(REVIEW) Both Comfy & Light: We're Excited About The Adidas Supernova Rise for Runners

To be honest, I’ve never really thought of investing in a pair of good running shoes or bothered to read about all the engineering and tech that goes into it. I’d typically invest around RM300-RM400 for sneakers and sports shoes, going for form over function. But after running around in the Supernova Rise, I’m now convinced that it’s worth the pretty penny you have to fork out for it RM599 as it brings both aesthetics and functionality to the table.

Flying Running Colours There are shoes for both men and women, with shoes for women available in four combinations of the following shades:

• Lucid Blue / Bliss Lilac / Green Spark
• Bliss Lilac / Linen Green Met. / Clear Pink
• Core Black / Halo Silver / Dash Grey
• Halo Blue / Zero Metalic / Wonder Blue

Although it is a combination of many shades, it’s tastefully done and doesn’t look gaudy. While all the colours are really pretty, I opted for the last one as I already have a lot of black shoes, the three stripes of the silverish hue reflect the sunlight gorgeously, and it’s easier to match with any outfit. The gradient effect on the three stripes and the midsole is also a nice touch.

Make a Run for It This shoe is great for new and recreational runners who are looking to build a consistent running routine and was actually awarded the Women’s Health running shoe for every level.. While I’m not much of a runner, I do take a walk around the neighbourhood every day. Since I had the Supernova Rise, I tried doing a run and it does help to add a bounce to your step, even when you’re walking and makes it feel effortless. For more serious runners, you can use this for runs up to 42km.

Dreamstrike+ Those who know their shoes will know that there is already a Supernova shoe which uses a mix of Bounce and Boost foam, but this one features a brand-new foam called Dreamstrike+. Using an updated formula, this foam offers unparalleled comfort and cushioning compared to previous Adidas foams. It does feel very comfy, and since it can double as a daily wear shoe, I’ll probably use this whenever I’m walking long distances such as during sightseeing.

The other magical element of the Rise is that it features Support Rods. The sole of every Rise is packed with a system of dense bottom-loaded foam ensuring neutral support from heel to toe, for super-smooth transitions to help runs flow effortlessly. I’m a very clumsy person who trips on flat ground *sigh* and yet I feel stable while wearing this.

On top of that, the Rise features the Comfort Heel Fit, a combination of softly supportive cushioned foam and gentle textile around the heel, working in tandem to hug the heel with comfortable support. This is great because some shoes with a low heel notch make you feel like the shoe will fall off when you run. I’ve also noticed that the heels of my feet crack whenever I don’t wear proper shoes, so this feature is important. However, it does make it harder to put the shoes on, I usually have to wiggle my foot a bit to get them in.

Outsole Annoyingly, some of my shoes keep getting pebbles stuck in them especially when I go on the tar road, but this doesn’t happen with the Rise. The Adiwear rubber is split into three distinct sections and the forefoot is covered with a light pink slab of Adiwear which has 5 cutouts to reduce weight and increase flexibility. My area is quite hilly and has slopes but the Adiwear helps me to plod on steadily wherever I go.

Note that the heel lip has a very pronounced bevel at the rear of the shoe. Besides adding to its overall design, it is there to aid heel strikers through the initial impact on landing and onto the midfoot.

I also like the slim laces which are long enough to loop twice; I’ve encountered the issue of laces which are too short too many times *sigh*.

Sizing I have wide feet, and note that it has a snug forefoot which requires you to go up a half size. I had to get mine in size UK 6.5 although I typically go for UK6 for Adidas and other brands. I noticed in the comments that other buyers had to go up half a size or a full size, so it’s best to try these on in person before you make your purchase.

Weight These babies are also REALLY light (234g for women and 277g for men) so this means you can easily chuck these in your suitcase even when you’re travelling overseas to use at the gym or wear these at the airport to traverse along the expansive airports.

Be a More Eco-Conscious Runner For those who are conscious of their carbon footprint, note that it Contains a minimum of 20% recycled and renewable content and conforms to the internationally recognized standard ISO 14067. You can read more here.

RD’s Take Overall, I didn’t expect to like them as much as I did when I saw them in the store but the Adidas Supernova Rise shoes are what I never knew I needed. I’ve already recommended these to family and friends and I can see that I’ll be using them for many years to come. In girl math, RM600 divided by at least 8 years is only RM75 a year, and RM6.25 a month. Such a steal! *smirks*.

Get the Adidas Supernova Rise Shoes on their app, select retail stores, or the official website here.