Adidas Ultra Boost Parley Fully Reviewed and Tested
Are you a runner who loves comfort, stability, and durability? Do you love really bouncy and responsive shoes? Do you like lightweight shoes so you can run faster? Do you appreciate eco-friendly products? Do you want to help cut back on the plastic pollution in the oceans? If you answered yes to any or all of these, then the Adidas Ultra Boost Parley is the perfect shoe for you.
Adidas partnered with Parley for the Oceans to create this unique new running shoe. Adidas and Parley partnered up to help address the millions of pounds of plastic that are currently polluting the oceans. These new super comfortable running shoes are made from recycled plastic that is pulled from the ocean.
Runners will be able to enjoy the boost technology that they know and love for added comfort and that extra spring in your step for a faster run. The Ultra Boost’s soles are designed for runners to increase stability and grip while running in many different conditions.
- Made of recycled plastic from Earth's oceans
- Utilizes Adidas's Boost technology
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Great for running in many conditions
- Lightweight
- Expensive
- Needs to be broken in
- Fit a little too light on the top of the foot
- Upper knit is thick and can make your feet overheat
- There is a high percentage of positive reviews praising the comfortable feel of Ultra Boost Parleys.
- These shoes are lightweight and provide comfortable support.
- The upper is made of soft, breathable material.
- The design of these shoes works well for narrow feet.
- Buyers say these shoes are supportive overall including decent arch support.
- The sole creates a nice level of bounce.
- Several reviewers claim these are the most comfortable running shoes they have ever owned.
- The quality is highly praised.
- Many reviewers say these shoes are good for running or for casual wear.
- These work as great work shoes for several buyers who spend long hours on their feet.
- A large percentage of buyers like the style and colors.
- For some buyers, these shoes helped them find relieve from foot, leg, and hip pain.
- The style of the ankle makes these shoes easy to slip on and off without needing to adjust the laces each time.
- A few reviewers noted that these are comfortable without socks.
- A unique but common praise for these shoes is the eco-friendly material sourcing. They are made from plastics collected from the ocean which many buyers claim was a selling point for them.
- Most positive reviewers recommend these shoes.
- Although the price is fairly high for running shoes, many buyers say they are worth the cost.
- Many negative comments reflect sizing issues. Most recommend buying a half size up.
- These shoes required some break in time for some people. One person reported experiencing some slight heel rub before these shoes started to feel comfortable.
- The design of the tongue isn't comfortable for everyone.
- Due to the cut of the ankle, these shoes are most comfortable for people with narrow ankles.
- There are a few reports of the laces easily breaking.
- These are not ideal for wide feet. The narrow design can feel restrictive.
- Although rare, there are a few reports of quick wear on the outsole.
- The upper lacks strong lateral support.
- The traction doesn't hold up on some wet surfaces making it easy to slip.
- Some negative reviewers note that the upper and ankle don't flex enough to comfortably accommodate foot swelling that can occur during the day.
Outsole
The outsoles are not only great for traction for the runner but they are also built to last. The Continental rubber on the outsoles of the Ultra Boost Parley's makes them very durable and hard to wear down. On top of the Continental rubber, there is a stretchweb design to help the shoe flex and move along with the motion of the runner while on the go.
Midsole
The boost midsoles are made of small, solid granular materials that are blown up and turned into small little energy capsules. When the capsules are put together to make the boost midsole they are able to store and release more energy than any of the other shoe designs that are on the market.
Upper
Some runners have complained that the upper of these shoes can feel a bit tight across their foot, but that can usually be corrected by going up a shoe size. Another downside to the upper is that it comes up a little high in the back, higher than a pair of ankle socks, and it can cause some rubbing on the ankles.
Weight
Breathability
Runners have reported that their feet tend to overheat during marathons if they are wearing thicker socks, so they recommend wearing a very light sock with these to keep the feet cool and more comfortable.
Comfort
Style
Durability
The midsoles of these shoes have been found to be fairly durable as well. It is usually the midsole that will wear out on running shoes the fastest but there haven't been any complaints stating that this is the case with these great shoes. As for the upper, the recycled plastic fiber that makes it up is tightly woven and is made to last.
Protection
Responsiveness
Support
This makes it so that the back and front of the feet can move independently of each other and allows the runner to more easily adapt to different running surfaces without straining the foot too much. Adidas uses a four-way stretch heel and an external butterfly heel counter to work together to hold your foot in place without restricting your natural movement to give you a little bit of extra support while on the run.
Terrain
As previously mentioned, Adidas suggests these shoes be worn running on roads, treadmills, or other flat surfaces, but with the amazing traction, these shoes offer they are great for trail running or jogging down a gravel road. With these shoes, you are free to run just about anywhere, whether in wet weather or dry, uphill or down, inside or out, or on road or off.
Price
These shoes have a lot to offer runners in the way of comfort, style, and durability, and a lot of people say that these shoes are well worth the high price tag. They may cost you a pretty penny but they are going to last so you won't see yourself dishing out money again for a new pair as soon as you would if you went with a cheaper running shoe.
Traction
Flexibility
Stability
One downfall to these shoes, though, is that it is not the best option for runners who may over or under pronate while running. If you are one of the thousands of runners who have the tendency to roll your foot either inward or outward while running then these shoes might not have the stability you will need; however, if you are looking for a shoe with a normal arch type then this one is for you.
Drop
Sometimes a higher drop can cause runners to experience some discomfort after a long run from the pressure on the forefront of the foot, but that is not the case with the Ultra Boost Parley. The drop of this shoe runs slightly higher than the average drop in running shoes but still falls within the average range of 8mm - 12mm.
Key Features
-Adidas's Boost technology for extra comfort
-Lightweight running shoe
-Made from plastic recycled from oceans around the world
-Durable construction