6 Best Adidas Training Shoes in 2023
From powerlifting to all-around trainers, Adidas offers some of the superbly high-quality training shoes in the business. As a trusted brand in the athletic footwear industry, you can be sure to get genuine value from the company’s latest offerings of training kicks.
To get you started, we’ve rounded up, tested, and ranked all the best Adidas training shoes available in the market. Take a peek at our top picks below.
Best Adidas training shoes overall
What makes it the best?
The Dropset Trainer stands out among all Adidas trainers because of its perfect breathability, stable and firm heel, and impressive twist resistance. Because of all these benefits, we persisted in our sessions using a variety of exercises: from lifting to agility workouts.
We couldn’t find a fault in the Adidas Dropset Trainer as far as breathability is concerned. Both light and smoke easily passed through the porous upper. It was only fair to give this shoe a perfect 5 for ventilation.
A firm heel was what we needed to stabilize our lifts, and a firm heel was indeed what we got with the Dropset trainer. The average midsole softness score is only 27.0, but our HA durometer measured reported a 32.8 for this shoe.
We totally appreciated this shoe’s torsional rigidity because it kept us safe from painful twists and slips. After working out in it and manually assessing its resistance in the lab, the Adidas Dropset Trainer deservedly got a 4 out of 5 for twist resistance.
It’s just a waste that the upper wasn’t as durable as we expected. Twelve seconds of Dremel-drilling already brought concerning damage, so it only got a score of 1 out of 5 for sturdiness.
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
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Adidas training shoes with the best cushioning
What makes it the best?
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
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Best Adidas training shoes for weightlifting
What makes it the best?
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
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Best Adidas training shoes for powerlifting
What makes it the best?
The Adidas Powerlift 5 has lived up to its name, and we now consider it as the best for powerlifting in Adidas’s arsenal. Its heel counter dependably held the rear part of our feet in place, helping us maintain a firm upright position as we do squats and deadlifts. The base of the shoe is immensely resistant to twists, effectively reducing our worries. What’s interesting is that this shoe delivered all of these big benefits without adding so much weight.
We felt the stiffness of the heel counter the moment we put this shoe in. We confirmed our initial observation after we manually squeezed it in the lab. The heel counter got a perfect 5 for stiffness.
The shoe’s base both looked and felt firm upon wearing. When we subjected it to manual aggressive twists in the lab, we felt its resistance. Hence, we were left with no other choice but to give it a 5 out of 5 for torsional resistance.
We were shocked to learn that the Adidas Powerlift is actually 3.7 ounces or 105 grams lighter than the average trainer. It’s insane to think that something that’s so firm can be so light.
The breathability of the upper was a source of some discomfort. There just was not enough air going in and out of the shoe. Upon checking the toebox material under the microscope, we saw how tightly woven it was that there was literally no space for air to pass through. We only gave the upper a 2 (instead of 1) out of 5 for breathability because of the mesh tongue.
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
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Best zero-drop Adidas training shoes
What makes it the best?
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
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Adidas training shoes with the best value
What makes it the best?
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
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Comparison of the 6 best Adidas training shoes
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Buyers' guide on Adidas training shoes
Famous for its iconic weightlifting shoes, Adidas has also been catching up with some pretty impressive cross-training shoes. But how do you know which Adidas shoe is best for your training needs?
We’ve put together this comprehensive best buyer's guide so you can choose with confidence.
An overview of training shoes from Adidas
The first thing to consider is of course the type of workout that you are planning to do in your Adidas trainers. Here is a quick overview of various training shoe series from Adidas and what they are intended for:
| Shoe | Best for |
| Adidas Dropset Trainer | cross-training, Crossfit, light-to-moderate weightlifting |
| Adidas Powerlift | light-to-moderate weightlifting |
| Adidas Power Perfect | moderate-to-heavy weightlifting |
| Adidas Adipower | heavy/competitive weightlifting |
What to look for in Adidas training shoes
Narrowing down your options, you should also pay attention to a number of parameters such as:
- heel height
- cushioning (or stiffness, for lifting shoes)
- support
- durability
- breathability
- fit
Making sure you've got these tuned to your demands will result in the best workout experience in your future Adidas trainer.
Heel height
If you are choosing an all-around cross-trainer, the can range from 4 mm to 8 mm. The former will make you feel more grounded and in control while the latter will add more impact protection in the heel for high-impact exercises.
Example of a trainer with an 8-mm drop (Adidas Dropset Trainer)
In weightlifting shoes, the lowest drop starts at 15 mm and is considered best for entry-level athletes who are only getting used to the elevated heel.
Example of a 15-mm drop (Adidas Powerlift 5)
The higher drop of 19 mm (Adidas Power Perfect) and 22 mm (Adidas Adipower) are chosen by the more seasoned athletes as it helps to improve posture for squats. When the heel is placed high above the toes, it takes the pressure off the ankles and creates more ergonomic angles in the knees and hips. This results in a more upright torso and improved lifting performance.
