TEST: adidas Hyperboost Edge & Run - Just what we needed!

Yes yes yes. Let's start with high spirits, because that's what this article will bring. I've been lucky enough to test adidas' latest running shoes, and it's been a true pleasure. Adidas is everywhere – Sebastian Sawe runs sub 2 hours in the marathon in London in an adidas shoe, and adidas launches Europe's best-selling running shoe, adidas Adizero EVO SL. Business is booming. They've always had a handle on the race department, but personally, I felt there was a lack of a max-stack training shoe on par with what's available on the market. And here, the clever reader has probably figured out where I'm going – I'm obviously saying it's here now. adidas Hyperboost Edge is a fantastic training shoe, nothing less.

But it's not the only shoe we've received at the office. The adidas Hyperboost Run has also arrived – a shoe that builds on many of the same good trends as Hyperboost Edge, but with some small adjustments that naturally set it apart from Hyperboost Edge.

We start by taking a look at the adidas Hyperboost Edge.

adidas Hyperboost Edge is one of those running shoes you want to look at and study closely. I really think it has a bold design, and I don't think that's a coincidence. I'm quite convinced that adidas wanted to lure customers into this new shoe because they believed they had something really good to offer. The design is futuristic and enticing – it makes you curious to feel it. It's clever, but it works, and fortunately, the shoe lives up to its potential.

adidas Hyperboost Edge – Hyperboost Pro Foam

Hyperboost Pro Foam resembles the old Boost material, but the two foams have very little in common. In fact, I can only think of strong durability, which is a positive thing. You get a full 45mm in the heel and 39mm in the forefoot of pure Hyperboost Pro Foam, providing a noticeable volume in the shoe, which is quite interesting.

My first run in the adidas Hyperboost Edge wasn't exactly a success – I was actually a bit underwhelmed, and I understand from other runners that they've had a similar experience. But then things really took off. Maybe the Hyperboost Pro foam just needed to be awakened, but the subsequent runs were completely different from my first.

Hyperboost Pro foam is made from pelleted PEBA, where adidas has based it on the Lightstrike Pro material used in their race models. If I try to describe how it feels, the foam has a firm sensation upon first contact with the ground, but allows your foot to work its way down into it quite subtly, then actually delivers a surprising energy return. adidas Hyperboost Edge is a shoe that's just fun to run in. It is because, on one hand, you feel well-supported due to the large amount of foam, but it's also a shoe where your easy runs, without trying, become a few seconds faster than usual because it has this great responsiveness. The foam isn't soft and bouncy, as there are some quite extreme examples, but more energetic and lively in its push-off.

adidas Hyperboost Edge – Primeweave upper

The upper on the adidas Hyperboost Edge, it's cool. I'm generally a fan of the new look of the shoe, and I feel like it symbolizes the start of a new era of adidas shoes. That said, one of the reasons I had a slightly unfortunate first run in the shoe was that I was a bit too quick to lace and adjust the shoe to my foot. The Primeweave upper has a lot of structure and is relatively compact. I found it very important to pair it with the right set of socks and be very attentive when lacing the shoe, otherwise, I experienced the upper working a bit too much against me. But if you adjust the upper properly, you get plenty of stability and structure, and the interplay with the Hyperboost Pro foam was really good.

adidas Hyperboost Edge – Aura

Nowadays, I encounter the word 'AURA' more and more. This shoe, it has AURA. The midsole has such a depth in it, making it extremely comfortable to run in. Hyperboost Pro foam is versatile and ideal for easy days and longer weekend runs on asphalt. Hyperboost Edge is one of those shoes that makes running fun – it actually makes running just that bit easier than many other training shoes. Hyperboost Edge isn't a particularly light running shoe, which for me means it primarily becomes a shoe I choose on days between intervals, where pace isn't the focus, but I'm chasing that good feeling.

Now it's time to take a quick look at adidas Hyperboost Run.

adidas Hyperboost Run – Same Aura as Edge?

Shoe Specifications

adidas Hyperboost Run

Specification	Hyperboost Run
Type	Neutral daily trainer
Weight	Approx. 248 g (UK 8.5)
Midsole Height	38 mm heel / 32 mm forefoot (6 mm drop)
Midsole Material	Hyperboost Pro Foam
Outsole Material	LIGHTTRAXION
Upper Material	PRIMEWEAVE (woven mesh)

Specifications are based on tested standard size and may vary slightly between sizes/colors.

 

 

With the release of both these shoes, I think it's quite clear that adidas knows they have a winner with this foam type. The shoe type itself isn't something adidas really lacks. But when you invent something as good as Hyperboost Pro Foam, you might as well capitalize on it.

That's why a few months after Hyperboost Edge, there's also an adidas Hyperboost Run. And yes, it also has AURA. The idea here is to offer a shoe with the same foam material as Hyperboost Edge, but in a slightly lighter package.

adidas Hyperboost Run is one of those shoes that kind of disappears under your foot. You almost forget you're wearing it while running. With the slightly smaller sole of 38mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot, you naturally get a lighter shoe, but also one that doesn't stand out as much as, for example, Hyperboost Edge. The foam is still fantastic, and in this slightly lighter package, I think it also works better for days when you want to play with some strides on your run. Hyperboost Run is also for those who just want a completely neutral daily trainer that doesn't stand out in any extremes, but where you want the most modern materials in a light package.

Adidas Hyperboost Run also comes with a Primeweave upper, and again I will comment on the importance of fitting it correctly to your foot. If there's one area where adidas could improve on both these models, it's in the upper, where perhaps a more traditional approach with more focus on breathability would be beneficial.