Shoe Review: Adidas Ultraboost 22

The Adidas Ultraboost 22 brings ultra energy to every step.

The Adidas Ultraboost collection was launched in 2015 as both a comfortable running shoe and a popular lifestyle shoe. They’re easy to find on both runners in the park and strangers walking down the street.

The latest iteration of the Adidas Ultraboost features a soft knit upper, a separated lace cage and an energetic midsole foam called Boost.

Fleet Feet reviewers tested the Adidas Ultraboost 22 to see how they fared on long runs, casual walks and speed workouts. Here’s everything you need to know about the Adidas Ultraboost 22.

The Adidas Ultraboost 22 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.

Reviewers noticed the springy, peppy ride of the Adidas Ultraboost 22.

“I’m a big fan of the Boost foam. It’s soft, yet springy and responsive and the transitions were super smooth,” one reviewer says. “These shoes felt super snappy on my runs and I found myself looking forward to running in them again.”

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.

“The heel-toe offset, partnered with the bouncy Boost midsole foam, creates a feeling of forward momentum and it feels like it creates a sensation of perpetual momentum once you’re out on a run,” one reviewer says.

The rubber outsole is made with Continental rubber, the same material used in car and bike tires, resulting in a grippy feel with excellent traction and durability.

The Adidas Ultraboost 22 features the Ultraboost’s signature upper - a one piece, knit upper that wraps comfortably around your foot. Plus, the upper is made with a high performance yarn containing 50 percent recycled materials. A separated lace cage tops off the fit.

While reviewers appreciated the smooth feel of the upper, some felt the one piece upper made it hard to customize the fit.

“I felt like these shoes didn’t hold my feet in the way I’m used to,” says one reviewer. “I also don’t like that they don’t have an extra eyelet for the marathon loop.”

Adidas aimed to resolve this issue in the latest version of the women’s Ultraboost, creating a narrower heel fit, but some reviewers still noticed slippage.

“I tied these shoes as tight as I could without being uncomfortable and my heels were still slipping during my walk, but on my run it was less noticeable,” says one reviewer. “I’m not a huge fan of the one piece upper, but I found I didn’t notice any issues on my runs.”

Although some reviewers felt the fit wasn’t perfect, they appreciated the separated lace cage that sits on top of the upper.

“A lot of shoes that have a one piece upper are hard to tighten without the material puckering. The fact that these laces sit separately from the upper makes it easier to tighten them without this issue,” one reviewer says.

The latest version of the Adidas Ultraboost stays true to its roots as a peppy, everyday trainer that also works for stylish streetwear.

Adidas shaved some weight off the Ultraboost 22, almost a full ounce in the women’s and almost half an ounce in the men’s, making it more comfortable over long distances.

“The Adidas Ultraboost 22 seems slightly lighter than the Ultraboost 21, but it’s still not a lightweight shoe. It’s heavier than most other shoes in my quiver, but it’s enjoyable to run in,” one reviewer says.

Another important update to the Adidas Ultraboost is the narrower heel fit in the women’s version, designed to reduce heel slippage for a more comfortable fit.

The Adidas Ultraboost 22 offers a smooth ride with plenty of energy return thanks to Adidas Boost foam.

A soft knit upper wraps around your foot, and a separated lace cage helps you lock down the fit.

Some reviewers weren’t crazy about the fit thanks to the one-piece upper, but everyone agreed that the cushioning and overall ride more than made up for it.

“I enjoyed these shoes for easy runs and uptempo paces. Although the upper isn’t exactly my style, the cushion is comfortable enough to forget about the less than perfect fit,” one reviewer says.