Adidas Duramo Speed 2 review

The Adidas Duramo Speed 2 is a good running shoe for:

• Budget-focused runners who want a lightweight build and a durable outsole.
• Fans of the first Duramo Speed who want a safe, familiar update with small refinements.
• Beginners running shorter distances who need a simple, reliable shoe at a low cost.

The Duramo Speed 2 comes at a low price, but we found in the lab that its energy return is clearly limited. For a shoe labelled Speed, that feels to us like a mismatch. If bounce matters to you, there are better (and more expensive, obviously...) choices like the Adidas Adizero Adios 9 or Adidas Adizero EVO SL.

We also think that runners planning to use it as a daily trainer may prefer a more durability-ready upper with greater vertical room in the toebox. For a more comfort-oriented, everyday-ready setup, we suggest the Nike Winflo 11.

The Duramo Speed 2 was never designed to be a super-cushioned running shoe, yet Adidas increased heel protection to 121 SA, up from 111 SA in its predecessor.

The forefoot, with its lower stack height, measures 96 SA, which will appeal to runners who prefer more ground feel and a ride that is not overly filtered.

Energy return feels quite modest at 44.7% in the heel and 49.4% in the forefoot. Those figures sit well below average and even trail behind many standard EVA foams.

Still, considering the low price point, we cannot be too harsh with Lightstrike. At this level, trade-offs are expected, and boosting energy return usually comes at a higher cost.

We measured the heel stack of the Duramo Speed 2 at 33.0 mm, a height that balances decent underfoot protection without turning the shoe into something bulky or heavy.

The forefoot measures 24.9 mm, which sits below our current lab average, a figure that continues to climb as modern running shoes grow taller each year. For this model, keeping the platform lean was essential.

In our opinion, with limited energy return, maintaining a low-ish stack height is crucial to at least justify the Speed in its name.

The drop measured 8.1 mm in our lab, which is 1.6 mm higher than the 6.5 mm listed on Adidas’ spec sheet. The difference is not dramatic, and for beginners, it may actually be welcome news.

The Lightstrike midsole does not deliver a soft ride, but it is also far from overly firm.

At 22.9 HA in our Shore A durometer test, it lands in a balanced zone that fits this shoe’s goal of handling fast-paced, short-distance workouts.

We appreciate that Adidas kept the rocker of the Duramo Speed 2 restrained and controlled. Rather than adding an exaggerated curve, the shoe maintains a classic ride with just enough toe spring to smooth transitions without feeling intrusive.

In our opinion, this is a great option for runners who prefer a more traditional geometry over modern, aggressively rockered designs.

With a width of 96.5 mm at the widest point of our 1-to-1 gel mould, the Duramo Speed 2 sits comfortably in the middle of the spectrum, avoiding extremes in either direction.

In our view, this reflects Adidas’ clear intention to create a broadly appealing shoe that works for as much runners as possible.

Adidas also played it safe with the toebox width, which measured 74.7 mm and sits just slightly above our lab average. The difference is minimal, so you can expect a standard fit that feels neither narrow nor wide.

While the width stayed close to average, the same cannot be said for the toebox height.

Perhaps in line with the “Speed” concept and the goal of a more secure fit, Adidas opted for a lower toebox height of 23.0 mm. It performs well for fast running, but it may feel restrictive for runners who prefer extra vertical room for their toes.

As is often the case with Adidas shoes, traction remains impressively solid even at this budget level. A 0.56 score is a strong result for a low-cost model like the Duramo Speed 2, making it suitable for a variety of weather conditions.

The outsole combines a small section of exposed Lightstrike foam in the midfoot with large rubber patches in the heel and forefoot, delivering noticeably generous rubber coverage compared to many modern shoes. However, we will later see whether this added coverage comes with a weight penalty or not.

Longitudinal stiffness felt fairly average on our runs, and when we bent the shoe to 30 degrees in our machine, it required 14.8N of force. We expected a slightly lower number given the moderate stack height, but the result is still within a comfortable range and never felt harsh underfoot.

