First Runs Review: adidas Response Trail Boost. Finalist for my RoadTrail Hybrid of the Year. Compared to Other 2015 adidas Boost TrailShoes

adidas Response Trail Boost

I  have a 2015 finalist for my road trail hybrid of the year. A big surprise, the adidas Response Trail Boost... Even with the big 5-6mm Continental Rubber lugs they are excellent on the road with a stable firm Boosted heel, super flexible, snappy and stable up front. Actually one of the better road shoes for me of 2015, despite their weight and trail purpose.  Yet...this shoe is likely targeted as a "soft ground" shoe given the big lugs which adidas calls a Mud King outsole.  Strange what happens...

adidas Response Trail Boost

First trail run today did not disappoint. I ran very winding, forest single track moderately rooty and rocky with smaller 100 foot steep climbs in dry conditions. Stable, fast, with great trail feel and foot hold from the mid foot forward.  The midfoot being well held by 2 wide external straps running from the laces to mid sole facing towards the back of the shoe and a diagonal one running from below the last lace hole diagonally towards the front.
I am still figuring out the far back of the upper's heel stability and hold accomplished with a low heel cup and bootie construction, with an extra layer of bootie on the medial side, all of this a big complicated and fussy. The underfoot rear platform is super stable in the heel but the heel cup and bootie upper in the far back may be a bit minimal for very rough or off camber trail if the heel needs to stabilize for terrain.  Response Trail Boost has a considerably wider toe box than the other Boost adidas trail shoes. There is no rock plate or thin firm layer of EVA underfoot except along the outside edge of the front of the foot but the lugs provide decent protection.

Very similar on the run to the XT Boost, the racer of the adidas Boost trail bunch (review here) in being snappy, stable, and responsive but with more noticeable yet still stable cushioning all around, particularly in the heel where Boost is substituted for the Adiprene EVA of the XT Boost. The front toe boxes are similar with the Response's being wider and having a slightly softer mesh

Response Trail Boost shares similarities of platform with the Raven Boost (review here) yet is considerably more agile and flexible than the Raven Boost  with better trail feel but will be less cushy for very long runs than Raven. I think this is because the Response has a somewhat thinner Boost layer,  a longer black EVA collar, and a more flexible upper.

adidas Response Trail Boost

For super rough trail the narrower Terrex Boost (review here) with its extra TPU stabilizing features around the heel and mid foot as well as beefy overlays around the narrow toe box is the adidas offering.
Update: I have now run many more miles in Response Trail Boost and they continue to be a most comfortable and able shoe on all terrain: road, smooth paths, rougher trails.

Not a light shoe at 11.50z (326grams) yet unlike many such heavier shoes I do not have the impression at all that I was wearing a "heavy" shoe on road or trail. They fit me true to size, maybe a quarter to a half size big due to the toe box width with my narrower foot. 10mm heel toe drop. Priced at $110, it is "value priced" compared to the other Boost trail shoes. Available July-August 2015

adidas Response Trail Boost

The Response Trail Boost was provided to RoadTrailRun at no cost. The opinions herein are entirely our own.

The Response Trail Boost can be purchased via the links below. Purchases support RoadTrailRun.

Review: adidas Raven Boost Trail Shoe. Plush Ride on All Terrains

The adidas Raven Boost is a 11oz (312gram) 10mm drop trail shoe that shines in trail comfort. More "relaxed" in fit, outsole lugs, and ride than the more aggressive Terrex Boost (review here)  I have found them to not only handle all trail types with aplomb but even roads as well, if the pace is slow and easy. adidas calls them a "go anywhere "Land Rover" and this is a good description but more Range Rover than Defender. They are plush, flexible and soft, the ride reminding me of Hokas such as the Rapa Nui but with considerably more forefoot flexibility and stability.  A great shoe for long easier miles on rougher terrain and muddy conditions.

adidas Raven Boost

The Raven Boost has a full Boost midsole with firmer EVA stabilizing in the forefoot. The EVA is a ring, if you will, around the outer perimeter. Boost is soft and bouncy and it needs stabilization especially in the forefoot in a trail shoe for uneven terrain. Boost is softer than what would want for forefoot rock protection but so far the rugged outsole has provided me more than adequate protection upfront.

Review-adidas Adizero XT Boost Trail Shoe-Superb Upper. Agile and Stable with Great Traction. Suitable for any Terrain, including road.

The Adizero XT Boost is a superbly agile and versatile shoe equally adept on trails, mud, or road. The XT Boost is a 9.75oz/276 gram trail runner with a beefy 4mm lugged Continental rubber Race King outsole and a Boost layer only under the ball of the foot, the rest of the midsole being a road racer firm but responsive EVA. 10.55 mm drop. $140 MSRP. On sale July 2015.

adizero XT Boost

adizero XT Boost. Boost material is only under the forefoot back of the toes. Heavily lugged Continental Race Rubber outsole

Trail Shoe Roundup- Pre-Review First Runs: Montrail FluidFlex ST, adidas adizero XT Boost, adidas Adistar Raven Boost, LaSportiva Mutant, Hoka One One Challenger ATR

   Update: full reviews now posted!
   Montrail FluidFlex ST here
   adidas Adizero XT Boost here
   adidas Raven Boost here
   La Sportiva Mutant here

Yesterday, I ran 16 miles on smoother trails at Antelope Island, UT in the Montrail FluidFlex ST, 9.2 oz/266 grams, a good value at $95 including from Running Warehouse here .  Really enjoyed the stable ride due to the  Fluid Foam which mixes different densities of the same material into a single midsole layer the Fluid Frame, the firm but decent cushioning, and a very supportive upper with decent toe room.  A shoe with mild pronation support,and I usually cannot stand support or stability shoes, I did not notice the firmer mid sole mid foot and welcomed a bit of extra support there on the trail. Very flexible at one deep groove towards the mid foot. Front of that, towards the toes, less flexible, stiffer due to firmer EVA in the mold serving as a rock plate, a bit awkward feeling on moderate climbs but felt great on steeper climbs, downhills, and flats.

