Details
Brand
Adidas
Heel To Toe Drop
11 mm
Breathability
9/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Trail
Type
Lightweight
Key Features
• Upper has a no-sew mesh design and offers support, breathability and protection• Supportive and responsive midsole• Outsole is tough and durable but also quite flexible• Great price
Upper
The upper on the Adidas Adizero XT 5 is fairly basic, but you’ll find that it more than does the job when out on the trails. It has a single layer mesh upper that provides a high level of breathability for the shoe while also providing a proper fit. The upper is a tad bit narrower on this shoe than it was on its predecessors, so you should be aware of that going in. Since the upper is so simple in relation to the rest of the shoe, it works as a way of keeping the overall cost of the shoe down. When you combine this with all of the other salient features of the Adidas Adizero XT 5, it becomes a no-brainer that this is a great shoe with which to run the trails.
Midsole
There is one small issue with the Adidas Adizero XT 5, and that has to do with the midsole. At the area of the arch, some runners found that it came up a little too high and poked up and into the arch. This can lead to abrasion and aggravation, so you should definitely be made aware of this going in. While not ideal, you can easily remedy this problem by procuring a razor blade and cutting slightly into the arch to even it out and make for a more comfortable ride. This shoe uses marathon racing shoe technology to ensure that you can take it for as long a run as you want and still be satisfied.
Outsole
When you face most outsoles in a running shoe, you’ll have something that’s durable at the expense of being flexible. This just isn’t so with the Adidas Adizero XT 5, which has an outsole that’s made with lugged Traxion technology to ensure a surefooted grip to give you a surefooted run on even the most technical of trails. The outsole is also quite light, making the entirety of the shoe fairly lightweight, meaning that you can easily take it out knowing that it won’t weigh you down.
Breathability
As we looked at earlier the mesh upper on the Adidas Adizero XT 5 is what lends itself to a high degree of breathability. One of the common pitfalls you might run into when being offered a shoe with such breathability is that you open yourself up to the possibility of letting in water and mud while you’re running. Luckily, you won’t be facing that problem as much with the Adidas Adizero XT 5, due to its unique design. You should still be aware that there is a chance that you might be open up to the elements while running.
Comfort
One of the most overlooked yet most important aspects of a good running shoe is the degree of comfort that it offers. It’s easy for a shoe company to make a shoe that’s durable, strong, and even lightweight, but it can be difficult to construct a shoe so comfortable that it almost feels like a second skin to the runner. On that front, the Adidas Adizero XT 5 has a high level of comfort associated with the shoe. With that said, it might be a good idea for you to go up a half size when buying your shoe, as inflammation of the feet can lead to them swelling to a size greater than they normally are.
Style
There’s an aspect of running shoes that often gets ignored at the expense of more “important” features, and that’s style. While it’s common for shoe companies to make shoes that have all of the features that make for a great run, they don’t always put in the time to make a shoe that also looks great. Luckily, Adidas did not make that mistake with the Adidas Adizero XT 5. The shoe offers up a sleek design that almost gives it the appearance of being armored while still maintaining its light weight. The classic three stripes of the Adidas logo are featured in bold colors that contrast the rest of the shoe, ensuring that anyone you pass by will recognize the quality of your shoe.
Durability
One of the great things about Adidas as a shoe company is that they listen to their customers. While the predecessor of the Adidas Adizero XT 5 had plenty of durability to boast on a tough technical run, they’ve further improved the outsole as compared to the original in order to make it far more durable when hitting the trails. Considering just how much the Adidas Adizero XT 5 was meant for going on offroad runs, the overall durability of the shoe is crucial toward having a successful running experience. Thankfully, Adidas recognizes this and, as a result, prioritizes it above other considerations.
Protection
It goes without saying that the ride of a running shoe is paramount to the overall success of the run. Thankfully, the ride on the Adidas Adizero XT 5 is more than adequate, and it offers protection in the form of keeping your feet safe from rocks that you might run over. Considering you’ll probably be using this shoe for trail runs, this is essential toward ensuring that you have a safe run which is free from any and all hazards. There’s a torsion system in place that was specifically designed to reinforce the midsole and give your feet the support they need on a demanding run.
Responsiveness
One of the first things you’ll come to appreciate about the Adidas Adizero XT 5 is just how responsive it is to your movements. Part of this has to do with the lightweight nature of the shoe. When you have a shoe that fits you like a glove and barely feels like a shoe, it’ll be very easy for you to get the kind of run out of it that you’re looking for. Other running shoes will give you a degree of responsiveness, but this usually comes at the cost of protection. With the Adidas Adizero XT 5, this isn’t a problem. You get a responsive ride while also not having to worry about the effects of rocks and other difficult terrains.
