Earlier
this year was Boost’s first anniversary, and Adidas followed the original shoe
up with its successor – the Adidas Energy Boost 2.0. The midsole and outsole
unit is unchanged, carried over from last year’s model, and the upper features
some tweaks while retaining the overall feel of the original Energy Boost.
Running in
the Energy Boost 2 is a revelation of sorts. For years, footwear industry
veterans have struggled to find the perfect balance between soft and responsive
cushioning. Most of the time, results would lean in favor of one attribute,
with the shoe feeling either too soft and outright firm. The unique cushioning
property of Boost seems to have solved that conundrum.
It feels noticeably soft at
slow speeds, yet it is underscored by an overbearing springy sensation. Pick up
pace, and the ride comes through as responsive without any ’sink-in’ delay.
What’s also impressive is the smooth weight transfer and loading – the midsole
of the Energy Boost 2 is a singular, near heel-to-toe unit of Infinergy foam.
The consequence of which is a uniform and consistent cushioning feel from rear
to front. The outsole also sits low and flat with a ‘lip’ extending beneath the
heel, so that also helps in better first contact with the running surface. Ground
feel or feedback is slightly isolated
There’s also a small circular
cutout in the rear foot, just below the heel. This dials up the cushioning
level in that area. The transparent film (under the sockliner) in the forefoot
is thinner than in the back, allowing the front to feel more cushioning and
flexibility.
The sockliner is a contoured,
drop-in piece of foamy softness. The shape flares upwards beneath the arch,
helping support it, and has a friction free top cloth. Lift the left insole,
and there’s a MiCoach cavity, where there’s space to pop in the transmitter
foot-pod.the shoe is available only at US Retail: $ 160.
The
Boost platform has been marketed as a ‘game changer’ by Adidas, and for once,
it is indeed so. The new technology magically delivers a perfect balance of
softness and responsiveness, and is highly resistant to bottoming out – if that
is not footwear utopia.
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