Of all the high quality weightlifting shoes that the popular company, Adidas has been making, the Adidas Adipower is known to be the best of them all. They were the first set of shoes to implement the design of a complete thermoplastic polyurethane heel. The design was later adopted by several other companies producing weightlifting shoes.
Upon their original release, there were some unique features that distinguished the Adidas Adipower from other shoes. The first thing that was noticeable was the use of a polyurethane leather which made for better ventilation, enhanced the flexibility, and improved the durability of the shoes. Another unique feature was the use of an intricately designed weightlifting chassis that included a durable TPU heel that made for increased stability and support. Lastly, the number of straps was reduced to one instead of the three that the AdiStar has. It is a strap design similar to that of the Adidas PowerLift shoes.
Let’s take a look at how the Adidas Adipower compares with other similar shoes and Olympic lifting shoes.
Adidas AdiPower Notable Features
What is the weight of the Adidas AdiPower?
The weight of the Adidas Adipower is about 17 oz. When you compare this with the weight of both the Nike Romaleos 3s and the Reebok Legacy Lifters, you’ll notice that the Adipower weigh more than the former and less than the latter.
The weight of this shoe is one that that excites as a person. I have discovered that shoes within the range of 15 to 16 ounces are mostly suitable for any kind of lifting. Unlike the Reebok Legacy Lifters, they are pretty lightweight and are perfect if you have a slow leg turnover time as they won’t pull your feet back. We also mentioned that they weigh a little more than the Nike Romaleos 3s. This is an advantage for athletes looking for a shoe that can give them a firm grip on the ground during their activities.
However, this shoe is not recommended for hybrid lifting performances (Crossfit workouts). The design of the Adidas Adipower is practically made for Olympic weightlifting. My personal opinion is that some athletes may find it difficult to use the Adidas Adipower in such situations and so for Crossfit workouts, I would recommend shoes that have their heels to be flatter.
The Effective Heel Height of the Shoe
The Adidas Adipower is no different from many other popular lifting shoes in term of heel height as it is 0.75” (20.1 mm) high.
The height of the heel of an average weightlifter is around 0.75” and this means that the Adipower fits into the class of hybrid lifting shoes. The elevated heel of 0.75” is a major plus for lifters as they will be able to move freely and easily without much adjustment in their posture. They are also a great option for those who need more depth in their squats. The height is also excellent for maximal strength and explosive power movements.
The only issue that may arise from lifting at the 0.75” heel height is when they are used by lifters of certain heights. Athletes who are taller or shorter may find it more comfortable to lift in shoes that are of specific heels heights.
Type of Heel Design and Construction
The heel of the Adidas Adipower features a heel made of strong thermoplastic polyurethane or TPU. The lightweightness and non-compressibility of the TPU enhances the durability and the shoe’s capacity to withstand abrasions.
The chassis of the Adidas Adipower is also a very impressive weightlifting design. The heel will give your feet the stability it needs to be able to dig in and hold firmly on the ground. Also, the durability of TPU means that the heel won’t compress even after in use for a long period of time. It won’t compress under heavier loads either, and the strength will keep your heels from rocking back during rigorous activities.
However, selecting the type of heel is made from may come down to personal choice. If what you’re looking for is a shoe whose heel is made of wood or leather, then the Adidas Adipower may not suit your taste.
Material of the Shoe’s Uppers
The Adidas Adipower’s uppers are made with polyurethane coated leather. Extending towards the heel and tongue is a material made if mesh fabric. This allows for increased flexibility as well as better ventilation and high durability. Any form of ripping is eliminated with such a design. Scuffing of this material is likely to occur, but it’s not much of a problem as it can be easily wiped off and cleaned out.
When it comes to flexibility, the Adidas Adipower wasn’t one of the easiest to get used to. But once I was able to, my feet fit into the leather very well and was very comfortable. The breathability of the mesh material around the tongue also helped to make it more comfortable. Compared to other weightlifting shoes, they might not be the best in terms of breathability. But there are still better and more comfortable than the Nike Romaleos 2s.
