Once upon a time, the Samba wasn’t adidas’ most popular shoe. Its famous Ultraboost line has dominated sneaker store shelves for nearly a decade as some of the best running shoes of all time. This summer, adidas upped the ante with its Ultraboost 5X sneaker, a lightweight and remarkably comfortable iteration of the performance-driven shoes. I’ve been testing the adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers for well over a month — read on for my honest review.

From the get-go, adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers‘ mesh construction is remarkably breathable — enough for the breeze from my open door to blow through the toe box as I lace them up to go outside. This PRIMEKNIT upper is rounded out with a sock-style design that’s equal parts secure and stretchy, cradling the foot and providing the perfect fit. While the tongue isn’t as plush as those on other adidas running shoes, the Ultraboost 5X makes up for it with mobility and stability. And with its traditional 10mm drop, it offers ample calf and heel support with every stride.

Sneaker News

Sheila Chepkirui, Andreas Almgren Win NYC Marathon to Cap Dominant Adidas Year and Give Nike Apex First Major

Shop Shoes

Where to Watch the 2026 New York City Marathon Online Without Cable

A closer look at the heel tab and Molded External Heel on adidas’ Ultraboost 5X sneakers.

Once I walked out the door, the Ultraboost 5X’s X-shaped TORSION system and Molded External Heel served me — a constant overpronator — well on my morning laps around the block, correcting my gait from the ground up without the bulkiness of other stability running shoes I’ve tested. My inconveniently large size 14 weighs 12.8 ounces per shoe, which still stands up well against other big brands’ flagship runners. For comparison’s sake, previous Ultraboost iterations in size 9 weighed as much as 12.7 ounces, so the 5X offers an impressive decrease while adding nine extra millimeters of Light BOOST foam: the most responsive cushioning system powered by the brand’s signature Boost tech.

Footwear News contributing writer Yoni Yardeni weighs his size 14 men’s adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers, which are 17 grams lighter than the classic Ultraboost 5 sneakers. FN/ Yoni Yardeni

Weight aside, trusty heel-to-toe comfort truly sets adidas’ Ultraboost 5X sneakers apart from previous pairs. After a couple of steps in these top adidas sneakers, the emphasis on energy return was evident, and that’s all thanks to the airy and responsive Light BOOST midsole.

adidas Ultraboost 5X Running Shoes

$135 $180 25% off

Buy men’s at adidas

$135 $180 25% off

Buy women’s at adidas

A closer look at the Light BOOST midsole on the adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers. FN/ Yoni Yardeni

Moving down to the outsole that’s crafted with grippy Continental Rubber, the adidas Ultraboost 5x sneakers can tackle unpredictable surfaces, be it in the city or for a light hike. In my case, these cushioned running sneakers were able to withstand some early morning dew on city pavement, but such excellent traction can certainly take on messier streets and tougher terrains. And even though I haven’t got a nighttime run in, I know I’d stay on track thanks to the upper’s reflective stripes.

I even wore the Ultraboost 5X sneakers to the gym in place of my typical adidas workout shoes, spending time on the stair climber and rowing machine, only to realize they’re just as equipped to take on all types of daily exercises — not just running. So whether your training days are full of fast-paced workouts or personal marathons, the Ultraboost 5X is equipped with the comfort and stability necessary to power through either and more.

Another factor that’s hard to ignore is their redesigned look. adidas Ultraboost 5X sneakers’ streamlined silhouette distinguishes itself from trendier, chunkier running shoes just enough to serve as a pretty stylish option in its own right.

Courtesy

adidas Ultraboost 5x Sneakers — Testing Verdict

The wholly transformed silhouette and construction make the Ultraboost 5X an absolute blast to run in. By bolstering the Light BOOST foam and shedding the polarizing plastic cage, adidas managed to churn out yet another successful trainer, adding to its lineup of popular Ultraboost sneakers like the Ultraboost Light sneakers. At $180, there’s little room for error with adidas’ most cutting-edge pair of Ultraboosts yet. Grab yours at adidas.com and hit the ground running.

adidas Ultraboost 5X Running Shoes

$135 $180 25% off

Buy men’s at adidas

$135 $180 25% off

Buy women’s at adidas

Why Trust Footwear News

For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis, and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items. Learn more about us here.

Meet the Author

Yoni Yardeni is a culture, fashion, and footwear journalist who has appeared in publications including HICONSUMPTION, HotNewHipHop, and WWD. Through prior stints, his work ranged from curating buyer’s guides for the fashion world’s best boots, sneakers, and jackets to revisiting Lil Wayne’s quintessential mixtapes and albums. He is based in Los Angeles. Yardeni tested adidas’ Ultraboost 5X sneakers for one month to write this honest review of the running shoes.

