Lots of women recall, with fondness, taking shopping trips with favourite aunts, moms and grannies, so for me, picking out running shoes for an upcoming marathon was a no brainer.
After applying due diligence to my shoe search, I happened upon the newly-introduced adidas UltraBOOST X, called “the most responsive running shoe” the company has debuted in ages.
About the UltraBOOST X
I spent a good chunk of the day trying them out on a variety of terrains. The UltraBOOST X, I decided, is responsive and light. And while most companies say that they optimise their shoes for women’s feet, in my opinion, adidas has actually done it.
adidas calls the X “energy fueled” and if the ability to run at breakneck speed while enjoying shock absorption that slowed me down in the past is any example of that energy, I’m sold. Further, adidas designers have surpassed previous UltraBOOST styles by producing a shoe that’s trendy and fashion forward.
From the heel counter to the adaptive arch and Primeknit upper, these features earn two thumbs up from me, but what captured my heart was the traction factor. I ran on a variety of surfaces. Wet. Dry. Somewhere in-between. I like a shoe that grips the ground because active traction makes me feel safe.
Basics I can share with you
- The UltraBOOST is designed for women like me who like to run on different surfaces.
- The outsole is fabricated of what adidas calls “Continental Rubber.” I’ve no clue which continent is responsible for this outsole, but I want to go live there.
- I found that the Primeknit upper gives as good as it gets. These shoes feel like extensions of my muscular system, so the energy adidas promotes is no empty promise.
- adidas checks all boxes in the comfort, cushioning and support departments.
- UltraBOOST’s proprietary Torsion System (between the forefoot and dual-density 3D heel counter) works like a finely-tuned orchestra so my feet enjoy both a high degree of stabilisation and optimal control.
- The shoes are built for neutral runner type and is only available for 1 pair per customer.
Runner’s Boon
- These workhorses are adorable, colourful and traffic-stopping in my opinion. They even come with extra laces.
- Fit and luxurious comfort are so refined, I wore them with and without socks and my feet felt equally at home.
- That free-floating arch deserves an award; I believe credit goes to Aramis motion-tracking technology. Bravo!
- The knitted upper expands and contracts like compression wear as I run, then returns to its shape once I stop.
- Don’t laugh when I compared these shoes’ tread to tires, but that’s exactly how they perform.
Runner’s Bane
- Got S$299 in your wallet? If not, start saving because that’s the price tag on these recently-introduced shoes.
- Had a bad experience wearing early versions of UltraBOOST? Try before you buy.
- A fellow runner found the floating arch support system too soft for her running programme demands.
- Got wide feet? I recommend a half size larger if you want to get the fit right.
Conclusion
I confess that from the moment I took the UltraBOOST X out of box I fell in love with the way they looked, so I hoped they would thrill me in the performance arena, too. They did not disappoint.
The UltraBOOST X hits all the right notes: Innovative look. High quality construction. Heavenly comfort. Better-than-expected performance.
I felt confidence queuing at the start line in my new UltraBOOSTs and with every footfall, I felt so inspired. I sensed that I was going to set a new personal best. Of course, that PB paled in comparison to glancing over at the finish line to find my loved ones waving furiously in my direction!
Do you think running shoes play a big part in achieving a runner PB?
