adidas Galaxy 8 review

In our view, the Adidas Galaxy 8 is ideal for:

• Beginner runners looking for an affordable daily trainer with a comfortable, forgiving ride and a natural-feeling drop.
• Runners who prioritize value and want a surprisingly complete package.
• Easy-mile runners who don't need a highly energetic or responsive ride.
• Those who prioritize breathability, as the 95 BR score is outstanding for a budget shoe.

The Adidas Galaxy 8 is a heavy shoe by all standards, which can be a deal-breaker for some runners. If you prefer a lighter budget-friendly daily trainer, take a look at the Nike Interact Run or the New Balance Fresh Foam 680 v9.

We also think the Galaxy 8 will disappoint runners looking for a highly-durable upper, as it sacrifices durability for breathability. Instead, check out the Adidas Pureboost 5.

We were surprised by the improvement in shock absorption on the newer version of the adidas Galaxy.

Both the heel and forefoot results improved by ~9% to 112 SA and 101 SA, respectively. Still, it is important to keep in mind that this is not a maximalist cushioned trainer, and these results are applicable to shorter runs.

The Galaxy 8 retains the same Cloudfoam midsole compound as its predecessor, and we were not anticipating an increase in energy return.

With 51.0% in the heel and 52.6% in the forefoot, it positions this shoe as a budget-friendly trainer, so runners should not expect a bouncy, energetic ride.

One of the noticeable changes in the Galaxy 8 compared to its predecessor is the higher heel stack. At 37.5 mm, it brings this shoe closer to the maximalist category, but it is not high enough to feel bulky!

The forefoot also received an upgrade of about 3 mm, now measuring 30.5 mm. Those looking for an affordable option to start running or to log easy miles will appreciate the stack changes in the Galaxy 8!

We measured the Galaxy 8's drop at 6.9 mm.

Adidas listed 5 mm in its spec sheet, and on the run, it feels like a 6-8 mm drop. It is always good to see a low and balanced drop in budget running shoes.

Like running on clouds? Not quite, but we still found the Cloudfoam to have an above-average softness of 39.2 AC

During the run, we felt like this foam was actually very good for the price point of the shoe. It gets the job done, especially for beginner runners who are looking for a soft midsole without breaking the bank.

Adidas doesn't shy away from market trends and keeps a noticeable rocker on the Galaxy 8. Still, they pushed back a bit on the more aggressive rocker used on the Galaxy 7 for this new version, with the heel bevel taking 1 mm less to fully contact the ground. 

In our lab, we found that the Galaxy 8 offers a spacious upper, measuring 97.5 mm at its widest point.

We were not surprised at all by these numbers, as the Galaxy 7 already had a very accommodating fit that was unseen in its competitors in the same budget segment. Good to see that adidas did not change the instep feel for this new version.

After seeing the wide fit, it was a bit of a letdown to see that adidas kept the same tapered toebox, even reducing it by almost 2 mm compared to its predecessor.

Toe splay will definitely feel restricted for runners with wide feet.

Contrary to what the Queens of the Stone Age sang, first it taketh some of the toebox width, then it giveth a more spacious toebox height!

This one allows for some toe wiggling, and the 28.8 mm caliper measurement confirms that.

The Adidas Galaxy 8 achieved a 0.52 coefficient of friction in our SATRA TM144 test, placing it just above the lab average. While the margin is small, we think it's an impressive result considering its budget-friendly price.

It provides dependable traction for everyday running, with reassuring grip on dry pavement and adequate confidence in occasional wet conditions.

The Galaxy 8's outsole underwent a major design revamp. We now see full-length rubber on the outer part of the outsole, with a peninsula of rubber that covers part of the center forefoot. We also observed a mix of outsole patterns designed to improve traction on wet areas.

The bigger stack height had to come at the cost of something, and measuring 18.0N in our flexibility test puts this shoe on the stiffer side. This result is on par with some of the nylon-plated tempo shoes, making it less ideal for those seeking a more natural gait shoe.

The Galaxy 8 remains a heavy shoe, even with a heavier weight than the Galaxy 7. At 11.2 oz (318g), we understand that the increase in stack height would be noticed on our lab scale.

