Adidas Supernova Rise: The Next Step in Adidas Footwear
By Matthew Klein
Adidas Supernova RisePrice: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.8 oz, 277 g (men's size 9), 8.3 oz, 235 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 35mm / 25 mm
Drop: 10 mm
Classification: Neutral Daily Training Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Adidas Supernova Rise is a neutral daily training shoe featuring a PEBA-based midsole and a brand new design from Adidas. Equipped with what adidas calls their new Dreamstrike midsole, the ride is well cushioned and moderately bouncy in the heel while highly rockered forefoot rolls you forward. A slightly snug upper that breaks provides a normal to slightly snug fit with additional security from a strong toe guard. The design is clearly inspired by Adidas' performance line as this shoe features high-quality elements, greatly improved weight (the lightest Adidas training shoe in a while) and a ride that can handle daily training and some faster efforts. The Supernova Rise is best for those who want a comfortable, controlled bouncy shoe for daily miles and uptempo efforts from Adidas that is FINALLY lighter.
SIMILAR SHOES: Saucony Ride 17, Mizuno Wave Rider 27
FIT
The Adidas Supernova Rise fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. The is fairly normal to slightly snug in the forefoot. The toebox does taper, exacerbated by the toe guard and reinforcing overlays around the upper. Fortunately, there is a little extra volume in the forefoot that allows it to stretch and open with more mileage. The midfoot fits normal to slightly snug thanks to a thicker, non-gusseted tongue. There was plenty of midfoot security and I did not have to really tighten down the laces. The heel fits fairly normal in width with a mildly flexible heel counter and a ton of heel collar padding. The additional cushioning in front of the counter protected my heel decently from the stiffness but those extremely sensitive to counter stiffness should approach with caution. The external reinforcement around the length of the upper did add additional security up front as mentioned but did cause some mild blistering on my medial big toe. I would highly suggest socks with this shoe for that reason.
PERFORMANCE
The Adidas Supernova Rise is a training shoe for daily and some uptempo miles. The midsole now features full length Dreamstrike, a PEBA-based foam. It does feel like a new-age foam but does not necessarily feel like a super foam. The bounce is a bit more controlled, mostly feels concentrated in the heel and the material feels more compliant than resilient (feels more cushioned than bouncy). It feels far more natural at easier than faster paces, although the lighter weight (the lightest weight from an Adidas training shoe in a while) does allow for some uptempo paces. There is a large posterior heel flare with a large posterior lateral bevel. If you can hit the posterior-lateral bevel just right, it eases the transition but does not completely offset the large heel. The rearfoot is fairly clunky at first until the shoe breaks in and then it just feels like this is a higher-drop shoe (it feels like the 10mm listed drop). Compression of the foam also helps, but the early initial contact/landing is still noticeable to me on some runs. The ride is highly rockered and the early heel landing pitches you forward fairly quickly through the midfoot. There are apparently rods in the midsole, which did add a degree of snappiness to the midfoot especially. The forefoot is moderately flexible and has a large amount of toe spring (toes held in extension) with a large forefoot rocker. The forefoot transition is smooth thanks to the early rocker and feels good at both easy and slightly faster efforts.
Purpose-wise, the Supernova Rise is best for daily training, long runs and some uptempo efforts. The rockered ride lends itself to longer efforts although those who tend to land a bit farther forward will find these better for easier efforts. Running a bit faster is doable in this shoe as light tempos and fartleks have felt decent. The Supernova Rise does feel a little better at slightly faster efforts as it helps get the large heel out of the way.
While the traction is decent, the durability is awesome. The outsole is fairly smooth and meant mostly for road. This shoe can handle some mild trail but is really meant for smoother surfaces. The durability is awesome as I have barely been able to put a dent in the sole. I have 38 miles in my pair and there is no wear on my normal posterior lateral section. Thus, I expect an above average number of miles out of these daily training shoes.
STABILITY
The Adidas Supernova Rise is a neutral daily training shoe. There are no sidewalls or traditional forms of stability. The large posterior lateral flare does provide some lateral guidance at heel strike but the posterior flare does an early contact that can accentuate/accelerate the pronation movement. The rods do add some mild torsional stiffness and the midfoot does not narrow. Overall, this is a solid neutral shoe that is not unstable and has some extremely mild guidance elements.
THOUGHTS AFTER 100 MILES
Thoughts as a DPT: Weight as a Factor in the Comfort of Training Shoes
By Matthew Klein
We have discussed posterior heel flares before and a full post can be found HERE. The summary of this is that they cause an early initial contact/heel landing before the muscles you use for shock absorption are ready. This can cause additional loading into passive structures like bones, ligaments and other structures. Posterior flares are suspected to increase stress into anterior structures of the lower leg, including the anterior tibia (shin) and tibial tuberosity due to excessive contraction of the anterior tibial and quadriceps muscle. Adidas, I highly suggest reducing this.
My major positive for this shoe is that the weight reduction with stack height/cushioning maintenance is so important in a training shoe. Daily shoes do NOT need to be ultra-light, but clunky ones should be a thing of the past with the newer midsole materials and geometries. We know that excessive shoe weight can be detrimental for running economy. For every 100g lighter (~3.5 oz) there is a 1% improvement in running economy (Fuller et al., 2015; Rodrigo-Carranza et al., 2020). The Supernova Rise is >30-50 g lighter than recent Adidas non-Adizero training shoes. Given that the majority of runners in the world use non-fast/non-super shoes for the majority if not all of their runs, having a fun and comfortable training shoe is important! That weight decrease can be a significant factor in both efficiency and comfort throughout a run, particularly as the distance increases. Heavier shoes also tend to put more stress on muscles like the hip flexors and hamstring muscles. Most of the work of these muscles occurs during the swing phase of gait, when the leg has left the ground and is swinging forward to prepare for another landing. The reduction in weight may reduce stress in these areas, possibly leading to a more comfortable run just from not having to overwork.
