Our verdict

Having tested the Adidas Dropset 3 through and through, we were in awe of the stability it offers for gym training. It even made us confident enough to reach for the PR-level weight a few times! A close competitor to the Nike Metcon, the Dropset 3 has a more moderate price tag but brings great value to the gym floor. Aside from its rock-solid stability, the shoe also blends superior breathability, a roomy toebox, and a highly secure foothold into the mix. Not wonder this Adidas trainer rocketed straight to our top picks in the training shoe realm.

Pros

  • Exceptional stability for lifting and lateral movements
  • Very wide and grounded platform
  • Extra durable and grippy outsole
  • Very secure foothold
  • Flexible enough for plyometrics
  • Fantastic breathability
  • Accommodating toebox (wide foot friendly)

Cons

  • Not great for running and walking (clunky heel)
  • Can't be worn outside because of sole apertures

Audience verdict

86
Good!
  • Top 30% most popular training shoes

Who should buy

Don't ignore the Adidas Dropset 3 if you are looking for the following:

  • a super stable cross-trainer for weightlifting and Crossfit
  • a gym shoe with exceptional breathability
  • lots of toebox space for toe splay, swelling, and wide feet

Adidas Dropset 3 review

Who should NOT buy

We found that the Adidas Dropset 3 is more biased toward stability and lifting which makes it less versatile for other types of exercise.

If you want a more well-rounded option for HIIT, we strongly recommend the Nike Free Mecton 6 or the Reebok Nano X4 instead. The Nike Air Zoom TR 1 is a great option too if you want a boost of cushioning and Zoom Air responsiveness for cardio.

Adidas Dropset 3 lab test and review

Breathability

Adidas' approach to ventilation in the Dropset 3 is impossible to beat!

First introduced in the Dropset 2, the HEAT.RDY technology features a large aperture right in the middle of the shoe's sole. As our wear tests showed, it expelled the heat from the shoe almost instantly keeping our feet nice and fresh at all times.  

As part of the HEAT.RDY tech, the shoe's insole is also perforated to provide unobstructed airflow straight to the foot.

But let's not forget about the trainer's breathable mesh too. Our smoke-pumping test revealed that the fabric lets the air in and out quite freely.

Even though the material appears to be pretty tightly woven, we discovered plenty of ventilation holes in the shoe's chainlinking through our microscope.

Adidas Dropset 3 Breathability mesh under microscope

All in all, we think the Adidas Dropset 3 deserves the highest breathability score for its amazingly well-ventilated design.

The only caveat is that the sole apertures make this trainer unsuitable for outdoor wear, especially in the rain.

Test results
Dropset 3 5
Average 3.4
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

It's nice to have some toebox reinforcement as you power through a burpee challenge or any other exercise with lots of intense foot brushing against the floor.

Adidas Dropset 3 toebox

The Dropset 3 features a pretty large synthetic overlay over the mesh to keep the fabric safe from wear and tear. Let's see how it stands up against our Dremel test.

The synthetic bit gave up to the sandpaper tip pretty quickly exposing mesh to faster abrasion. Thus, the trainer lost a couple of points getting only 3 out of 5 for toebox durability.

Adidas Dropset 3 Toebox durability test
Test results
Dropset 3 3
Average 2.6
Compared to 25 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Even though the shoe's inner lining is not subject to external damage, it can wear out just as easily from the intense friction of the foot.

We tested both the collar fabric and the mesh lining with a 4-second Dremel drill.

While the top fabric remained unscathed, the bottom mesh ended up torn.

Adidas Dropset 3 Heel padding durability test

Because most of the friction normally occurs in the lower part of the trainer, we had to lower the durability score for this part to ... out of 5.

Adidas Dropset 3 Mesh lining durability test

Test results
Dropset 3 5
Average 2.7
Compared to 23 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

On the upside, the Dropset 3's Adiwear outsole left us no doubts about its durability.

Adidas Dropset 3 Outsole hardness

First of all, we found it reassuringly hard based on our Shore C durometer reading of 84.0 HC. That's a solid hardness for a training shoe outsole and is a good indicator of longevity.

Test results
Dropset 3 84.0 HC
Average 82.9 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
57.5 HC
Outsole hardness
94.5 HC

Outsole durability

Drilling the rubber compound with sandpaper further proved its ability to resist abrasion. After 22 seconds of applying the Dremel to the same sport at 10K RPM speed, the dent was hardly even noticeable.

Our tread gauge helped us measure the damaged area and it showed as little as 0.5 mm! Impressive result for a trainer.

Adidas Dropset 3 Outsole durability test

Test results
Dropset 3 0.5 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 21 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Finally, we measured the shoe's outsole thickness at 3.2 mm which is within the industry standard.

Adidas Dropset 3 Outsole thickness

To sum it up, we can confirm that the Adidas Dropset 3 has a sturdy and lasting outsole that is sufficiently thick, hard, and wear-resistant.

Adidas Dropset 3 outsole

Test results
Dropset 3 3.2 mm
Average 3.6 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Weight

Tipping the scale at 12.1 oz (343g), the Dropset 3 is about an ounce heavier than average but that's not enough to call it out for being hefty.