Update: full review of the Montrail FluidFlex ST here

Pardon my trail dust!

Montrail FluidFlex ST

Montrail Fluid Flex ST

Did some shoe testing/comparing this morning on the indoor track. 40 easy minutes, 20 in the adidas adizero XT Boost, coming 8/1 and then 20 minutes in the LaSportiva Mutant. I like to get a feel for shoes on a consistent surface before taking them out on the roads and trails. Update: since I have raced in the adizero XT Boost and done 2 trail runs in the Mutant.

LaSportiva Mutant (yellow left) adidas XT Boost (right)

adidas Adizero Boston Boost: First Runs Comparison to Adios Boost, Photos

My wife and I were lucky enough to catch two of the only 150 pairs in existence of the new adidas adizero Boston Boost at the Boston Marathon Expo. Full launch expected for September.

adidas Adizero Boston Boost

Do not have full details but the Boston Boost was $120, has about a 10mm drop and should weigh a bit less than the current adizero Boston's 9.1 oz, sitting in the Boost line up between the adios Boost and the Energy Boost as a lightweight trainer marathon shoe, a shoe well suited to... Boston's hilly course.
I ran 2 miles this morning in the Boston Boost and it is very smooth, well cushioned, bouncy, light and responsive. One might think it would run very similar to the current Adios Boost but in many subtle ways it is quite different and runs different too. Seems smoother, a bit more plush, more minimal all around in terms of upper and outsole construction and also a little less fast race snappy and directed. Also feels bouncier than the Energy Boost. Overall maybe a bit too bouncy soft in the heel for my taste.

adios Boost (left) Boston Boost (right)

• considerably more minimal less structured ( fewer overlays) upper than the current adios with lighter mesh and with a somewhat longer heel cup. I say current adios as the adios boost is getting an upper similar to the non boost adios
• wider stretchier toe box and overall fit
• a softer and less structured top of heel counter.  Prefer the adios heel counter.
• a longer and slightly deeper black EVA layer under the foot and out to the toe, a softer ride and more flexible up front than adios. More comfortable and cushioned up front.
• slightly more stack height for Boost than adios but I think less than the Energy Boost. A different heel to midfoot midsole geometry. Note the beveled heel and gap under midfoot on the adios(left) below.

adios Boost (left) Boston Boost (right)

adios Boost (left) Boston Boost (right)

• Less beefy Torsion plates between the midsole and outsole, no medial Torsion structure near the heel in the Boston or the firm EVA center heel (gray oval above) of the adios but a wider heel landing on the Boston. The heel landings of the adios and for that matter the Energy Boost feel a bit more stable, less bouncy soft than the Boston's.
• more Continental rubber on the outsole.

Update 4/22/14: I did run the Boston Marathon in Adizero Boston Boost and while I had a very rough disappointing race with an epic fade after the half it was a beautiful event and day. Overwhelming support on the course, emotion, and friendship. The volunteers were amazing, the crowds intensely supportive, and fellow competitors determined.
Back to the Boston Boost, the shoe I wore at the Marathon, with all of 2 miles on them. They were great. For the first time in a marathon no blisters along the outside of my big toes. No blisters anywhere else either. I dumped lots of water over my head and they drained very well. The open mesh will make these a great hot weather and rainy day shoe.  No foot or calf cramps despite forgetting my calf sleeves although my quads were what gave out. Cushion was just fine. Not the snappy response of the adios boost though for sure.

For another early review of the Boston Boost see Bill Blunderbuss fine initial thoughts here.
Derek Oxley review of the Boston Boost, here
Video introduction by adidas at Competitor.com from the Boston Marathon Expo:  Boston Boost, Adios Boost( new upper), and Sequence Boost.

95,000 Marathon color Daffodils grace Downtown Boston and the course

adidas Energy Boost 2: First Look from Holabird Sports

The original Energy Boost was one of my Best of 2013, actually the Boost material was and is the best. The Energy  got me through 2 painless (almost), blister less marathons.  The next generation Energy Boost 2 is hitting the market in Feb. 2014. From what I understand all changes are to the upper.  Video from Holabird Sports describes some of the changes:

• a new TPU cage at the midfoot upper. I thought this area was fine so will see.
• still the sock like Tech Fit upper which I liked, but many didn't,  but with new arrangement of overlays in forefoot. It looks like the forefoot overlays are reduced to 2 from 3 and the front overlay is moved a bit back from the toe which may make the feel a little more open and less constraining and directed. 
• weight at 9.9 oz Men's 9. Adidas has the Boost 1 at 9.5 oz so heavier, not a good thing.