WWD Recommends

Ferran Torres Talks World Cup and That Hat

Character Study: Classic Men’s Looks with Modern Updates

Thom Browne and Teyana Taylor: Designer and Muse

CEO Talks: How Gucci Westman and David Neville Are Building a Luxury Beauty Brand for the Ages

Icebreakers with François Arnaud

Getting Ready for Marc Jacobs 2026 with Nicky Hilton

'Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans' Stars Talk Costumes and Society

Getting Ready with Kerry Washington & Michael Kors

Head to Toe: How to Style Outerwear for Everywhere

A Tour of the New Hermès Madison Avenue Flagship

Adidas Terminates Yeezy Partnership With Ye With Immediate Effect

Louis Vuitton Launches New Exhibition in NYC

Willy Chavarria Takes Us Backstage of His Energetic SS23 Collection Minutes Before Showtime

Head To Toe: Transitioning Your Wardrobe

A closer look at LaQuan Smith's new collection and designing for Beyonce

WWD Report Card: Beyoncé’s Fashion ‘Renaissance’

Men’s Spring 2023 Trend: Skin Show

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Stars Kim Chi and Trixie Mattel Launch Beauty Collaboration

Zoey Deutch Shares Her Red Carpet Favorites and What it's Like Backstage at the Met Gala

A Look at Serena Williams’ Best On-Court Tennis Outfits Over the Years

Megan Fox’s Best Fashion Moments Over the Years

WWD Report Card: Selena Gomez’s Fashion Evolution

The Biggest Fashion Collaborations of 2022 — So Far

5 Things To Know About The Louis Vuitton And Nike Air Force 1 Sneaker Collection

LAUNCH PAD: First Look at the New J. Crew

WWD Report Card: Brad Pitt vs Ryan Gosling

Report Card: Rating the Looks from Paris Couture Week

First Impressions: Paris Men’s Spring 2023 | Day 5 | Kenzo, Hermès, Thom Browne

First Impressions: Paris Men’s Spring 2023 | Day 4 | Junya Watanabe, Dior, Officine Generale

First Impressions: Paris Men’s Spring 2023 | Day 3 | Issey Miyake, Amiri

First Impressions: Paris Men’s Spring 2023 | Day 2 | Lemaire, Givenchy, Reese Cooper

First Impressions: Paris Men’s Spring 2023 | Day 1 | John Elliott, EgonLab

First Impressions: Milan Men’s Spring 2023 | Day 2 | Versace, Fendi, Armani, MSGM

First Impressions: Milan Men's Spring 2023 | Day 1

First Impressions: Milan Men’s Spring 2023 | Day 3 | Etro, Prada, JW Anderson

Hot Summer Bags

WWD + Beauty Inc. at Cosmoprof 2022

On the Red Carpet at the 2022 Met Gala: All the Looks

'And Just Like That' Costume Designers Talk Process for New HBO Show

Netflix's 'Halston' Costume Designer Talks Working with Ewan McGregor

Video: J Balvin on the Deeper Meaning of the J Balvin x Air Jordan 1 Sneaker

Video: How Princess Diana’s Fashion Choices Hinted at What Was Happening Behind Palace Doors

Video: Do These Outrageous Celebrity Fashion Looks Hold Up?

Video: Sarah Cooper — Writer, Comedian, Trump Impersonator, and More

Video: Bob the Drag Queen Grades Legendary Fashion Looks

Video: Supreme Court Style: Inside the Legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Collars

Video: The Origins of French Girl Style à la Chanel

Video: WWD Presents 'Creating Queer'

Video: Model Shaun Ross Talks Diversity in the Fashion Industry

Video: Fashion for All CEO Hannah Stoudemire On Her #BreakingtheSilence Campaign⁣

These Inclusive Face Masks Provide Functional PPE to All Frontline Workers

Most Popular

WWD

Get all the top news stories and alerts straight to your inbox.

Enter your Email

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

adidas Ultraboost 5X Sneaker Review: The Fan-Favorite Running Shoes Get a Makeover for Comfort and Speed

Recent Articles by Yoni Yardeni

Related Articles

adidas Ultraboost 5X Running Shoes

adidas Ultraboost 5x Sneakers — Testing Verdict

adidas Ultraboost 5X Running Shoes

Why Trust Footwear News

Meet the Author

Tags

WWD Recommends

Ferran Torres Talks World Cup and That Hat

Most Popular