6 Best Adidas Gym Shoes in 2023

Nicholas Rizzo
Nicholas Rizzo on
6 Best Adidas Gym Shoes in 2023
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With almost 100 years in the making, Adidas continues to be one of the trusted brands in the athletic footwear industry. As a frontrunner in innovative shoe technology, the Three Stripes keeps adjusting its footwear to fit the specific requirements of various sports and fitness regimens.

If you’re out looking for a new pair of Adidas gym shoes, you’re definitely in for a treat. The brand is currently offering several of the top-rated gym kicks on the market. Whether you need a pair of versatile workout shoes or a reliable weightlifting training shoe, Adidas has you covered.

To narrow down your best choices, we’ve tested, evaluated, and reviewed all the best Adidas gym shoes available out there.  We exhausted all our resources - money, time, energy, and expertise - to make sure that no stone is unturned in finding out which shoes are the finest. We put together our number one picks in different categories based on our meticulous testing. Take a quick gander!

Best Adidas gym shoes overall

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Balance of ground feel and cushioning
  • Very stable platform
  • OK for rope jumping
  • Comfortable in-shoe feel
  • Highly breathable
  • Super hard-wearing outsole
  • Fairly flexible
  • Good grip
  • Sustainable materials

Cons

  • Poor upper durability
  • Pretty heavy
Full review of Adidas Dropset Trainer

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Men
Women
Any color
Core Black Ftwr White Grey Six (GX7954)
Ftwr White Sky Rush Supplier Colour (GW3419)
Toqgri Grisei Negbas (GW3904)
Legend Ink/Cloud White/Blue Rush (GZ2941)
White (GX7955)
Golden Beige/Black/Wonder White (GZ8613)

Best Adidas gym shoes for weightlifting

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • A good overall performer
  • Accommodating toe box
  • Feels durable
  • Fairly breathable upper
  • Nice stability
  • Nice heel height
  • Dependable grip
  • Attractively streamlined look

Cons

  • Too expensive
  • Not for wide-footers
Full review of Adidas Adipower 3

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Unisex
Any color
Green (GY8925)
White (GY8926)
Preloved Blue/White/Solar Red (HQ3526)
Core Black/Ftwr White/Grey Three (GY8923)
Navy/White/Scarlet (HQ3527)
Silver Pebble/Black/Olive Strata (HQ1922)
Red (GY8924)

Best Adidas gym shoes for powerlifting

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Stable base for moderate lifting
  • Good for accessory exercises
  • Solid bite on gym floors
  • Secure foothold
  • Supportive Velcro strap
  • Reasonably priced
  • Contains sustainable materials

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Upper is not very durable
  • Tongue shifts
Full review of Adidas Powerlift 5

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Unisex
Any color
Linen Green Beam Pink Shadow Maroon (GY8920)
White (GY8919)
Guipla Negbás Estoli (HQ3529)
Blue (GY8922)
Blue (HQ3528)
Core Black Ftwr White Grey Six (GY8918)
Vivid Red Ftwr White Impact Orange (GY8921)
Tenabl Ftwbla Escmej (HQ3530)

Adidas gym shoes with the best cushioning

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Very springy
  • Great for jumps
  • Impressive grip
  • Perfect for quick multidirectional moves
  • Very light
  • Stable for moderate lifting
  • Well-made
  • Highly unique design
  • Cozy upper
  • Doubles as an everyday sneaker
  • Recycled materials used

Cons

  • Lacks a pull tab
  • Narrow shoe opening
Full review of Adidas Futurenatural

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Men
Women
Any color
Blue (GX5152)
Grey/Grey/White (GX5153)
Cblack Grethr Cblack (FX9741)

Best zero-drop Adidas gym shoes

Adidas The Total
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Great for strength training
  • Good traction
  • Quite stable ride
  • A lot of ground feel
  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Functionally spacious toebox
  • Accommodates wide feet
  • Fairly priced
  • Streamlined look

Cons

  • Has to be broken in
  • Not versatile enough for non-strength exercises
Full review of Adidas The Total

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Unisex
Any color
Black (GW6354)
Preloved Blue/White/Lucid Blue (HQ3532)
Team Navy Blue/Silver Metallic (HQ3533)
Green (HQ1921)
Ftwbla Negbás Griuno (GW6353)
Team Royal Blue-Silver Metallic-Team Navy Blue (GY8917)

Adidas gym shoes with the best value

Adidas Trainer V
86
Great!

What makes it the best?

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.