Support
The support of the Adidas Adizero XT 5 mostly comes from the outsole, which has been designed to be simultaneously responsive and durable. The midsole does have its issues with comfort, as we stated earlier, but they shouldn’t detract from the running experience in a very significant way, especially if you make slight modifications to improve the functionality of the shoe. The support extends to the upper in the Adidas Adizero XT 5, ensuring that your ankle is supported and safe from the risk of sprains or any more severe maladies. The last thing you should be concerned about while you’re running is the possibility of injuring yourself, and you have that piece of mind with the Adidas Adizero XT 5.
Terrain
As we touched on earlier, the Adidas Adizero XT 5 is more than capable of handling even the roughest terrain, and having to run on uneven ground isn’t going to stop you from having a safe and exciting run. The added benefit here is that the Adidas Adizero XT 5 tends to run like a road shoe once the trail evens out and becomes more straight. With that in mind, it’ll keep you from having to adjust your pace and stride depending on the terrain. No matter whether you’re running on perfectly even road, rocky technical terrain, or just about anywhere in between, Adidas has you covered with the Adidas Adizero XT 5.
Price
When it comes to having a shoe with as many features as the Adidas Adizero XT 5, you’d expect (and rightly so) that the shoe would be fairly expensive. Not only is the running shoe not expensive, though, it’s actually below $100 as of the time of this writing. Keep in mind that not all retailers were created equal. You aren’t going to get the same price with each retailer. The best thing to do, usually, is to go with Amazon. Along with having extensive reviews and recommendations, they also have a system for Amazon Prime members where you can get your order delivered to you within two days. Being the cheapest of the bunch, it’s a no-brainer to buy your Adidas Adizero XT 5 off of Amazon.
Drop
Having a good heel to toe drop on a running shoe is essential to have a clear stride while running. The last thing you want is an awkwardly high drop that will mess with your stride. In that department, the Adidas Adizero XT 5 has a heel to toe drop that sits at right about 10mm. While this isn’t the lowest drop you can find out on the market, it will definitely ensure that you have a comfortable and efficient stride whether you’re running on an even road or an uneven, technical trail. The drop on this shoe is just another reason why it pays to go with Adidas.
Stability
The stability of the Adidas Adizero XT 5 is strong, thanks in large part to the durable yet flexible outsole that the shoe has to offer. It’s also helped by a sturdy midsole, although we’ve already seen that this comes at the expense of comfort. The upper, something you wouldn’t think of as contributing to the stability of the shoe, does just that. It does this by supporting your ankle, one of the most important parts of your foot when you’re running. The ankle takes on much of the stress of a good run, and as a result, it needs to be properly tended to.
Flexibility
The Adidas Adizero XT 5 excels in a lot of things, and one of those things just happens to be in the category of flexibility. There’s a lower stack height this time around, which means that it’s more flexible in the forefoot considering the torsion system doesn’t extend as far forward as previous shoes in this line that Adidas is offering. The reason for this shoe’s ability to handle the toughest of terrain is, in fact, the flexibility. Think of this shoe as you would a good set of suspension on a car. The shoe reacts to even the toughest of terrain and reacts in a way that allows the shoe to respond to the environment instead of being a hapless victim to it.
Traction
All the features in the world won’t matter if your shoe doesn’t have enough traction to keep you vertical as you run. Falling over and wiping out on a run, especially a competitive one, is a nightmare for runners the world over. Luckily, the Adidas Adizero XT 5 doesn’t have any issues with stability, and this shoe can handle even the wettest of rocky terrains without posing a fall risk. Technical terrain is definitely no problem with this shoe, and it can even handle the roughest of hardpack surfaces too.
Bottom Line
If you need a shoe that can only handle one or two types of terrain, you’re going to need to look elsewhere. If, however, you’re looking for a shoe that performs just as well on the tough technical trails as it does on the road, then the Adidas Adizero XT 5 is the running shoe for you. Designed with a proprietary no-sew mesh upper, a supportive and flexible midsole, and an outsole that will keep you grounded no matter what surface you’re running on, the Adidas Adizero XT 5 truly is the jack of all trades. While there are some concerns with the stiffness of the shoe as well as discomfort with the midsole, the shoe can be broken in and modified to ameliorate those problems. At a very reasonable price point of less than $100 as of this writing, you can’t go wrong with the Adidas Adizero XT 5.
