Adidas Swift Run Primeknit

By StripeFit Editorial TeamFirst published May 14, 2018Updated August 31, 2026

Affiliate disclosure: StripeFit may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This does not change the price you pay.

Adidas

N/A

10/10

Yes

Road

Neutral

Key Features

• Lightweight and breathable upper made from Primeknit fabric
• Highly compressed and stable EVA foam used in the midsole
• Hard rubber outsole with grooves placed horizontally and vertically
• Unknown weight and heel drop
• Extremely flexible and responsive ride due to lighter weight
• Meager stability provided by tight-fitting upper and comfortably rigid midsole

Upper

The historical design used a woven Primeknit upper. That construction changes structure and airflow, but it does not guarantee a particular fit, temperature, or comfort result. Check the exact size and return terms.

Midsole

While Adidas has taken a radical design departure in many aspects of these shoes, one area that has stayed relatively untouched is their midsole. This is for good reason since the design they’ve adopted is highly effective for essentially any midrange footwear. EVA foam is the key ingredient in the Swift Run’s midsole, which is sure to be a familiar sight to anyone who has worn a casual running shoe made by Adidas in the last five years. This is a pliable yet sturdy material that provides all of the needs demanded from a high-quality midsole without weighing down the entire shoe.

Outsole

The heaviest part of these running shoes can be found on the underfoot, serving as a sort of anchor to keep the rest of the Swift Run balanced properly. This is most visible in the design of this shoe’s outsole, which uses hard rubber to ensure durability and protection. This rubber material is then cut with several long grooves that allow for a bit of give, ensuring a small amount of flexibility and benefits to traction. Any shortcomings in regards to foot protection that may be caused by the lighter upper portion of these shoes has been compensated for adequately on the underfoot, thanks to this impressive outsole.

Breathability

Aside from a conveniently lighter weight, the next most attractive feature offered by Adidas’ Primeknit upper material is the increased breathability. Since it is made from textile, this upper already has a benefit over foam and synthetic-based uppers in terms of moisture management and ventilation. However, when considering the benefits of a woven knit pattern, these positive effects are further amplified. The result is a level of comfortable breathability that blows all other running shoes out of the water, with the exception of Nike ’s similarly designed Flyknit footwear.

Comfort

To ensure a comfortable ride from start to finish, Adidas implemented a few key design features to the Swift Run Primeknit. The most obvious feature is the use of Primeknit material, which provides a snug fit with fantastic breathability and a lighter weight. From these, Adidas implemented a soft and responsive EVA midsole that ensures the entire of the wearer’s sole is protected from shock and discomfort. These underfoot benefits are bolstered by the hard rubber outsole, which supplements the midsole through its impressive resiliency and protection on most casual walking and running terrains.

Style

As is custom from Adidas, these running shoes exude a sense of style that is difficult to find anywhere else. This brand has been known for their second-to-none fashion sense for decades, helping to define the hip-hop era. It is this sense of style that can be seen in these shoes, with an unconventional shape and design that is just familiar enough to be comfortable while being enough of a departure from conventional design to look appealing. Most retailers only list these shoes in black or white, however, shrewd shoppers may be able to find some rarer color variants such as rose gold.

Durability

Here’s where these running shoes begin to encounter some problems. Adidas stresses on their website that these shoes aren’t actually intended to be used as serious running shoes and states that they’re more in the genre of casual streetwear. This is how they can justify these shoes offering significantly less durability than their other running shoes. The average runner won’t need to worry about these shoes falling apart after a short jogging session on a sidewalk or treadmill. However, anything more intense is completely out of the question.

Protection

This was not designed as protective trail or stability footwear. The EVA midsole and rubber outsole describe its construction, not injury protection or suitability for demanding terrain.

Responsiveness

Something that contributes greatly to this shoe’s overall responsiveness is its lighter weight, thanks to the use of Adidas’ Primeknit upper. Aside from this, the EVA foam used for the Swift Run’s midsole improves its response time dynamically, after absorbing the energy from each impact with the ground, it is then rebounded explosively to drive the next step forward. To be fair, the impact of this midsole is lessened since the nature of this shoe’s design is less for running and more for casual walking. However, enough responsiveness is there to provide an easy ride for most low to mid-intensity running sessions.

Support

The Swift Run Primeknit is a neutral, flexible casual shoe rather than a structured support model. Do not use an old support description to make a medical or orthotic decision.

Terrain

These shoes offer some protection from the elements thanks to a hard rubber outsole. The wearer’s foot is also defended to a degree thanks to the use of highly shock-absorbent EVA foam for the midsole. However, these Adidas shoes weren’t designed to be used on any terrain tougher than an asphalt road. In fact, these shoes weren’t really designed for running in the first place, having more of a focus on casual walking. Realistic expectations are necessary when using these shoes for any serious running.

Price

When considering the type of footwear the Adidas Swift Run falls into and the features present in its package, the price it is listed at currently can be justified as a good deal. Even the suggested retail price upon its launch was similarly reasonable. This shoe is in the same price range as a mid-range running shoe or high-end casual street shoe. This means that an individual shouldn’t feel cheated if they spend full price on this product. However, when comparing these shoes with some other running footwear options on the market, it may be tough to justify this purchase. With so many other manufacturers releasing running shoes with better features at similar or better prices, the only real justification for purchasing the Swift Run Primeknit is a love of their style and lightweight feeling.

Drop

The exact heel-to-toe drop was not verified for this page. Do not estimate it from product photos or old customer commentary. Buyers who need a known geometry should choose a current model with published specifications.

Stability

As previously mentioned, these shoes are far more flexible than they are stable due to the design of its outsole and upper. All footwear manufacturers have to strike a balance between flexibility and stability and Adidas decided to place the majority of their design emphasis on the former. That said, there are some aspects of the Swift Run Primeknit that ensure a stable ride. One is the midsole, which provides some necessary rigidity through its highly compressed EVA foam construction. The other is the upper’s tight fit, which ensures that the wearer’s feet don’t slide around while wearing them. These two features are the only things keeping individuals wearing these Adidas shoes from losing all control.

Flexibility

The knit upper and grooved outsole suggest a flexible construction, but flexibility and ride feel vary by size, condition, and runner. This page has no measured flexibility test.

Traction

The outsole uses hard rubber with grooves. That construction does not establish grip on wet, loose, or technical surfaces, so keep the comparison to casual road use and verify condition on any old-stock pair.

Bottom Line

Consider the Swift Run Primeknit only when the priority is a legacy Adidas casual shoe with a knit upper. For a current running decision, compare Pureboost 5, Supernova Rise 2, and Duramo SL 2 by fit, intended use, price, availability, and return terms.

See best prices on Amazon

Current Adidas Comfort Shoes To Compare

Swift Run Primeknit searches are comfort and casual-run searches. Compare current Adidas road shoes by comfort and price.

Adidas Pureboost 5

Current Pureboost-family option for flexible daily comfort.

Check current Amazon options

Adidas Supernova Rise 2

Current Adidas daily trainer with more cushion than entry-level Duramo.

Check current Amazon options

Adidas Duramo SL 2

Current Adidas value running shoe for Duramo searchers.

Check current Amazon options

These product cards use current Amazon product-feed candidates, prior validated ASINs, or conservative current-category alternatives. Availability, sizes, colors, and prices change often. StripeFit may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases.