Details
Brand
Adidas
Heel To Toe Drop
10 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Stability
Key Features
• Continental brand rubber outsole for traction• ADIWEAR rubber outsole material for enhanced protection against wear and tear• Stretchweb covers the outsole for better flexibility• Boost cushioning is topped with EVA foam for excellent protection from impact and energy-return• Suede and air mesh upper for a supportive accommodating fit• Toe bumper to keep forefoot from getting hurt• Thin tongue• Stiff heel counter at the rear for extra support and stability• Microfit upper technology• Torsion System improves stability• Reflective features at the back of the shoe for added visibility
Upper
The upper hasn’t been changed too much since the last version of the Adidas Adizero Tempo. A faux-leather air mesh upper is breathable but the suede material also provides some well-needed flexibility. It also happens to look super attractive, too. The upper utilizes Microfit technology to keep the foot locked in. A toe bumper protects the front of the foot and flat laces allow the user to customize their shoe fit. A thinner tongue is one of the only changes to the upper and reflective components appear at the back of the shoe.
Midsole
The midsole of the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is made up of Boost cushioning. Fans of the stuff love to rave about it and there’s a reason for that. It’s comfortable and provides plenty of energy-return (hence the name ‘ Boost ‘). The midsole also features a top-layer of EVA material so there’s plenty of impact protection for wearers who want to run longer than a 5K. The shoe also features a Torsion System present in the midfoot area. What this does is it helps to prevent overpronation. It adds a bit of supportive stiffness to the shoe and helps ensure the foot and the shoe move together. The result is a natural ride feel that provides an impressive amount of neutral stability. At the back of the shoe, a rigid heel counter provides additional support. What’s different since the last version? The cushioning is a bit softer but still firm enough to provide support. The portion of the midsole called the Stableframe layer is no longer and instead, there’s a midsole component called the Energized Stability layer. You guessed it, it helps promote a stable ride.
Outsole
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 features a Continental brand rubber outsole for excellent traction. The outsole also features ADIWEAR covered areas for increased durability. A StretchWeb covering is also featured in the outsole for added flexibility. The result? A super durable, flexible, and grippy outsole no matter what conditions you’re running in.
Breathability
Even though the upper of the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is covered partially with suede, the rest of it is still constructed of breathable air mesh. Reviewers agreed that the shoe felt breathable. The suede material doesn’t diminish the shoe’s ability to circulate air. There’s enough mesh to let air ventilate so the foot doesn’t warm up uncomfortably.
Comfort
Overall, Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is a comfortable shoe. The softer cushioning in this version helps improve the ride feel a bit (footfalls feel slightly less hard). The snug fit doesn’t just enhance stability, it ensures there’s no uncomfortable sliding around in the shoe. There’s enough cushioning in the midsole to pad runs of most distances and the toe box has plenty of room. Some reviewers were disappointed that no wide width option was available and other complained that the shoe fits a half size small. Sizing up is likely required for most. But, the majority of reviewers found the shoe comfortable to wear thanks to the great fit, breathable upper, and adequate midsole cushion.
Style
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is a well-designed shoe not just functionally but aesthetically, too. The upper design’s retro look is helped by the addition of quality suede materials. The result is a solid looking shoe that has a premium appearance. The Adidas branding is subtle and works well in terms of the overall design. There aren’t a huge amount of color choices but the ones available are nice looking. The colors used work well together and fit with the current trends. The men’s version comes in an attractive light blue version that’s accented with grey. For women, a dark purple coloring is accented by some pops of dark pink. The dark purple is a really great choice for the suede material.
Durability
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is super durable and reviewers agree. The outsole provides long-lasting traction thanks to the ADIWEAR rubber that’s utilized. When it comes to the upper, it’s made of strong materials to last throughout training. The suede is tough and won’t tear easily and it helps to reinforce the rest of the upper. The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 should last well into training.
