Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe review – opinion, price, comparison, who it’s recommended for

Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe upper

The upper of the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe is made of a heavily structured mesh material with slightly below-average breathability. It does not run annoyingly hot, but it is made from a somewhat more closed, denser-woven mesh than average, and the extra layers make it even less open. The upper is called PRIMEWAVE, combining comfort with good foot hold. Adidas saves weight by using padding strips instead of larger padded surfaces. The shoe has very good foot hold: it is slightly narrower at the heel and widens toward the toes, with generous room up front for the toes. The toe box is pointed rather than rounded, which is less favorable for runners with wider, straighter-shaped feet. The tongue is thin, but there is a padding strip at the top so it does not create pressure where you tie the laces. The tongue is gusseted on both sides. The laces are concealed rather than visible, and the last eyelet has multiple lace-loop positions so you can fine-tune how snug the upper feels. The heel collar is moderately stiff, with two separate internal padding strips that provide great comfort and good heel hold, while leaving the Achilles free, which is also beneficial for runners who often have Achilles irritation. The side edge of the heel collar is sharp and stiff, which may cause irritation around the ankle bone. If the look of the upper reminds you of a basketball shoe, that is no coincidence. Until now, Adidas had only omitted the brand’s signature 3 stripes from the upper on its basketball shoes; among its running shoes, this is the first one where the three stripes appear only on the midsole.

Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe midsole

The midsole of the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe is made from a completely new foam called Hyperboost Pro, which is an entirely new Adidas development. The previous Hyperboost foam was harder and heavier than average, although over time it broke in and softened somewhat. The new foam has become significantly lighter and softer. Hyperboost Pro foam consists of tiny sponge pieces, foam beads, compressed together, just like the previous Hyperboost foam. However, the new foam is now PEBA-based, so despite its large volume it remains lightweight. Not only its weight but also its dynamics have changed: Hyperboost Pro is a very bouncy foam with high energy return. It is soft, but it does not compress excessively, it is not unstable, and it rebounds with a lot of force. It performs very well across different paces, giving back as much bounce as the force you put into landing, so at easy paces it does not feel harsh, rather comfortable, but at higher intensities it clearly helps fast running. At low intensity or while walking it feels softer, but at higher intensity it feels dynamic. The midsole is slightly wider than average, which also contributes to stability, as does its higher torsional rigidity. The midsole foam is rockered, but not aggressively so. The rocker does not start early in the forefoot, but because of the tall stack it rises high. The heel rocker is even less pronounced, which can be bothersome if you land on your heel. Because of the limited rocker, your foot slaps down onto the ground too quickly, which is further amplified by the heel flare and protrusion. The shoe is much more enjoyable and dynamic if you land on the forefoot. Considering that most runners land closer to the heel during lower-intensity, slower runs, while they land closer to the toes during faster runs, this shoe is better suited to faster running. Thanks to its high cushioning and slightly better-than-average stability, it also supports longer runs very well.

Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe outsole

The outsole of the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe is made from Adidas’s own LIGHTTRAXION rubber, a lightweight, highly abrasion-resistant, softer rubber compound. That sounds contradictory in itself, because soft outsole rubbers usually wear down faster, but LIGHTTRAXION almost seems to defy physics, combining strong grip with strong durability at the same time. Grip is further improved by the fact that the outsole covers the entire midsole, so it contacts the ground over a large surface area. The wavy outsole pattern also enhances traction. On both dry and wet asphalt, outsole grip performs well above average, and durability is also above average.

What is it like to run in the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe?

Cushioning and midsole

The Adidas Hyperboost Edge is a highly cushioned running shoe with a 45 mm heel stack, which gives it a high level of impact protection. The midsole is moderately soft and very well balanced, meaning it is soft enough to feel comfortable and energetic, but not so soft that it loses stability despite the tall stack. It compresses by an average amount and rebounds very energetically, so its energy return is high. Because the heel section of the midsole is large and less rockered, heel strikers get a transition that feels too abrupt and not the most ideal, so it is a better choice for runners who land more toward the forefoot. It is comfortable even at lower intensity, not overly firm, but thanks to its high level of dynamism it also supports faster running over longer distances.

Stability and ride

The Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe has no built-in support element in the midsole to increase stability, however the midsole is slightly wider than average and not overly soft, so its stability is good for a shoe this tall. For forefoot strikers, the ride is good, rolling forward nicely, smoothly and quickly. However, if you land on your heel while running, the more pronounced heel flare and the less rockered heel section make the transition too fast and too abrupt, which is not ideal.

