Details
Brand
Adidas
Heel To Toe Drop
9 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• BOUNCE midsole• Air mesh upper• Overlays, and synthetic cage• Stylish colors and design• Lugs for added traction
Upper
The upper of the Adidas Vigor Bounce is made of an air mesh design, which is a very common choice for shoes, and for good reason. Mesh is a good choice because it offers generally good breathability and flexibility due to its design, which inherently has small holes woven into it. These holes are what allow air to freely flow in and out of the shoe, and also what allows the shoe to turn and flex as needed. Atop the upper also sits printed overlays. These overlays are paired with the mesh to provide some extra stability and security, and give the shoe a pretty comfortable fit. Finally, the upper features a synthetic cage, connected to the heel and center of the shoe. This cage is connected to the laces, allowing for some extra customization in terms of fit. Overall, the upper of the Vigor Bounce is very solid and does its job of providing breathability, flexibility, and security quite well.
Midsole
The midsole of the Adidas Vigor Bounce uses Adidas’ special BOUNCE material. As the name suggests, this material is very bouncy, which provides a strong responsive feel and a very comfortable and efficient stride as a result. This material also adds some shock protection and impact absorption for the foot, a critical feature for a midsole. The BOUNCE material does a pretty good job in providing response and cushion, which are the two main jobs of the midsole. It is a bit disappointing that the midsole doesn’t offer much else besides this material, but it is decent as a whole.
Outsole
The outsole of the Adidas Vigor Bounce is made of a special compound called Adaptive Traxion. This material is a special blend of rubber, which is pretty resistant to abrasions. Rubber is a frequent choice for outsoles because it is pretty good and resisting wear and tear, and also at providing grip on different surfaces. The outsole of the Vigor Bounce also features lugs. These lugs are similar to treads on a tire, which add some extra grip when running on different surfaces. This especially comes into play with up and downhill running, where traction can be more suspect. The outsole of the Vigor Bounce overall is decent, and does its job well, of promoting grip and durability.
Breathability
As mentioned above, the upper of the Vigor Bounce uses Adidas’ Air Mesh design. This mesh does a very good job in terms of breathability, as it is specifically optimized for airflow. The holes woven into the mesh are the main factor in this, as they are what allow the air to freely flow throughout the shoe. Overall, breathability in the Vigor Bounce is pretty strong, and should not be a hindrance.
Comfort
Comfort is very important when picking new shoes, especially when it comes to running shoes. The Adidas Vigor Bounce is pretty good in the comfort department, mostly thanks to the upper and the midsole. The upper adds comfort through several of its features. The mesh is a big factor, as it provides both flexibility and breathability, which are two features that go a long way in improving the comfort of the shoe. The overlays also add some comfort by securing the foot in a snug way. Finally, the synthetic cage which improves the overall fit of the shoe is another feature that improves comfort. The midsole mainly contributes with the BOUNCE material. This material adds comfort by shielding from shocks and impacts, which makes for a smoother stride overall. The comfort as a whole in the Vigor Bounce is pretty good.
Style
When it comes to style, Adidas usually is ahead of the game. Adidas is quite popular around the world, among even non-runners. This is definitely manifested in the Adidas Vigor Bounce which is a very good looking shoe. Apart from its sleek and stylish design, the shoe is offered in a pretty good range of colors, which is a big plus. The Vigor Bounce also could double decently as an everyday shoe in some of the darker colors it is offered in, which can be very hand for some.
Durability
The Vigor Bounce is decently durable, mainly thanks to the midsole and outsole. The outsole contributes to the durability of the shoe with its Adapative Traxion material. This special blend of rubber is very resistant to impacts and abrasions and can withstand many miles on all sorts of terrains. The midsole contributes once again with its BOUNCE material, which is pretty resistant to impacts as well, and retains its original shape even after long periods of use. The durability of the Vigor Bounce is pretty decent, though not exceptional by any stretch.
