Adidas ClimaCool 1

Editor rating: 8.9 / 10

User's rating: based on 1 user ratings

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By Abbie Copeland

All Adidas Shoes

Adidas ClimaCool 1 Review Facts

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Several years ago, the designers at Adidas sought to fulfill one of the running community’s most well known yet oft-neglected desires. Breathability. They were informed that this function of a shoe should be treated as more than just a bonus feature. The ability to provide sufficient airflow should be one of the principle functions around which a shoe, and more specifically a running shoe, is constructed. So in taking heed of these concerns, the designers at Adidas created the original ClimaCool 1. It has now been over fifteen years since the Adidas ClimaCool 1 originally dropped. They have managed to maintain their cult-like popularity, and so much so, that Adidas recently released the ClimaCool 02.17. The ClimaCool 02.17 while designed with our modern sensibilities in mind, still speaks to and addresses well those familiar concerns. The Adidas ClimaCool 02.17 took many of things that made the ClimaCool 1 successful, and for good reason. The design of this original shoe has a functionality that time could not diminish. With that being said, let’s reexamine what made Adidas’s ClimaCool 1 appealing to those clamoring for more breathability in their footwear.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Shoe provides a decent amount of ventilation
Wide variety of eye-popping colors
Very Affordable
Nice looking silohuette
Decent cushioning in midsole of the shoe
Shoe is very lightweight

Cons

May be too stiff in the beginning
Responsivity is lacking

See How

What are buyers saying?

We have spent 4 hours analyzing a total of 600 reviews.

These reviews are then categoried into "Positive" and "Negative" feedback.

Below you will read a summary of them:

Positive

These fit nice and accomodate my spurs. They are a little snug on my wide feet and I ordered wide. They are really comfy otherwise and have great air flow.
Why were these so much smaller than other Adidas? These were comfortable and sporty but I prefer other brands that fit correct.
My other pair lasted for years. These are great in the arches and have great inside comfort.
I ordered a size larger and these fit like a dream. I am in love with these shoes. My feet do not hurt after wearing them for long periods and they are real sporty.
These are great summer shoes and super comfortable.
These shoes look great on my foot and are super cozy. I was shocked how light they are.
The ventilation in these shoes is epic and they are extremely light.
I like when I can get a shoe that does what it says and looks good on. This shoe is all of that and it is comfortable.
These shoes never dissapoint. I have been wearing them for over 8 years now and I am just as happy with these. I haven't found a shoe that fits better. The first run is always great and I like that.
When this shoe is broken in, the comfort cannot be beat. It is comfortable and sporty and wonderfully made.
These shoes are great for the heat. They also are great for casual wear. I love a shoe I can switch around. They are light and durable and run true to size. They are a bit hard to clean though.
The traction on these is great, which makes it an awesome training shoe. You might have to get used to the back of the heel; it is a little awkward and took some time for me to break in. But, these shoes are light and airy and that is the best.
These are light and look awesome. I am over the moon with the comfort and the price fits my budget.
These are high quality shoes and come in great colors. I love the comfort and the fact they add to my height.
These shoes are comfortable and that is what I want in a shoe. They are perfect.
These shoes are cool and they look great. The ventilation is wild; I feel like my feet are actually breathing when I run. I want to buy them all.
I own a lot of this style sneaker. If they were to make more colors, I would probably buy those too. These shoes are superior in so many ways: comfort, light, airy. There are just so many factors on why you should purchase them.
I bought these for casual wear and have used them at the gym; they are so darn comfortable.
I have bought all the colors and am in love with all of them. They are stylish, comfortable and you can't beat the quality for the price. I work out everyday in these and am never disappointed.
They are the most stylish and fresh sneakers out there. They look good from all angles and have the comfort to go with it. I love these shoes.
The air on the bottom is genius. That is the main reason I bought these. Thank God they are super comfortable too and true to fit.
I have been buying these since they came out. They are comfortable and are a great quality shoe. I also like that they are stylish and can be used for street wear.
This was a little narrow for me but it looked great. I would recommend these for people with high arches and thin feet.
The colors are great. I love the comfort and how every step feels like a pillow is taped to my foot.
Incredible made shoes. They are snug in the mid-section but they loosen up with wear. Another great shoe by Adidas.

Negative

I used to buy these for their softness, now they are different. They squeeze my toes and they no longe are as comfortable as I am used to. I am very disappointed.
They look good and that is all. They have no comfort and they weigh a ton.
These shoes are cheap material and feel like plastic. I was not impressed.
They look good and that is all. They have no comfort and they weigh a ton.
I used to buy these for their softness, now they are different. They squeeze my toes and they no longer are as comfortable as I am used to. I am very disappointed.

50.0

Outsole

The Adidas ClimaCool 1 incorporates a decoupled outsole configured from rubber. A raised and omnidirectional tread occupies the outsole, allowing it to maintain a secure grip of the surface below it.

Midsole

The shoe’s midsole is made of the oft-used and always appreciated EVA foam. EVA foam grants the midsole a certain buoyancy, aiding in the shoe’s compression, cushioning and shock absorption in a way that other midsole-employed materials can not. The use of EVA in the midsole also aids in perpetuating the general lightweight feel of Adidas shoes, and the ClimaCool 1 is no exception.

Upper

The upper of the shoe is fashioned from a synthetic mesh. It is well ventilated but provides the runner with ample cushioning as well.

Weight

The shoe weighs around 8.7 ounces.