Pros

  • Below-average price
  • Supports moderate workouts
  • Can do light weightlifting
  • Doubles as a casual shoe
  • Handsome looks
  • Well put together
  • Has recycled materials

Cons

  • Not a high-performance shoe
  • Stiff sole with little flex
  • Not for warm weather
Full review of Adidas Trainer V

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Men
Women
Any color
carbon/iron metallic/impact yellow (GW4055)
Ftwbla Negbás Plahal (GX0733)
Black/Blue (GW4056)

Comparison of the 6 best Adidas gym shoes

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A buyer’s guide on Adidas gym shoes

Adidas gym shoes are renowned for their premium materials and robust design, which make them perfect for demanding workouts and sporting activities. In addition to its cutting-edge technology and materials, Adidas is known for its creative designs that give athletes and fitness enthusiasts the finest support, cushioning, and stability possible.

But in the end, what determines the best Adidas shoe for you is its match with your workout needs.

Adidas Dropset Trainer support

What to look for in your future gym shoes from Adidas

When choosing Adidas gym shoes, there are various factors to consider to ensure that you get a pair that matches your demands and delivers comfort, support, and durability.

We recommend paying attention to the following:

Activity

Take into account the kind of activity you'll be performing in the shoes. Adidas offers gym shoes for a variety of activities, like jogging, cross-training, weightlifting, and more, so it's crucial to pick a pair that is made for that activity.

Adidas Dropset Trainer plank

Here is a brief overview of the popular Adidas gym shoes:

Shoe Best for
Adidas Dropset Trainer HIIT, weightlifting (light to moderate)
Adidas Adipower weightlifting (heavy)
Adidas Power Perfect weightlifting (moderate to heavy)
Adidas Powerlift weightlifting (light to moderate)

Quality

Look for gym shoes composed of strong yet breathable materials. They will keep your feet cool and cozy while still giving you the support you need.

In our lab, every Adidas shoe is tested for durability in its toebox, heel collar, outsole, etc. We press a Dremel against the materials to find out their abrasion resistance.

We assess and compare the damage caused by the Dremel and rate each shoe on a 1-5 scale.

Adidas Dropset Trainer vs Reebok Nano X3 toebox durability comparison

We also check how breathable each shoe's upper is by pumping smoke through its upper.

Fit

Make sure that the shoes are snugly and comfortably fitting. To check that the toe box has enough room, the heel is snug but not too tight, and the shoes offer enough support, try them on and take a few steps around the room.

We measure the toebox of each Adidas shoe in both the widest part and around the big toe to help you understand how spacious it is.

Adidas Powerlift 5 Toebox width at the widest part

FAQs about Adidas gym shoes

Do Adidas Gym shoes fit true to size?

Although Adidas gym shoes often run true to size, it's always a good idea to consult the sizing chart for the particular style of shoe you're considering buying. It's important to remember that different

Adidas shoe models may fit somewhat differently, so read reviews and, if feasible, try on various sizes to achieve a comfortable fit. Also, some people may choose a tighter or looser fit depending on their preference and the activities they'll be wearing the shoes for.

Adidas Dropset Trainer laces

Can I run in Adidas gym shoes?

If you imply short-distance or warm-up runs on a treadmill, then the Dropset Trainer is going to work just fine for 2-3 miles.

But if you are talking about daily runs of longer distances, then you should definitely turn to the Ultraboost running shoes. They have a more suitable design for running and are significantly better cushioned for the job.

Adidas-Ultraboost-22_20.jpg

How we test training shoes

To make our best selections, we put all the Adidas gym kicks in the database for rigorous testing. We carefully examine the materials used and wear the shoes for actual workout exercises. We check their comfort level, stability, and overall performance while performing specific styles of exercise.

Here are the steps that we follow:

  • We buy gym shoes from Adidas for our wear testing. We use our own money to remove any bias or brand influence.
  • We test each pair of shoes in the gym executing various workout routines. This is the best way to get the real-life feel of the shoes’ comfort, breathability, cushioning, durability, support, and a lot more.
  • After putting in solid hours of gym activities wearing a particular model, we turn our geeky modes on and do more testing inside our lab. We collect more info by quantifying and assessing the different characteristics of the shoes, including stability, flexibility, and more. Plus, we open the shoes up using our saw machine to get a full sight of what we are dealing with.
Author
Nicholas Rizzo
Nicholas Rizzo

Nick combines 10+ years of experience in the health and fitness industry and a background in the sciences in his role as the Fitness Research Director. During his competitive powerlifting years his PRs have him sitting in the top 2% of bench presses (395 lbs), top 3% of squats (485 lbs) and top 6% of deadlifts (515 lbs) for his weight and age. His work has been featured on Bodybuilding.com, LiveStrong, Healthline, WebMD, WashingtonPost, and many more. Along the way, collaborating with industry leaders like Michael Yessis, Mark Rippetoe, Carlo Buzzichelli, Dave Tate, Ray Williams, and Joel Seedman.