We had the pleasure of testing the adidas Boost ADV; lets find out what the hype is about.

Sizing

The Boost ADV fits true to size.

Durability

The adidas Boost ADV consists of 2 parts: an inner sock construction and an outer upper. The durability of the model is good due to four main reasons. The first reason is adidas’ decision to use a seamless one-piece upper that is safe from griptape contact. Secondly, the material used in the upper is a solid material consisted of a type of suede that left a high quality impression on us. Thirdly, the positioning of the laces was well thought-out. The lacing is quite close together and drawn far back, which effectively protects against griptape contact. The fourth reason was the welded three-stripe logo, which was impossible to tear off unlike the usual stitched-on stripes. The sole also proved to be extremely durable with great grip.

Cushioning

The main focus of the Boost ADV lies in its cushioning. The Boost technology consists of thousands of small thermoplastic polyurethane balls which provides better impact absorption and compression rebound compared to traditional EVA foam. The sole is relatively thin in the toecap area; it starts getting thicker in the midfoot area and the heel area is protected with a 1 – 1.2 centimeter thin Boost layer. So the sole gets thicker the further you get to the middle and heel part of the shoe, improving cushioning and creating a comfortable feel for the foot. In addition, the sockliner adds a cushioning effect, too. A weakness of this kind of sole construction however, is the lack of cushioning and impact support in the toe area. Although the Boost technology clearly shows its impact advantages for the heel area, the toe area was far too thin. To sum it up, boardfeel was the victorious over cushioning in this Boost model.

Shape

The Boost ADV is cut extremely close to your foot. As mentioned before, the shoe is built up in two parts, the outer part is a one piece upper and the inner part is similar to a sock. The inner sock and the slimly shape silhouette ensures a tight and snug fit for the toes in frontfoot as well as for the midfoot and heel area. The toe cap area is quite long and pointy, which ensures a great control over your flick for flip tricks.

Boardfeel and grip

Good or bad boardfeel typically depends on the thickness of the sole around the toe area. As you can see in the sagittal cut, the sole is very thin in the frontal area. But with the incisions in the sole combined, the model features great boardfeel and grip. The thinness of the sole also makes the sole very flexible so it can adapt to the board’s concave extremely well. Grip was very consistent during the whole time of the test, nearly comparable to vulcanized models without being to “gooey”.

Comfort and stability

Adidas put a lot of effort into designing a comfortable shoe with the Boost ADV. The weight of the shoe itself is a very positive element; thanks to the minimalistic design, this shoe feels extremely light. The shoe-in-shoe technology is another feature; there are almost no seams inside and the shoe fits very snug to your feet. Ventilation is another factor that improves comfort in a skate shoe. The Boost ADV features two big ventilation holes in the inner side that ensure maximum breathability in this area. In the toe area, however, hot and moist air is trapped and cannot leave the shoe.

Stability is evaluated as average. The shoe fits very close to the feet and basically hugs the feet, which adds to the secure and stable feeling. However, the shoe did not keep its shape so well in the toe area, where waves in the suede appeared. In addition, the whole shoe got too soft within our test period of 10 hours. 

Summary

The adidas Boost ADV is a shoe that uses innovative sole technology to create a great balance between grip and boardfeel and cushioning in the heel area. Mediocre stability and a sole slightly too thin in the toe area are balanced out by its’ great durability and flick.

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Street League, X-Games, Dew-Tour, the next big „un-core“ shoe company grabbing for a spot in the industry and the most recent Xtreme energy drink sponsor, they all seem to become increasingly important in our small but wonderful skateboard universe. With that said, it’s good to see that there are still some things that don´t change. When it feels like you’re floating further away from spaceship earth you need something to grab and feel safe.

Dennis Busenitz is one of these constants in this universe that helps us restore faith in the future of skateboarding. New trends pass him by faster than he skates and he keeps it simple, clean and original. Plus, there’s no possibility of stopping him if he can film a whole jaw-dropping part where the only thing he’s skating is a 3-inch high curb. Fittingly, his newest and well-deserved signature model, the adidas Busenitz ADV keeps it simple and clean, but doesn’t lack originality. Due to a lack of red curbs the shoe’s ability to help with your slappy grind game wasn’t evaluated, all remaining questions regarding the performance of the Busenitz ADV are answered below.

The adidas Busenitz ADV fits a little larger than usual.

Durability

One of the strengths of the Busenitz ADV is its simple design. With no overlapping seams and the usage of high-quality suede, the performance of the shoe is greatly elevated.

This of course isn´t some revolutionary engineering technique that adidas brought to the market out of the blue, but with that said, the ADV manages to take it one step further. First of all, the three stripes logo is heat-transferred which majorly increases its durability. Additionally, the seamless connection between main-part and eyestay by a hidden seam in combination with the recessed eyelets greatly improves the lifespan of the shoelaces. Furthermore, the ventilation holes are placed between the stripes and are thereby protected from the abrasive griptape. Another smart detail is the fact that said holes are bigger on the medial side and smaller on the lateral side to account for the occurring abrasion in the respective region. The only flaw of the design is the mesh collar, which frays out quickly and doesn’t look appealing within hours.

