When a quick runner in my working membership confirmed me his Ultraboost 4 which has over 3 300 kilometres on them, I gained a brand new respect for the Ultraboost. His toe field has a gap within the prime and the outsole rubber has worn down in a number of locations however the midsole continues to be intact and he makes use of them repeatedly with out getting any accidents.
I at all times knew that the Ultraboost is a sturdy working shoe however 3 300 kilometres is unimaginable and about 3 instances greater than I’ve ever placed on a single pair of trainers.
The Ultraboost could also be regarded by many as a “life-style” working shoe however there’s no denying that its construct high quality is second to none and there are few different midsole foams that retain their cushioning in addition to Enhance.
When I examined the Ultraboost 21 final 12 months, I gave it one of many lowest scores of all the 12 months due to how agency it felt and the way a lot heel slippage I skilled throughout runs. As a efficiency working shoe, the Ultraboost 21 felt like a step backwards for the Ultraboost franchise.
Final 12 months’s Ultraboost 21 was an enormous replace so this 12 months, the boys’s model is simply an higher replace however there are some small tweaks that change the journey character of the Ultraboost 22. The ladies’s model has further outsole lugs on the medial facet of the midfoot which makes it extra supportive.
The lads’s Ultraboost 22 now weighs 333 g (11.8 oz) for a US 9, which is 7 g (0.3 oz) lighter than the Ultraboost 21. It’s nonetheless significantly heavier than different max cushioned trainers just like the Triumph 19 (290 g), the Invincible Run (285 g) and the Nimbus 24 (290 g). The Ultraboost 22 additionally prices $10 greater than the Ultraboost 21.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 First Impressions
image of Adidas Ultraboost 22
The primary time I noticed photos of the Ultraboost 22, I struggled to seek out any variations to the final model other than the brand new colourways. The midsole and outsole regarded precisely the identical whereas there have been delicate modifications to the toe field and the attention stays upon nearer inspection.
My first run was a 12 km simple run which was surprisingly gratifying. There have been some variations to the Ultraboost 21 which I picked up instantly.
The largest and most notable distinction was that the Ultraboost 22 felt softer and extra cushioned. It’s not the softest of all of the Ultraboosts but it surely’s positively not as agency because the Ultraboost 21.
The opposite distinction that I famous was that the heel lockdown felt barely higher. It nonetheless wasn’t safe by any stretch of the creativeness but it surely wasn’t as dangerous because the final model.
Transitions had been clean however sluggish and it was tough to select up the tempo to run beneath 5.30 per kilometre however I loved the primary run of the Ultraboost 22 way more than the primary run of the Adidas Adistar which I examined final month.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 Sole Unit
image of Adidas Ultraboost 22
I just like the journey of the Ultraboost 22 greater than the Ultraboost 21 as a result of it’s softer. The Ultraboost is meant to be a max-cushioned coach and the plushest, most cushioned Adidas working shoe. Model 22 is a a lot better max-cushioned coach.
The Ultraboost 21 and 22 have precisely the identical midsole and outsole however the massive distinction which influences the journey is the strobel lasting immediately beneath the insole, above the midsole.
The Ultraboost 21 had a thick, lattice lasting with small rectangular cutouts whereas the Ultraboost 22 has a thinner lasting with a big, oval cutout within the heel, and a big, oval cutout underneath the ball of the foot.
The massive cutouts within the Ultraboost 22 enable the Enhance to develop extra underneath your heel and forefoot so it feels extra squishy and extra comfy for long-distance runs. I did a 40 km run within the Ultraboost 22 and my toes felt effectively protected and recent all through the run.
image of Adidas Ultraboost 22
The one downside with Enhance foam is that it’s heavy and dense so it limits the Ultraboost 22’s versatility. I discovered it solely helpful for straightforward or restoration runs above 5.30 per kilometre so it’s a great shoe to cease you from working too quick.
One of many Ultraboost 22’s strengths is how secure it’s. There’s little or no lean bias as a result of the midsole doesn’t compress a lot and the deep heel cups your rearfoot. It additionally has a large, secure base.
An LEP (Linear Power Push) plastic shank is on the midfoot of the outsole and it extends into the rearfoot and forefoot. I miss the LEP after I put on trainers which don’t have it, just like the Adistar.
The LEP makes the forefoot stiffer and makes the shoe really feel snappier as a result of it helps the forefoot return to its authentic place when it flexes throughout transitions.
The sturdy outsole of the Ultraboost 22 is usually crystal rubber with Continental rubber on the forefoot and the toe space. There’s additionally a hollowed out cavity that extends from the heel to the forefoot which will increase cushioning.
You should not have any downside getting no less than 1000 kilometres out of the Ultraboost 22 due to its glorious construct high quality and Enhance’s capacity to retain its cushioning over time.
After my interval of testing, I did nonetheless discover that the rubber outer lateral heel part was clean because of the excessive 10 mm drop and the heel-heavy design which pressured me to heel strike.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 Higher Unit
image of Adidas Ultraboost 22
The brand new Ultraboost higher is among the most comfy of any working shoe for informal put on. There are some beauty updates to the higher of the Ultraboost 22 however there is just one main replace that impacts the match.
The largest and most necessary replace is to the heel counter. There may be now extra padding on the within of the heel and the heel is angled extra towards the achilles. This leads to a safer heel lockdown with solely a small quantity of heel slippage. There are nonetheless no double eyelets so you possibly can’t use a runner’s knot.
The plastic midfoot panels have additionally been up to date. The corners of the panels across the first eyelets should not as pointy as on model 21. The primary row of eyelets are actually giant, round ones whereas the final eyelets have velocity loop straps for the laces to cross by. This alteration improves the lacing barely.
image of Adidas Ultraboost 22
The stretchy mesh design is totally different to the Ultraboost 21. There aren’t as many perforations for air flow on the midfoot and on the toe field so the Ultraboost 22 runs barely hotter than the final model.
The match continues to be true to measurement and extra suited to slender toes than extensive toes. It’s not out there in extra widths like most Adidas trainers.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 Conclusion
image of Adidas Ultraboost 22
The Ultraboost 22, similar to the Ultraboost 21 continues to be seen by most critical runners as an off-the-cuff, life-style coach. That is primarily due to its close to 12 oz weight and its stretchy, knitted higher.
It could actually nonetheless work in a shoe rotation as a simple day or restoration coach in case you don’t thoughts a heavy shoe- simply don’t anticipate a lot help from the Ultraboost 22 to go quicker than 5.30 per km tempo.
The massive elephant within the room in the case of the Ultraboost 22 is its worth. There’s no purpose that the Ultraboost 22 ought to warrant costing $190. It’s way more costly than the Nimbus 24, Glycerin 20, Triumph 19 and Infinity Run 2.
These 4 max-cushioned trainers are softer, lighter and extra versatile than the Ultraboost 22 however the place the Ultraboost 22 beats all of them is sturdiness. It’s constructed like a tank and has the flexibility to final over 3000 kilometres (in case you’re a cheap runner).
The Ultraboost 22 is certainly an improve over the Ultraboost 21. The heel lockdown is barely higher and it has a softer journey because of the Strobel lining change so it’s a greater max-cushioned coach.
As editorial coverage, we don't settle for free samples from corporations.
We bought this pair of Adidas Ultraboost 22 at Working Warehouse with our personal cash.