Adidas Dropset 3 Weight

We believe that it has a fair weight considering the shoe's focus on stability and lifting. And it is still an ounce lighter than the Nike Metcon 9 (13.4 oz/378g).

Adidas Dropset 3 lifting

Test results
Dropset 3 12.10 oz (343g)
Average 10.76 oz (305g)
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
6.38 oz (181g)
Weight
13.83 oz (392g)

Cushioning

Heel stack

The Dropset 3's oversized side panels can make it seem tall and platformy but in reality, it is even more grounded than average.

Adidas Dropset 3 Heel stack

Using a caliper, we measured the shoe's heel stack at 22.6 mm which is a couple of millimeters lower than average.

Test results
Dropset 3 22.6 mm
Average 24.4 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
13.7 mm
Heel stack
36.2 mm

Forefoot stack

The forefoot stack turned out to be even lower at 14.8 mm. This made the ground feel more prominent in the Dropset 3 and made its forefoot more flexible as well.

Adidas Dropset 3 Forefoot stack
Test results
Dropset 3 14.8 mm
Average 18.2 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
27.7 mm

Drop

The difference in stack heights resulted in a heel-to-toe drop of 7.8 mm which is a bit taller than the stated 6 mm.

Adidas Dropset 3 Drop

Personally, we didn't experience any issues with this discrepancy. We never felt as if the heel was too high off the ground because this Adidas trainer has so many grounding and stabilizing components in its design.

But we must point this out in case you are after a pure low drop in a training shoe.

Test results
Dropset 3 7.8 mm
Average 6.2 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
1.8 mm
Drop
13.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Just like the Dropset 2, the third iteration employs a dual-density midsole to create a balance of stability and cushioning.

Measuring the firmer portion in the midsole, we got 41.0 HA on our Shore A durometer. This is indeed very firm considering that the average training shoe foam is 50% softer.

Adidas Dropset 3 Midsole softness

No wonder we felt so confident adding more weight to the barbell! The heel of this Adidas trainer is hardly compressible and it gave us a very stable and planted base to push off.

Test results
Dropset 3 41.0 HA
Average 27.8 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
17.4 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
47.0 HA

Secondary foam softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The softer foam, on the other hand, takes up the shoe's forefoot section. It is there to provide cushioning and impact protection for jumping and other plyometric movements.

Adidas Dropset 3 Secondary foam softness

With a durometer reading of 21.5 HA, it is a whole 90% softer than the shoe's heel foam. However, don't expect a ton of cushioning because the midsole is quite thin in the forefoot and the clunk of the heel is not very friendly for staying on your toes a lot.

Adidas Dropset 3 flexibility

Thus, we recommend looking into Nike trainers like the Free Metcon 6 and the Air Zoom TR 1 for more agile workouts and cardio.

Test results
Dropset 3 21.5 HA
Average 32.6 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.

Insole thickness

The Dropset 3's insole showed a standard thickness of 3.7 mm on our caliper. It added a touch of padding that didn't mess with the shoe's stability.

Adidas Dropset 3 Insole thickness

And if you are concerned about perforations - no need to worry! They are not felt through the sock.

Test results
Dropset 3 3.7 mm
Average 3.9 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Insole thickness
5.7 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

We think the Adidas Dropset series deserves a much bigger spotlight on the training shoe market.

Adidas Dropset 3 TPU sidewalls

Together with the Nike Metcons, we found it to be some of the best options for weightlifting because of its incredible stability.

We forgot what wobbling even feels like as we picked up the load in the Dropset 3. The most obvious stability components in the shoe are, of course, the TPU wall on the lateral side and the firm rubber overlay on the medial side.

Adidas Dropset 3 medial support

Looks like the third iteration didn't change anything from the v2 in this department. So we got to reap the same stability benefits but in a refreshed silhouette.

Adidas Dropset 3 vs Dropset 2 comparison

Torsional rigidity

To our great surprise, the Adidas Dropset 3 kept some torsional flexibility despite the large and stiff sidewalls.

We were able to enjoy sufficient forefoot flexibility without feeling as if we lost anything in the stability department. Assessing the shoe's side-to-side stiffness on a 1-5 scale, we gave it a middle-of-the-road score of 3.

Test results
Dropset 3 3
Average 2.7
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

There is a similar case with the shoe's heel counter - it is highly rigid at the base of the heel but has a lot of give in the collar. We were able to push and squeeze it quite easily in our manual test which lowered the stiffness score to 3 out of 5.

And yet, there was not even a hint of heel slippage or foot play inside the shoe! Our heels and ankles felt securely locked inside the Dropset 3 without the unnecessary stiffness that often comes with structured heel counters.

Adidas Dropset 3 heel design

The shoe's GeoFit Sensepods also play a key role in making the foothold so secure. It adds extra padding around the ankle to keep the rearfoot in place.

Adidas Dropset 3 GeoFit pods

We were especially grateful for having such a steady heel during single-leg exercises.

Test results
Dropset 3 3
Average 2.7
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

Of course, the shoe's stable construction wouldn't be complete without a wide base. And the Adidas Dropset 3 beats records in this regard.

