Is boost a bust? 

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I think one thing to consider is that BOOST lasts SOOOOO much longer than standard EVA foams, so even though Zoom X and even adidas LightStrike foam is bouncier, they don't stay that bouncy for nearly as long as Boost does

I never understood why boost is "dead" now, their very comfortable and most of the shoes are a very good active wear/everyday shoes

Simple answer is : no. It's one of the best cushioning there is. I'd buy a lifetime supplies of ultraboosts 19. Super comfortable and surprisingly durable.

Boost actually has changed throughout the years, early boost was softer than the UB2022 which is more firm because the new shoes are more focused towards performance.

I'm starting to get really impressed by the iterative testing on the energy return from the foam. Cutting out little cross-sections to remove variables and standardize the process as much as possible shows you really are committed to trying to get meaningful results that can be compared and it's not just a cool-looking garage science test.

I’d love to see a longevity study for zoomx vs boost. How long do they last before they lose responsiveness.

I was working in running retail back in 2013. I remember when I first heard about Adidas Boost from the sales reps. It sounded absolutely incredible and I made sure to buy a pair when they first came out. Running on those shoes back in the day was nothing like I felt before. You literally felt like you could keep going forever.

I love seeing the evolution of your tests methods, it's getting real interesting! Thanks

I'm a heavy dude, around 105-110kg in weight, with bad joints and pain in my feet whenever I'm on my feet for over an hour. My first contact with Boost foam was via a pair of light Puma sneakers with their version of Boost foam and knit upper. I loved them because they were light and breathatble but most importantly the comfiest shoes I ever had. That Boost foam was soft and bouncy really made it easier for me to stay on my feet longer. Also, those Puma sneakers were really cheap, like 2-3 times cheaper than any Adidas sneakers with Boost foam, let alone the Ultraboost model. Which kinda tells you that Adidas is ripping people off on it, probably based on the hype and marketing that Boost got. From then on, I didn't want to wear any sneakers that didn't have Boost in them. My current ones are Adidas ZX 2K Boost and they're damn comfortable. Boost really makes walking easier for my fat ass... On the topic of those soft foams, Boost is considered a "boomer" one. There's a bunch of more recent and modern soft, responsive foams from multiple brands. Nike's ZoomX is one of them, New Balance has Fresh Foam X in their 1080 V12 model, Puma has their Nitro foam, I believe Asics, Mizuno and some others also have their versions of an ultrasoft and bouncy foams...Some general rule to them is that the softer a foam is, the lighter and less durable it is. ZoomX falls within that very soft and bouncy but less durable category and Boost is slightly less soft and bouncy but much more durable and retains its shape for longer without being squished or warped. I haven't tried those other foams for I can comfirm that the Boost is indeed durable...that knit upper on my 3 year old Pumas started to tear, the outsole is worn out but the Boost midsole is just as soft and bouncy as it was.

Boost and double stacked Zoom are my favorite cushioning technology of all time. The main advantage of Boost is how if performs in a wide range of temperatures and how quickly the cushion springs back; no dead spots. Great thing is seeing the evolution of all these foam tech.

Just wanted to comment that I happen to watch a vid from 2 years ago from y’all and you mentioned having to rush the vid out and the noise in the background and talking bout being excited about saving enough to move into a new shop and get newer equipment and tools to do better tests and to watch that vid and watch new ones now makes me happy for some reason. Keep up the great work😬

love the new bounce test!! amazing to see you always thinking about how to do it better!

If I'm not mistaken, the boost on various version of ultraboost is different. The classic ultraboost is much softer if compared to the ub 19/20 because both of them got increased density by around 20%? and for ub 21-22, they increase the density even more than the ub 19/20. Perhaps a lightstrike shoe gonna be a fair comparison for zoom x as it is more suitable for running..

I have triple black ultra boost 3’s that I’ve had for over five years. No running just casual and light yard work. They’ve held up surprisingly well. The boost midsole is painted black and no paint is chipping off which is pretty surprising. The knit upper is more comfortable than my ultra boost 1.0s but the midsole is about the same. Gonna give the newer models a try if i see them on sale.