Protection
How does the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 protect runners? It provides protection from wear and tear, wet surfaces, impact, and low light conditions. The ADIWEAR outsole material helps ensure the outsole doesn’t break down easily or start peeling off. The upper’s suede material is tough enough to resist tearing. The shoe’s Continental brand outsole keeps wearers from feeling unsteady when running in the rain. The forefoot’s toe bumper protects the forefoot from trauma and the midsole Boost cushioning doesn’t just deliver energy-return it also ensures runners don’t suffer the consequences of repeated impact forces as they train.
Responsiveness
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 features a responsive design in big part because of the inclusion of a dual-layered midsole construction with Boost cushioning and an EVA top layer. Reviewers liked the responsive feel of the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9. The Boost cushioning delivers plenty of energy-return. In this version, the cushioning is a bit less rigid but still provides plenty of bounce.
Support
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is quite supportive. The Boost and EVA midsole cradle the wearer’s foot inside a supportive base. The upper, thanks to overlays made of resistant suede, help encase the wearer’s foot inside the shoe, eliminating any unwanted additional movement. The roomier upper fit doesn’t compromise the supportive feel of the shoe and even with the removal of the Stableframe midsole technology, the shoe feels solid. A slight weight increase may explain this as well as the Microfit upper technology.
Terrain
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is made for road running. It’s hard to believe you’d want to get this shoe dirty by running in mud. Suede isn’t exactly something you want to run through wet trails with. It’ll hold up, but it won’t look pretty. While the Continental brand outsole is tough enough to handle lots of mileage, it’s not appropriate for technical trails and that’s fine. This isn’t marketed as a trail shoe so stick to the pavement. The outsole is still plenty capable of handling inclement weather, though. The Continental brand rubber is high quality and is able to grip dry pavement and wet roads equally well.
Price
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is pricier than your average neutral running shoe but reviewers were pleased with the shoe they got for how much they paid. The shoe is highly durable which adds value right off the bat. The Boost cushioning is super comfortable and the excellent support and stability provided by the Torsion System and Energized Stability technology make for a nice ride feel. All in all, the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is a great buy and the shoe looks fantastic, too, so there’s no reason not to wear them long after they’ve been retired from training.
Drop
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 features an average drop of 10mm. No difference since the last version. The drop caters more to a heelstrike than a forefoot or midfoot strike but the heel isn’t so built up that runners feel uncomfortably forced to land on their heels. The shoe’s design is balanced enough to suit all kinds of runners and the construction of the shoe does ensure whatever kind of transition occurs feels natural and smooth.
Stability
There’s plenty of stability for the mild overpronator in the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9. Even though the Stableframe layer of the shoe has been removed, Adidas has replaced it with the Energized Stability component. Obviously, it provides stability. The rigid heel counter at the back of the shoe also helps with ensuring a stable ride. It keeps the foot stuck in place. As does the secure fitting upper. Microfit construction makes for a super snug fit and reviewers liked that they felt zero slippage when running in the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9.
Flexibility
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 provides a nice amount of flexibility for wearers. Sure, the midsole is fairly stiff but this version’s cushioning is a slight bit softer which helps with overall flexibility. The Stretchweb material that covers the outsole also helps promote a flexible ride. The suede material that covers part of the upper, believe it or not, also gives a bit of malleability to that part of the shoe. The Torsion System provides structural support but also ensures the shoe moves appropriately with the foot.
Traction
The Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 provides plenty of grip for the rider thanks to the shoe’s Continental brand sole. The sole is able to handle wet and dry conditions without a hitch. Gripping underfoot is no trouble for the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9. Reviewers added that the excellent grip ensured they got a stable and secure ride.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 is a great update. The new midsole delivers exceptional energy-return, the improved outsole delivers outstanding traction and protection from excess wear. The cushioning feels great underfoot and reviewers loved that the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9 felt just as comfortable as previous versions. The slight weight increase is barely noticeable and even without the Stableframe layer, the shoe feels just as supportive as before thanks to the Energized stability technology. A lack of color choices may disappoint some picky runners who prefer to match their shoes to their outfits, but there’s really little else to pick on when it comes to the Adidas Adizero Tempo 9.
