Adidas Ultraboost 21

Official Price: $180

Review: The adidas Ultraboost 21 is a performance-running silhouette from German sportswear manufacturer adidas.First teased in August 2020, the model  was released in a handful of colorways on February 4th, 2021.The Adidas Ultraboost 21 is a heavy, firm but cushioned trainer with a durable outsole and smooth ride transitions.It's been revamped from the ground up but the loose heel and relaxed upper limit the Ultraboost 21 to only straight-line running at relaxed paces.

These shoes are made with a high-performance recycled material containing Parley Ocean Plastic with a minimum of 50% recycled materials.Six percent more foam has been packed into the midsole, which enables a “bouncier” ride. Underfoot, Continental rubber is re-arranged across the outsole, but promises the reliable traction that's been synonymous with the UltraBOOST line for some time. The Adidas Ultraboost 21's standout features are premium comfort and a great fit. Its seamless upper locks in and conforms to your foot with a sock-like fit when running, and, honestly, you would have a hard time finding a more comfortable model in the field of best running shoes. 

The UltraBoost 21 has a heavy cushioned midsole with a fitting upper foam which makes the wearing experience more “controlled” than “comfortable”. This shoe weighs 12.7 ounces which is very heavy for any running shoe. Hence if you want to go for shoes with weight for weighted training sessions,  UltraBoost 21 is probably the sneaker you will need.

Adidas Ultraboost 21 Pros and Cons

Where to Buy Adidas Ultraboost 21?

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Adidas Ultraboost 22

Official Price: $76 (Reg.$190)

Review: Launched in December 2021, the 22  is a max-cushioned, heavy-duty trainer for easy and recovery runs. It has a stable ride and is one of the most comfortable running shoes on the market.It features a fully knit upper that securely holds your foot in place. Cushioning is substantial, while still maintaining a firmness which allows this model to still feel snappy when you are picking up the pace.

It has a comfortable midsole that provides enough cushion and good riding experience to the wearer.The outsole provides best riding quality and helps in transitioning of the foot. However the pushness is missing in the midsole.The midsole and outsole of UltraBoost 22 are similar to the UltraBoost 21 but the riding experience is different in both of them.The toe box of this shoe is very tight with a snug upper which makes people uncomfortable wearing them for a long period of time.

The men’s version 22 of the Ultraboost is an upper only update but the women’s version has extra lugs on the outsole. Both versions have a softer ride due to the change of strobel lining and are also a little lighter than version 21 with slightly better heel lockdown.The other difference that I noted was that the heel lockdown felt slightly better. It still wasn’t secure by any stretch of the imagination but it wasn’t as bad as the last version.If you're looking for a comfortable, sock-like upper, then the Adidas Ultraboost 22 is a great option. 

Adidas Ultraboost 22 Pros and Cons

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Adidas Ultraboost Light 23 

Official Price: $190

Review: Released in March 2022, The Adidas Ultraboost Light is the first version of the Ultraboost in awhile that feels like a running shoe.Praised for its cushioning, stability and style, the all-new adidas Ultraboost Light is recognized by Runner’s World as one of 2024's best training shoes.The Ultraboost 23 running shoes amp up the feeling of energy return to help you chase your personal running goals in comfort. adidas Light Boost cushioning is a new generation of adidas Boost material that's 30% lighter than ever before. Keeping your impact light, the Ultraboost Light shoes also have a 10% lower carbon footprint than the previous Ultraboost.A low-volume, slightly wider fit sits up top with a surprising amount of security for a one-piece upper. The ride underfoot is cushioned in the heel and slightly firmer in the forefoot with an LEP plastic plate that helps facilitate motion forward. It also has improved heel lockdown due to the modified heel counter.

It’s better suited to moderately-paced runs rather than easy runs due to its firm ride but its weight and upper prevent it from being a proper performance daily trainer. Underfoot, a Linear Energy Push system adds stiffness in the midfoot and forefoot to help guide your foot forward to snappy toe-offs. The adidas Light Boost cushioning works in perfect harmony with a Continental™ Rubber outsole that offers extraordinary grip in wet or dry conditions.When your feet hit the pavement, hundreds of adidas Boost capsules explode into epic energy to help send you forward. So lace up in the Ultraboost Light running shoes and start moving your feet.

