Since things are kind of dead around here I thought I'd post up some fresh Boost content. I recently picked up some adiZero Prime Ltds and they quickly went to the top of the rotation.
Anyone in the US who has been interested in these knows they aren't easy to get, and information about them is sparse. I missed out on them when they dropped on SNS because I wasn't sure about sizing, but was fortunate to catch a pair on eBay for the retail price of $180. I went TTS with an 11 and the fit is perfect. The tongue is detached all the way to the bottom, so you can adjust them as tight or loose as you want. For someone like me with wide and/or tall feet, this is a welcome relief from the restrictive feel of the UB.
This is my first time seeing Adidas multicolor Primeknit in person, and I was more impressed than I had been looking at photos. The threading is a bit less random than Flyknit, but has a clean look. I wish the whole shoe was multicolor, but the detailing is enough to make these not seem like a black shoe, which I'm not particularly fond of.
The PK is a bit less stretchy than UBs, but it conforms well and supports the foot as you would expect from a racing shoe. The heel counter is a flexible plastic that gives some lateral support but does not intrude on the comfort of the shoe. Overall it's a very lightweight and breathable upper that really showcases how far Adidas has come with Primeknit.
The Boost midsole is clearly thinner than that of a UB or even NMD, but the plushness we all know and love is still evident. It's an interesting feel on foot since you have a much better connection with the ground, but still get the responsive cushioning that is very impressive given the minimal thickness of the midsole. I guess if UBs are the 750 series of the Boost world, the adiZero is more of a track day M3. An added advantage is that the Continental soles have a larger contact patch than the UB, and have far better traction in wet conditions.
As mentioned before, my feet are on the wide side and I have plenty of room. The toe box is rounded and especially roomy.
I love the low to the ground feel of these shoes, and despite the low profile they are still comfortable after spending a day on my feet. I've been a soccer player all my life, and these shoes remind me of the many pairs of Sambas and Gazelles that I've had over the years - expect with 1000x more comfort.
I think the most direct comparison to these shoes would be the Flyknit Racer, but I don't wear those as they're just too narrow for me. I do have a pair of Flyknit Lunar 3s, and the two share a lot of similarities. The Lunar is a bit more cushioned when you first put it on, but after supporting my 190lb. frame all day, the Boost wins out. And the adiZero also has the upper hand in overall comfort due to the tongue design that allows complete adjustibility, while the Lunar tongue is attached about halfway up the shoe and can be somewhat restrictive. It must be said that I paid $90 shipped for the Nike and $180 for the Adidas, so when viewing from that perspective the adiZero really isn't twice as good a shoe. But it looks great and feels so good that it was worth every penny to me.
I'm always on a quest for lightweight shoes, so for those who care about such things, I threw these on the scale and did some comparisons.
adiZero Prime LTD, 11US - 8.5oz
Ultra Boost Cream, 11US - 11oz
NMD Circa Knit, 10.5US - 9.5oz (fits like an 11)
Flyknit Lunar 3, 11US - 9oz
