Details
Brand
Adidas
Heel To Toe Drop
11mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Supernova Riot 6 GTX
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Breathable upper keeps your feet cool and dry• Adiwear is a durable and nonmarking rubber material that gives superior protection• Traxion is the outsole cleat design, offering excellent traction for varying surfaces, wet or dry• Quality synthetic overlays keep the foot locked in place• Adiprene technology is a high-quality midsole material that provides overall comfort and some impact protection• Pro-Moderator prevents overpronating• Formotion allows the shoe to adapt to the ground ensuring a comfortable, smooth run• My coach compatible
Upper
The upper is breathable and suitable for any weather. Constructed with a durable Gore-tex material, the upper is waterproof but also allows air to flow through the shoe to cool the foot. This shoe features a quick lacing system with an elastic portion closer to the toe box to tuck the access lacing portion into. The quick lacing system does an effective job of locking the foot in from heel to toe, giving the shoe a secure fit. The synthetic portion of the upper has additional material on the end of the toe box, further increasing the durability of the shoe.
Midsole
The midsole of this shoe has lots of cushioning for varying foot strikes. With 23mm stack height and the midsole made of a combination of EVA and Adiprene materials, this shoe will provide solid comfort run after run. The midsole also features the Pro-Moderator. This is basically a molded plastic piece that keeps the feet from overpronating as well as supports the arch and provides additional stability. Underneath the also removable insole, there is a place to put the “My Coach” accessory, which will help you track your runs (sold separately). Independent heel cushioning helps protect your foot against impact. The insole itself is very comfortable and is effective at supporting the arch. This cushion makes the shoe ideal for runners that are new to the trails or for people who need the support and cushioning for tackling ultramarathon distance on the trails.
Outsole
Is there somewhere you want to go? This outsole will take you there! Adidas’ Supernova Riot has some impressive features. The lugs have a lot of variation and sharp edges that allow you to dig in. The tough rubber outsole is produced by a tire company and is built for durability. It is slightly sticky so it can also grip wet, smooth surfaces. The shoe also provides protection near around the outsole and the toe box, in order to protect your feet from rocks, sticks and other trail debris. Despite the large treads, the shoe doesn’t show much wear, even after extended use. However, the large cleat like lugs doesn’t make this a good road to trail shoe.
Breathability
Despite being a Gore-tex shoe, this shoe features a highly breathable mesh upper. Many runners raved about how breathable the shoe is, while also being durable and effective at keeping out trail debris. This is a great all season shoe. Pair it with light socks in the summer or layer up with heavier socks in the colder seasons. Gore-tex is great at keeping your feet dry and cool while protecting your feet from the elements.
Comfort
Not only does this version of the model with Gore-Tex have lots of cushioning, it has extra cushion in the heel. The Adiprene and EVA in the midsole work together to provide a smooth comfortable ride. The Adiprene material is also quite durable, so the cushion won’t wear out even after extended use. The amount of cushion is a little more on the firmer side, but it provides a great supportive feeling. The removable insole also provides good arch support.
Style
This shoe comes in 2 color variations for men and 2 color variations for men. Because the Gore-tex material is black for all colorful variations, it incorporates it as the mesh color. For men, they come in a black mesh/black overlay and black mesh/brown overlay and for women, black/black or black/purple. I personally really like the black/purple variation, the purple is dark and it lends the shoe a classy, rugged feeling. Despite the considerable stack height, the shoe doesn’t look bulky at all.
Durability
These are really built well. It has many durable features that have been incorporated from the ground up. Starting with the Rubber outsole from Continental. This outsole will last many miles. The midsole was designed with not only EVA material but also Adiprene which makes the midsole very durability. Even after extended use, the midsole will continue to provide support. The upper is made with a sturdy mesh that keeps out debris. The securing overlays are stitched and lock down the foot. Overall, they are built to go the distance.
Protection
This shoe offers great protection throughout, not only in the specific performance features of the shoe but also because it offers such great traction over different surfaces. The durable outsole protects from anything underfoot and the considerable stack height helps put some distance between you and the ground. The upper is durable and protects the foot from rocks or other trail debris. There is also additional overlay material around the toe to protect toes from anything you might stumble over on the trail. The waterproof upper also guards against unwanted moisture getting in the shoe, which helps protect your foot from blisters.
Responsiveness
The Riot 5 GTX is a stiffer shoe. The shoe is pretty heavy, because of its construction, making the shoe not very responsive. However, the firm cushioning does help make the shoe more responsive. The lack of ground contact can be a great feature when tackling gnarly trails.
Support
This shoe has great support throughout the foot and is built for any stride type. There is an extra bit of plastic under the sole which supports the arch and is helpful for overpronators. The overlay keeps your foot secure and in place, so you don’t have to worry about your foot shifting throughout a run. The removable insert offers additional support but can be replaced with another insole if necessary. The heel section has its own cushioning which helps protect against the shock of the impact if you overextend your stride or tend to land on your heel. Overall, the features of this shoe provide good support.
Terrain
While the rubber outsole is designed with a rugged trail in mind, it is soft and versatile enough that it won’t give you any pressure points on harder grounds. That being said, this is not a road to trail shoe. The cleat like outsole and the larger protruding lugs are better for trail surfaces. This shoe would also be ideal for trails with deep mud and soft ground.
Price
This shoe retails at $110 USD, which is a reasonable price given all of the features of this shoe and the quality of the materials it’s built with. Although some people might find this price a little high, this shoe will give you lots of good miles throughout its life.
Drop
This shoe has a drop of 11mm which works great as a stability shoe. The additional cushioning in the heel, inherent with a drop of this size is good for anyone who tends to land on their heel and needs a little extra push.
Stability
This shoe works well as a light stability shoe. This shoe has the right amount of cushion, as well as the plastic under the sole that prevents the foot from rolling and pronating. The 11mm drop is great for runners looking for cushion and stability. The aggressive outsole provides good grip to the trail and in turn, providing a stable ride on multiple surfaces. The upper also does an excellent job of locking the foot in and with the quick lace system, you can tighten it quickly whenever you feel like you need a little more control.
Flexibility
Some runners found this shoe to be excessively rigid, but given the amount of cushion and the different support features, I think it’s designed as a good neutral or lightweight stability shoe. The lack of flexibility on the trail also makes it ideal for runners without a lot of foot strength or for those longer training runs where foot fatigue might be an issue. This shoe provides a consistent ride no matter what’s underfoot.
Traction
The aggressive Traxion outsole combined with the Continental rubber means that you can get traction on any trail surface. The cleat like lugs work to dig into a soft trail and the combination of softer, slightly sticky rubber, along with harder rubber make it great for different types of trail surfaces. Although this shoe can do a bit of road, it is not recommended. A road shoe with different traction features would do much better.
Bottom Line
The Riot 5 is a great shoe that would be a great pick as a training shoe for any trail runner. The stability features are great for someone that’s new to the trail or for an ultra runner who needs something for those long slow distance runs and is worried about foot fatigue. While certainly not built for the road, this shoe can tackle tough uneven terrains and the outsole is durable and long-lasting. Adidas did a great job of incorporating many great features into a well designed, sleek looking shoe. This shoe could also be used for fast packing or even as an alternative to a traditional hiking boot.
