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THAT YOU ARE A Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner or a beginner, there are few runners who wouldn’t benefit from a more comfortable shoe. That’s because comfort doesn’t lose any value as you gain experience. No matter where you are in your running journey, slipping into a more comfortable shoe can have a tangible impact on your performance—and, understandably, how often you run.
Comfort is most runners’ top priority when shopping for a new pair—and no, we’re not making that up. Global study commissioned by Adidas It has recently been found that uncomfortable shoes top the list of runners’ biggest problems, which is why earlier this year Adidas revamped its Supernova range, with a focus on improving comfort.
The new Adidas Supernova line includes three models: Stride, Solution, and Rise. These names are more vague than descriptive, so allow us to provide a brief explanation. All three models are designed to be everyday training shoes, but the Stride offers the most speed, the Solution the most stability, and the Rise the most comfort. While all three are designed for increased comfort, the Rise is simply the best performer.
While I wasn’t involved in Adidas’ study, I wouldn’t argue with their findings. Responsiveness, speed, and weight reduction have become focal points of many brands’ everyday sneaker lineups. But what they seem to have forgotten is that for a shoe to truly become the workhorse of anyone’s rotation, comfort is an absolute must. That, along with some lingering knee pain I’ve dealt with from some of the non-comfort-focused shoes mentioned above, put the Supernova Rise at the top of my wish list. But does it deliver?
The look
The Adidas Supernova Rise comes in five colorways, but all of them are pretty safe, at least compared to most shoes these days. The simplest variation is all-black, another adds a pop of white, and even the most outrageous palette uses only pops of green or orange but maintains primary bases of white, black, and navy while sticking to three or fewer colors in total.
The lack of boldness in the colorways is one of my biggest gripes with the Supernova Rise. Many have lamented the running industry’s shift toward flashier colors and eye-catching accents, but I personally like my running shoes to be loud and garish, which is not the case with the Supernova Rise. But not everyone agrees. Subtlety and muted tones are much more popular and much more marketable—just look at Adidas’ sales figures to see that.
The specifications
At first glance, the Adidas Supernova Rise may look like any other classic sneaker, but under the hood lies a series of design advancements that earn it the right to call itself the most comfortable shoe on the market. Like the other two models in the revamped Supernova line, the Supernova Rise features Adidas’ re-engineered superfoam, Dreamstrike+. Not just any foam, the new midsole foam is made super by striking the ideal balance between support and comfort.
The Rise’s sole also features a complex system of support shanks that are loaded from below to provide neutral support, meaning it offers more support in the heel than the forefoot and an upper that molds to the shape of your foot. To top it all off, the ultra-comfortable design features a heel fit that combines softly supportive cushioned foam with a soft textile feel to make your heel feel like it’s resting its head at the end of a long day.
Now let’s get down to the numbers: the Supernova Rise weighs 277 grams, which is almost unbelievable considering its solid construction and many comfort elements. The shoe features a 10mm heel-to-toe drop, which is on the high side, but seems to be the new norm as we move away from the minimalism and barefoot feel that was popular about 15 years ago.
The test
As a daily trainer, the Supernova Rise should be able to handle whatever I throw at it, whether that’s on a dry paved road or in terribly wet conditions on a debris-laden trail. Due to unavoidable weather-related circumstances, my test of the Supernova Rise took place on something more similar to the latter, in what was essentially a baptism of fire that almost had me complaining about my shoes.
The site of my Supernova Rise test was in an area of the Great Lakes region of New South Wales, on the state’s central coast. As anyone familiar with the area will know, to call it verdant would be an understatement. Towering trees surround the region’s roads, which are rarely flat and always winding. A seemingly incessant rain and wind to start the east coast winter also made my path slippery and strewn with obstacles. Apologies to my Supernova Rises, which, if they had any sentience, would probably have looked like a tired warhorse being led into battle.
It’s debatable whether running in these conditions was really necessary, but when you have a new pair of super comfortable shoes to try out, it’s hard to resist. Still, I was apprehensive right away, but my doubts quickly disappeared after lacing up the Supernova Rises for the first time.
If you test enough running shoes, you’re bound to encounter the usual issues that come with buying a new shoe, including but not limited to: awkward fits, stiff frames, and the inevitable blisters. With the Supernova Rise, none of these issues arose. Instead, my feet were immediately enveloped in a feeling of near-divine comfort. Clearly, Adidas was serious about addressing the need for more comfortable shoes—a fact I was increasingly convinced of with each stride, as the Supernova Rise continued to cradle my feet like pillows with cushioning that softened every impact.
Unfortunately, the shoes struggled to master the conditions. The Supernova Rise uses an ADIWEAR rubber outsole designed to reduce weight. It’s lightweight, but it also struggled to gain traction on slippery surfaces. But the conditions were as terrible as they come. Again, sorry Supernovas.
While the Supernova Rise’s many comfort features don’t really imply much pace or responsiveness, the shoes do offer plenty of speed. There’s no carbon plate, rocker profile, or excessive bounce to help that along, but the Supernova Rise still feels like it wants to go fast—which is more than you could say for me as the downpour showed no signs of slowing down.
Overall, the Supernova Rise impressed me. The test didn’t break my personal best, but it left me wanting more. That’s saying something considering the miserable conditions, but the level of comfort offered by the Supernova Rise is such that you feel like you can go any number of miles in any environment without any physical or muscular complaints.
The verdict
Adidas has earned enough of the trust of consumers that any goodwill generated by my opinions is pretty much redundant. There’s a reason it’s one of the best-selling brands in the world. That being said, shoes like the Supernova Rise prove that Adidas isn’t simply resting on its laurels. Everyone wants their shoes to be as fast, snappy, and flashy as possible these days, but when it comes to everyday sneakers, we can’t forget the most important factor: comfort. If you’re looking for a versatile shoe to log most of your miles in, comfort should be top of mind—and the Supernova Rise has it in spades. Plus, with a generous $220 price tag, it’s hard to argue against a good deal.
For more information on the Adidas Supernova Rise, Click here.
Related:
Men’s Health’s Picks for the Best Running Shoes for Beginners
Everything You Need to Know Before Joining a Running Club