When it comes to daily trainers, the running shoe market is spoilt for choice, with all types of midsole thickness and foam options available. In a sense, Adidas is going back to basics with the Supernova Rise 2 (SR2), offering a trainer that provides the Goldilocks option: not too thick, not too thin, not too heavy and not too bouncy.

The perfect inbetweener

With a midsole thickness of 36 mm and a 10 mm drop (according to Adidas), the SR2 sits pretty much in the middle of the midsole spectrum. Adidas uses their Dreamstrike+ foam here, a PEBA based compound introduced for the Supernova range in 2023, with crib notes taken from the LIGHTSTRIKE PRO foam found in Adidas’s Adizero range of high-performance shoes. Dreamstrike+ seems to focus more on comfort and cushioning, although being PEBA based it’s certainly no slouch on the energy return front.

Indeed, taking the SR2 on the road, you can tell it’s far from a lazy shoe. Sure, you don’t really have the same kick as with the Puma Deviate Nitro 3 or the Adizero Adios Pro 3 (review), but it’s not a flat running experience either - you are able to pick up the pace when you want to and keep it there.

Much like the Ultraboost 5 (review), Adidas cuts away part of the midsole on the outer edge of the heel area (see picture below). As an underpronator this contour suited me well, since there was less midsole to contend with when striking the ground on the outside of the heel, which usually forces the foot over the centre. The trimmed heel here allows for far more balanced foot movement, at least for me.

Keep in mind that stability is not the main attraction of the SR2, but the fact that you don’t have a super bouncy midsole and a pretty guided foot fall experience certainly helps on longer, more relaxed runs. As a heavier runner (93 kg) I never felt that there wasn’t enough midsole for support, except for steep downhills which really tested the midsole underneath the forefoot (as they do with most shoes).

At 287 g (UK10), the Adidas SR2 again sits nicely in the middle - not heavy but also not the weight of a shoe you’ll find on elite runners.

Finally, a word on the outsole, which in the case of the SR2 is ADIWEAR and not the usual Continental found on loads of Adidas shoes. ADIWEAR comes with pros and cons, appearing to be exceptionally durable, with only a small section of outer grooves worn off after about 230 km on the shoes. That said, it did not feel particularly grippy in the wet, with certain types of road surfaces especially risky.

In the end

The Adidas Supernova Rise 2’s midrange weight and 36 mm midsole combine to make it a shoe that works perfectly well for a whole range of training options, including recovery runs, long runs, tempo runs and yes, even those nasty fartlek sessions.

Adidas managed to create a really great shoe in my opinion – an everyday trainer that offers support, energy return and a bit of a kick when need be. It’s mindful of never being too much of anything, and in a sense, it harkens back to the no-nonsense running shoes of the 2000s, when superfoam was something you might only find in a fancy mattress. It’s just the grip in wet conditions that is bothersome, but the shoe’s pros far outweigh the cons.

Adidas retails the Supernova Rise 2 for just under R3 000 on the Adidas website, which pretty much puts it in direct competition with Adidas’s latest Adizero Boston 13 for R3 300. How to decide then? The speedier Adizero range is the step up from the Supernova range, with Adidas mentioning the Boston 13 can be seen as the training shoe for those running in the Adizero Adios Pro 4.

DISCLAIMER: Shoes were received from Adidas South Africa for review and not returned.