Upper and comfort

The tall, moderately soft midsole provides maximum comfort on impact. The upper is fairly structured and moderately padded. The forefoot offers generous room for the toes, the midfoot can be cinched down securely, and the upper is a bit narrower at the heel. The breathability of the structured upper with several extra layers is moderately good. The heel collar is moderately stiff, and two internal padding strips help comfort; they are split in the middle, so they do not irritate the Achilles. The tongue is thin, but padded at the top where you tie the laces

Ground contact and grip

Because the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe has a lower-than-average 6 mm drop, it helps you land more toward the forefoot, which can be useful because the heel transition is not perfect. The outsole covers the entire midsole and is made from a soft rubber, so its grip is much better than average. Grip is above average on both dry and wet asphalt

Pace and dynamism

The Adidas Hyperboost Edge is a very versatile running shoe: it is comfortable for lower-intensity, easy runs, but thanks to its high energy return it also supports fast, uptempo running, even over long distances. The character of the midsole changes noticeably when you push off with more force, and it gives back the energy you put into toe-off very effectively.

Long run vs tempo vs training

Thanks to its tall midsole and high cushioning, the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe is an especially good choice if you are looking for a running shoe for longer distances. Since the midsole has very good energy return and the shoe is not heavy, it also supports faster running, even over longer marathon-type distances. It is primarily made for daily training, but if you do not like very stiff carbon-plated running shoes and want to run fast in a half marathon or marathon race, the Adidas Hyperboost Edge can still be a good choice.

Who is the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe recommended for – and who is it not for?

If you are looking for a versatile, comfortable, fast running shoe that is also suitable for long-distance runs and still feels comfortable on lower-intensity runs, the Hyperboost Edge can be a very good choice, even if you are a beginner runner or if you have a higher body weight or are overweight.
If you are a heavy heel striker or have a pronating, inward-rolling foot posture, the Adidas Hyperboost Edge is not your running shoe. And if you are looking for a cheap running shoe, the Hyperboost Edge may not be the most ideal option either.

What is the difference between the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe and the Adidas Adizero EVO SL, and which one is the better choice?

The Adidas Hyperboost Edge and the Adizero EVO SL are two very different running shoes, yet many people compare them. The real question is not which one is better, but whether the Hyperboost Edge will be as much of a sensation as the EVO SL was when it launched. To me, the answer is clearly yes, it represents a new dimension for Adidas. But why was the Adizero EVO SL such a sensation when it came out? Because Adidas offered a versatile, fast, very lightweight running shoe at a relatively affordable price, one you could even race in. Both shoes are versatile, both can be fast when needed, and neither feels uncomfortably firm at easy paces. The difference is that while the EVO SL is a soft running shoe with weaker stability and high energy return, the Hyperboost Edge is a springier, more stable, faster running shoe with greater cushioning. The main difference is that the Hyperboost is better suited to longer runs, while the EVO SL shines more on faster and somewhat shorter runs. And of course, their prices are also quite different. The Hyperboost Edge is more versatile and works better across a wider range of runs than the EVO SL, but in terms of price/performance the EVO SL is unbeatable for what it offers, so for many runners the Hyperboost Edge’s extra capabilities may not be worth the additional 50€.

Alternatives to the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe – comparison

It is difficult to find a true alternative that is similar to the Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe in most of its parameters. There are very few running shoes with such a tall midsole, such strong energy return and such low weight. If I left out any one of those three characteristics, I could name many alternatives, because there are a lot of less cushioned fast running shoes, just as there are a lot of highly cushioned but less dynamic and lightweight running shoes.

I consider these two shoes to be the real alternatives:

• ASICS Megablast, which is 25 grams lighter, mainly thanks to its thin and breathable upper, but it has a similarly firm, dynamic, moderately soft midsole with the same stack height. Their prices are almost the same as well, with the Megablast being slightly more expensive
• ASICS Superblast 3, which is 15 grams lighter and has a much softer midsole and a more comfortable upper, but its midsole is not quite as stable and is also 1.5 mm taller.

Is there a difference between the men’s and women’s Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe?

According to the official data, the women’s Adidas Hyperboost Edge running shoe has the same midsole height as the men’s version. The women’s Hyperboost Edge running shoe is 31 grams lighter than the men’s version, but that difference may also be partly due to the fact that the women’s Adidas Hyperboost Edge weight is given in EU 39.5, while the men’s version is weighed in EU 43.5, so the size difference may also account for the extra weight.