Love how much time you guys put into coming up with better tests

Loved the testing in this episode! Really cool to see!

I think another important metric might be the amount of force that is transferred to the ground right beneath where the ball hits the foam. Maybe boost doesn’t return as much energy as zoomx but maybe it distributes the force of your heel hitting the ground better. It would also be pretty cool to see how high the ball bounces by itself to see how much energy is lost/conserved by these foams. These videos are awesome though, not many people are doing these direct tests like you are.

One thing that all the newer foams can’t beat is how the boost able to maintain its form and bounce after many miles where most evas and pebas foam would shrink and lose / have reduced cushioning. I think boost is still unbeatable at least in lifestyle - comfort category and running in general due to the longevity of it.

I have the 21 version (same thing) in black. I wear it for 12hr shifts at a distribution warehouse on the floor. It's literally been a year and two months now after MUCH abuse and it hasn't ripped and is still the most comfortable shoe I have. The outsole is finally starting to come off but I'll definitely be getting another pair.

I'm a long distance runner and I LOVE boosts, they're my go to running shoes. I find them very comfortable and extremely versatile in every run I have thrown at them in various temperatures, seasons and weather and my Adidas Boost 20's have not let me down yet. I did a half marathon with a personal best time of 1:26:38 earlier this year in them, I highly recommend these shoes!

Since you're now delving into the world of cushion heavy running shoes, one interesting material from a well known running brand would be Asic's Flytefoam and Flytefoam blast and its plus version. I would suggest cutting in half Asics Novablast which is similarly constructed as the Nike Zoom Invinicible.

Loving these type of videos!

Love these videos. Always tune in!

I think your revised test on the foam touches on something very important in helmet design. different foams are better at different stresses, it'd be interesting if we could find out what stress a shoes heel is under at both walking and running conditions for an average weight human. maybe we could get someone to run over a scale with memory in really hard shoes XD

Since the shoes are being worn more for casual wear than athletic, should long term durability be considered and taken into account when comparing foam?

Congrats on 600k!!! Great vid and great channel!

VERY GOOD video, I was waiting for it

Would you please test: 1. Addidas' most expensive foam, the Addidas Lightstrike Pro foam, in its most expensive running shoe - the Addidas Adizero Adios Pro 3. 2. Asics' most expensive foam, the Asics FF Blast Turbo foam, in its most expensive running shoe - the Asics Metaspeed Sky Plus. 3. New Balance's most expensive foam, the New Balance Fuel Cell foam, in its most expensive training shoe - the New Balance Fuel Cell Super Comp Trainer. It's really interesting to know if their technology truly justifes the extremely expensive price tag.

The good thing with boost is it doesn't get flat through time. It holds its structure much better than other foams. I had the Nike react Flyknit 2 and they died down really fast. Boost doesn't bottom out that fast or maybe at all.

Was looking for a vid like this and this was very helpful

great video and research as always.. keep up the good work 👍🏻

I have Boost and ZoomX shoes so this vid was particularly interesting for me. Because I've been watching some of the other vids as well it was making me think this info about what's inside shoes is just available now. I tried looking up exactly what is inside the Novablast 3 and it was not satisfying like these vids. I'd like it if you did one of those if you were so inclined. PS if one likes soft under foot feel I think the Invincibles are mind blowing.

Great video. I work for adidas and there is a nuance here. For the top of the line performance running we have different kinds of BOOST. What you reviewed here is the older baseline tech which is also used for casual wear. I wonder how the top of the line running BOOST would add up. Or some of the adizero line which uses a new foam all together. Anyway super interesting videos as always

Been waiting for this vid

I've had a pair of ultraboosts for over 4 years and they still are extremely comfortable, the prime knit upper is also extremely comfortable, I've never worn a shoe that is as soft as these, and they hold up really well.

It would be really interesting to see the different between the ultra boost and the newer jet boost which uses smaller beads. Also, adidas has been known to use different densities of just ultraboost alone. So that’s also something to look into. The older ultra boosts are much softer than the 21 and 22. Might be just the engineering of shoe?

I'd love to see a cross section of the new Adidas 4D FWD! They recently replaced my ultra boost as my #1 daily sneaker, and would be cool to see how it compares!

