Details
Brand
Adidas
Heel To Toe Drop
12mm
Breathability
6.7/10
Latest Version
Response Boost 3
Terrain
Road
Type
Cushioning
Key Features
• Adidas Response Boost• Boost technology midsole that is well cushioned and responsive.• Soft outsole that adds to the overall responsiveness and flexibility of the shoe.• Synthetic and techfit upper is engineered for natural, flexible support and a seamless, sock-like fit• Partial EVA midsole for lightweight cushioning
Upper
A stretchable mesh with synthetic overlays combines to create the upper used on the Response Boost. The upper falls short in many categories, the first being look. Some runners complained that the upper looked cheap, which was a big turnoff. Indeed, Adidas appeared to cut a few corners on their upper design with odd screen printing and less than ideal stitching. Due to the midsole being pushed up and into the upper a bit, the upper has an odd fit overall. It’s very snug and leaves little room in the toe box. The tongue isn’t attached to the upper, the stitching once again looks poor, and it’s not well-padded.
Midsole
The midsole uses Adidas’ Boost technology, which is “Expanded TPU Infinergy foam made by BASF.” Basically, is an extremely light foam that feels soft and almost rubbery underneath your foot. Along with the Boost technology, there is standard EVA foam in the midfoot bridge and rim. The midsole is very soft and springy underneath your foot. The backend of the midsole is raised, thus giving runners a bit of a wonky fit in the heel. That wonky feel continues in the forefoot as the footbed sits slightly above the midsole instead of flush with it. That means there is less room to move in the toebox. The Boost midsole is one of Adidas’ greatest accomplishments, and they are wise to use this technology in any and every shoe they manufacture. However, weird construction takes away from the overall feel of the midsole.
Outsole
The outsole is made of Adi-wear rubber, which is an extremely soft rubber that adds to the overall compression of the shoe. The outsole extends into the toe box, which helps with the traction and protection during the toe off. The outsole has an extremely unique design that almost looks like a bike chain on the bottom of your foot. The whole forefoot has flex point after flex point, and the one track style of the outsole is a nice guidance line that keeps your foot on track during your run. The one complaint about the outsole is that it is a bit too soft and thus less durable.
Breathability
One look at the Response Boost and you can see that there isn’t much breathability. There aren’t many inlets in the upper, which is stitched tightly together. And when you wear the shoes, your suspicions will be confirmed. Your foot will be on the warm side if you run in these shoes for too long. There isn’t much breathability or air intake flowing through the upper. It makes for an overall disappointing upper that could have been so much more if Adidas just put a little more craftsmanship into it.
Comfort
Inside the shoe sits a 6mm thick footbed that adds to the cushion and the comfort of the shoe. However, that footbed presses the upper part of your foot and your toes into the upper of the shoe. This can make for an uncomfortable fit unless you go at least a half size up. Furthermore, the midfoot is a bit tight and constrictive, which adds to the need to go a half size up. While the shoe might feel tight if you stay on size, the actual comfort when you’re running is second to none thanks to the cushioning in the midsole. Both the heel and forefoot are very soft and spongey underneath your foot. You can run for hours in these shoes and not feel a thing.
Style
Despite the poor looking upper, I like the look of the Response Boost. It’s not so busy and looks more new age than a lot of running shoes that just throw colors and designs at you. The downside is that the shoes have been discontinued by Adidas, thus your style options are limited. Through Amazon, the only color available is white with a blue trim. It doesn’t look bad, but having only one option can be frustrating. Especially if you don’t like that option. The poor stitching, non-flat midsole to upper, and odd looking tongue hurt the overall style of the shoe as well.
Durability
Due to Adidas opting to use a soft rubber Adi-wear rubber, the durability of the outsole is pretty limited. There is no carbon rubber used in high wear areas, which typically happens on shoes that use softer rubber for the majority of the outsole. The shoes are designed for long runs, but you won’t get as many long runs out of them as you may hope. The poor stitching in the upper also hurts the durability as it’s more prone to falling apart quicker. These shoes aren’t meant to be worn for every day use. If you do so, just know that you’ll be hurting the durability even more.