Still, it feels very heavy for its category, and we would love to see some weight reduction in the next version!

It's always a good feeling when we see top features on a budget shoe, and adidas has designed one that offers a moderate level of comfort. One of our big questions concerned breathability.

We were pleasantly surprised by the Galaxy 8's breathability. The engineered synthetic mesh, along with the thinner tongue, works in this shoe's favor, earning a 95 BR score after our 3-hour test. This means your feet will stay dry after those midweek easy runs, helping you avoid surprise blisters!

After the same 3 hours, we measured the drying potential of the Galaxy 8, which reflects how effectively the upper releases water and sweat.

We found that this shoe is less effective at releasing sweat to the outside than at pulling it from the foot. At 55% of evaporation, we found it to be a very acceptable result for a budget-focused shoe!

The Galaxy 8's predecessors were always somewhat support-focused. But we noticed a difference with this newer version. The higher stack along with a narrower heel and toebox midsole, and minimal guidance features, pushes this shoe into a more neutral category. 

Because of this, we wouldn't suggest it for runners in need of support. If that sounds like you, we suggest the ASICS Gel Pulse 16.

After performing our custom torsional rigidity test, in which the shoe is twisted in both directions, we found that the Galaxy 8 shows an above-average result, with a score of 18.6 Nm. This rise from its predecessor can be attributed to the higher stack height.

Adidas did not address the firmness of the Galaxy 8's heel counter compared to its last version, and after a manual inspection, it scored 3 out of 5.

The width of the midsole follows what has been done with the toebox width for the Galaxy 8. With a measurement of 113.0 mm, a reduction of ~4 mm from its predecessor, this shoe will feel more agile and nimble, but at the expense of stability during your toe off.

The width cutback was global across the Galaxy 8! With a 3.1 mm reduction from the Galaxy 7, this shoe still sits above average at 94.4 mm wide at the heel. 

However, we think that further reductions in width could lead to a very unstable shoe that would change the Galaxy line's paradigm.

The mesh of the Galaxy 8 has proven helpful for this shoe's breathability, but it falls short on durability, earning a 2 out of 5 on our Dremel test.

For runners who tend to completely destroy the heel padding of their shoes, the adidas Galaxy 8 won't be a good option, since it earned only 1 out of 5 in our test.

The Galaxy 8's outsole received a major durability upgrade, and after using our Dremel, we measured only 1.0 mm of damage. This is a 1.6 mm reduction from its predecessor, meaning you will keep the grip of this shoe for longer!

Keep the grip of this shoe for longer, or at least that is what we thought! Adidas used a thinner but more durable outsole when they built the Galaxy 8, with a below-average thickness of 2.2 mm. Maybe it wears at a slower rate, but it has less rubber to wear down!

This EVA foam insole is slightly thinner than what we typically see in our lab, measuring only 3.7 mm.

The Ortholite insole is removable and can be replaced with your own orthotic!

Again, this shoe has surprised us with some of its capabilities for a budget-focused model! When we cold-tested the foam, we found it lost only 16% of its softness after 20 minutes in the freezer.

Don't expect to be seen during your night runs with your adidas Galaxy 8, since it has no reflective elements!

Adidas went back to the standard punched eyelets on the Galaxy 8, unlike its predecessor. You will find a couple of lacing bridges to help even out lace pressure in the midfoot.

As mentioned in the breathability section, reducing the tongue thickness could have helped achieve the amazing result, but at 4.7 mm, we advise you to be mindful whenever you lace up to avoid excessive pressure on the top of your foot!

We didn't expect the tongue to be gusseted in this budget shoe, and the Galaxy 8 confirmed our expectations.

The Galaxy 8's heel design is very simple and doesn't include any heel tab. The adidas logo is considerably smaller than the one on its predecessor, and we think it looks very clean!

The best feature of the Galaxy 8 is definitely its very affordable price. We even think this shoe packs a compelling set of characteristics that we do not find on more expensive models. So if cost is a priority, this shoe is an outstanding choice.