Adidas Ultraboost 5X Review: A Pleasant Surprise

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Adidas Ultraboost 5X

ROBBE: Year after year, model after model, Adidas throws the same pitch for the Ultraboost: New and improved! More energy return! The best version of the Ultraboost yet! I get it, they need to sell shoes and the Ultraboost is a big one on the balance sheet. But year after year, the reality of the Ultraboost is that it’s a lifestyle shoe that can work as a running shoe, but only if you’re a Lego collector. Because you really have to like bricks.

In the past, this shoe has been heavy. Like, Meatloaf-in-Megadeth kind of heavy. The Boost midsole, the overbuilt upper, the thick rubber outsole– it all was nice and comfortable for walking, but when it came to running, it was about the worst option you could reach for. I wouldn’t know this, because I have never run in the shoe. But Thomas has tried every version in the past six years, and I heard his complaints loud and clear.

Then there was the naming conventions, named after years (i.e. Ultraboost 19 (2019), Ultraboost 20 (2020)), another named Ultraboost PB (unnecessary), and now a somewhat normal naming convention for the fifth version of the shoe. Oh wait, there’s more to be confused about– there’s the Ultraboost 5 and the Ultraboost 5X, the former has a lace cage, the latter does not.

Anyway, I had little interest in trying this shoe. I have plenty of running shoes and really didn’t really need to run in a brick for three miles and then say “nah, no more” before relegating it to the donation bin. But I told Adidas I’d try it. So I did, just so I could confirm that this shoe still sucked. And I was wrong.

Before we get into all that, let’s quickly cover the details of the shoe. This newest version features a soft Primeknit upper made with a mono-yarn knit construction. In the midsole, we get a Light Boost with a much higher stack height and 2% more energy return (according to Adidas). In the heel, there’s a molded support piece to give some structure and stability, while a torsion system underfoot seeks to provide a seamless transition through the stride. Then there’s the Continental rubber outsole, which is always solid and reliable.

Now let’s talk about running.

What we like about the Adidas Ultraboost 5X

ROBBE: Upon lacing up this shoe, I immediately realized that if all else fails, at least I failed in comfort. The sock-style upper is soft and stretchy and extremely comfortable. The lockdown is good and the midfoot feels snug and secure. The heel stays in place thanks to the external heel support and in spite of the flared out heel collar, which I actually really appreciated. No rubbing of the Achilles in this shoe. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more comfortable upper in a running or lifestyle shoe.

As I said, on the run, I was fully prepared for this to be a brick. So I was surprised to find that it felt somewhat light underfoot, or at least in the same range as most daily trainers. It didn’t feel bricky or blocky, but was actually pretty smooth through the stride. The high stack of foam provided a lot of comfort for running, and surely for walking. It isn’t the most exciting shoe, but it feels very much like a max cushion trainer without being too soft. It has a very smooth ride thanks to the perfectly fitting upper and Torsion control that provides a steady transition through the stride.

Back to the weight– compared to previous versions, this thing is a feather. At 9.7 ounces it’s actually in the lighter range of daily trainers, coming under other shoes in its category like the Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 and Saucony Triumph 22.

I took this on a handful of runs in the 5-7 mile range and found myself reaching for it even after I was done with my 20 miles of testing. It was just a nice shoe to run in, especially for those daily filler miles. I did pick up the pace a few times during strides at the end of my runs, and it got to where it needed to go. I wouldn’t recommend doing speed workouts in the shoe, but if you want to go a little bit faster for shorter distances, it’s not the worst shoe in the world for those purposes.

The always reliable Continental rubber on the outsole is nice and grippy, even if it’s not full coverage.

One of my favorite category of shoes is a travel shoe– something that can look good in any situation, whether that’s a work meeting, a golf course outing, a walk through the city, or a 5-mile run. This is one of those shoes that’s perfect for that, which makes the $180 price point more palatable. 

Yes, this is a $180 daily trainer/lifestyle shoe, but keep in mind that the price hasn’t changed in the last half decade, despite the absurd inflationary increases in footwear and the significant improvements in the shoe’s performance. That’s something to be appreciative of.

What we don’t like about the Adidas Ultraboost 5X

ROBBE: My biggest gripe with this shoe is the sweater weather vibes of the upper. The Primeknit is very warm to the point of being hot, so if it’s still summer where you are, then expect your shoes to be soaked with sweat after an hour. Of course, I wore these in 85F-degree weather with 90% humidity, which has to be the absolute worst testing range for almost any shoe. But it’s significantly warmer than almost any other running shoe out there. Come winter though, this thing will be your best friend. I’m also not sure I’d want to change this, because it is extremely comfortable in any other situation. Just feel like I should point it out for the sake of all my Floridians out there.

I already mentioned the inconsistent naming conventions of the Ultraboost, and I’m not sure whose pet project it is to keep producing versions with or without a lace cage, but can we just stop? There is no need for both an Ultraboost 5 and 5X. Just make one shoe and let it be good for all. If it fits, it fits, if he dies, he dies. Maybe they did only make one shoe, because right now, the only version for sale on adidas.com is the Ultraboost 5X.

I’m surprised to find that these are the only bad things about the shoe. I thought I’d have way more to write, but I’m glad I don’t.

Final thoughts on the Adidas Ultraboost 5X

ROBBE: Would I go out and buy this if I had only had the budget for one running shoe? If we’re talking purely performance, for $180 I’d probably go with something else (like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 or Puma Deviate Nitro 3) or level up to the Hoka Mach X 2 or Asics Superblast 2. But I also don’t think you’d be disappointed if you sprung for this. I especially think you’ll love this shoe if you are looking for that shoe that covers both running and lifestyle, something that can go with you anywhere. In that category, it’s probably one of the best shoes you can buy, quite possibly the best.

Speaking of buying, you can pick up the Adidas Ultraboost 5X for $180 by using the buttons below.