Okay, that heel counter area for bigger people like myself is the best thing in the world because it feels like your foot is molded into the shoe. Almost, it really locks in your foot if you get the right size. And with other shoes like Converse, sometimes I legitimately feel my foot moving around on the inside of the shoe and I don't really care for that too much. I have never felt that with my pair of ultra boost 22s

I'm wearing my old Ultraboost 4.0s right now and while the rubber outsole is wearing out, the Boost is still holding up quite well and is still pretty comfy.

Boost is far from perfect, but it's also one of the best midsole materials ever created. I love both ZoomX and Boost, but each fit a different category for me. ZoomX is softer, bouncier, and also far less stable than Boost. Boost is heavier, more dense, but also far more stable and will not bottom out like ZoomX will. If I needed a shoe that is good for constant motion, then I would pick a ZoomX shoe. On the other hand, if I needed a shoe that I had to wear and stand around all-day, then I wouldn't hesitate to grab an Ultraboost. The better comparison would be ZoomX and Lightstrike Pro. Both are used for high end running shoes and compete in the same space.

There’s a new thing from Adidas called Jet Boost which is on the Pureboost 22. Maybe that’s the next thing? Looks like boost but the beads are much smaller. Edit: one thing that Zoom X is notorious for is lower durability. It doesn’t last as long as other competing foams. This was a few years ago. Not sure if they made improvements.

Man i love what you are doing... this tech is what made me a sneaker fan back in the day.. we just didnt have anyone to break it all down to us. I can watch these vids all day!!!

Great video very informative about the boost 👍🏼 I would like to see you do an adidas Nmd and a ultraboost.

I think I read somewhere that adidas can put different densities of boost pellets in different location of the same sole. Making it bouncier in some areas and stiffer in others. Maybe bouncy under the heal and a bit stiffer in the arch.

Great video! I have a pair of the Invincible run ZoomX and I bought 2 pairs of the Ultraboost 22, (blue and triple black). To me my Ultraboosts are in that Goldilocks zone. It is both cushy and firm where it needs to be, and has another factor (fashion), with the 30+ color way options and the sleek foot print profile that I think gives it such appeal. If you are just looking at softness underfoot, sure you’ll find softer, (ZoomX), which is consistent with the steel ball resilience test. The test showed a cross section of ZoomX had more resilience than the same cross section of Ultraboost, but come on Ultraboost is no slouch in this area. I love the feel under foot. Looking at where the Ultraboost foam is concentrated you’ll see the heal has more foam thickness than the forefoot area. If you are a heal striker this is right where it needs to be as it absorbs that destructive impact that wears on your bones and joints where your foot hits the ground over time. Still, it’s able to give great pushback and firmness attributable to the foam thinning in the forefoot and toe, and that firm LEP plate. This allows you to better “feel” the ground and doesn’t absorb as much of the force one applies when pushing off to take the next stride. Taking nothing away from my ZoomX invincible runs, (because they are “hella” comfortable), you’ll notice a more consistent foam stack through the length, which makes it wonderful at absorbing impact, but also absorbs a lot of the force the foot applies when pushing off. It can feel like moving around in sand. Also, Ultraboost 22 doesn’t feel quite so clunky underfoot like the ZoomX invincible run, with the very sleek foot print it offers. I’m not one to sacrifice form over function but the ZoomX invincible runs aren’t the sleekest looking and come in some rather crazy colors that might clash with your outfit!( this doesn’t bother me though because the shoe feels so wonderful!)

on older models of the ultraboost it was a continental rubber sole that lasts seemingly forever. plus since its a piece of rubber it wouldnt be impossible to replace it with a vibram pad when they eventually wear down. the boost itself also holds up really well to wear because mine are literally just kinda dirty but otherwise fine

What a badass video...much props bro!

As a boost head i will say boost is not a bust. One of the best cushion materials in my opinion. Maybe not for running but for casual wear.

I have 6 boost shoe. I find ub19 is the most comforts. Ub22 is the least comfortable and hardest foam for me.

Fantastic job on the in-depth drop test

i love boost always have and i’m so glad they’re not hyped up anymore because i get them under retail at times

BASF to me will always mean the cassette tapes l used to tape songs off the radio.....