The relatively fine tread pattern of the sole would lead you to believe that it wears out quite fast, but it in fact did not show a single bald spot after the 10h of testing. Still, it may be one of the weaknesses in the long term. The sidewalls of the sole seem thin at first, but manage to withstand the griptape abuse quite well.

Cushioning

Even though the differences between vulc and cupsole constructions seem to fade off more and more, when it comes down to cushioning, cupsoles usually take the cake. The Busenitz ADV is no exception.

The cushioning is far above average, thanks to a rather higher sole construction in the heel area and the additional EVA-foam inlay. However, the absence of a foamed midsole in the center and front-area reduces the model’s ability to dampen high impacts in these regions.

Shape

Due to the thickly cushioned collar and the high cut around the ankle and Achilles tendon, the Busenitz ADV has a slightly wider silhouette. 

However, it still fits very snug and tight, and the toebox that tapers slowly to a rather pointy toe helps to control fliptricks extremely well. The Busenitz ADV is especially recommended for people with wider feet.

Boardfeel and grip

Boardfeel and grip are two more strengths of this model. The thin forefoot area and sockliner in the first third of the shoe create a very close connection between foot and board. As the sole is very thin in the front and quite thick in the last third, the balance between cushioning and direct contact to the board is executed really well. This is additionally supported by the flexibility of the sole unit. Due to the thin treat pattern and the medium thick sidewalls of the sole it adapts very well to the concave of the board, especially for a cupsole.

Additionally, the pattern with its fine lamellae structure ensures outstanding grip on the board and does not fail to match with vulcanized soles.

Comfort and stability

Going against the wave of the general trends, the Busenitz ADV relies on a rather high cut around the Achilles tendon. This, along with the ‘geofit”-technology creates a snug fit around the heel without impairing the movement of the ankle. The tongue features two longitudinal pads along the inwards facing side, which prevents it from moving to the sides and protects the foot from getting hit by your board without giving it a bulky look. The inner lining basically has no seams and the reasonable amount of padding around the heel ensure a snug fit and protection of the foot. Overall the workman-ship of the Busenitz ADV is remarkable, which increases the comfort further. The already mentioned sidewall ventilation due to the large ventilation holes that are pierced through the complete upper is outstanding; unlike many other shoes, the ventilation actually works, well done. The thin mesh tongue facilitates air exchange further. The stability is just as you would expect for a cupsole model. The Busenitz ADV offers just the right amount of support and stability for such a shoe, nothing more and nothing less. However, a slightly more rigid plastic reinforcement in the heel would be appreciated.

Summary

The adidas Busenitz ADV proves that a skate shoe doesn´t need to be highly technical. The well-thought-out details define the shoe’s strengths. Apart from the slightly shallow tread pattern of the sole and the average cushioning, the ADV performs exceptionally well.

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Supra

With probably the longest shelves and a shoe for everybody, Supra’s booth generated a lot of traffic. besides the recent releases of 2012 in updated colorways, they introduced a vulcanised version of the “Stacks”, Terry Kennedy’s pro model. The “Hammer”, that will be released in the following weeks was shown in new colorways, too and seems to sell quite good.

The new, vulc-soled Stacks.

The Hammer, Jim Greco’s signature style and inspired by a cut-down Skytop 3.

Lakai

With subjectively the most new models on the shelfs, Lakai definitely impressed. A new Guy Mariano, the first Vincent Alvarez, a Rick Howard boot in smooth brown and anthracite suede as well as the Quite Life capsule collection, there was something for everybody.

The newest Guy Mariano model that successfully combines a clean toebox and sophisticated lines with vintage running elements in the heel area.

The Vincent Alvarez signature style, well deserved and somehow brings back Lakai Manchester memories.

The Rick Howard/Fourstar collab boot was very well received according to the Lakai rep.

Lakai overview

adidas

Mark Gonzales is celebrating 15 years with adidas in 2013 and receives an expanded capsule collection including two new signature styles. Besides that, the Seeley is getting a color treatment by the adidas pros and the pro models of Dennis Busenitz, Silas Baxter Neal and Lucas Puig were presented in great new colorways for fall 2013. Adidas’ apparel offerings get broader and better with every season as well, especially many pieces of the Silas Baxter Neal range stood out.

Three columns, three team riders. Adidas presents great colorways every season, including fall 13.

The Mark Gonzales collection, at least parts of it.

The Adi Ease by Nestor Judkins, his third (?) colorway of the model and always a favorite one.

Other highlights

Praxis footwear had a tiny but stacked booth including an all rubber shoe, definitely an eye-catcher.

For more behind the scenes pictures, the Nike SB 10 years exhibition opening as well as pictures of the “House of VANS” party, have a look at our Facebook page or follow us on Instagram (@weartested).

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