This article has been updated with current models for April 2023. The adidas Solarboost 4, Solarglide 5, and Ultraboost 22 have been replaced with their updated versions.
In this product guide:
- 1. Factors to consider
- 2. Our top pick: adidas Ultraboost Light
- 3. Cushioned trainer for standing all day: adidas Solarboost 5
- 4. Cushioned sneaker for standing all day: adidas Pureboost 22
- 5. Cushioned sneaker for standing all day: adidas NMD R1 V3
- 6. Cushioned sneaker for standing all day: adidas Ultraboost DNA
- 7. Supportive trainer for standing all day: adidas Solarglide 6
Though this article is limited to adidas products, a multi-brand buyer’s guide on the same topic also exists.
In that guide, we laid out the selection criterion for a standing-friendly shoe; you can read all about it here.
We won’t repeat that information. However, here are some adidas-specific features to look out for. Having these design features in an adidas shoe will make it comfortable enough to spend long hours on the feet.
Boost, Boost, Boost
Having a midsole made of this expanded Polyurethane foam increases the chances of the shoe being comfortable enough for standing all day.
While adidas Boost has been overtaken by lighter and more responsive foams – including the adidas Lightstrike Pro – its suite of tricks still works. Boost is extremely durable and weather-resistant.
Unlike EVA foams or rubber blends like Nike React that harden in freezing temperatures, Boost maintains its cushioning softness regardless of how cold it is.
adidas Boost also offers excellent resistance to cushioning fatigue.
The Boost foam material is very resistant to deformation.
Whereas lesser cushioning materials like EVA will lose their cushioning after a few hundred miles, most Boost midsoles will outlive the shoe. Being on your feet for many hours requires a cushioned foundation, so a Boost midsole is excellent for that use case.
Solereview recommends: The adidas Ultraboost Light
While the adidas footwear catalog is full of Boost-equipped footwear, the adidas Ultraboost Light is our favorite pick as a standing shoe.
Its high-volume midsole is like a deep reservoir of cushioning, and the width makes it supportive. The firm Continental rubber outsole and LEP shank help with traction and stability. An elastic and secure fit prevents the foot from sliding over the midsole.
For 2023, adidas no longer mentions the year (21, 22) in the Ultraboost’s name. The newest model is called the Ultraboost Light. However, this shoe is anything but lightweight.
Sure, there’s some weight reduction (adidas claims 30%) because of the reformulated Boost midsole, but the ride quality is very similar to the Ultraboost 22.
A Continental-branded rubber outsole
A cushioned midsole has a positive effect on ride comfort, but the outsole is equally important.
Having lots of rubber coverage adds support and safety. A shoe needs to grip well on artificial floors, and here’s where rubber outperforms foam-based outsoles. It also makes a shoe durable – something that’s desirable in a shoe that’s intended to be worn all day.
adidas’s Continental rubber is a proven outsole material that offers excellent traction and durability. It’s not to say that other adidas outsoles like Adiwear are bad, but we’ve always found the Continental compound to be safe and reliable.
On this list, the NMD R1 V3 and Pureboost 22 have regular rubber outsoles.
A secure upper
The Primeknit mesh is elastic and accommodates a range of foot profiles.
Most adidas Primeknit uppers are secure, and so are the uppers used on the Solarglide and Solarboost. It does help that adidas shoes have an inherently snug fit.
A secure fit improves the shoe’s performance when spending many hours on the feet. A snug fit enhances the cushioning feel by keeping the foot closer to the midsole.
2) adidas Solarboost 5
Unlike the Ultraboost, the Solarboost 5 lacks the exaggerated midsole sidewalls that cup the foot on both sides. Nonetheless, the Solarboost’s midsole has something that’s missing on the Ultraboost – a firmer EVA rim above the Boost midsole.
The Solarboost 5 has been completely redesigned from the ground up. So while the Solarboost 5 shares a few traits with the Solarboost 4, the softer ride behaves differently.
Rather than a full-length EVA rim, the Solarboost 5 limits it to the rearfoot. On the other hand, the plastic frame (LEP) on the Solarboost 5 creates a ‘ring’ around the entire periphery of the outsole.
This way, the Solarboost 5 is cushioned as well as supportive – a combination of traits that proves useful when being on the feet all day. The soft and springy Boost foam is laid out in a heel-to-toe configuration for multi-hour comfort, whereas the EVA rim and LEP frame add stability.
Changes take place on the Continental rubber outsole as well. The rubber is semi-translucent, so we get to see the inner workings of the LEP shank. The evenly distributed lugs do what they’re supposed to, and offer dependable grip on most surfaces.
The upper uses a soft and breathable mesh along with a plush tongue and heel.
3) adidas Pureboost 22
The adidas Pureboost 22 is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a sneaker that uses a midsole made of nothing but soft and bouncy Boost foam.
Calling it a running shoe is a stretch, as the soft midsole lacks any stability features. But the soft ride is what makes the Pureboost 22 an excellent shoe for standing.
The responsive Boost foam makes the Pureboost extremely comfortable. A thick rubber outsole covers most of the midsole and delivers dependable traction over most dry surfaces. Unlike the more expensive Ultraboost, the Pureboost does not have a Continental outsole or LEP shank.
4) adidas NMD R1 V3
The original NMD R1 was inspired by vintage adidas design elements. For example, the color-blocking plugs on the midsole were vaguely based on the 1984 Micropacer or Boston Super.
The third iteration of the NMD R1 still has some of the features that made the V1 and V2 comfortable. The Boost midsole makes the NMD R1 V3 a comfortable standing shoe, whereas the TPU side clips add stability.
The upper comes in different meshes, ranging from a breathable spacer mesh to a compact ripstop fabric. Regardless of the mesh, the upper has a slightly short and secure fit. The speed loops make the NMD V3 quick to lace up, and the molded clip grips the heel in place.
Just know that the NMD R1 V3 has firmer cushioning than the NMD R1 V1 and V2 due to the larger TPU clips. So if you want a softer ride, we recommend the V1 or V2 instead.
5) adidas UltraBoost 4.0 DNA
adidas also sells a ‘DNA’ variant of the Ultraboost – which is a nod to the original design that we reviewed seven years ago. It’s a softer and lighter shoe than the Ultraboost 2022 because of its minimal design.
However, it’s easy to forget that the Ultraboost’s legacy was built on the blow-out success of the first few models. The full-length Boost midsole, the soft and elastic Primeknit upper, and the Continental rubber outsole make the Ultraboost a very comfortable everyday sneaker.
The cushy Boost foam stack keeps the foot cushioned during extended periods of standing, and the plush upper keeps the foot securely held inside the shoe.
6) adidas SolarGlide 6
The Solarglide 5 and 6 are based on the same sole, so they are practically indistinguishable.
Just like the last model, the wide midsole combines Boost foam with several stabilizing features. We wrote about the different changes at length in our Solarglide 5 review, and most of it will also apply to the Solarglide 6.
The LEP shank extends over the heel and forms a ‘wing’ to stabilize the heel. The Boost midsole provides deep cushioning.
As a sum of its parts, the Solarglide 6 delivers all-day cushioning with plenty of support. The firm EVA frame and plastic LEP shank also make the ride very supportive.
The Continental rubber outsole offers excellent traction on most surfaces, and the large windows (that expose the Boost foam) reduce the stiffness.
At 13 ounces, it’s a very heavy shoe, so its versatility as a running shoe is rather limited.