With the rising popularity of Hyrox it’s understandable that more running shoe brands will be dedicating resources towards making shoes to serve that growing sector. There is a whole new potential customer base out there, some of which might include weightlifting enthusiasts looking to add some road running to their training regimens, and others can be dedicated runners looking to hit the gym more to become a stronger runner.
The all-new Adidas Dropset Pro joins the Dropset, Dropset Control, and Dropset Elite as a new entry into its growing hybrid shoe lineup.
Coach Amanda took them to a workout class for lifting, burpees, mountain climbers etc to see how they feel. Because at first glance they still look an awful lot like the big cushioned road shoe EVO SL.
Adidas Dropset Pro Specs
This isn’t your every day cross trainer, Adidas loaded this up with some of their best materials for top-flight performance whether you’re out on the roads or pushing a weighted sled.
- Heel to toe drop: 7 mm
- Weight: 7.16 oz Women’s/ 8.54 oz Men’s
- Stack: 29 mm
- Available in 3 colorways for Women and 4 colorways for Men
- Not available in wide sizes
- Price: Available for $150 at adidas.com
What Makes the Adidas Dropset Pro Stand Out?
As I briefly mentioned just a few moments ago, this is a new entry into the Adidas hybrid training shoe lineup. It will join the more strength training-oriented Dropset 4 and the Dropset Control as the option with more readiness to take down real miles outside of a short treadmill session.
It will also sit below the Adidas Dropset Elite, the top-line Hyrox racing shoe. If you think of it in terms of the Adidas shoes we already know, the Dropset Pro is like the EVO SL and the Dropset Elite is like the Adios Pro 4.
The Dropset 4 and Dropset Control are made with Adidas’ Repetitor foam, which is found in the Adistar series of max cushioned running shoes. Repetitor is more of an entry level foam for the casual runner and occasional walker.
The Dropset Pro will sit atop a layer of Lightstrike Pro, which is a significant jump in quality over Repetitor foam. Energy rods sit under the foot as well. The energy rods here are not the energy rods seen in shoes like the Boston or Adios Pro, rather they’re integrated into the outsole for smooth transitions and some snap.
There are no traditional stability elements to the Dropset Pro, save for a wide base and a stack height closer to the Adios 9 than the EVO SL. The wide base, combined with the energy rods, which are missing in both the Adios 9 and EVO SL, should help to stabilize the shoe during lifting movements and running intervals. The midsole also employs the use of sidewalls for a little extra stride guidance.
Traction is handled by the combined might of Lighttraxion and Continental rubber outsole material. The Dropset Pro will have more continental rubber in the forefoot than what is offered in the rest of the Adizero lineup.
The upper will be an engineered mesh with TPU overlays for flexibility and support.
Who is the Adidas Dropset Pro for?
- Wide feet: This won’t be available in wide sizes but the midfoot is built wider than the rest of the Adizero lineup
- Heavier athletes: Lightstrike Pro is generally a touch firmer and more durable than other superfoams, so it should work for heavier athletes
- Long runs: Based on stack height this might not work well for double-digit mileage runs
- Front of the pack: As long as the mileage isn’t long this should be a serviceable short run option for front of the pack runners.
With the rising popularity of Hyrox it’s understandable that more running shoe brands will be dedicating resources towards making shoes to serve that growing sector. There is a whole new potential customer base out there, some of which might include weightlifting enthusiasts looking to add some road running to their training regimens, and others can be dedicated runners looking to hit the gym more to become a stronger runner.
Our Experience – Coach Amanda
This is definitely a shoe that’s designed to give you the feeling of cushion, while also being sticky for gym movements. Dashing between stations in a Hyrox or DekaFit you’ll have a great cushion underfoot to keep you comfortable and pick up the pace.
I was nervous about stability and I’ll say it’s not a shoe I’d want to do all my heavy lifting in by any means. You aren’t as stable and you are losing some of that ground feel. BUT it is a shoe that allows for going from running to lifting, to burpees without any crazy loss of control.
The traction was excellent and while I could feel some movement at the foot when I was doing heavy kickstand RDL’s, that feels like a different movement pattern than quickly going from wall balls to a dash around the track. Especially if you’ve been seeking something with a little more comfort and speed, this was a winner in my book.
Definitely a more narrow fit and where some recent Adidas shoes like the Hyperboost Edge felt long, this was back to being my normal length.
The all-new Adidas Dropset Pro joins the Dropset, Dropset Control, and Dropset Elite as a new entry into its growing hybrid shoe lineup.
The Adidas Dropset Pro marks the latest addition to their hybrid training lineup. And it’s more than a special edition of another popular shoe; Adidas went outside of the box and brought their best tech into an expanding category, proving again why they’re one of the industry leaders in running and sports equipment.
What to read next?
The Truth About Waking Up Your Glutes | What Runners Get Wrong About Glute Activation From a PT
Leave a Reply