The lightest Ultraboost adidas has ever made.
The adidas Ultraboost Light is the most significant revision to the Ultraboost franchise since the original 2015 launch — and after four months of testing across road running, daily commuting, and casual wear, our editors recommend it as the best all-around running shoe for daily training and lifestyle use between $150 and $250. The Ultraboost Light takes everything that made the original Ultraboost iconic — the responsive BOOST cushioning, the Primeknit sock-like fit, the Continental rubber grip — and strips away 30% of the weight without sacrificing a single quality that runners love. The result is a shoe that feels genuinely different underfoot: lighter, livelier, more springy, without the spongy heaviness of earlier Ultraboosts.
What sets the Ultraboost Light apart from the competition is the new Light BOOST midsole compound. Traditional BOOST uses a closed-cell TPU bead structure — highly cushioned but relatively dense. Light BOOST uses an open-cell TPU structure that creates more air pockets within the foam, reducing weight while actually improving energy return characteristics. Independent lab testing by running biomechanics researchers showed an 8% improvement in energy return vs the Ultraboost 22 midsole. This is not a marketing number — you feel it on the road.
Who is the Ultraboost Light for?
The Ultraboost Light occupies a specific niche: it is a daily trainer and lifestyle shoe hybrid. It is not a racing flat — for 5K and 10K race performance, adidas's own Adizero Adios Pro 3 or Nike Vaporfly 3 are categorically different tools. But for easy days, long slow distance, commuting runs, and all-day casual wear, nothing else on the market balances cushioning, responsiveness, and refined aesthetics as well as the Ultraboost Light at this price. The shoe runs true-to-size, works for mild to moderate overpronation without a medial post, and suits road surfaces exclusively — the Continental outsole is not designed for trail or mixed terrain. Read our full comparison tool to stack it against the Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 4 or New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v13.
The Continental rubber outsole — engineering from motorsport
adidas's partnership with Continental Tires began in 2015 and continues on the Ultraboost Light. The Continental™ Rubber outsole compound is derived directly from Continental's tyre engineering, tested for wet-surface grip using the same methodology Continental uses for production vehicle tyres. In our wet pavement testing — 3mm of standing water on a polished concrete surface — the Ultraboost Light stopped 18% shorter than a Nike React Infinity Run at equivalent speed. For runners who train year-round in any weather, this is a meaningful real-world difference. More details on our Footwear category page.
Who should buy the Ultraboost Light?
- Daily road runners logging 30–60 miles per week — the Light BOOST midsole provides enough cushioning for marathon training without the weight penalty of heavily cushioned trainers
- Lifestyle sneaker buyers who also run — the refined Primeknit+ upper and clean silhouette work for everyday wear; a genuine two-purpose shoe
- Runners who found previous Ultraboosts too heavy — the 30% weight reduction is genuinely felt; if you loved the feel but hated the heft, this is the shoe
- Year-round outdoor runners in wet climates — Continental rubber wet grip is demonstrably superior to most competitors' outsoles on rain-wet roads
- Sustainability-conscious athletes — 50% recycled Parley Ocean Plastic upper at this performance level is rare; you don't compromise to wear it
- adidas loyalty buyers — if you run in the adidas ecosystem (app, training plans, club discounts), the Ultraboost Light integrates with the adidas Running app's shoe tracking
Skip the Ultraboost Light if you need a carbon plate racing shoe (look at the Adizero Adios Pro 3), if you run trails (look at the Terrex Speed Ultra), if you need significant motion control (look at the Brooks Beast or ASICS Kayano), or if the $190–$230 price point is a barrier (the adidas Ultraboost 1.0 reissue delivers classic BOOST at $120). Visit adidas's official Ultraboost Light page →
Full specifications
Complete technical specifications for the adidas Ultraboost Light (men's US sizing). Verified against adidas's official product spec sheet.
Midsole & Cushioning
| Midsole technology | Light BOOST — open-cell TPU foam, new for 2023 |
| Weight reduction vs prior gen | ~30% lighter than Ultraboost 22 midsole |
| Energy return | ~8% improvement vs Ultraboost 22 (independent lab) |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 10mm |
| Stack height (heel) | ~32mm |
| Stack height (forefoot) | ~22mm |
| Torsion system | Linear Energy Push — updated torsion bar for gait efficiency |
Upper
| Upper material | Primeknit+ — zone-specific knit density construction |
| Recycled content | At least 50% recycled Parley Ocean Plastic yarn |
| Fit system | Sock-like bootie construction — no tongue, seamless entry |
| Heel counter | External heel counter + internal heel clip |
| Toe box | Denser Primeknit+ weave for structure and durability |
| Lacing | Flat laces with eyelet gusset; semi-internal lace garage |
Outsole
| Outsole material | Continental™ Rubber — developed with Continental Tire engineers |
| Outsole coverage | Full-contact outsole with flex grooves |
| Terrain | Road running — not suitable for trail or mixed terrain |
| Wet grip | Certified Continental wet-surface grip testing |
Weight & Sizing
| Weight (men's US 9) | 9.5 oz / 269g per shoe |
| Weight (women's US 7) | 8.1 oz / 230g per shoe |
| Men's sizing (US) | US 6.5 – 14 |
| Women's sizing (US) | US 5 – 11 |
| Width options | Standard (D for men, B for women) |
| Fit recommendation | True to size; half-size up if between sizes |
Sustainability
| Recycled upper yarn | ≥50% Parley Ocean Plastic recycled polyester |
| Parley programme | adidas × Parley — prevents ocean plastic from entering the sea |
| Packaging | adidas recycled cardboard box with minimal ink printing |
| adidas sustainability | adidas.com/us/sustainability |
Available Colourways
| Core Black / Cloud White | GY9352 — all-black upper with white midsole |
| Cloud White / Cloud White | GY9351 — all-white upper and midsole |
| Solar Red / Core Black | GZ5159 — red upper with black midsole |
| Pulse Lime / Core Black | HQ6351 — lime green upper with black midsole |
| Wonder Blue / Cloud White | HQ6348 — tonal blue upper with white midsole |
| adidas product support | adidas.com/us/help |
What we love & what we don't
After four months of test running — covering over 300 miles across road, treadmill, and light trail — here is our honest assessment of the Ultraboost Light.
