Fans of the adidas Boston line of running shoes may remember
it as the sleek, lightweight trainer that made it so easy to clock-in training
miles at pace.
That has since changed with the new Adizero Boston 10,
dipped in eye-catching sonic ink, that we got to experience for ourselves.
Weighing in at 286g (for a US 9), the Boston 10 packs in a little more heft
with a more robust silhouette that’s similar to the brand’s performance-focused
Adios Pro 2.
But unlike the Adios Pro 2 which elite runners lace up to
smash personal records over 42.195 kilometres, the Boston 10 is intended to
help everyday runners train for that.
To that end, it combines the properties of its adidas
Lightstrike Pro and Lightstrike EVA midsole foams to optimise cushioning and
durability, albeit with thicker stacks of 39.5mm at the heel and 31mm stack at
the forefoot, with an 8.5mm drop. Sandwiched between its lightweight Primegreen
upper that’s made with recycled plastics and the midsole combo, are energy rods
that imbue stiffness for greater efficiency. Where the majority of performance
shoemakers are fitting in carbon plates, adidas has made use of these ‘springy’
energy rods and engineered them around the structures of the foot for enhanced
support, efficiency and an ability to just keep on running with
confidence.
Impressions on the
Run
At first lace-up, the Boston 10 fits snug with a nice amount
of padding that wraps neatly around the foot when laced up. While the shoe does
feel comfortable and supported at the heel, it rides firm with a degree of
stiffness that only eased up after some 10km of easy running to ‘break’ it in.
Runners keen on sharp efforts will also notice the extra weight the Boston 10 carries, and the fact that it doesn’t feel as snappy as its predecessors. But this was never a shoe designed for sprinting in. In its element, on longer training runs at an even measured pace, the shoe really lightens up as it insulates the feet against the impact from the ground.
This is a shoe engineered for you to spend extended periods
of time running in, and it assures you with confidence of that ability. It’s very
supportive, cushions well and soaks up everything the harsh road deals out as
you build the necessary momentum to get into your groove. Right at the point
when the run reaches a steady rhythm, you’ll begin to appreciate how the Boston
10 works to convert that momentum into efficiency.
This is when it’s also possible to feel your body’s energy
levels, and shift the focus from worrying about how you feel about running to
how you are actually running. Crank up the pace, stretch your stride and
increase your cadence, or simply dial it down and maintain a constant pace, the
Boston 10 gives you that degree of assurance and performance on the fly. It’ll
be enjoyable at distance, on surfaces that stretch on long and far. Lest we
forget, it’s shod with a Continental rubber outsole that’s superbly grippy and
should be durable enough to last a 500km lifetime.
The Last Word
The adidas Boston 10 will take some getting used to, but
once you get acquainted, it’s hard to ignore the comfort and ease in which it
handles your longest efforts.
If running is mind over body, this is the shoe that you’d
want to have on foot. Consistent and steadfast, the Boston 10 will remain as
comfortable at the point you first lace it up and at the end of a long effort.
Granted, it will not be the most energetic of daily trainers, but it will be
the one that will not disappoint. Especially when support, comfort and grip are
what you’re looking for in a marathon trainer.
The adidas adizero Boston 10 retails for $200 and is available at selected adidas performance stores or online at adidas.com.sg.
