6 Best Adidas Gym Shoes in 2023

A series of test sessions and lab assessments convinced us that the Dropset Trainer is indeed the king among all Adidas gym shoes in our records. Aside from its truly impressive breathability, this shoe also boasted of a fairly flexible structure. But don’t think it’s all about going easy; it’s also able to give much-needed lockdown through its stiff and amazingly durable heel counter.

After performing our standard breathability test, we were convinced that this shoe deserved nothing less than the perfect score. The porous upper allowed both light and smoke to pass through with much ease. When we were running fast, we could literally feel wind blowing against our feet.

When it comes to flexibility, this shoe is better than average. Based on the readings on our digital gauge, the Adidas Dropset Trainer needed only 19.3N of force to do a 90-degree bend. For context, a typical trainer would need as much as 22.5.N. Its flexibility allowed the shoe to effectively keep up with the natural flexions of the feet, especially in performing exercises like mountain climbers, burpees, and even planks.

The heel counter deserves a special mention here. Not only was it stiffer than usual (it got a 3 out of 5 when the average is 2.6), it’s also quite durable (perfect 5). We had no doubts about its capacity to hold the foot in place even when we moved aggressively.

Unfortunately, this shoe is kind of a miss in the weight department. Trainers are expected to be light, but this one adds more than 2 ounces to the average. It weighs 13.51 oz or 383g while the average is 11.18 oz or 317g.

With all the right boxes ticked, the Adidas Adipower 3 is a dependable partner for casual to heavy weightlifting. It brings back fond memories of the original Adipower, which was a very well-received shoe, and still offers some more. Beginners and more experienced lifters alike love training in this model.

Among all gym shoes from Adidas, it’s the Powerlift 5 that we deem most suitable for deadlifts, squats, and bench presses–the three major components of powerlifting. The perfectly stiff heel counter kept our feet in place. The amazingly twist-resistant base kept us flat on the ground. And the shoe’s light structure allowed us to enjoy all the benefits without putting so much strain on our feet. 

We gave the heel counter a pretty good squeeze in the lab, and our experience there only confirmed what we enjoyed in the gym. The heel counter successfully resisted our maneuvers, so it got a perfect 5 for stiffness.

The same can be said about the shoe’s base. No matter how hard we bent and twisted it, it put up a lot of resistance. We were right in trusting that this shoe could definitely protect us from twists. The Adidas Powerlift 5 truly deserves the 5 out of 5 rating that we gave for torsional resistance.

Weighing only 15.0 oz or 425g, this shoe is shockingly lighter by 3.7 oz or 105 grams than the average. Walking and warming up while wearing this shoe was such a breeze.

The width of the toebox did not get the approval of the wide-footers among us. Measuring only 95.2 mm at its widest, this part of the shoe is actually 3.7 mm narrower than average.

The Adidas Futurenatural is a foot-hugging workout shoe with a futuristic design. While it’s not a hardcore Crossfit shoe, it packs the right amount of cushioning and stability to tackle just about any exercise at the gym. The trainer will also keep your feet happy outside the gym.

Hands down, the Adidas The Total is a well-built shoe that does what it's intended to do: make lifting safer and more efficient. Reviewers can't find any serious flaws in it, so it's safe to say that you will get your money's worth, and perhaps even more, when you buy this.

The Trainer V from Adidas is a no-frills sporty trainer in the affordable price tier. Receiving a lot of positive comments on its visual aspect, the trainer doesn’t disappoint in the workout scene either. It is a solid option for those who train moderately and prefer to have a 2-in-1 shoe for both gym and daily wear.