Adidas’s Ultraboost 5 was guaranteed to be one of the most important new sneaker releases of last year, if only because it was the new flagship model of the uber-popular Ultraboost family.
But to Adidas’s credit, the German sportswear brand made a bigger bet on the shoe than it probably needed to by introducing what it described as “the biggest redesign of the franchise” since its inception nearly a decade earlier.
The new design managed to reduce the shoe’s Ultraboost 5’s weight while increasing energy return by 2% more than the Ultraboost Light 1 introduced in the Spring of 2023, which, unsurprisingly, made the shoe a welcomed hit with running experts.
Runner’s World praised the Ultraboost 5 for its “light weight and smooth ride.” Robbe Reddinger at Believe In the Run also appreciated the sneakers versatility as a running and lifestyle shoe, saying, “In that category, it’s probably one of the best shoes you can buy, quiet possibly the best.”
Run Repeat echoed Reddinger’s sentiments, concluding, “Adidas has crafted a versatile shoe that does a great job in everyday wear and daily runs alike.“
However, the first run of color options for the Ultraboost 5 weren’t especially exciting. But Adidas also deserves props for continuously introducing bolder looks to the shoe as the months have passed.