Adidas Ultraboost Light 23 Pros and Cons

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Adidas Ultraboost 21 vs. 22 vs. 23: The Key Differences

1. Upper

Ultraboost 21 - The upper on Ultraboost 21 is made from insanely stretchy Primblue Primeknit material that’s only 1.9mm thick and is designed to be more like a sock than a traditional upper.Primeblue is an engineered textile composed of at least 50% of recycled Parley Ocean Plastic to reduce the carbon footprint of the shoe.The Primeknit+ upper on the Ultraboost feels very soft, smooth and comfortable but it’s a bit on the warm side as breathability is not great.The tongue is integrated into the upper for one seamless piece of fabric.The outer wrap helps hold your midfoot in place while the upper conforms to your foot. Some users may find the toe box a little on the smaller side but should find a perfect performance fit due to the fabric's stretchiness.

Ultraboost 22 - There are some cosmetic updates to the upper of the Ultraboost 22 but there is only one major update that affects the fit.The fit of the Ultraboost 22 really is very sock-like and snug. The Primeknit upper – made from 50% recycled Adidas Parley ocean plastic – holds and cups the foot really nicely.A separated lace cage tops off the fit.The stretchy mesh design is different to the Ultraboost 21. There aren’t as many perforations for ventilation on the midfoot and on the toe box so the Ultraboost 22 runs slightly warmer than the last version.The plastic midfoot panels have also been updated. The corners of the panels around the first eyelets are not as pointy as on version 21. The first row of eyelets are now large, circular ones while the last eyelets have speed loop straps for the laces to pass through. This change improves the lacing slightly.

The biggest and most important update is to the heel counter. There is now more padding on the inside of the heel and the heel is angled more toward the achilles. This results in a more secure heel lockdown with only a small amount of heel slippage. There are still no double eyelets so you can’t use a runner’s knot.

Ultraboost Light 23 - A critic described the Light’s Primeknit as “one of the best knit uppers ever made.”The biggest update to the upper is in the inside of the heel counter. The foam pods inside the heel are plumper and they do a better job at locking your heel down so overall foot lockdown feels more secure however you don’t get the same high level of heel lockdown.There are still no double first row eyelets so you can’t do a runner’s knot- this is a feature that all performance trainers should have.Despite the material being quite pliable, it’s still able to secure the foot well thanks to its quintessentially Ultraboost TPU cage and heel clip.

2. Outsole

UltraBoost 21 - The outsole of the Adidas Ultra Boost 21 uses Stretchweb Continental: a resistant rubber with a unique tread pattern to optimize durability and traction on city surfaces.The outsole uses a mix of Continental rubber in the forefoot and then their rubber-based LEP Torsion System. Durability has been excellent and there is very little wear showing on the crystal rubber.

UltraBoost 22 - The durable outsole of the Ultraboost 22 is mostly crystal rubber with Continental rubber on the forefoot and the toe area,the same material used in car and bike tires, resulting in a grippy feel with excellent traction and durability.There’s also a hollowed out cavity that extends from the heel to the forefoot which increases cushioning.

Ultraboost Light 23 - The outsole of the Ultraboost Light is also pretty similar to that of the Ultraboost 22 — there’s still the same Continental rubber outsole.On this new Ultraboost outsole, there is less crystal rubber than last year’s. The heel area has been changed from transparent crystal rubber to regular blown rubber. Durability is excellent due to how thick and hard the outsole rubber is. There’s an LEP, plastic shank situated on the outsole of the Ultraboost Light which makes the forefoot stiffer. 

3. Midsole

UltraBoost 21: The Adidas Ultraboost 21 sits on a plush, thick bed of Boost foam, the shoe’s namesake.Boost foam is a unique blend of midsole foam created by Adidas. The foam is made from thermoplastic polyurethane particles (TPU) expanding across small pockets of air. The result is a lightweight foam that provides extra high energy return.The Boost midsole provides a soft ride while making the upper fit better. The only problem with Boost foam is that it’s heavy and dense so it limits the Ultraboost 21’s versatility. 

Adidas also used their Linear Energy Push System, which adds stiffer, reinforced materials in the midsole to reduce forefoot flex for a more responsive ride.

UltraBoost 22 - The Ultraboost 22 and 21 have exactly the same midsole but the big difference which influences the ride is the strobel lasting directly underneath the insole, above the midsole.The Ultraboost 21 had a thick, lattice lasting with small rectangular cutouts while the Ultraboost 22 has a thinner lasting with a large, oval cutout in the heel, and a large, oval cutout under the ball of the foot.The large cutouts in the Ultraboost 22 allow the Boost to expand more under your heel and forefoot so it feels more squishy and more comfortable for long-distance runs. The Linear Energy Push System makes the forefoot stiffer and makes the shoe feel snappier because it helps the forefoot return to its original position when it flexes during transitions.

