Adidas Supernova Rise running shoes

The Adidas Supernova Rise is a comfortable, versatile everyday running shoe with a number of new features never seen before from Adidas. It’s also a great choice for beginner runners or runners who use one shoe for all their runs. It has a comfortable upper and a stable, dynamic midsole with good shock absorption. The upper is slightly narrow and has less breathability. We’ve been waiting a long time for a major innovation from Adidas in the average everyday running shoe range, and with the Supernova Rise they’ve filled that gap. Adidas has finally come out with a new midfoot foam that has been sorely lacking in their lineup to take on the competition.

Adidas Supernova Rise upper

The upper of the Adidas Supernova Rise running shoe focuses on comfort. The upper of the running shoe has three functions. Comfort, breathability, and to hold the foot securely and snugly, hugging it well so it doesn’t hinder performance, all without adding too much weight to the upper. The Supernova Rise solves two of these 3 criteria well, it is comfortable and holds the foot well. To achieve comfort, breathability (and weight) is average, slightly below average. The upper is made of a double layer mesh material that is very comfortable. The tongue of the shoe is thick and wide, hugs the foot well and protects it from shoelace tightness. The tongue of the shoe is not fixed, but that’s not a problem, it doesn’t slip sideways, which is helped by the fact that there is a hole in the tongue to lace the laces through. The shoelace is a little too long, but this can be helped with a double knot. The heel collar of the Adidas Supernova Rise running shoes is very stiff. A hard heel collar tends to cause problems with proper fit and foot grip, but with the Supernova Rise there is no such problem as the heel collar is cushioned. Thanks to the cushioning, the heel collar keeps the foot comfortable and secure. It’s important to note that the shoe has a narrow fit, so those with wider feet may want to buy 1 or half size larger. Subjective, but worth noting that the Supernova Rise looks good, comes in nice colours and has a classic running shoe look that is eye-catching.

Adidas Supernova Rise midfoot

The Adidas Supernova Rise running shoe midsole is made up of a newly developed foam called Dreamstrike+ and a stiffer EVA foam layer called Support Rod system for stability. Dreamstrike+ foam is a blend of PEBA and EVA foam. PEBA is a softer, more energetic foam commonly used in racing shoes.

Adidas Supernova Rise running shoes

Dreamstrike+ foam is soft, moderately dynamic, has very good cushioning, and is comfortable. The Support Rod System takes away a little from the softness of the midsole, but adds stability and some dynamism. The Energy Rod System, already well known from previous Adidas running shoes optimised mainly for performance, has been used as the basis for a thinner layer, which gives the shoe dynamics at the toes and stability at the heel. Thanks to the two layers, Adidas have created an exciting, enjoyable midfoot. At lower speeds, the energy output is average, but as you pick up the pace, the Adidas Supernova Rise becomes noticeably more dynamic. The midsole is 36mm at the heel and 26mm at the toe with a 10mm drop. The higher-than-average drop relieves a bit of the load on the ankle and shin. The 26 mm midsole thickness under the toes may not be enough for everyone, but a slightly higher drop would give the shoe more dynamism and better shock absorption. This type of midsole was sorely missing from Adidas’ range. The previous Boost midsole was heavy and even though they developed the lighter Light Boost foam, it wasn’t much lighter and had little dynamism. The more dynamic Lightstrike foam, while light and dynamic, was considered by many to be too hard. With Dreamstrike+ foam, Adidas has filled a big gap. Bravo!

Adidas Supernova Rise Outsole

The Adidas Supernova Rise running shoe outsole is made from a proprietary development rubber compound. In the past, we’ve become accustomed to seeing most Adidas running shoe outsoles made with Continental rubber, which has both good traction and abrasion resistance. The new proprietary outsole is called Adiwear, which has good grip. The good grip is also due to the relatively large surface area of the outsole in contact with the ground. Traction is further enhanced by the fact that the outsole is well ribbed. According to Adidas, the Adiwear compound also has a high wear resistance and is a durable material.

Summary

Overall, the Adidas Supernova Rise is a great running shoe with all-new solutions. Mostly suitable for everyday runs, but also supports faster or longer runs. It also has an extremely comfortable upper and midsole. Good shock absorption, soft but also stable. We really missed a running shoe like this in the Adidas range, congratulations Adidas. It’s worth noting that the application of new technologies doesn’t stop with the Supernova Rise, coming soon is the Adidas Supernova Prima, which will also feature Dreamstrike+ foam only in higher volumes, the upper and the whole shoe will be lighter for performance, tuned for faster runs.