The Adidas Ultraboost 22 is the latest model in Adidas’ iconic Ultraboost running shoe line. With the hype that surrounds the Adidas Ultraboost running shoe line, I was super excited to get my hands on and test the Ultraboost 22.
Plus, this shoe is the first Adidas running shoe designed by a full women’s design team and is designed to better support the women’s running community.
Overall, I’ve enjoyed running and training in the Adidas Ultraboost 22. I like the Linear Energy Push system used in this model and that the upper is made with recycled materials. For my shorter run days, the Ultraboost 22 has been one of my go-to’s lately.
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Who Should Invest In the Adidas Ultraboost 22?
The Adidas Ultraboost 22 is a good running shoe for anyone who wants a running shoe that can serve as a daily driver, be good for long walks, and perform well for tackling shorter and mid-range runs. This model is comfortable overall and if you’re tackling runs that range from 1-10ish miles, then I think you’ll find this model comfortable and responsive.
If you’re planning on wearing this model outdoors primarily in dry climates, then I think you’ll also enjoy the durability of the outsole on this shoe. The Ultraboost 22 features a Continental™ rubber outsole which I found to provide a nice level of traction while also protecting the BOOST midsole through the forefoot, midfoot, and heel.
Long story short, if you want a running shoe for training, walking, and a shoe that looks pretty good on a casual basis, then I think the Adidas Ultraboost 22 will be a good shoe for your needs.
Adidas Ultraboost 22
Best For
- Shorter Runs
- Mid-Range Runs
- Narrow and Neutral Foot Widths
- Daily Wear and Walking
Falls Short
- For Wider Feet
- For Breathability On Hot Days
Adidas Ultraboost 22 Pros
Whether you’re an avid runner, a casual runner, or a true beginner, the Adidas Ultraboost 22 has multiple pros to support your performance.
- Linear Energy Push System Provides a Nice Responsiveness
- Great Running Shoe for the Women’s Running Community
- Good Daily Driver and Model for Walking
- Upper Includes Recycled Materials
The first aspect to like about the Adidas Ultraboost 22 is the Linear Energy Push system used in this model. The Linear Energy Push system was first introduced in the Ultraboost 21 and is a feature designed to promote forefoot stiffness to provide a more responsive ride. Essentially, it helps limit energy loss from the midsole being too soft.
Personally, I really like this construction feature and noticed it most when tackling shorter runs at faster paces. Generally, on these runs, I’ll naturally adopt a slightly more forefoot biased strike, which feeds well into the Linear Energy Push system. On hills, I think you’ll also notice the responsiveness from this feature.
Another perk of this model is that it’s the first Adidas running shoe designed for women with a design fully woman design team. This announcement caught a lot of attention in the running world and this model has a few key construction aspects for women specifically.
These features include a narrower heel and lower instep. The overall construction of this model does fit a bit more narrow, but it makes when you consider this aspect of the shoe. Personally, I don’t necessarily see it as a bad thing as long as you’re aware that this model does a bit more narrow before investing. It’s going to be cool seeing how Adidas builds on this model in this context.
The third pro of the Ultraboost 22 is that it doubles as a solid daily driver and walking shoe. Not every running shoe can be worn on a casual basis and look good but also provide a comfortable and supportive ride. The blend of the BOOST midsole, the Continental rubber outsole, and the Linear Energy Push system help contribute to this.
The last aspect to like about the Adidas Ultraboost 22 is that the yarn in the upper contains at least 50% Parley Ocean Plastic and 50% recycled polyester. Personally, I love when shoe companies utilize more environmentally-conscious materials. Hopefully, as Adidas continues to innovate this running shoe line they’re able to implement even more recycled materials.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 Cons
Overall, the Adidas Ultraboost 22 performs pretty well across the board and as expected. However, there are a couple of cons that come along with this shoe.
