The Adipure Motion is the most “traditional” of the three shoes part of the Adipure Collection. According to Adidas, it has been designed to encourage heel strikers to take their first steps towards natural running technique.
Adidas Adipure Motion First impressions
Although heavier than the other two Adidas minimalist shoes, it definitely seemed much lighter than any other running shoes I’ve used in years, my typical running shoe, the Nike Zoom Pegasus. What really stood out was the amount of cushioning in the heel and forefoot that gave me a sense of confidence in my first attempt while running on grass.
Adidas Adipure Motion Sole Unit
Remarkably, the cushioning in the Pure Motion outsole was so solid that I felt minimal shock. I was particularly impressed with the style of treading on the undersurface, which gave me a better feel of my feet than any shoe that I can recall.
The outsoles were particularly good, with plenty of traction on each surface I experimented with. The heel width was a little narrow for me but that was about all that really caught my attention.
I also had some difficulty with trail running and decided upon staying on a more even surface after a few attempts running through a redwood forest and a creek.
The Premotion midsole was firm yet comfortable and I experienced just a slight bit of discomfort at the onset of running in the shoes but as I adapted to the thinner padding, became much more at ease with the shoes.
The 11mm heel-to-toe drop (the difference in height between the heel and the toe) is quite traditional and doesn’t put excessive stress on the calves.
Adidas Adipure Motion Upper unit
I was equally impressed with the Tech Fit Upper unit as the thin, mesh-like polyurethane material was quite soft and flexible with excellent breathability. Even after I mustered up the courage to run without socks, I had mostly enjoyable runs on grass, beach sand, roads, and tracks. But after some minor blistering, I went back to wearing socks, particularly since the shoes were larger than what I normally wear.
Adidas Adipure Motion Opinion
The Adidas Adipure Motion is an excellent first choice for runners trying out minimalist shoes for the first time, like myself.
I initially had some concerns about stepping on rocks and twisting an ankle but those concerns were allayed after just a few short runs.
By running in the Adipure Motion, every other day, I was gradually able to make it up to six miles, with little discomfort and not surprisingly, with a superior kick than with my conventional running shoes.
The Adidas Adipure Motion is solid entry in the minimalist/lightweight category.
We thank the nice people at Adidas for sending us a pair of Adipure Motion to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.
price comparison
 | Adidas Adipure Motion Men Holabird Sports Free shipping over 69.95$ | $99.00 |
 | Adidas Golf - Adipure Motion 7 (running White/running White/black) - Footwear Zappos Free shipping both ways (free return shipping), 365 days returns | $220.00 |
Written by Randy Yagi
Randy Yagi has certified coaching credentials with USA Triathlon, USA Track and Field and ASCA Swimming. He previously worked as a fitness manager at the University of California at Santa Cruz and was a Northern California head coach for Team Challenge. He has degrees in Economics, Digital Publishing and Multimedia and Liberal Studies. Randy is also a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was recently selected to be a Media Fellow at the Hoover Institution, on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California.
Could you comment on if the shoes run large, small, or true to size?
On another website I read that these shoes were good for people with high arches. I have low arches, almost flat feet. Do you think it would still be alright? I was thinking of using these for fencing, a sport where the stress is on feet, ankles, knees, entire leg, really. I’ve also been known to have ankle problems.