The first boost shoe doesn't actually feature anything near the BASF foam version. The first cushion is more akin to "Bounce" technology that is comprised of plastic spring like frame enclosing a foam compound. Something that looks like the springblade or microbounce technology (which was the bounce technology before it became another foam compound).

Been waiting for a video on boost, glad it's here. Recently picked up a pair of nmds and I wasn't sure how boost holds up

When are you going to do an asics shoe? They should be very interesting for a video, since they use a combination of gel and foam. Loving the vids btw keep it up

Know you've heard it before but I would love to see if you could test the responsiveness/energy return of different foams over time. With boost in particular it is a known thing that it "bottoms out" or stops being as comfy and bouncy as it was the day you bought it.

I've been interested in a breakdown of the Skechers Hyper Burst foam. It looks incredibly comfy, but also not very durable.

Love these videos. I would like to see you cut apart a 4D model, they have a few different types of 4D midsoles by now that you can cut. Should be interesting. Keep up the great content !

Super cool comparison, very good video !

ZoomX was engineered for performance, as was Boost when it was first created. But just because other tech outperforms it, doesn't mean it's not comfortable.

Boost is still life to me. Still what I wear everyday and my feet never hurt. Still waiting on a adidas forum 84 low review and still waiting on that ROSE ANVIL DOPP KIT lol

Thumbs up for the center cut alone. Love the vids.

I’ve been waiting for this video.

I’m confused by the foam test. It was my understanding that you’d want the foam to absorb the energy rather than return it. So the higher the bounce means the more energy returned to the foot. FootPrint insoles does a bowling ball test comparing different other brands and it supports the theory of absorbing more energy for less return. Curious on your thoughts. I appreciate these videos. Would love to see more skate shoes :)

I think the beads' fused structure works like the honeycomb structure that is known to have a very high rigidity and pressure tolerance... but I still don't feel too attracted to neither Adidas' or Nike's current shoes using this kind technology. Thank you for the video.

I'm so happy to see a video about one of my favorite product/shoes on your channel (That I discovered/loved mid 2020, 'thanks' Covid! 🙈🙈) that is so well done and accurate. And cool; too. Hope the cat is still messing around you haha 😜

Wonderful review

The shoe you're calling "ZoomX" is actually named "Invincible Run". ZoomX is the foam, Flyknit is the upper type. The thing around the heel is called "heal collar", the purpose it serves is to add stability, and also help keep your heel locked in so your foot doesn't slip around when you're running. The Invincible isn't Nike's "best running shoe" either, that would still be the Alphafly, or Vaporfly. The Invincible marketing suggests it is designed to prevent injury, it's not a fast racing shoe. I've got 375 miles on a pair of Invincibles, the foam has broke down in such a way that the shoes are painful to wear now.. Thought I'd add that in case someone wanted to know lifespan. Love your content, but I cringed a few times on those last few running shoe videos.

Cool review!

I would love to see a video on the brooks glycerin 20! It would be a really good test in comparison to all of these running shoes!

Great video. Love all the stuff you do. I would like to see the new Brooks running shoes with the nitrogen infused foam. I like the Brooks shoes and just like to see how they would respond to the tests and see them cut in half

Please review adidas lightstrike pro foam!! Love the sneakers technical breakdown videos!!

Have also both an SQLabs and Ergon bicycle saddle that uses this technology. SQLabs especially has the entire saddle built on boost foam with a couple of areas covered in protective tape.

Im a 6'4 200 lb skateboarder and UB19, UB 20s and Yeezy 350s are all i wear when im not skating, most comfortable shoes ever, ive had knee surgery on my left knee and also broke the same leg , was in a full leg cast for a few months, short leg cast then a boot , took a bit over a year to start skating again , didnt start wearing boost until 2017 when i was starting to walk again, life changing fr

Great video! Suggestion-could you put a line reflecting the average in the 5-part tests you’re doing?

Your honeycomb description of the beads are something i share with you in that boost midsoles don’t crease and get ugly and lose too much height, at least in the thinner boost shoes like hardens 1-3.