- Tight Toe Box and Limited Upper Volume
- High Price Point
The first drawback to this model is how tight this shoe is in the toe box, and more specifically, how little volume there is through the midfoot and toe. This shoe’s toe box has a pretty significant taper and if you have a wide foot, then you may want to steer clear of these running shoes.
On top of the narrow toe box, the volume of this shoe’s upper is also limited due to the lower instep. I have a neutral foot width, so the width is okay for me and works for mid-range runs and down, but when wearing thicker socks I do notice how tight the upper is.
This shoe features a bootie-style construction and they fit like a sock, however, this snug fit may not be the best for runners with thicker feet.
The second drawback to the Ultraboost 22 is its price point. At a price of $190 USD, this is far from a budget-friendly shoe, and to be honest, there aren’t a ton of changes to this shoe compared to previous models that would warrant the higher price point, in my opinion.
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It’s a good shoe, however, $190 USD is pretty steep for what you’re getting. If you’re a diehard Ultraboost fan and you plan to wear these in a variety of settings, then I could see the price point making sense, but for the budget-conscious recreational runner, you can find a similar caliber shoe for less money if you’re worried about your wallet.
Performance
For all of my running tests, the Adidas Ultraboost 22 has been consistent across the board and there haven’t really been any glaring performance downfalls to this shoe.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 for Sprints and Short Runs
For sprints, this model works fairly well and while it’s not technically designed for tackling pure sprint work and training it will get the job done for most runners. If you plan to tackle sprints here and there with some of your track workouts or conditioning, then you can use this model with ease without having to switch shoes.
For shorter runs that range from 1-4 miles, I really like the Ultraboost 22. This model’s Linear Energy Push system is a nice addition for tackling these styles of runs and you get a nice level of stability and responsiveness in the midfoot when you’re cruising through faster pace sessions. I noticed the responsiveness most when tackling hills during these runs in this shoe.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 for Mid-Range and Long Runs
If you’re tackling mid-range runs, then I also think you’ll enjoy the ride in the Ultraboost 22. The boost midsole has a 12mm heel-to-toe drop which I think feeds well into the overall comfort in this shoe when tackling runs where your mileage starts to increase. In this context, I like the energy return you get from the Ultraboost 22.
The Ultraboost 22 should fair pretty well for long runs. A lot of runners will use the Ultraboost models for tackling 10+ mile sessions and this model walks a good line of stability and cushion when you’re starting to get fatigued.
For example, if you have a slower cadence or start to slow from fatigue in longer runs, then I think this model will do a good job of accommodating your running style without leaving you feeling beat up.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 for Walking and Daily Wear
One of the best parts about the Adidas Ultraboost 22 is that it looks pretty good and can double as a daily wear shoe, too. Some running shoes can’t do this and they don’t have the aesthetic or the build to work on a daily basis. For example, I would not wear my Adizero Boston 10 shoes for all-day wear.
In addition to being a good and comfortable daily driver, the Ultraboost 22 is also a good model for longer walks especially if you have a narrower foot. For narrow feet, this shoe will fit like a glove and it provides a nice smooth ride if you plan to use them for longer walks.
Adidas Ultraboost 22 Sizing
The sizing for the Adidas Ultraboost 22 is interesting. I think if you have a narrow or neutral foot width, then you’ll be safe going true-to-size. Since these shoes have a bootie-style construction and are designed with the women’s running community in mind, then you’ll want them to fit fairly snug without killing your feet, so for this runner and foot anatomy, true-to-size will be the call.
If you have a wider or thicker foot, then you may want to steer clear of the Ultraboost 22. Even if you go up a half size, I think you may still run into sizing issues due to the toe box being narrow, and there being limited space and volume in the toe box. I found this shoe to be somewhat tight even after breaking them in despite their length fitting true and having a natural foot width.
- Adidas Ultraboost 22 Sizing Thoughts: For narrow and neutral foot widths, go true to size. For runners with wide or thick feet, pass on this model.
If you have additional questions about the sizing in the Adidas Ultraboost 22, drop a comment below and I can help accordingly.
