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 high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.
Stability / overpronation / normal arch
Shoes for runners who need arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a normal 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.
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:
8 reasons to buy
- ‘Comfortable’ was a word that’s frequently used to describe how this shoe worked for many of the testers.
- Many runners felt that the Adidas Solar Boost was lightweight and that it didn’t drag their feet down.
- A runner wrote that this shoe was sturdy, despite its lightweight nature.
- The boost™ foam in the heel was apparently efficient because a lot of users appreciated the cushioning that it was able to give them.
- The overlay system was lauded because it caused the upper to feel snug, but not too tight.
- A lot of runners who used this for casual and athletic activities didn’t have any problem with its upper coverage, mid-sole construction, and outsole efficacy.
- The flexible platform won over testers who needed a shoe that gives freedom to their natural movement.
- Users liked its appealing and not-too-aggressive design because it made it agreeable for casual purposes.
3 reasons not to buy
- One runner observed that the sole unit got separated from the shoe after two weeks of use for athletic activities.
- The stitched section of the heel area caused blistering to a tester.
- A runner noted in their review that the front section of the upper unit tore apart after only a few weeks of regular use.
Bottom line
Many welcomed the lightweight & comfortable construction of the Adidas Solar Boost. Its appealing design permitted casual use, as well. For some runners, it wasn’t very welcoming in the durability department. But this neutral running shoe still won over a lot of testers and reviewers.
Rankings
Popularity
Ratings
My Rating
Expert Reviews
Experts are running shoe geeks, 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.
84 / 100 based on 5 expert reviews
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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 2 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
- The Adidas Solar Boost is a good-looking running shoe that has a silhouette of a footwear that’s great for casual purposes. It doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, and the façade certainly doesn’t show that it’s a shoe made exclusively for running. High quality materials are at work in this model, and they deliver sure comfort, support and secure coverage to the wearer.
- The upper unit features breathable materials, which allow air to enter the shoe in order to keep the foot cool and dry. Air flow is important in keeping the performance as comfortable as possible, especially when it comes to warm days. The fabric lining is soft and capable of staving off moisture. An overlay system keeps in the foot in place by making the upper more secure as it wraps around the foot.
- The mid-sole unit is made up of two cushioning systems. The platform utilizes the Ethylene vinyl acetate, an industry-standard foam that is able to provide responsive cushioning and protection against impact. It doesn’t break down easily, so it can handle many uses. The heel area of the Adidas Solar Boost features the boost™, which is a high quality foam made from TPU. It handles impact and delivers energized transitions through the gait cycle.
- The outsole uses STRETCHWEB, a pliable rubber compound that adapts to the ground. It spreads out when weight is placed upon it, essentially expanding its area of coverage and improving the balance of the runner when running on the asphalt. It also gives reliable traction for better surface control.
Adidas Solar Boost size and fit
The Adidas Solar Boost has a standard running shoe length. It comes in sizes that adhere to the regular preferences of men and women. The available width for both genders is medium, so it is able to accommodate those with medium sized feet. The semi-curved shape of this model adheres to the natural curve of the human foot.
Outsole
STRETCHWEB is a high quality material that adapts to the ground and the weight placed upon it. Its pliable nature allows it to stretch itself in order to provide stable support to the foot as it goes through the gait cycle. It also gives surface traction, which is important when it comes to controlling the movements on the road.
The platform of the Adidas Solar Boost is not stiff. It allows natural movement to take its course. The outsole is also flexible. Such a design is beneficial to the toe-off phase where the joints of the toes bend the most.
Midsole
Lightweight Ethylene vinyl acetate foam delivers reliable underfoot cushioning. It doesn’t have a stiff nature, so it permits natural movement. It can attenuate impact shock and set the foot up for an efficient liftoff.
The boost™ mid-sole in the heel area of the Adidas Solar Boost is made from TPU pellets that have been fused together to make a cushioning material. It is strong and it doesn’t wear off easily. It is able to return energy to the runner, making each step as comfortable and responsive as possible. It also attenuates impact during the foot-strike.
Upper
The upper unit of the Adidas Solar Boost makes use of a breathable mesh material. Its open construction allows air to flow into the foot-chamber in order to maintain a cool and dry environment for the runner.
The interior lining is able to stave off moisture, thus preventing odor-causing wetness.
The synthetic overlays allow the upper to feel secure. They are connected to the lacing system, so whenever the shoelaces are adjusted, they follow suit, basically giving a customizable fit.