolute blast to run in. By bolstering the Light BOOST foam and shedding the polarizing plastic cage, adidas managed to churn out yet another successful trainer, adding to its lineup of popular Ultraboost sneakers like the Ultraboost Light sneakers. At $180, there’s little room for error with adidas’ most cutting-edge pair of Ultraboosts yet. Grab yours at adidas.com and hit the ground running.
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Meet the Author
Yoni Yardeni is a culture, fashion, and footwear journalist who has appeared in publications including HICONSUMPTION, HotNewHipHop, and WWD. Through prior stints, his work ranged from curating buyer’s guides for the fashion world’s best boots, sneakers, and jackets to revisiting Lil Wayne’s quintessential mixtapes and albums. He is based in Los Angeles. Yardeni tested adidas’ Ultraboost 5X sneakers for one month to write this honest review of the running shoes.
