adidas Supernova Rise Review

Innovation has been the name of the game for adidas this year. In September, they launched the record-breaking Evo 1, a shoe worn by the winner of the BMW Berlin Marathon in a new women’s world record and the TCS New York City Marathon winner in a new men’s course record.

It should come as no surprise that adidas shoe designers have been busy in the lab, working just as hard on their daily trainers as they have been on their racing models. Enter the adidas Supernova Rise–a brand new daily trainer offering comfort and support for neutral runners of all levels.

Will the Supernova Rise be as explosive as its namesake? Maybe it’s not quite as powerful as the explosion of a star, but reviewers couldn’t wait to get this model on their feet. Here’s what you can expect from the latest trainer from adidas.

The adidas Supernova Rise was inspired with one goal in mind: to bring innovative, energetic materials into your every day training. While adidas Lightstrike Pro foam, used in the Boston 12 and adios pro 3, is designed for chasing fast times, most runners aren’t running their fastest everyday.

With the Supernova Rise, shoe designers wanted to create something for everyday runners that can handle the bulk of their mileage. Enter Dreamstrike+ foam. It’s denser than Lightstrike Pro and a bit heavier, giving the shoe a balanced blend of comfort and energy.

“I did two runs in these shoes and was not disappointed,” says Nate. “The Dreamstrike+ foam is right up my alley as a runner who likes firmer shoes with some inherent stability. Plus, the midsole feels alive with energy.”

The inherent stability comes from adidas’ Support Rod System – a series of EVA-based rods embedded in the outsole that run back to front, parallel to your foot. These semi-pliable rods offer guidance and direction as you move forward.

While adidas still categorizes the Supernova Rise as a neutral shoe, reviewers found that the semi-firm midsole and wide base felt sturdy enough to provide subtle support.

“The Supernova Rise feels plenty stable without feeling rigid,” says Kate.

Reviewers also noticed the heel bevel (the portion of the outsole that’s curved upwards at the heel), designed to reduce the impact of heel striking and encourage easy heel-to-toe transitions.

“The heel bevel in the Supernova Rise really helps with any potential heel dragging,” says Max. “I think it also helps with a more efficient follow through. However, because the shoe doesn’t have an aggressive rocker shape, I didn’t notice this detail very much as I was running.”

The shoe is rounded out with a full rubber outsole. While it’s not made of the Continental rubber adidas typically uses, it offers plenty of grip and traction.

“While the midfoot looks sleek and narrow, it fits my wide, high-volume feet like a glove,” says Nate. “The black and dayglow-green colorway is sharp, too!”

If you’re not sure about the width or volume of your feet, be sure to head into your local Fleet Feet for an expert one-on-one outfitting. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height.

The last daily trainer we tested from adidas was the Ultraboost Light, so we couldn’t help but compare the two. While both shoes are similar in terms of stack height and heel-to-toe drop, there are some differences in the fit and feel.

First, the Supernova Rise ditches the Boost foam adidas is famous for, replacing it with the new Dreamstrike+ foam. Reviewers noticed that the Dreamstrike+ foam feels decidedly softer, while the Boost foam in the Ultraboost Light feels a bit bouncier.

But don’t be fooled by the shoes’ names–the Supernova Rise is about a half ounce lighter than the Ultraboost Light.

The shoes offer two different fits, too. While the Ultraboost Light offers a one-piece knit upper with a separated lace cage, the Supernova Rise has a more traditional fit and feel, with a semi-detached tongue and classic lacing system. This makes it easier to customize the fit of the shoe, reviewers noted.

We took a look at some comparable shoes to see how they stack up against the adidas Supernova Rise. Here’s what we found:

As we mentioned, the adidas Supernova Rise fits and feels like a classic, everyday trainer–which is why we had to compare it to two of our bestselling daily trainers, the Brooks Ghost 15 and the New Balance 880 v13.

All three shoes are similar in weight, stack height and heel-to-toe drop. They also offer similar fits, with slightly padded heel cups and tongues and breathable mesh uppers.

The most notable differences are the underfoot sensations offered by the midsole foams. While the Supernova Rise uses their new Dreamstrike+ foam, the Brooks Ghost 15 uses DNA Loft v2 foam, a mixture of EVA foam, rubber, air and nitrogen. The 880 v13 uses a dual-density midsole composed of soft, light Fresh Foam X and a firmer, denser foam beneath the forefoot.

Reviewers found the Supernova Rise to feel softer and slightly more energetic than the other two aforementioned shoes.

“The Supernova Rise feels lighter and more versatile than the Ghost or 880 but, at the end of the day, they’re all safe, traditional daily trainers,” says Travis.

Because of the versatility that Travis mentioned, the Supernova Rise can be enjoyed by all types of runners, whether they’re primarily running easy miles or throwing in some moderate workouts, too.

“This is a classic, everyday trainer,” Kate says. “It’s comfortable and can handle any kind of run. It won’t give you any special speed advantages or make you feel like you’re bouncing down the street, but it’s a sturdy workhorse type of shoe.”

Because the Support Rods and the firm heel cup add some inherent stability, it’s a great choice for runners who enjoy a more structured feeling from their daily trainers.

All of our reviewers who tested the Supernova Rise found the fit comfortable, despite differences in their foot shape, width and volume. If you like the underfoot feel of the Dreamstrike+ cushioning, you’ll likely be able to find your perfect fit in the Supernova Rise.