Breathability

The Adidas ClimaCool 1 offers the runner a nice amount of breathability. The upper is fashioned from a porous, mesh material that allows the minute wind drag of every stride to be channeled into the shoe, and provide the runner with sufficient air flow. The materials used in both the outsole and midsole of the shoe also do an excellent job of preventing the accumulation of moisture. Not only is this wonderful in so far as it precludes the shoe’s building up a stink, but it allows the runner to enjoy a more hygienic running experience. It also allows them to avoid the strange chafing that can occur when one’s feet are drenched by sweat and locked in a shoe.

Comfort

Some have complained about the shoe’s need to be broken in. The midsole provides the runner with ample cushioning so that the impact of their strides are never felt too harshly. This is important because impact energies have the potential to travel up the legs and affect other parts of the body. Many runners, for example, will know that back pain and joint pain are often want to occur when they run in shoes with poor padding. The upper of the shoe maintains a decent amount of rigidity when it needs to but will soften up in accordance to the runner’s movements.

Style

This shoe sports a somewhat strange design. It features many perforations that serve as ventilation holes, but almost give the shoe a scaly appearance. This is not a knock against its design though. Its unique, and sure to catch the eye of passers-by. It is also available in a wide array of colors. This color palette, too, is different than those made available by other brands with similar products. The Frost Green ClimaCool 1’s, for example, with their odd pistachio hue, are a delight to the eyes. The Red ClimaCool 1’s speak to vibrancy and fun that very few shoes can match. As for the shape of the shoe, its design is concurrent with the trends of the early 2000’s. It features a rounded silhouette and a texture that is almost bubble-like. Some of the more colorful shoes are also fashioned from a material that appears a bit translucent, further solidifying the shoe's 2002 aesthetic.

Durability

The Adidas ClimaCool 1’s are not the most durable shoes on the market. They do not feature any special, or high tech, mechanisms to prevent the shoe from breaking down. In fact, most of the design features, in terms of their ability to endure, are pretty standard. The outsole is constructed of a standard rubber, while the durability of rubber cannot easily be contested, the tread on the bottom of rubber can be subject to more scrutiny. Some runners have complained that as they wore the shoes the tread along the bottom began to wear away. This is disappointing but not too uncommon for outsoles like these. Perhaps, if the designers had decided to incorporate Continental rubber the outsole would fair better. Still, the outsole will wear away no sooner than the typical, low cost, running shoe.

Protection

As stated before the upper of the shoe maintains a certain tenacity that prevents it from feeling too slack. It is constructed in such a way though, as to give a little when the motion of the feet demand it. The shoe’s neoprene fabric is also highly resistant to dirt and debris, and the upper of the shoe does a great job at keeping these other materials from making it into the shoe.

Responsiveness

The shoe features fairly simple midsole and outsole designs. While these provide the runner with adequate cushioning and some degree of ground sensitivity, they can be regarded as lacking in terms of responsivity. They will, for example, absorb some of the stride's impact energies, but do little in terms of pushing the runner forward. They lack the propulsive qualities of some other shoes, and use for an extended period may result in some sore feet.

Support

The midsole of the sole will provide the runner with decent cushioning. The upper is also well designed, and high reaching so as to prevent dreaded ankle roll. Most runners have found that the shoe provides an adequate amount of support, allowing them to better stack the bones and in the lower part of the body and feel more sturdy when traversing terrain.

Terrain

The shoe is best suited for road work. It is not designed to function as well on very slippery roads, or iced over pathways. It is also probably not the best option for use on the trail. It will, however, provide a runner with some much-needed grip on asphalt. It also does well enough to prevent harmful items, such as jagged rocks, from doing too much damage to the sole of the runner’s feet.

Price

The Adidas ClimaCool 1 maintains a price tag that is well below that of the average running shoe. This is to be expected as it has been fifteen years since the shoe was originally released. The shoe, though, still functions well and is a decent product for the money.

Traction

The shoe features a standard rubber outsole with a semi-aggressive tread pattern. It is designed to function best on roads. A few runners did cite issues with the traction, however. They complained of insufficient grip, and slippage. With this in mind, it is probably best not to run across wet surfaces when wearing these shoes.

Flexibility

The shoe is devoid of that fresh out the box feel. Many runners have complained that it took them a considerable amount of time to break the shoes in, and rid them of their inherent stiffness. Most runners should be able to overlook this inconvenience because of the other ergonomic benefits of this shoe.

Stability

In terms of stability, the Adidas ClimaCool 1 performs well enough. It features at its rear an abrasive heel counter. The runner is sure to appreciate the added solidity of this measure. The interior housing about the upper also does well to keep the runner feeling stable. The stability measures, though, are nothing to write home about.

Drop

The Adidas ClimaCool 1 employ a drop of 8 millimeters.

Key Features

- 360 degrees of ventilation
- Wide array of colors
- EVA midsole

Bottom Line

The Adidas ClimaCool 1 will provide runners with 360 degrees of ventilation. In that way, it serves its namesake, and if that is all runner is looking for, then they will be pleased. There is also the added benefit of its very stylish and eye-catching color palette. Beyond these two aspects though, the shoe is neither great nor terrible. It is actually quite basic. It is stiff, though, relatively comfortable. It provides cushioning but not much else in terms of responsiveness. One must keep in mind though, that it is a cheaper running shoe option, and for its price, it is of decent quality. If one is pleased to sport these shoes, they are encouraged to give the other shoes in the ClimaCool series a look as well.