Details
Brand
Adidas
Heel To Toe Drop
10mm
Breathability
7.9/10
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• High comfort level• Affordable price point• Exceptional durability• Versatility• Flexibility• SuperCloud cushioning• Air Mesh upper breathability
Upper
The upper on a running shoe, especially a roadrunner, needs to be as breathable as possible while still protecting you from the elements. When you consider that the Adidas Element Athletic has exceptional traction, you don’t want a faulty upper to let water in if you decide to run in the rain. Adidas made use of Air Mesh in the design of this shoe. They tend to use that design in most of their running shoes. There’s a seamless connection to the midsole and outsole, with the classic Adidas three-striped logo bringing it all together.
Midsole
The midsole of the Adidas Element Athletic makes use of some advanced technologies and design choices to make the running experience as comfortable and responsive as possible. To that end, this shoe makes use of what’s known as SuperCloud, which is basically a type of EVA foam that’s especially lightweight while still affording you as much cushioning as possible. This technology takes over the entirety of the midsole, meaning you won’t have any areas of the shoe where the cushioning is lacking.
Outsole
The chief concern in a roadrunner is the quality of its outsole. On that front, the Adidas Element Athletic boasts a proprietary StretchWeb design with an elastic rubber that also utilizes a carbon configuration in order to make the shoe that much more durable. The shoe’s outsole is also outfitted with a number of flex grooves in order to afford this tough and durable shoe an added layer of flexibility. It’s not often you find a shoe with as thick of an outsole that can simultaneously remain flexible, but Adidas Element Athletic accomplishes this task.
Breathability
As we’ve touched on briefly in our section on this shoe’s upper, the breathability on the Adidas Element Athletic is quite exceptional. This is thanks mostly to the Air Mesh technology that was utilized in the construction, allowing the maximum amount of air to get in without simultaneously letting in the elements. It’s quite difficult for many shoe companies to get this important detail right, but Adidas manages to do it, proving that they’re one of the premier makers of shoes today.
Comfort
One of the biggest constants we’ve heard when it comes from people who have bought and worn this shoe is that it’s quite comfortable, thanks to the SuperCloud technology that’s been incorporated into the midsole. On top of this, it doesn’t add too much in the way of weight. Just because you can have one doesn’t mean you can’t have the other, and the Adidas Element Athletic is perfect proof of that.
Style
In contrast to some of the other offerings that Adidas has put out there into the running world, the Adidas Element Athletic is fairly conservative as far as running shoes go. The standard edition is a solid black, even including the distinct three-lined logo. It’s then contrasted by an all-white outsole that really makes the shoe pop. So this might not be the most ostentatiously colored shoe, but it will definitely still draw attention to itself while you’re running.
Durability
As you’d expect, the durability on the Adidas Element Athletic really comes from its outsole. The shoe uses a very durable carbon rubber that really enhances the durability of the product. This durability also extends to the inside of the shoe, with an overlay that’s very similar to leather to keep the forefoot, midfoot, and heel all cushioned and secure. This means that both the interior and the exterior of the shoe are exceptionally durable.
Protection
As you’d expect from how much we’ve covered the durability of the outsole, the Adidas Element Athletic is just as protective as it is durable. Its outsole is thick enough where it will protect you from much of the impact that you’ll experience while running. On top of that, you have a midsole that’s exceptionally cushioned, which not only keeps your foot more comfortable but also protects you from the bumps and impact of the road.
Responsiveness
For a shoe with as durable and thick an outsole as what the Adidas Element Athletic has, you’d be surprised by just how responsive the shoe is. Its outsole specifically makes use of flex grooves in the outsole, which provides plenty of flexibility while at the same time allowing the shoe to respond appropriately to the movements of your feet. The midsole has been noted as being quite responsive as well.
Support
The arch support on the Adidas Element Athletic has been specifically designed to accommodate neutral runners. This means that the shoe will work for the vast majority of runners out there. If you suffer from severe overpronation, however, you might want to consider another shoe, as this one might not have the sort of arch support that you need.
Terrain
The Adidas Element Athletic was built exclusively for road running, and it’s really no wonder that this is the case when you take a look at the very substantial outsole that the shoe makes use of. When you’re running on a paved surface, so much of the shoe’s purpose is about standing up to the wear and tear that’s going to be occurring as you run. It would be very easy for a running shoe company to cut back on the amount of rubber that they use for their outsole in order to make the shoe lighter, but then the durability would suffer. The Adidas Element Athletic doesn’t suffer from this problem.
Price
In terms of price, you’d probably expect the Adidas Element Athletic to be somewhat pricey, considering just how feature-rich it is. However, you’d probably be surprised to find that the shoe was as low as $50. This definitely is a steal when it comes to a solid running shoe.
Drop
The Adidas Element Athletic’s drop is 10mm for both the men’s and women’s version of the shoe. This is a standard drop for running shoes. A 10mm drop means that there is more cushioning in the heel, making this shoe good for heel strikers.
Stability
The Adidas Element Athletic is fairly stable, as you might expect from its neutral arch support and level outsole the provides a stable base from which you can run. There are flex grooves, but they all remain relatively flush with the rest of the shoe, allowing you to get a stable run. However, this is not a stability shoe. Runners who are seeking motion control would be wise to look elsewhere.
Flexibility
As we’ve covered a bit earlier, the Adidas Element Athletic definitely benefits from the flex grooves that Adidas designed directly onto the bottom of the outsole. In this way, they’ve been able to achieve maximum flexibility despite the otherwise tough rigidity of the shoe. It responds well to the movements of your feet. This isn’t something that you’d find to be the case with just any running shoe, but the Adidas Element Athletic accomplishes this well.
Traction
With an outsole as thick and durable as what you’ll find in the Adidas Element Athletic, it should come as no surprise that the traction is impressive, especially when it comes to handling wet surfaces. To this end, this running shoe makes use of flex grooves on the outsole that helps you hug the road. While remaining flexible for use on the road, they also make contact with the ground in a way that will ensure that you don’t lose control on a run.
Bottom Line
The bottom line on the Adidas Element Athletic is that it’s an exceptionally stable shoe that has plenty of flexibility and cushioning to ensure that you’ll have a comfortable run. Its responsiveness is impeccable, and it has a neutral arch support to better benefit the vast majority of runners. However, it might not be the best option for overpronators. On top of all of this, the shoe is cheaper than the majority of running shoes out there, so you really can’t go wrong with it.