The Duramo Speed 2 comes in at nearly the same weight as the first version, trimming just 1% to reach 9.1 oz or 258g. Any reduction is welcome, but such a small change is unlikely to be noticeable. We certainly did not feel a difference!

The upper has changed significantly from version 1, now featuring a denser and more structured mesh that feels less airy on foot.

Even so, we measured a solid 4/5 in breathability. That score makes the shoe suitable for year-round use without major compromises.

Using our light test, we identified the most ventilated zones across the toebox and midfoot. For a shoe at this price point, the upper stands out as one of its strongest elements and clearly outperforms the Lightstrike foam in overall quality.

The mesh construction includes a secondary inner layer that partially blocks the ventilation holes. We believe this was a smart choice, as a single-layer design could have compromised durability and structure.

We also appreciated the thoughtful engineering behind the upper despite being a cheap shoe. Adidas added internal reinforcements to improve support while keeping the build lightweight and comfortable on foot.

The Adidas Duramo Speed 2 delivers a noticeably different stability experience depending on your footstrike.

For midfoot and forefoot strikers, it feels stable thanks to its wider landing platform, firmer foam, and moderate stack height. However, heel strikers may find the narrower rearfoot base less reassuring, which can be an issue for certain runners.

We were very surprised by the super-high torsional rigidity of the Duramo Speed 2, especially since it does not include any stiffening element like a plate inside the midsole. However, the outsole clearly contributes a lot to this 5/5 result, and the low softness of the foam plays its part as well.

We appreciated that the heel counter is not overly firm, as that would have been excessive for a shoe designed to handle faster efforts. The 3/5 rating we recorded strikes a sensible balance between structure and comfort.

We mentioned earlier that the forefoot felt wider than average, and our digital callipers confirmed it at 118.1 mm.

That is also a clear increase over the first-generation Duramo Speed, which measured 114.9 mm in the same test.

The heel delivers the opposite feel compared to the forefoot at just 85.9 mm, which aligns with the shoe’s goal of staying lightweight and agile. In fact, Adidas often opts for a narrower heel platform than many other brands, as seen in models like the Adizero Takumi Sen 11.

The mesh provides solid ventilation, but its durability is less impressive. With a 2/5 score, it falls below our expectations, and if you tend to wear holes in the upper with your big toe, this could become an issue over time given the low toebox height we found before.

The heel padding performed slightly better than the toebox at 3 out of 5, but it still falls short of what we consider great durability for a running shoe. We appreciated many aspects of the upper, yet its overall resilience brought our expectations back down.

On the other hand, Adidas continues to deliver strong outsole performance, and the Duramo Speed 2 is another clear example. Even at this low price point, they produced a shoe that grips well and holds up impressively, with only 0.7 mm of rubber worn away in our test.

Given the strong durability result, we are satisfied with the 2.5 mm outsole thickness. Even 2.0 mm would likely have been sufficient based on our wear test.

We measured the insole at 3.9 mm thick, which aligns closely with what we typically see in our lab tests.

The Ortholite insole can be removed easily and swapped for another option, as long as it matches the shape of the shoe.

We were not surprised to see a noticeable change in softness (26%) after placing the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes. In the end, that kind of change is typical behaviour for standard EVA foams.

We love bold, highly visible reflective elements in any running shoe, so we were pleased to see the three stripes light up on the Duramo Speed 2. It adds a welcome safety boost, especially since many Adidas models still skip this feature.

The laces are thin and pass through reinforced eyelets, a common and reliable setup in budget-friendly shoes that prioritises simplicity and durability.

Another area where weight savings are evident is the tongue. Adidas chose a thinner design, measuring just 2.9 mm, sacrificing some plush comfort to maintain a lighter overall feel.

We were not expecting a gusseted tongue at this price point, and indeed, Adidas did not include one.

The heel design lacks a finger-loop tab, but it includes a firm, black reinforcement that enhances stability and helps the shoe retain its structure over time.

One of the biggest selling points of the Duramo Speed 2 is its low price, and we are glad Adidas avoided even a small increase. While we can point out a few shortcomings in specific areas, cost is certainly not one of them.