- adidas’s marketing pitch: Delivers continual energy return across the miles.
- Upper: Stretchy Primeknit upper with a bootie construction.
- Midsole: Full-length ‘Light Boost’ foam, Torsion midfoot shank. 10 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Single piece Continental rubber.
- Weight: 275 gms/ 9.7 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8.5/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 38 mm (heel), 28 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: Single, D – regular (reviewed)
- Previous model: adidas Ultraboost Light.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Daily cruiser, half-marathons, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Orthotic compatibility: Low.
- Median lifespan: 500 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 5:00 min/km (8:00 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Soft and bouncy comfort
- Very secure fit
- Outsole traction
- Long term durability
- Highly reflective upper
Cons
- Lower stability than before
- Shallow toe box
- No optional width(s)
- Short Torsion piece affects transitions
Also consider:
- Hoka Bondi 8
- Brooks Glycerin 21
- Saucony Triumph 22
- Asics Nimbus 26
- New Balance 1080V13
- Puma Magnify Nitro
- Mizuno Wave Sky 8
- Use the adidas Ultraboost 5X for long and easy runs
- Use adidas Boston 12 or Hoka Mach 6 for tempos and short races
- Use the adidas Adios Pro 3 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 for marathons
In this review:
SUMMARY AND VERDICT
Over the years, the Ultraboost has built a reputation as a comfortable and durable lifestyle sneaker. A decade ago, it began as a performance running shoe, but gradually moved away from its roots.
We would argue the Ultraboost was deserving of that reputation. The cushioning distribution heavily favored the heel, which made it a feast or famine situation depending on the footstrike.
Also, the upper used stiff plastic panels, and it was hard to escape the sense of bulk attached to your feet.
It wasn’t always like this. The 2015 Ultraboost was an exercise in design simplicity. A knit upper was glued to a bouncy (for its time) midsole made of nothing but Boost foam. As the years went by, adidas tacked on more bulk and structure to the Ultraboost.
The Ultraboost 5X makes amends by stripping away unwanted components and reducing weight. It’s now a decent running shoe for recovery paces and everyday miles – as long as you aren’t pushing it too hard, that is.
The 5X is accurately proportioned to modern standards without losing sight of what made the 2015 model so successful.
On a symbolic level, there are striking parallels between the 2024 adidas Ultraboost 5X and the original Ultraboost.
A decade ago, things were not looking great for adidas; a stale product line-up led to lacklustre revenues and poor brand perception.
Then Boost foam showed up, and everything changed for the German brand. The 2014 Energy Boost put life back into the business, and when the Ultraboost showed up in January 2015, it transformed the running shoe industry.
This is no exaggeration; the Ultraboost was the first mainstream running shoe to feature a single-density midsole made of a super-foam. Without a doubt, the Ultraboost greatly accelerated the pace of innovation for midsole foams.
Sure, Nike Lunarlon existed at the time, but it was usually a component inside an EVA frame (the Lunarglide, Lunaracer, and Lunartempo were good examples) and not the entire midsole. Nike released a running shoe with a 100% Lunarlon midsole in 2014, and the results were not that great.
It’s 2024, and adidas has just come out of a slump. Their sneaker business is booming, and their running shoes have improved vastly over the last couple of years.
The adizero assortment is excellent, and it’s likely to get better with the upcoming Adios Pro 4 and updated Boston/Adios.
So just like in 2015, the Ultraboost 5X has excellent timing. The refined design of the Ultraboost 5X will likely find many takers, and its updated ride character is competitive relative to comparable shoes.
Despite what adidas claims, the Ultraboost has always met the needs of two different consumer groups. The first is the runner who wants a cushioned shoe for recovery runs, easy daily miles, or running a half-marathon without worrying too much about setting a PB/PR.
Until Hoka showed up, the Ultraboost had a near-monopoly over this market niche. The Boost midsole made easier speeds (5:00 min/km, 8 min/mile, and slower) runs comfortable and it did not stiffen in freezing temperatures like EVA and rubber-blended foams do.
Over the years, the Ultraboost also built a reputation for durability. The Continental rubber outsole seldom disappointed, and the Boost midsole was good at retaining its cushioning over hundreds of kilometers.