However, some athletes do prefer flat-soled lifting shoes for deadlifts. Especially those with strong and flexible ankles. They tend to choose flat-soled shoes like the Converse Chuck Taylor. In response to that, Adidas released a zero-drop lifting shoe in 2023, called the Total.
You can learn more about how different shoe types affect weightlifting performance in our comprehensive guide on the topic.
Cushioning/Stiffness
If you are going for a cross-trainer, you want to make sure there is enough cushioning to support your HIIT and cardio sessions. In our lab, we measure two parameters to assess the shoe's cushioning: stack height and softness.
- The typical stack height of an Adidas cross-trainer is 25 mm in the heel. It provides the right balance of impact protection and ground feel to make sure you feel in control of various movements. However, you may come across shoes with thicker soles. Most of the time, these are better for running-oriented workouts.
- The cushioning foam also tends to be firm in Adidas trainers. We measure each one with a durometer to let you know if it is softer or firmer than average.
In weightlifting shoes, it is simple: you are looking for a platform that doesn't compress at all. That often means an extra firm TPU platform.
For beginners dealing with weight lower than 350 pounds, it's okay to go with a cheaper lifting shoe made with compressed EVA. There is a tiny bit of give there but not enough to make you wobble.
Example of a compressed EVA platform
Support
You must feel strong side support in a training shoe to go full force in your workouts. This is especially important for dynamic sessions with lots of multi-directional movements. That's why Adidas training shoes often come with additional sidewalls to keep the foot in place.
In our lab, we also assess how stiff the shoe's heel counter is. It has a direct impact on how supported the ankle is.
This shoe has an average heel counter stiffness (3 out of 5)
Weightlifting shoes from Adidas always have more support than cross-trainers. They feature sturdy leather or canvas uppers, wide soles, and extra stiffness for stability.
This shoe has the stiffest heel counter (5 out of 5)
Durability
We use a Dremel to test how wear-resistant various parts of Adidas training shoes are.
Based on the amount of damage that the Dremel causes to the material, each shoe gets a durability rating of 1 to 5.
Breathability
When your toes are nice and fresh, it definitely helps you work out longer and more efficiently. We put each Adidas shoe through a smoke-pumping machine test to assess its ventilation. That way, we help you to rule out the toasty options even when shopping online!
Fit
Look for a shoe that fits your foot snugly, but not too tightly in the toe area. You should be able to naturally splay your toes without hitting the upper material. The upper should also have a stabilizing framework to hold the foot in place during intense training.
We provide detailed information on the fit of each Adidas trainer in our in-depth reviews.
Why choose Adidas training shoes?
Adidas has a long history of creating dependable, high-quality athletic equipment that has been tried and trusted by athletes all over the world. The company is dedicated to technological advancement and innovation, so every new model of training shoe is created with the most recent developments in performance-enhancing features.
Training shoes from Adidas also stand out from the rest with their stylish non-trivial designs. This makes them a popular choice among both athletes and fashion-conscious people who want to look good while exercising. Adidas training shoes come in a variety of colors, styles, and designs, so you’re bound to find a shoe to match your personal tastes.
Adidas training shoes vs. Adidas running shoes
Adidas training shoes are made for activities such as weightlifting, HIIT, and cross-training. They incorporate more lateral support to help minimize injuries during side-to-side motions and often have a more sturdy and supporting construction.
Adidas running shoes, on the other hand, are made expressly for running and offer characteristics like a cushioned midsole and a breathable upper for support and comfort during long runs.
Adidas Ultraboost Light
The Ultraboost Light, for example, is listed as a workout shoe on the brand's official website. However, this shoe is absolutely awful for the gym, unless all you do is run on the treadmill. Its tall and plush cushioning lacks the stability needed for cross-training activities.
How we test training shoes
Before making our recommendations, each pair of shoes in our repertoire is put to the stringiest wear tests. That means subjecting the training shoes to the daily rigors of gym workouts and training exercises. We check the shoe materials and how they really perform in real gym life.
Below are the following protocols that we do:
- We buy the Adidas training shoes for our wear test sessions. We spend our own savings on this so as to avoid any brand loyalty.
- We wear each model for routine workouts to determine their comfort level, breathability, traction, stability, arch support, and many more. We further use the shoes to test their durability and overall performance by executing training regimens specifically designed for the shoes.
- After putting in around 20 hours of training usage, we give the model our initial assessments.
- We gather more useful info from other trusted wear testers, fitness experts, and regular gym goers.
Finally, a final score is given to all the Adidas training shoes in the database. You will then see on the CoreScore the overall rating of each model.