Ultraboost Light 23 - The midsole of the Ultraboost Light is where things get interesting. The Ultraboost has a new midsole foam called Light Boost which takes inspiration from Boost Light from the Sub 2. It’s much heavier than the 2018 version but it’s 30 percent lighter than the Boost foam that has been used in the Ultraboost for the past 8 years.The Ultraboost Light rides significantly firmer than 21 and 22.Not only is its midsole denser but it also has a webbed strobel lasting underneath its insole which prevents your foot from sinking down into the midsole. The Ultraboost 22 had large cutouts in its strobel lasting in the heel and the forefoot which made it feel softer.Most of the Ultraboost Light’s cushioning is situated in the heel so it’s a shoe that’s more suited to heel strikers. It feels a lot softer and more cushioned when you land on the heel

The Ultraboost Light still has the same lower instep height as the Ultraboost 21 and 22, as well as a narrower heel fit to reduce heel slip and prevent blisters. There’s also the same Linear Energy Push (LEP) system.

4. Fit and Sizing

UltraBoost 21 - Though the Ultraboost fits true to size, it feels a bit short due to the shallow toe area. Other than that, the interiors fit smoothly with a firm foothold.Staying true to size will result in the best overall performance, since the foot needs to be positioned correctly to make the best of the midsole cushioning. 

UltraBoost 22 - The fit is still true to size and more suited to narrow feet than wide feet. It’s not available in additional widths like most Adidas trainers.

Ultraboost Light 23 - The Ultraboost Light fits true to size although if you prefer a snug fit, you can go down a half size because the Primeknit is stretchy so it will conform to your feet. It has a narrow fit so I don’t recommend it for wide feet. 

5. Stability

Ultraboost 21 - Stability is very good in the Ultraboost 21. It has a wide midsole base and its firm midsole results in minimal lean bias.

Ultraboost 22 - One of the Ultraboost 22’s strengths is how stable it is. There’s very little lean bias because the midsole doesn’t compress much and the deep heel cups your rearfoot. It also has a wide, stable base.

Ultraboost Light 23 - Stability is an area where the Ultraboost Light excels in: it’s firmer and even more stable than the Ultraboost 22 because there’s less lean bias. The boost foam in the rearfoot cups your heel so it provides a high level of support and guidance as you heel strike.

Ultraboost 21 vs. 22 vs. 23: Comparison Chart

Conclusion: Which is Best for You?

The Ultraboost 22 is definitely an upgrade over the Ultraboost 21. The heel lockdown is slightly better and it has a softer ride thanks to the Strobel lining change so it’s a better max-cushioned trainer.It can still work in a shoe rotation as an easy day or recovery trainer if you don’t mind a heavy shoe- just don’t expect much assistance from the Ultraboost 22 to go faster than 5.30 per km pace.

The latest version of the Adidas Ultraboost Light stays true to its roots as a peppy, everyday trainer that also works for stylish streetwear.Coming in as the lightest Ultraboost ever, while this is not a speed day shoe, the decreased weight makes it far easier on the legs while maintaining the progressions made for the previous couple of versions that continue to make this a true running shoe. The Adidas Ultraboost Light is a daily training shoe for those who prefer a softer/larger rearfoot and a firmer forefoot with a low-volume knit upper. 

But whatever you choose, always keep in mind that your comfort comes first before the style. So go for more comfortable shoes than what looks best on you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Ultraboost made of?

adidas Ultraboost shoes are made with a Primeknit upper, a separated lace cage and heel-to-toe Boost. Boost is made of eTPU, and Primeknit is digitally knit into one piece, providing lightweight, seamless comfort created with less waste. 

Is adidas Ultraboost true to size?

Ultraboost shoes generally run true to size. 

Are Ultraboost good running shoes?

Although they’ve been adopted by the fashion world and can be worn for every day, adidas Ultraboost are running shoes first and foremost. With their sock-like Primeknit upper and energy-returning Boost midsole, Ultraboost gives runners a feeling of responsive cushioning with every stride. 

How long do Ultraboosts last?

The range that Ultraboost shoes last varies based on what they are being used for and for how long. Typically the midsole stays in good condition for around 250 miles. People wear Ultraboost shoes for various reasons which impacts how long they will last. 

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