The cushioned Boost midsole makes it ideal for less aggressive workouts, and the easy-to-wear nature of the shoe makes it a comfortable everyday sneaker.
THE ADIDAS ULTRABOOST 5X COMPARED WITH ULTRABOOST LIGHT
The increased softness is the first thing that most people will notice on the 5X, followed by the lower stability and ‘lazier’ feel.
A glance at the specs put a lot into perspective. The Ultraboost 5X gains considerable midsole height over the Ultraboost Light. The previous model had heel and forefoot heights of 29 mm and 19 mm; this time, it’s 38 mm and 28 mm.
That’s nearly a 10 mm increase throughout the stack, so there’s a sense of deeper cushioning. The change in the forefoot softness is noticeable, both due to the stack height increase and the change in the outsole design.
While seen from the side, the heel doesn’t seem to have increased in height. That’s because the Ultraboost Light (the last model) had exaggerated sidewalls. The true midsole thickness was lower than what the outwards appearances suggested.
The midsole edges were much higher than the base of the foot, so the Ultraboost Light had a strong ‘cupping’ action around the heel.
That’s not the case this time – what you see is what you get. The Ultraboost 5X’s midsole edge is level with the footbed; there’s no visual trickery.
The Ultraboost Light’s transition channel created a hollow space under the heel and midfoot. The outsole was limited to the periphery, and the plastic shank extended into the forefoot.
There was a distinct sense of the weight being centered over the hollow section, and this is something that the Ultraboost 5X does have.
The 5X’s single-piece outsole fills up the channel and provides more coverage. The smaller Torsion shank doesn’t extend to the forefoot as the previous shoe did. When combined with the higher stack height, these updates make the Ultraboost 5X less stable and more flexible. It also takes more work during the toe-off phase.
There’s another way to look at the situation. Most of the earlier Ultraboosts felt like they were designed specifically for heel strikers. The lack of cushioning parity between the heel and forefoot was stark. On the other hand, the Ultraboost 5X improves its cushioning distribution.
Surprisingly, the larger outsole and taller midsole don’t add weight. The Ultraboost 5X is marginally lighter (by 0.6 Oz/17 grams) than the 2023 Ultraboost Light.
We like the new upper. The stiff plastic panel from the UB Light has been replaced with a softer (synthetic leather) material; the three-stripe logo is reflective.
THE MIDSOLE DESIGN AND RIDE EXPERIENCE
This is the first Ultraboost model to bring greater parity between between the heel and forefoot cushioning. Nearly all the prior versions felt as if they were designed just for heel strikers. Most of the Boost was stacked under the heel with the forefoot being an afterthought.
The previous arrangement worked for a few runners who appreciated the better proprioceptive feel and stability of the thinner forefoot. But the ‘Ultra’ part of the Ultraboost is supposed to be inclusive, so ideally, runners should benefit from the generous Boost cushioning regardless of how they land.
Using the 2023 Ultraboost Light as a reference, the Ultraboost 5X does a far better job at the cushioning distribution. The change in the cushioning ratios is telling.
The UB 5X’s forefoot stack is 74% of the heel height. (28 mm/38 mm x 100). Using the same formula, the UB Light’s forefoot was only 65% as tall as the heel.
The new midsole brings the forefoot height closer to the heel (height) than any of the prior versions did.
So if you’re a forefoot striker who has been avoiding the Ultraboost because of its thin forefoot, the 5X may just be the version you’re been waiting for. The forefoot cushioning is nowhere as harsh and flat as it used to be.
The beveled heel design prevents it from catching the ground and also makes midfoot and forefoot landings easier.
Even with the taller stack height, the midsole isn’t mushy. While there is a deep sense of cushioning – as there should be – the Boost foam is quick to snap back to shape.
The ‘Light Boost’ foam is bouncy, but not of the same level as the Lightstrike Pro.
The foam here is dense and resilient; tightly packed foam globules give the shoe its signature ride quality. There are parallels between the Ultraboost 5X and the Saucony Triumph 20, so that’s a helpful reference if you’re looking for one.
adidas Boost is also resistant to temperature changes, so the softness doesn’t change depending on how hot or cold it is.
The slim, removable footbed is the only source of step-in softness. The Ultraboost 5X uses the Nike Invincible V1’s formula to remove the lasting fabric under the insole; the footbed is now in direct contact with the Boost midsole.
