#11 Review: adidas Ultraboost 21 (UB21) Primeblue Shoes
© Josh Lyons
Those who know me, know that I'm an active runner and have been photographing adidas Runners Cape Town since inception in Cape Town in 2017. I have photographed countless runners in adidas shoes and apparel for a good few years and have built up a bias toward adidas product over the years, so please take this into consideration when interpreting my opinion of the brand.
Having said this, I thought it’s time I stepped in front of the camera to showcase the latest silhouette of the infamous Ultraboost range and a pair of shoes I currently have on rotation, the Ultraboost 21 Primeblue shoes.
I brought Josh Lyons onboard to photograph these shoes on foot with his trusty Nikon F4 and Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 AF-S lens on Portra 400 film shot at ISO 400. It was appropriate to pair such an iconic camera with one of adidas most important shoe series in recent years. I say shoe alone, as some prefer the latest version of the adidas Ultraboost as a lifestyle athleisure sneaker vs high performance running shoe. You really do need to be the judge of this for yourself as they are incredible shoes irrespective of how you prefer to make use of them.
Let me start by saying that these are not the most affordable running shoes or sneakers that you’ll find - they aren’t meant to be. The original retail price point in South Africa is R3599 but at time of writing this specific colorway is available on sale via adidas for R2849.
© Josh Lyons
When adidas launched the first ever Ultraboost silhouette in 2015, they claimed it was the best running shoe they had ever made. Many runners will debate that the more recent UB silhouettes haven’t been their best running shoe, but I’ll give the adidas Innovation Team & German chemists kudos for developing the next level in responsive technology we now know as Boost technology.
The development of Boost has really took running shoes and what has now become possible to the next dimension. These UB21’s feature 6% more Boost than the UB20’s through an exaggerated heel curve for increased energy return and comfort. I’m not totally convinced that this was necessary as it’s resulted in a heavier shoe at 340 grams.
The upper is manufactured using adidas Primeblue Primeknit+ and really offers that extra bit of support around the foot. Versions prior to the UB20’s felt significantly stretchier, often resulting in unwanted foot movement when you’d prefer your foot to be stable, especially around corners.
When the UB20’s introduced embroidered details around the edge of the upper as well as Tailored Fibre Placement tech, which introduced additional support with precision stitching, it really changed the support game for the UB20 silhouette.
Let’s be honest, the additional weight is going to be an issue if you’re a speedy runner over shorter distances. Having said that, this shoe was designed for longer, easy paced runs when compared to lighter adidas silhouettes such as the adizero Pro, SL20 or Supernova.
© Josh Lyons
The core development in the Ultraboost 21 is the redesign of the shoe’s torsion system. The new adidas Linear Energy Push (LEP) provides a 15% increase in forefoot bending stiffness for a more responsive stride. For a shoe that looks really soft and bulky at first glance, it’s a lot firmer and responsive than you’d think. If you think it’s going to be as squishy as previous silhouettes, I’m sorry to say it’s not.
The outsole is made from the world-leading Continental rubber compound that really does provide that extra grip on varying surfaces in those miserable winter conditions. I’m the type of runner that takes a corner at high speed and does entry-level parkour over sidewalk benches - so this is a welcomed advantage when taking the streets by storm.
There is also temperature independent cushioning that provides your feet with maximum comfort and energy return in all climates - so you don’t have to worry about your feet getting hot during the peak of summer.
© Josh Lyons
In my mind, one of the most important aspects of this shoe is the upper. It consists of the Primeblue material manufactured using Parley Ocean Plastic that adidas has pledged to make use of going forward to achieve their goal of being completely off virgin polyester by 2024. The material is made out of recycled polyester from plastic intercepted from beaches and marine communities before it has reached ocean waters - a prime example of how we should be utilising waste to produce new products.
Global clothing brands are responsible for a huge amount of waste and have an obligation to the earth to advance conscious practice in their manufacturing processes. Let’s hope that the scale of their global influence is enough to contribute toward a tidal wave of change amongst competing & small brands across all industries.
I urge everyone to make conscious purchasing decisions when choosing the products they purchase and the brands we support. We cannot continue supporting brands who leave a negative environmental footprint without creating innovative solutions to the problems they cause.
© Kyle Kingsley
If you’re a serious runner, you probably won’t be using these when attempting your PB. There’s clearly a reason why this shoe has crossed over into the athleisure sneaker market in recent years.I’ll be keeping these shoes for a combination of lifestyle & slow paced distance training.
If you’re looking for motivation to get into running more regularly with a global community of like-minded individuals; check out adidas Runners (AR) in your city! I’ll provide some insight into my experience with the community over the past few years in an upcoming blog post - stay tuned.
I’m interested to hear your experience of the Ultraboost series and whether you prefer it as a lifestyle sneaker or high-performance running shoe. Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Yours in photographic art & running shoes,
Kyle
© Josh Lyons