Strap Design
This weightlifting shoe utilizes a single strapping system across the top of the tongue. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage for lifters. It will a plus for lifters who prefer a simple design and don’t need their shoes to be too tight after lacing it up. However, those who prefer a strap design similar to that of the AdiStar (3 straps), would see it as a disadvantage. Many lifters even argue that the part of a shoe that should be tiger is the upper part and just one strap may be a bit useless.
But even with that, most lifters love the single strap design as it is able to provide enough stability for their ankle. This is something any lifter would be concerned about and the Adipower does it unlike the Nike Romaleos 2s which would still have some overlap.
You’ll find different prices for the Adidas Adipower. The earliest models come at a lower price of $125. The newer ones which come in either white or silver color are sold for around $179. The ones that come in an all-black design are priced at $200. You may find these prices to be a little higher on the Adidas website. These shoes are durable and among the most popular weightlifting shoes, so you can expect their prices to be closer to those of other new shoes in the market.
Opinions from Professional Athletes and Coaches
Adidas has produced several lifting shoes in the past years but the Adipower is still one of the most popular and widely used among all of them. We can consider them to be somewhere in-between two other lifting shoes made by Adidas, the Powerlift which is known for its lower heel and powerlifting capacity, and the Adidas Leistung shoes known for their higher heels and weightlifting capacity. The Adipower is the shoe that brought about the use of the TPU heel design which is now very common with other lifting shoes today.
Here are some opinions from professional athletes, instructors and coaches who have had one or two experiences with Adidas Adipower. It is important to note that the opinions below may not be completely honest as some of these people personally love the performance of Adidas products or have worked with them.
Patrick Kern is a professional strength coach and he is in the weight class of 105Kg. According to him, the Adidas Adipower is an incredibly durable shoe and since 2013 that he has had them, they have stood firm even with all the serious loads they have gone through.
He mentioned a few advantages of the shoe which includes its stability and lightweightness. They are not too heavy for him during movement and they help him get his landing positions right. He said he often forget me that he is wearing them because if how comfortable they are on his feet.
As for the downsides, he feels the heels are not high enough and could be improved a little more. His recommendation to those who are interested in buying is that they should keep in mind that it is a very light shoe which is something he loves personally. He said that others might prefer to have a heavier shoe like the Nike Romaleos 2s so as to give then more stability. He however feels that heavier on his feet and he prefers lighter shoes. Finally, he said he would recommend this shoe to every lifter.
Phil Sabatini is a weightlifter in the weight class of and he is the Head Coach at Barbell Syndicate. Sabatini made it clear at the very beginning that he loves Adidas shoes and how the Adipower helps him to attain stability and hold his feet firmly on the ground. He said that he has always been using Adidas shoes ever since he started out as weightlifter. He also mentioned that he tries other lifting shoes such as the Nike Romaleos 1 and 2 models but did not like how heavy and bulky they felt on his feet. With those shoes, it was difficult for him to have a firm hold in the ground during his lifts.
Sabatini made mention of three things that made him love the Adidas Adipower. How lightweight and thin the shoes are, the heel height and design unique that keeps him stable under any type of load, and the flexibility of the Adipower when compared to other lifting shoes.
According to Phil Sabatini, there is only one downside to the Adidas Adipower and that is how it grips his foot. He didn’t like the design if just a single strap and would have preferred the triple strapping system as it was in earlier models. He stated that the top of the shoe is where it is tightest and that is where the strap is, but it would have been better if it was at the bottom, or go for the triple strapping system.
Conclusion
Even though the original release of the Adidas Adipower dates back several years ago but they are still one of the most popular shoes used by strength athletes today. They are still one of the most successful Adidas products and have several unique features that make them desirable by a lot of athletes. The design of the heel, its flexibility, durability and lightweightness makes it perfect for anyone looking for an effective and long-lasting lifting shoe.
The major cons of the Adidas Adipower is its foot grip and price. Many lifters prefer the three strap design and would prefer it to be implemented in the Adidas Adipower as well. The price to is a little too high for such a shoe but considering its durability, the price is well worth it.