Adidas training shoes (non-Adizero) have been fairly quiet for a while. They have received little attention from reviewers and runners seem to have frequently chosen other brands/shoes per my observations. The Supernova Rise, being lighter and far more comfortable, is likely to change that. It also signals a change in design from Adidas, who previously seemed to focus primarily on their Adizero line. While the Adizero line is great, not all runners will want to or be able to train in those.
From a running accessibility standpoint, making sure you have high-quality options across your line is important to meet the needs of a variety of people. I am happy to see the additional focus being placed in this area and look forward to seeing where it goes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After years of heavy shoes from the Supernova/Adistar line, it is awesome to see Adidas taking their training line seriously. The massive drop in weight and first one under 10 oz in years, the Supernova Rise is a clear sign the company is moving forward. I do still have some suggestions for improvement. Obviously, the first thing I am going after is that posterior lateral flare. Adidas has done so well with heel bevels in their Adizero line I was shocked to see this not executed as well here. I would keep the wonderful posterior-lateral bevel but reduce the excessive posteriorly flare midsole. This will save weight, balance the shoe out better and provide a smoother heel transition. The other thing I would suggest would be to straight out the toe box. The fit could be a little more accommodating at the front if not for the aggressive toe guard combined with the overlays. Adding a touch more flexibility up front would do wonders for those that need a little more toe box room as well as not driving the toes together. Outside of that, I am extremely happy to see Adidas moving forward in this category and I am excited to also try the Supernova Solution and Prima.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The Adidas Supernova Rise is best for those with normal width feet wanting a daily training shoe with some bounce in the heel that is on the lighter end. This is the lightest daily training shoe from Adidas in years and the switch to Dreamstrike improves the weight and ride. Those who do not mind a slightly clunky heel or who like a higher heel drop feeling combined with a rockered and rolling forefoot will do well in the Supernova Rise. Those who light a standard/average width/fit with solid security will also do well with the upper.
To me, the Supernova Rise signifies that Adidas is finally getting serious about their training shoes. As I mentioned above, there was a clear focus on the development of the Adizero racing line that was not equally applied to the Adistar and Supernova training lines. That has now clearly changed with news from TRE (The Running Event) signaling new and lighter trainers from both lines in 2024. Now Adidas can claim they have something for everyone, from solid daily training shoes like the Supernova Rise to elite racing shoes like the Adios Pro 3 and the controversial Adizero Pro Evo 1.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B+/A- (Normal to slightly snug width with slight taper at toebox. Plush rearfoot)
Performance: B+/A- (Bouncy but slightly clunky heel and quick-rolling forefoot. Lightest Adidas training shoe in a while that works for daily miles, long runs and uptempo work)
Stability: B+ [Neutral] (Wider midfoot with stiffening rods. Neutral but not unstable ride)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+ (Great use of newer foams to finally reduce weight. Posterior heel flare creates clunky ride in rearfoot that is not necessary)
Personal: B+/A- (The best Adidas training shoe in a while. Dreamstrike is a balanced, good foam but the posterior heel flare makes this shoe a little too clunky at the back for me. Excited to see more of this from Adidas)
Overall: B+/A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORAdidas Supernova RisePrice: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
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FURTHER READING: 2024 Trainers
ASICS Gel-Cumulus 25 - A big update to this daily trainer makes it the softness, most cushioned yet
Adidas Adizero SL - A remodernized daily trainer for the Adidas line
AltraFWD Experience - Altra's first non-zero drop trainer
Brooks Launch 10 - Huge value training for everyday runners
Brooks Revel 6 - At $100, a simple, but effective neutral trainer that fits well
Hoka Clifton 9 [Stable Neutral Trainer] - A change to the midsole shapes the change to this classic maximal trainer
Mizuno Wave Rider 27 - Retooled to feel a little lighter underfoot and with a greatly improved fit
New Balanace FuelCell Propel v4 - Version 4 adds a forefoot plate to this budget trainer
New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v13 - A new update to this versatile "wogger" shoe
Nike Pegasus 40 - A light upper update makes this the most comfortable Pegasus to slip on yet
Nike Vomero 17 - More ZoomX midsole helps make this trainer excel
On Cloudflow 4 - Redesign of this firmer trainer offers a fun ride
On Cloudsurfer - The softest On yet ushers in a new redesign for the future of On
On Cloudswift 3 - A versatile run/everyday activity trainer with classic On elements
Puma ForeverRun Nitro - A new "stability" entry in the lineup that provides a cushioned ride
Reebok Floatride Energy 5 - Major changes to the popular training series, including a torsion system
Salomon Aero Blaze - A new lightweight trainer from Salomon
Salomon Aero Volt - An old-school flat that's light and versatile
Saucony Echelon 9 [Stable Neutral Trainer] - A wide-fitting, high cushion shoe that also fits orthotics perfectly well
Saucony Kinvara 14 - Higher stacked than ever, and lighter as well
Saucony Ride 16 - A light update that refines the daily trainer to its very best yet
Saucony Ride 17 - A big midsole update reframes the Ride in a new direction
Skechers GO RUN Ride 11 - New HYPERBURST ICE makes for an incredibly soft new entry
Topo Magnifly 5 - Topo's moderate cushioned zero drop trainer gets a nice update
Topo Phantom 3 [Stable Neutral] - A daily training shoe with a fantastic upper and simple, functional ride
Tracksmith Eliot Runner - All-new trainer from the apparel brand, featuring a peba midsole
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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