Being asked to try on a new shoe once it comes onto the market can be challenging. I need to put ‘em on. Run around. Figure out what I like and what I don’t like. Then, I must be as honest as possible, so I don’t mislead readers.

But something happened to my “unbiased” opinion as I was about to start evaluating adidas’ new PureBOOST Go shoe: I read about a philanthropic effort in the U.S. to introduce these shoes to the American public and that really impressed me. Would it alter the way I felt about these shoes? Could I produce an objective review? This was uncharted territory.

The shoe that launched a rehab project

The story that influenced me, even before I put the shoes on, is this one: adidas wants to inspire runners in New York City’s Harlem community by agreeing to raise money with rapper ASAP Ferg in concert with Runners NYC Captain Kawsi Kessie to refurbish a Harlem running track so this sport is available to anyone who wants to adopt it.

Let me understand this: Rather than just introducing the PureBOOST Go to the buying public so the company can pump up sales numbers, adidas volunteered to help reconstruct a track in this community as a celebration of this shoe’s introduction? Now, that’s cool.

But I had a job to do

I found myself immediately impressed by what adidas calls this shoe’s standout feature: The Expanded Landing Zone that features a wider forefoot platform—so wide, some runners may find it to be the roomiest ever. Why does this impress me? Because as a runner, I know how important increased stability can be when my feet engage in lateral moves. I checked out the full-length Boost midsole and found it to be impressive, too.

How did I feel about the deconstructed circular knit upper? Favorable. The fabric isn’t just breathable, it expands and contracts so effortlessly, it’s like someone slipped a rubber glove over my foot; that’s how much freedom of movement I enjoyed wearing the PureBOOST Go. Things got tense. This shoe seemed to be too perfect in the fit department so I took them out for test drives, determined to spot imperfections.

These kicks are perfect for Singapore!

I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a shoe before but then again, I’m not certain I’ve ever been asked to try a shoe engineered especially for city running. Whether pounding the pavement in Harlem or challenging myself to the full 15km distance that covers the big loop (Gardens by The Bay, Marina Barrage and Singapore SportsHub), these shoes take to pavement like tourists take to Sentosa. That’s a good thing.

Runner's Boon

• The PureBOOST Go offers a regular fit and they’re delightfully light on streets and around town.
• Bring on the roads and sidewalks, comfort never let me down and the 8mm midsole drop is ideal.
• The pairing of the flex stretch outsole and responsive Boost midsole is a match made in running heaven.
• The fact that adidas pairs philanthropy with running inspires me, too.

Runner's Bane

• The Pure Boost line’s tongue construction and progressive lacing system may eliminate foot pressure for others, but not for me. Whew. I found a feature I could do without. Thankfully, it doesn’t impede my running.
• A friend complained that these shoes are better suited to casual, around-town wear, not running.

Do you choose new running shoes based strictly on the surfaces you frequent or are you more pragmatic, choosing shoes that traverse all sorts of surfaces, so you get the biggest bang for your buck? Enlighten us!

The adidas PureBOOST GO (RRP S$170) is available in black or white and is in local adidas stores and adidas.com.