However, the extremely snug upper is good at isolating whatever little softness the insole has to offer.
For reasons mentioned in our comparison breakout, the softer ride comes at a cost. While not unstable during easy-paced runs, the midsole lacks the rock-solid stability of the Ultraboost 22 and Ultraboost Light. The UB 5X throws you around a lot more than the Light did, that’s for sure.
The outsole traction is very good. The Continental rubber layer covers more ground than before; it’s a large single piece with small windows for flexibility.
Despite the tall stack, the forefoot isn’t stiff. It is surprisingly flexible, meaning you also won’t get any rocker effect. The shorter Torsion shank is why it’s easier to bend the forefoot than the UB Light.
Though the tight upper excels at transferring the power from the foot to the midsole, the take-offs feel slow due to the softer stack and shorter Torsion shank. The Ultraboost is a textbook ‘recovery run’ shoe; the full outsole also makes it great for walking.
The cushioned and bouncy ride is best used for everyday training (slower than 5:00 min/km or 8:00 min/mile) or half-marathons.
RECOMMENDED ROTATION
Unless you’re a fan of the new Supernova series (Rise), your versatile everyday trainer should be the adidas Boston 12. The Energy Rods tubes help the Boston 12 wear many hats, be it a cushioned daily runner or a tempo trainer.
The Hoka Mach 6 is a more focused tempo trainer that can do intervals as well.
While there are many plated marathon racers, the Adios Adios Pro 3 and Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 are safe picks.
In particular, the Adios Pro 3 is very forgiving of slower paces and heel strikers.
IS THE ADIDAS ULTRABOOST 5X DURABLE?
You’ll get an average of 450-500 miles out of the Ultraboost 5X. This form factor (and its components) is time-tested in the field; the Continental rubber outsole and Boost midsole manage wear and tear very well.
The stretchy Primeknit mesh also holds up well over time.
THE UPPER DESIGN AND FIT
For runners who are new to the Ultraboost, the tight upper takes getting used to. The toe box is shallow, and the elastic upper pins the foot down over the Boost midsole.
But once you’re used to it, the snug elasticity becomes less of an everyday concern. It’s actually quite accommodating, as the elastic mesh molds around different foot shapes. Optional widths are unavailable, so the stretchy interiors help. The Ultraboost 5X fits true-to-size.
Except for the reinforced midfoot panels, most of the upper has a stretch fit. Even the heel collar has a bit of give which is helpful when slipping the shoe on.
The long Achilles ‘lip’ doubles as a pull tab for ease of entry. The soft heel collar is padded with a couple of foam pockets on either side. The heel is supported on the outside by the plastic clip, so the internal counter-free construction is gentle on the Achilles.
The elastic fit locks the foot in much better than comparable trainers like the Saucony Triumph 22. The tight upper also maximizes power delivery by establishing a closer connection between the foot and the midsole.
The ventilation is okay, but not great. The thick mesh is very close to the skin, and that doesn’t allow the air to circulate very well.
We’re very pleased to note that adidas has finally ditched the stiff plastic panels. In its place is a set of reflective 3-stripe logos, along with an internally reinforced upper.
Given the absence of tongue padding, it’s best not to over-tighten the laces to keep the top-down pressure manageable.
The softer lacing eyestay is much more comfortable than the thick plastic panels that the past models (except for the Ultraboost 19) had.
SHOES COMPARABLE TO THE ADIDAS ULTRABOOST 5X
Which other running shoe combines a stretchy upper with a cushioned midsole and specialized rubber outsole? That would be the Puma Magnify Nitro 2. The comfortable Nitro foam midsole is ideal for everyday miles of a low-intensity nature. The Pumagrip outsole has great traction on the road.
The upper fit isn’t as tight as the Ultraboost. Only the forefoot is elastic; the rest of the upper is constructed conventionally.
The Hoka Bondi 8 has also filled in the sneaker-running shoe quite well. But the ride quality is bland, so we’d rather have the Ultraboost.
The Nimbus 26 is also a great pick as a cushioned marathon shoe.
Other comparable shoes are popular models like the Brooks Glycerin 21, Asics Nimbus 26, New Balance 1080V13, and the now-much-softer Triumph 22.