adidas Response 2 review

We believe that the adidas Response 2 is a good match for:

• Runners on a tight budget seeking reliable daily mileage.
• Those wanting better cushioning and a wide fit from an affordable adidas shoe.
• Beginners who don't need a highly responsive ride.
• Anyone who prefers (or needs) a very stiff, rigid shoe.

The adidas Response 2 may not deliver the energy return you're looking for, as its foam lacks much bounce. If you want a more energetic ride, we recommend spending a little more on the adidas Pureboost 5 or PUMA Velocity Nitro 4.

We also think the Response 2 may feel heavy and bulky for some runners. If that's a concern, the Nike Interact Run or Brooks Revel 8 are worth a look.

Budget-friendly shoes often compromise on shock absorption, but we found the Response 2 delivers surprisingly solid impact protection for its price. With 123 SA in the heel and 106 SA in the forefoot, it handles longer runs comfortably, especially for lightweight runners.

We also found the energy return to be reasonable for the price. Sure, 52.2% in the heel and 52.5% in the forefoot are far from impressive, but expecting premium foam at this price point is unrealistic.

For easy-paced daily runs or amateur runners, however, the Response 2 gets the job done.

It’s hard to miss how much maximalism has taken over the running shoe world when even budget daily trainers are reaching stack heights close to 40 mm. The adidas Response 2 is a perfect example, with 37.8 mm of heel stack height.

Yet here we are. Maximalist geometry has clearly trickled down into the budget category, giving even affordable daily trainers more foam underfoot than ever before.

We measured 27.3 mm under the forefoot of the adidas Response 2, giving it a substantial amount of cushioning for an entry-level daily trainer.

This extra foam helps create a more protective feel under the front of the foot, especially during longer easy runs.

Like many cheap running shoes, the adidas Response 2 features a relatively high drop. We measured 10.5 mm, which is slightly higher than adidas’ claimed 8 mm and makes the shoe particularly appealing to heel strikers, who are also common among beginner runners.

For the Response 2, adidas uses its Cloudfoam+ midsole, an EVA-based foam that makes sense for such a budget-focused shoe. Keeping production costs low is essential at this price point, and EVA still remains as the most practical choices for affordable running footwear.

In terms of softness, we found a well-balanced setup at 36.8 AC. This is another area where budget shoes have come a long way. They used to feel mostly firm and basic, but today, you can get a noticeably softer underfoot experience without spending more than $100.

The generous stack height also forces adidas to give the Response 2 a noticeable rocker, which is clearly visible in our photo.

The forefoot rises by 4.5 mm, while the heel features a more pronounced curve than most competitors in this price range, helping heel strikers move smoothly through the transition and promoting forward momentum.

When we first tried the adidas Response 2, we immediately noticed that it felt roomier than most adidas shoes we’ve tested. Therefore, we wanted to see if our initial impression would hold up in the lab.

Our first measurement certainly points in that direction. We recorded 97.9 mm in width, placing the Response 2 clearly above our current lab average.

The toebox is also slightly wider than usual at 74.2 mm, although only by a narrow margin. Still, if adidas aimed to make the Response 2 a more wide-foot-friendly option, we think they succeeded.

We also measured the toebox height to complete our fit assessment.

At 26.9 mm, it sits right around average, offering a good balance between interior space and a secure lockdown.

Expecting top-tier traction from a budget-friendly shoe is unrealistic and could leave you disappointed.

We tested the Response 2 like every other running shoe and found a decent performance, with a CoF of 0.50. In our view, that's a respectable result, especially when you consider its low price.

The outsole design takes inspiration from shoes like the Supernova Rise 3, featuring a similar pattern of longitudinal grooves and generous rubber coverage stretching from heel to toe.

However, the lack of horizontal cutouts in the rubber made us wonder how this design might affect the shoe's overall stiffness.

And indeed, we found a very high stiffness result of 19.5N, even higher than many carbon-plated shoes. Therefore, if you're looking for a flexible running shoe, this definitely isn't the one.

It's also not the best choice for runners seeking a lightweight ride. At 10.5 oz (298g) on our scale, the Response 2 pays the price for carrying more foam underfoot than is usual in this category.

To compensate for the extra stack height, adidas also gave the Response 2 a very broad platform, which we noticed immediately during our runs. Combined with its high stiffness, this creates a stable, planted feel.

However, we think neutral runners or mild pronators are the best match, while runners who need dedicated pronation support should look elsewhere.

The Response 2 is a very rigid shoe. We measured the torque required to twist it in both directions and recorded a very high 19.4 Nm, clearly above average.

The heel counter stiffness is right around average and delivered the expected result. We gave it a 3/5 score in our manual assessment, providing a balanced level of support without feeling overly rigid.

We measured a broad 118.2 mm forefoot platform, noticeably wider than the current lab average.

This generous width provides a stable, well-supported base for neutral runners who prefer a broader underfoot feel.

The Response 2 is very wide in the heel at 95.7 mm, which comes as no surprise given that rearfoot strikers are likely to be one of its main user groups. However, going this broad isn't all bells and whistles, as the extra width can take away some agility, versatility, and fun from the ride.

With a solid 3/5 score, the toebox passed our durability test without raising any concerns.

The heel padding is very comfortable, but that comfort comes at the expense of durability. After completing our test, we gave it the lowest possible score of 1/5.

The adidas Response 2 performed very well in this test, losing just 0.8 mm of rubber when exposed to our Dremel.

We measured an outsole thickness of 2.3 mm with our digital calipers, which could raise some concerns for runners focused on long-term durability. However, we also found strong abrasion resistance, so in our experience, there's little reason to worry.

The insole is slightly thicker than average at 4.7 mm, although the difference is only marginal.

You can easily remove the Ortholite insole and replace it with a third-party alternative.

After spending 20 minutes in our freezer, we measured the Cloudfoam+ midsole's softness again and found that it had become 18% firmer. This is more or less in line with what we've seen from other EVA-based foams.

We shined a powerful LED light on the Response 2 from multiple angles, but nothing reflected back, confirming that adidas hasn't included any reflective elements.

Adidas didn't cut corners with the lacing system. The classic setup that's worked for decades is here: punched eyelets, flat laces, and a tongue loop that keeps everything perfectly centered.

We also found that comfort is a clear priority with the Response 2. With 9.0 mm of tongue padding, the step-in feel is surprisingly plush and has little to envy from much more expensive shoes.

Finding a gusseted tongue in a shoe under $100 is rarer than encountering Chansey in Pokémon Red without spending infinite hours in the Safari Zone!

The heel has a simple, no-frills design, which is hardly surprising at this price point. It's another area that brands often use to keep production costs down.

Runners on a tight budget have something valuable here, as the Response 2 delivers a very solid package for the price. It won't break any records in our lab, but it won't break the bank either, and we found no major red flags.