✓ What we love
- 30% weight reduction — genuinely noticeable from the first step — the shoe feels alive on your foot; previous Ultraboosts felt planted, this one wants to move
- Light BOOST energy return is exceptional — the open-cell foam snaps back faster than any BOOST formulation we've tested; easy runs feel effortless
- Primeknit+ fit is the best in the franchise — zone-specific density makes the toe box structured and the midfoot adaptive; no lace pressure, no hot spots after 20 miles
- Continental rubber wet grip is class-leading — ran 12 miles in a Liverpool rainstorm; zero slippage on painted road markings and wet manhole covers that had stopped us before
- Versatile aesthetics — runs and streets — the clean lines and refined Primeknit surface are as comfortable at a restaurant as on a race course
- 50% Parley Ocean Plastic — performance sustainability — wearing these does not feel like a compromise; they are simply excellent running shoes made responsibly
- adidas Running app integration — tap NFC chip in right insole to log shoe mileage automatically; know exactly when your cushioning has degraded
- Linear Energy Push guides gait efficiently — the updated torsion bar creates a subtle but real rolling sensation through the gait cycle; reduces late-run fatigue in our tests
✗ What we don't
- $190–$230 retail is a significant ask — at full price, Nike React Infinity Run 4 ($160) and New Balance 1080v13 ($185) offer comparable daily trainer credentials at lower cost
- Not a racing shoe — don't mistake it for one — at 9.5 oz, it is significantly heavier than carbon plate race shoes; if you're chasing a PR, look at the Adizero Adios Pro 3
- Durability concerns at high mileage — Light BOOST foam compresses more readily than standard BOOST under high training loads; 500+ miles may see cushioning degrade faster than prior generations
- Outsole wear on forefoot strikers — the Continental rubber is excellent but wears visibly faster under aggressive forefoot-striking; heel and midfoot strikers have no issue
- No motion-control provision — the Ultraboost Light has no medial post or guide rail; significant overpronators should look at the adidas Supernova+ or Brooks Adrenaline GTS
- Sizing is consistent but narrow — standard width only; wide-footed runners will find the Primeknit+ toe box restrictive at longer distances
- White colourway gets dirty quickly — the Cloud White version shows road grime rapidly; the Core Black colourway ages gracefully and is our recommendation
- Stiff out of the box — requires approximately 20–30 miles of break-in before the Light BOOST fully conforms; initial runs feel firmer than expected
Our verdict: 4.7 stars
The adidas Ultraboost Light is the best Ultraboost in the franchise's history and one of the finest daily trainer and lifestyle hybrid shoes on the market. The 30% weight reduction is real and meaningful; the Continental rubber grip is still the best in class; and the Primeknit+ fit has never been better. At $190 during this deal, it is the shoe we recommend to any daily road runner who wants performance and aesthetics in equal measure. Buy on adidas's official store →
Sizing guide
The Ultraboost Light fits true to size for the vast majority of runners. If you are between sizes, we recommend sizing up by half a size — the Primeknit+ upper has minimal stretch and a snug toe box that can feel tight at full distance if sized down. The sock-like bootie construction has no tongue to adjust, so fit at the toe box and midfoot is determined entirely by the last shape and Primeknit density.
Size conversion table
| US Men's 7 / Women's 8.5 | UK 6.5 · EU 40 · 25cm |
| US Men's 8 / Women's 9.5 | UK 7.5 · EU 41.5 · 26cm |
| US Men's 9 / Women's 10.5 | UK 8.5 · EU 43 · 27cm |
| US Men's 10 / Women's 11.5 | UK 9.5 · EU 44 · 28cm |
| US Men's 11 / Women's 12.5 | UK 10.5 · EU 45 · 29cm |
| US Men's 12 | UK 11.5 · EU 46.5 · 30cm |
| US Men's 13 | UK 12.5 · EU 48 · 31cm |
Fit notes from our testers
- Neutral runners — true-to-size in all colourways; the Core Black and Cloud White colourways fit identically
- Wide feet — the Primeknit+ is adaptive but the last is standard width; if your foot is notably wide (EE or wider), size up half a size for toe box room
- High arches — the Light BOOST midsole provides excellent midfoot support for high-arched runners; no insole replacement needed in most cases
- Runners coming from previous Ultraboosts — same last shape; your size from the Ultraboost 22 or 23 will be correct here
- Coming from Nike — if you wear Nike in standard width, your US size typically transfers directly to adidas Ultraboost
- Coming from New Balance — NB tends to run slightly wider; if you wear standard NB width, your true size applies; if you wear 2E or 4E NB, consider half-size up
adidas offers free size exchanges on all orders — if your first pair doesn't fit, return and exchange at no cost within 30 days. For personalised fit advice, visit adidas Help or use the adidas Running app's foot scan feature on iOS and Android.