Price Breakdown
For the Adidas Ultraboost 22, you can expect to pay $190 USD. That price point is definitely a little high for a pair of running shoes and I think you could find solid options, from Adidas at that, for less if you’re worried about the price point.
The one context in which I do think the price point can be justified is for the Ultraboost fans. I think this model delivers a fairly strong performance and if you’re used to this model line, then staying the course for a few extra bucks may not be the worst move.
Adidas Ultraboost 22
Best For
- Shorter Runs
- Mid-Range Runs
- Narrow and Neutral Foot Widths
- Daily Wear and Walking
Falls Short
- For Wider Feet
- For Breathability On Hot Days
Adidas Ultraboost 21 Vs Ultraboost 22
From a macro point of view, the Adidas Ultraboost 21 and Ultraboost 22 have a lot of similarities and if you didn’t know better it looks like the two shoes have relatively no changes between one another.
The majority of the changes on the Ultraboost 22 are cosmetic and some of these include a newly added non-perforated upper midfoot panel, change of branding on the tongue, new Continental branding on the outsole, and a subtle change to the bottom eyelet and lacing system.
Outside of these, there are a few somewhat bigger changes that diehard Ultraboost fans may notice. The first of these changes include tapered boot padding. In the Ultraboost 21, the boot’s construction was a bit thicker in nature and the 22’s material was brought in a bit.
Another change is that Adidas reworked the midfoot cage and rounded the material that’s just above the top eyelet. In the 21, some runners complained of the plastic digging into the feet and the 22 this rounded feature has seemed to limit this for the most part. I have yet to notice any digging even when wearing no-show socks.
The final change is that the sock liner in the 22 now has two holes in the heel and the forefoot. Some have noted that these holes give this shoe a slightly more “soft” feel compared to the 21, and if I had to guess, Adidas did this to provide strategic areas to dissipate stress and force where ground impact tends to be highest when running (the heel and forefoot).
Construction Details
If you’re interested in the construction features of the Adidas Ultraboost 22, I’ve provided some of the key callouts below that help feed into this shoe’s performance.
If you’ve worn the Adidas Ultraboost 21 or are a fan of that model, then I think you’ll like the Ultraboost 22. Their construction changes are very subtle, but the subtle changes that do exist I think help the 22 be a better shoe overall.
- Heel-to-Toe Drop: 12mm
- Weight: 12.6 oz (size 10 model)
- Removable Insole: Yes
- BOOST Midsole
- Bootie-Style Construction
- Stretchweb Outsole With Continental Rubber
- Linear Energy Push System
- PRIMEKNIT Upper
- Upper Contains At Minimum 50% Parley Ocean Plastic and 50% Recycled Polyester
If you have additional questions on the construction of the Adidas Ultraboost 22, drop a comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q:Is the Adidas Ultraboost 22 tight?
Q:Can you wear the Adidas Ultraboost 22 for walking?
Takeaway Thoughts
The Adidas Ultraboost 22 is a good shoe for specific runners and activities. If you have a narrower foot width, then I think you’ll find this model’s fit really snug and secure. Plus, I like how this model performs for shorter and mid-range runs, long walks, and how they look for daily wear.
As an all-arounder, the Ultraboost 22 works really well. The only caveats to this are the sizing and the price. If you’re trying to save money or have a wide foot, then you may want to explore other running shoes.
If you have any questions on the Adidas Ultraboost 22, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly).
I buy and hand-test every product featured on That Fit Friend. I may earn commissions on sales made through the links on my site. Learn more here.
Hi Jake,
Just wanted to know if Adidas Ultraboost 22 also good for functional training/ Cross-training ?
Hey! You can use them for casual cross-training and for things like home workouts, but I’d limit how much you’re lifting in them since the midsole will start to compress a bit. IMO, these are solid for stuff like track workouts, too, where you might be blending running with some bodyweight and light loading!