Mizuno Wave Sky Neo's are the comfiest and most supportive runners I've ever owned and are criminally underrated, the foam is amazing.

Informative👍 And I love boost.

the adidas foam that should be compared to the zoomx is the lightstrike pro, which is available in their adizero line up. It is a relatively new foam that came out shortly after zoomx

I’ve always been quite impressed with the cushion of the soles of huaraches and the NB 2002-r

Hey Rose Anvil! Have you done any reviews for Crispi Boots? I've been looking though your videos and haven't seen one yet, if not, I'd love to see a pair of those ole' bois chopped up and get a look inside. The Nevada model specifically. I don't think I've seen a boot with such consistently positive reviews yet! Thanks dude preciatechya and what you do here, it's awesome!

One of the original claims of boost is that its cusion/spring/etc. last considerably longer than EVA. EVA compresses for only so long before it can no longer compress anymore. Been wearing boost for over 2 years now and they feel like they did on day one. That being said, the bottoms of my feet do feel sore after 5+ hours of walking. So its nice to know the foams lasts longer than EVA which lasted maybe 6 months for me, however, I still want something both durable and comfortable. Have you considered testing durability (i.e. how long or how many steps the foam lasts for)?

Excellent analysis video! Let's see one involving the new New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer!

I love my UBs. I just grabbed a pair of Powerboost and a pair of Solar Glide. Love the Boost foam.

Wasn't expecting to get into weft knit vs. warp knit in the Adidas sneakers video but I'm all about it

Hey there Rose Anvil. I’ve been watching your channel for several years and love all you videos. You do by far the best reviews and inside reveals. I love you 1000 miles in the shoe review. If you want to do more of those I can test the boots for you. I work on a horse farm and think i can wear the boots in faster than most people. I walk on average 20 miles a day and haven’t found a single boot that last me over 7 months. I also have a pair of nick packer boots coming. Love your work keep it up.

I'd really like to see how Under Armour's HOVR foam compares to Boost and Zoom. It's also very squishy and bouncy, especially in shoes such as Phantom 2's.

Nike React was made as an answer to Boost if I remember correctly. A look at the performance on that foam would probably be a good watch

Great video! Since you are always very good when it comes to attention to detail, I am suprised you didn't notice one thing - how adidas is kind of faking the thickness of the midsole. Looking from the outside, it seems that both shoes have same height (thickness), but when cut in half we see that nike has almost double the amount of foam!

New light strike stuff is looking to become a banger for adidas casual. Looks really nice and comfy

You should check some of the performance focused boosts as a comparison. Adidas treats the regular ultraboosts as a lifestyle shoe not a running shoe at this point. The pair of boosts I use for working out has 30% more foam than the normal ones.

Saucony pwrrun Pb foam is super hyped at the moment. THE shoes to have for 2022 are the Endorphin line.

I would like to see a video featuring Adidas 4DFWD. I just got a pair and love them.

Got a pair of Adidas Ultraboost 4.0 DNA's in white. Most comfortable shoe I have ever worn by far. So stylish and versatile too. No other shoe atm has that great look without making you look like a clown

I love my boost. For running or days walking around a fair, museum, or school- it can’t be beat. Fantastic casual and running shoes. NOT for anything remotely off-roads though. I’ve almost tolled my ankle twice due to poor ankle support.

I've been meaning to try newton running shoes,would love a review

I remember the adidas ultra boost ADV skate shoe, I never got it but I always wanted to try it. Especially when I got my ultra boost shoe and found out how comfortable it is, it makes me wonder how that shoe would’ve performed.

Talking about Zoom X foam and Zoom Air units, the Nike Tempo Next% trainers is astonishingly comfortable albeit expensive and not durable. The thing is perfect for anyone that’s overweight, flat-footed, or with a bit of arthralgia. The con is that the bottom sole at the back is incredibly thin so eventually the Zoom X will wear out. Pros is that this shoe makes running feel fun and easy which is what people need when they’re looking to exercise more.

I think it would be really interesting if you cut the Hare Jordan 1 (Air Jordan 1) in half from 2016. From what I can tell from mine the upper is completely different from the traditional AJ1 and much stiffer.