Protection
In terms of protection, the Vigor Bounce is solid. The main contributing factors are the upper, outsole, and midsole. The upper primarily gives protection by protecting the foot from the elements, and also through snugly holding the foot down. The midsole contributes once again with its BOUNCE material once again, which helps reduce the shock of impacts. This can help protect from potential injuries and makes for a safer stride overall. Protection in the Vigor Bounce is decent overall, though it’s a bit surprising that there are not many trail focused features, considering the Vigor Bounce is a trail shoe.
Responsiveness
The midsole of the Vigor Bounce uses the previously discussed BOUNCE technology. The material is extremely springy and bouncy, which allows it to return energy very well, and respond very well as a result. Though this is pretty much the only feature contributing to responsiveness in the shoe, the Vigor Bounce is still fairly strong in the responsiveness department.
Support
The Vigor Bounce is fairly good on the support side, once again thanks to the midsole and the upper. The midsole supports via its cushioning, which is a product of the BOUNCE material once again. This material supports the foot while running by shielding from harsh impacts, which make for a smoother stride overall. The upper adds support through the overlays and the synthetic cage. The overlays atop the mesh help secure the foot and give a snug fit, which provides a great deal of support from above. The synthetic cage operates similarly except it helps provide a better fit near the middle and heel of the shoe, and is tied to the lacing system of the shoe. Support is solid overall in the Vigor Bounce.
Terrain
The Vigor Bounce, like most running shoes, should not see issues on most popular running terrains. The Vigor Bounce is optimized to work on trails, though it should definitely be usable on most city terrains as well. The only real issue might be that the Bounce is a bit over-equipped for city running thanks to the lugs on the outsole. This likely won’t be a problem, however, and the Vigor Bounce should be usable on all but the most extreme terrains.
Price
The Adidas Vigor Bounce is actually pretty solid in the price department. It was pretty average when it was first released, but currently can be found for a pretty good value, as it has been out for a long while. If found for its lower end of prices, the Vigor Bounce is a pretty good deal considering what it offers.
Drop
The drop of the Vigor Bounce is 9 mm which is pretty standard for a trainer. Most trainers usually fall in the 10-12 mm range, so the Vigor Bounce is pretty much right on target for what is expected.
Stability
The upper and the midsole are the main features that contribute to stability within the Adidas Vigor Bounce. The upper contributes through its overlays and its synthetic cage. The overlays secure the mesh upper onto the foot well, and provide a snug fit while not compromising the flexibility of the shoe. The synthetic cage is tied to the lacing system of the shoe and helps to tighten areas near the middle of the shoe and the heel. This makes for a better fit overall, and in turn, more stability. The midsole contributes to the stability through cushioning from the BOUNCE material. Reducing shocks and impacts goes a long way in making the stride more stable and safe. The stability in this shoe is pretty good overall.
Flexibility
Flexibility is a necessary feature that helps prevent twists and missteps which can occasionally lead to injury. The main piece that contributes to flexibility in this shoe is the upper. The upper is very flexible, thanks mostly to the use of mesh in its design. This allows the foot to move in a more natural and comfortable range, which of course is beneficial to the stride as a whole. Even though the main flexibility promoting feature definitely does a good job, and the flexibility of the Vigor Bounce is solid overall.
Traction
Traction is one area where the Vigor Bounce shines, which is definitely important for a trail shoe. The main sources of traction are the Adaptive Traxion rubber outsole, and the lugs. The Adaptive Traxion material is pretty good at sticking onto surfaces and is pretty conducive to traction overall. The lugs provide extra traction in slippery areas, and in particular when climbing or descending hills. Overall, traction should be solid in most areas with the Vigor Bounce.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Adidas Vigor Bounce is a pretty solid shoe. The outsole and midsole offer solid, if not amazing, features that make it a decently versatile shoe. The styling of the shoe is a major plus, and its ability to double as an everyday shoe is nice. Overall, for anyone seeking a trail oriented trainer that is stylish and decently low cost, the Vigor Bounce is not a bad choice at all.