Protection
The protection on the shoes could be better. The upper provides decent protection as the mesh, which is marketed as being stretchable, actually doesn’t move all that much. However, due to the softness of the midsole and outsole, the bottom of your foot could stand to gain a little more protection. With no carbon rubber in the high wear areas, it doesn’t feel like your foot is getting adequate protection in the heel and toe. That said, the collar of the shoe keeps your ankle in place and prevent from twisting and rolling, which is positive towards the overall protection.
Responsiveness
This is where the shoe shines. With the Boost technology in the midsole, Adidas has one of the most responsive midsoles you’re going to find on the market. The soft outsole only adds to the overall responsiveness. The shoe feels light and spongey underneath your foot. You’re going to feel it “breath in” and “breath out” as you run. The upper could stand to be a bit more responsive, especially since it’s supposed to stretch more than it actually does. The lack of responsiveness in the upper shouldn’t take away from just how good the responsiveness of the midsole and outsole. When Adidas uses their Boost technology in any shoe, you know you’re getting something with a supreme response.
Support
The Response Boost is great for arch support in the upper, but could be improved in the sole. Due to the raised heel on the midsole, the support is a bit wonky overall. It feels like the shoe would offer better arch support if the heel was flat with the ground and the midfoot was slightly raised instead of the heel. But Adidas made the decision that they did, and thus the overall support slightly suffers. Some runners did rave about the insole, which they said goes a long way in helping with the support.
Terrain
The shoe performs exceptionally well on the road. The design of the outsole is well done and the overall grip is strong. Adidas says that they can be used on all surfaces, except for the trail. With the way the outsole is designed with chain-like features, the shoe performs well on multiple surfaces.
Price
Depending on your size, the shoe ranges from $80 to $120 on Amazon. This is a bit much given that there is an update to the shoe that’s out there for cheaper. Some runners have been able to find them much cheaper on eBay or at their local runner’s shop that has leftover inventory. If you can find them for around $60 or less, they are worth the investment, but anything more is a bit too much given the alternatives.
Drop
The drop is 11.8 mm. Some runners have said that the drop feels less steep than advertised, which is a good thing since the drop is slightly above the average running shoe. The raised heel certainly contributes to the odd drop number. The 11.8 mm certainly hurts the midfoot arch support, which isn’t very good, but the insole helps. If you take out the insole, things become really bad.
Stability
Runners have raved about the rear stability of the Response Boost. The heel of the shoe grips your foot really well and keeps it in place throughout your run. While the heel stability is good, the forefoot stability is just as strong. This is largely thanks to how tight the toe box is. The design of the outsole and the guidance line adds to the stability as it keeps your foot on the right path.
Flexibility
Due to the soft materials used in the midsole and outsole, the Response Boost is a very flexible shoe. The outsole points throughout the forefoot. Where the flexibility lacks is in the upper, which is stiffer than runners would like. Despite this, the Response Boost has been touted as the most flexible Boost variation that Adidas has put out. That’s high praise of the outsole.
Traction
If the responsiveness is the best thing about the shoe, the traction is the second best. The outsole has excellent grip on a multitude of surfaces and ensures that you won’t slip and slide as you run. Since the outsole uses such soft rubber, it digs into the surface nicely. While the durability is sacrificed for this grip, at least something good comes out of the soft rubber besides the responsiveness.
Bottom Line
The Response Boost is a mixed bag as a shoe. The Boost technology used in the midsole is outstanding and Adidas should be praised for their efforts. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more responsive and cushioned technology on the market. The shoe is comfortable, as long as you go a half size up, and your feet will feel great after long runs. On the downside, the construction of the upper is a bit iffy, there isn’t much support in the midfoot, the durability is lacking, and it’s not a breathable shoe. If you can find them cheap, they are worth it because they do perform well.
