Meet adidas HyperBOOST EDGE—The Shoe Preferred by Four-in-Five Runners
adidas is no stranger to breaking ground. Doing so has been at the company's core since the days Adolf "Adi" Dassler was cobbling footwear by hand.
Today, the German sportswear company is confident that it's following tradition with the debut of HyperBOOST EDGE, a silhouette that's ushering in the brand's biggest midsole evolution since 2013—the year adidas BOOST launched.
As its name suggests, the model—which the Three Stripes is positioning as a "supertrainer" within its running lineup—features an all-new cushioning solution named HyperBOOST PRO. The high-performing material is at least 40% lighter than typical BOOST and provides an average of 20% higher energy return "compared to any other [BOOST] product and optimal cushioning," as stated by the brand.
According to adidas, a study conducted at the University of Cologne showed that four out of five runners examined perceived a softer cushioning in HyperBOOST EDGE when compared to their own shoes. These athletes also preferred the energy return provided by the new trainer.
A stylish co-sign by Zinedine Zidane during a recent visited to United Arab Emirates isn't enough to support the Three Stripes' claim, but it does give HyperBOOST EDGE a certain sportswear-credibility. Now, if the model goes the route of the UltraBOOST 1.0 from 2016 and hits it off with the casual crowd, the cushioned proposal could be an important bet for the brand.
Spec-wise, the sneaker features an engineered mesh upper laden with different layers—including hidden eyelets and lace stays. Reflective accents appear throughout the top-half, ensuring visibility when training in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. The HyperBOOST PRO midsole has a stack height of 45 millimeters in the heel and only a 6mm drop to the forefoot (39mm). A LIGHTTRAXXION outsole replaces Continental™ rubber found on the popular Adizero Evo SL trainer, providing reduced weight without compromising on grip.
The shoe has a small plastic element at the center of its outsole, but it doesn't feel rigid like some of the brand's other Torsion System setups.
Visually, HyperBOOST EDGE isn't too dissimilar from adidas' top-of-the-line road running models, but it pushes beyond traditional aesthetics. The sleek upper features no 3-Stripes branding—that logo has been moved to the midsole. A striped pattern appears across the foam's top-half to mark where the wearer's foot sits. Callouts to the model's name and cushioning setup appear on the spine and medial midsole, respectively.
The silhouette's debut "Hyper Crush" color scheme has been inspired by the foot's anatomy. A handful of other styles are expected throughout the remainder of the year.
adidas promises to bring its HyperBOOST PRO technology to other important footwear designs across multiple sports soon.
Enjoy detailed shots of the inaugural HyperBOOST EDGE ahead. Pairs will begin releasing globally via adidas.com on Tuesday, March 17, for $200.