Adidas Dropset 3 Midsole width in the forefoot

In the widest part of its forefoot, our caliper measured an impressive 116.9 mm. That is about 6.5 mm wider than the average trainer!

That gave us plenty of area to rely on while stabilizing our footing during the wear test.

Test results
Dropset 3 116.9 mm
Average 110.3 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
101.0 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
117.9 mm

Midsole width in the heel

Even though the shoe's heel is not as impressively wide, we measured its widest area to be on par with the gym shoe average - 88.9 mm.

Adidas Dropset 3 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Dropset 3 88.9 mm
Average 87.4 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
76.5 mm
Midsole width in the heel
97.4 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

With its softer and thinner forefoot, the Dropset 3 proved to be even more flexible than the average cross-trainer!

It felt a tab bit more forgiving for burpees, lunges, and planks than the previous Dropset. Perhaps thanks to the softer and stretchier upper mesh?

Our force gauge confirmed our initial impression by showing that the trainer needed 12.4N to bend to a 90-degree angle. For reference, the Dropset 2 required slightly more - 16.6N.

But even though it proved to be a whole 45% bendier than average, we can't recommend the Dropset 3 for walking and running (over 1 mile) because of its clunky heel design.

Test results
Dropset 3 12.4N
Average 17.8N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
4.3N
Stiffness
37.9N

Grip / Traction

Forceful multi-directional movements felt surefooted thanks to the grippy outsole of the Dropset 6. We felt like our stopping power was enhanced with the stripes of the brand's proprietary Traxion pattern.

Adidas Dropset 3 Traction pattern

The shoe's outsole bit onto smooth gym surfaces from all angles and never slipped even when the floor got wet.

Size and fit

Internal length

We recommend getting your regular shoe size in the Adidas Drposet 3.

The trainer fit exactly as expected in our regular men's US 9 and returned 268 mm of internal length in our caliper measurement.

Adidas Dropset 3 Internal length

If you have even the slightest doubt about which Adidas size is right for you, we highly recommend measuring your foot length as accurately as possible and checking which Adidas size it corresponds to in the brand's size chart.

Test results
Dropset 3 268.0 mm
Average 268.9 mm
Compared to 17 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
265.6 mm
Internal length
276.3 mm

Toebox width at the widest part

Adidas promises a wider-than-standard fit in the Dropset 3's official specs.

Adidas Dropset 3 fit

We can only partially agree with that statement because, on one hand, the toebox of this Adidas trainer feels roomier than your casual sneaker or running shoe.

Adidas Dropset 3 Toebox width at the widest part

But on the other hand, it doesn't come across as anything special in the realm of cross-training shoes. Measuring the widest area of its toebox returned 100.4 mm which is exactly the same as the average in this footwear category.

Test results
Dropset 3 100.4 mm
Average 100.3 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
90.4 mm
Toebox width at the widest part
108.5 mm

Toebox width at the big toe

Measuring 79.5 mm of toebox width near the big toe, our caliper confirmed that the Dropset 3's dimensions are identical to the industry average.

Adidas Dropset 3 Toebox width at the big toe

However, that doesn't negate the fact that you get plenty of room for toe splaying and swelling as the workout progresses. Athletes with wide feet will also find comfort in this gym shoe from Adidas.

Test results
Dropset 3 79.5 mm
Average 78.3 mm
Compared to 29 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
65.0 mm
Toebox width at the big toe
87.5 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue of the Dropset 3 is fully attached to the shoe quarters on both sides (aka fully gusseted). This setup noticeably enhances the foothold and prevents the tongue from sliding to the side as you train.

Adidas Dropset 3 Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Dropset 3 Both sides (full)

Laces

Considering the Dropset 3's spacious toebox, some people may need to tighten up the midfoot fit to avoid undue foot shifting.

Adidas Dropset 3 adjustable lacing

Adidas provides that option with as many as three pair of additional eyelets.

Comfort

Tongue padding

Even if you cinch the laces down as tightly as possible, lace bites will not be a problem. There is a good amount of foam padding in the tongue to keep the lace pressure at bay.

Adidas Dropset 3 Tongue padding

Our caliper measured 7.3 mm of tongue thickness in the Dropset 3 - 2.4 mm thinner than the tongue of the Dropset 2.

Test results
Dropset 3 7.3 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 36 crossfit training shoes
Number of shoes
1.0 mm
Tongue padding
10.4 mm

Heel tab

A large pull tab extends up at the back of the Dropset 3.

Adidas Dropset 3 Heel tab
Test results
Dropset 3 Pull tab

Removable insole

You can remove the insole from the Adidas Dropset 3 but keep in mind that its perforations are part of the shoe's HEAT.RDY technology. Replacing it will result in compromised ventilation.

Adidas Dropset 3 Removable insole
Test results
Dropset 3 Yes

Misc

Sustainable materials

According to Adidas, at least 20% of the Dropset 3 are made of recycled materials. It doesn't seem like much but it is something compared to moth other trainers on the market.

Adidas Dropset 3 style