Facts
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Road
Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.
Trail
Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.
Good to know
As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.
Neutral / cushion / high arch
Shoes for runners who does not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who needs arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal arch. See the best stability shoes.
Motion control / severe overproanation / flat feet
Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.
Good to know
- Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
- More about arch support in this video.
- Find your arch type by following steps from this video.
Daily running
Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.
Competition
Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.
Good to know
If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.
The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.
There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.
Summary
We spent 8.9 hours reading reviews from experts and users. In summary, this is what runners think:
5 reasons to buy
- The Adidas Solar Boost offered a snappy ride, wrote a reviewer.
- The boost™ midsole supplied added bounce and encouraged a quicker pace, mentioned a runner. Others said it provided a cushioning that was more accommodating than expected.
- A user claimed that the outsole had a broad heel that enhanced ground feel.
- Various commenters agreed the shoe possessed a stylish appearance that was suitable for casual wear.
- The upper was praised by several users, citing remarks such as “breathable,” “comfortable,” and “lightweight.”
2 reasons not to buy
- Many buyers thought the Adidas Solar Boost was expensive.
- One wearer complained the arch support was missing from the shoe.
Bottom line
The Adidas Solar Boost delivered what runners would expect from a running shoe: comfortable, responsive, and efficient. Many users were satisfied with the performance brought about by the shoe, and they found a bonus in its trendy look. Despite the high price point and other relative criticisms, the Solar Boost seems to have proven that it enables a fantastic running adventure.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.
Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.
90 / 100 based on 9 expert reviews
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97 / 100 by RunRepeat • Frank DuCett • Level 4 expert
I had been expecting more of a lifestyle-running shoe, something more like the Brooks Revel. However, I was surprised and pleased to discover a pair of the most serious, and competent looking, road running shoes that I have ever seen.
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96 / 100 by RunRepeat • Frank DuCett • Level 4 expert
I am totally pleased with the performance. They actually excelled in every category that I could think of.
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92 / 100 by RunRepeat • Joseph Arellano • Level 4 expert
The Solar Boost is a comfortable, protective, responsive and durable trainer.
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94 / 100 by RunRepeat • Stephen Clevenger • Level 3 expert
The combination of the Adidas Torsion System, the traction of the Continental outsole, and the spring of the Boost technology make the Adidas Solar Boost a great everyday training option.
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88 / 100 by The Sole Brothers • The Sole Brothers • Level 3 expert
It's a very comfortable shoe and I just wish Adidas would put more boost material in the forefoot.
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90 / 100 by BigRafTV • BigRafTV • Level 1 expert
They really are comfortable. And feel like you were'nt wearing anything.
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80 / 100 by Sportskeeda • Kredy • Level 5 expert
The shoe is light and offers a good fit.
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80 / 100 by Kold Kickz • Kold Kickz • Level 1 expert
The boost will give you the extra push if you need it. Now, the lockdown… not really any lockdown. The heel's pretty flimsy.
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77 / 100 by Kicks on Fire • Andres Carrillo • Level 1 expert
Some cool and unique features of the Solar Boost include a laser-etched midsole with a color fade for depth and visual interest, TechFit uppers, and a heel to midfoot lock-down fit that provides a smooth transition.
Updates to Adidas Solar Boost
- Running enthusiasts might be familiar with the name of this shoe, as a similar release was made a few years ago. The Adidas Solar Boost is now redesigned, including an overhaul of its construction and technologies. While some might notice the silhouette is the same as the original version, it is worth noting that this edition adds crucial features that the previous one lacked.
- The Solar Boost uses an all-new, premium technology dubbed the Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP) to create an overall lightweight shoe. This process confirms a secure fit while also permitting a convenient way of wearing the shoe. Aside from the new method, the Solar Boost also favors new materials in the development of the upper, such as the Parley midfoot cage.
- Meanwhile, the sole unit consists of familiar and trusted characteristics, namely the boost™ midsole compound and the Continental™ and Stretchweb® rubbers for the outsole. Although the boost™ was also present in the original version, this shoe takes the technology and utilizes it better, resulting in improved performance for the runner. It also exhibits a new unit: The Solar Rail Propulsion technology.
Adidas Solar Boost size and fit
The Adidas Solar Boost applies the length and sizing of a standard running shoe. While it has a noticeable semi-linear construction from the forefoot to the heel, its featured technologies allow the shoe to deal out a secure and contoured fit for the runner. The Adidas Solar Boost is available for purchase in medium width for both the men’s and women’s versions.
Outsole
Like most of Adidas’ running shoes, the Solar Boost is spruced up by the outsole tandem of Continental™ and Stretchweb® rubber compounds. More than just fancy installations, these elements work hard to make the outsole efficient.
The Continental™ outsole material is as rough and durable as car tires, and this is because they are from the same rubber compound. Such a material ensures that the Solar Boost is equipped with sufficient grip capabilities. With its sturdy figure, runners can rely on the Continental™ to protect the shoe and their foot against injuries, damages, and abrasions.
On the other hand, the Stretchweb® rubber of the Adidas Solar Boost aids in absorbing shock and shielding against impact. The material gives the outsole a flexible property so that the stride has an enhanced comfort level. It also lends reinforcement to the foot to permit natural movements.
Midsole
Adidas’ boost™ technology makes its way back in this update of the Solar Boost. In the previous version, the midsole compound was only in the heel area. Therefore, as an upgrade, boost™ now contributes to the entire length of the shoe.
The boost™ is comprised of thousands of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) pellets that a shaped as a single unit to furnish the ultimate degree of energy return. Compared to conventional foams, boost™ possesses a unique structure that lets it absorb and release energy differently, resulting in an ultra-responsive shoe. The boost™ material is also resistant to extreme temperatures and longer-lasting than traditional midsoles.
Another modern technology exists in the shoe – the Solar Propulsion Rail. It works similarly to a shank, as it dispenses stability and balance while also guarding the underfoot. It is partnered by the Torsion® System, a plastic unit inserted in the midfoot area, to enable an amended transition and overall gait cycle.
Upper
The upper is where most of the relevant features of the Solar Boost are abound, which are technologies that set them apart from other running shoes.
The first release of the Solar Boost employs a breathable mesh that promotes a second-skin sensation while refining support and relief for a stable ride. While all of these are in the current version, a new attribute aids the upper, called the Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP). The TFP is a knitting process that gets the fibers close together, resulting in a protective and robust fabric.
TFP contributes to the shoe’s minimal weight while also providing an accessible entryway for the foot. It supplies the Solar Boost a sock-like feel that hugs the foot in all its contours.
A midfoot cage made from Parley plastic – an environment-friendly material sourced from plastic debris from the ocean – offers structural integrity and a supportive figure for the Solar Boost.
Additional defensive elements come in the form of a TPU toe cap that shields the forefoot from injuries caused by accidental kicks, and a stiff heel cup that accommodates and backs a wide range of foot shapes.