Leading sports goods brand adidas is always on the lookout for new ways to fortify their products with technology and data, especially for athletes such as runners.
In August 2022, adidas revealed an updated version of one of its most advanced running shoes - adidas 4DFWD 2. Like the original, the new 4DFWD 2 utilises 3D-printing technology to offer a unique performance benefit to help move runners of all levels forward further.
(Reviewer's POV: Umar) As a sneakerhead & casual runner who is a fan of new tech, we were very keen to see how these tech-advanced runner shoes fare and if they are worth the price tag. Plus, it's not every day that we get to review shoes with 3D-printed midsoles.
Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
Table of Contents
About
Essentially, these shoes are made to help you stride forward faster, and the key to that is its industry-first bowtie-shaped lattice midsole which is 3D-printed. Said midsole is created from analysing 18 years of real-world athlete data as well as evaluating 5 million variations of the 4D midsole technology.
With every stride, the midsole turns vertical impact into horizontal forward motion. This helps to create an unstoppable smooth forward transition with a new underfoot experience in your runs. Moreover, these midsoles are designed to deliver 23% more cushioning than previous 4D midsole generations (4D 1.0). That means better distance covered before your legs give way.
Besides the midsoles, the shoes feature an all-new Primeknit+ and engineered mesh upper construction to offer an extra-supportive and snug fit.
Watch to see what our video editor thinks of the shoes!
Specifications and Details
- Sizes from 7 - 13.5UK (Men)
- 3D Printed 4DFWD Midsole - Compress forward, reducing braking forces and transforming impact energy into a forward motion.
- Continental™ Outsole - This new Continental™ outsole provides extra grip for a confident run in any weather condition
- Primeknit+ & Engineered Mesh Upper - The all-new Primeknit+ and engineered mesh upper construction has been introduced for an extra-supportive and snug fit. Complemented by a new integrated heel counter, Primeknit+ offers a sock-like fit whilst areas of engineered mesh provide support exactly where runners need it most.
First Impression
For our reader's reference, our review model is in colour Cloud White. The shoes have a grey-orange Pull Tab, with a greyish Upper that's evidently in a mesh design which is highly reflective (for night runs).
At first glance, you can't help but notice its statement features which are the midsoles. Although it would've been interesting to get different coloured midsoles, these shoes are attractive enough. We are confident that most sneakerheads would appreciate the design.
While we were slightly intimidated by the not-so-simple yet appealing colour combos on the shoe, the tones of the colours were on the muted side (save for the orange as a pop of colour) and therefore, still look great together with jeans as casual wear. Looks are always a plus for running shoes.
Wear & Comfort
Due to the sturdy midsoles, the shoes are actually surprisingly heavier than traditional running shoes when held in the hands.
So at first, the weight of the shoe caught us off guard since it's heavier than traditional running shoes. But upon putting them on, they felt immediately comfortable and we quickly got used to the weight.
Moreover, our feet felt really connected to the ground (if that makes sense).
As mentioned earlier, the Primeknit+ and engineered mesh upper construction were introduced for an extra-supportive and snug fit.
Together with the new integrated heel counter, the shoes do really feel sock-like. Of course, the engineered mesh provides sufficient support so that your shoes and feet go together as if you're wearing socks.
Performance
For our reader's reference, we usually run in and around our neighbourhood park. After a few days of testing, we think the best surface that these shoes do well on would be the road (Asphalt/Concrete).
As the shoes have some grip, they do alright when you run on limestone or dirt surfaces. Surprisingly, we didn't think they are as great when running on grass. Sure, you'll get a pretty decent grip on grass and won’t feel like you’re slipping, but it still doesn’t feel as great as on the asphalt or trails.
After running for a bit (1.5-hour run total), we could feel the grip and felt very connected to the ground.
Literally, our feet felt comfortable and were able to comfortably expand when it gets warm. Because of the upper being made with mesh, the sock-like fit was very comfortable during our runs yet feels supportive against hard floorings.
Conclusion
Buy: adidas 4DFWD 2 in Malaysia
- Our rating: 8/10
- Pros: Sock-like fit; sturdy midsoles; protective upper; good connection with the ground for tactility; surprisingly has good colour schemes for most casual wears; very unique design
- Cons: Price can be better; limited colours available
- Who is this for? Intermediate to advance runners who frequent outdoor runs would be able to appreciate the shoes more. Did we run better? Yes in the sense that these shoes helped us to feel more tactile in our runs. As these are not cheap so highly take that into consideration.
In short, some minor issues we have with the shoes are the price and limited colours. They go for RM899 and only come in three colours. But those are nothing much to scorn at.
While at first glance the shoes were a little bulky, we quickly got used to the weight and the shoes just felt protective. Not only that; the shoes let us feel more connected to the ground so that we could run much more naturally. With that, we believe this to be one of the best running shoes from adidas.
In fact, we have seen some compare it to the adidas Ultraboost 21, saying that this is better. To be honest, we (Umar the reviewer) still like the Ultraboost more but we can understand why these are so highly favoured by other reviewers. In terms of design, we'd say that these are going onto our list of the best.
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