Adidas Supernova Solution 2 Review
By Matthew Klein
Adida Supernova Solution 2Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 9.4 oz, 266 g (men's size 9), 8.5 oz, 241 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 36 mm heel / 26 mm forefoot
Drop: 10 mm
Shoe Purpose: Mild Stability Daily Training/Performance Shoe
Pros: Bouncy Midsole, Surprisingly Smooth Ride, Comfortable Upper Fit, Durable
Cons: Stability is Very Mild, Tongue is Not Gusseted and Thicker Than It Needs to Be
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Adidas Supernova Solution 2 is a lighter mild stability training/performance shoe that features a PEBA-based midsole. A normal width fit provides a comfortable, slightly plush and secure upper for those who want decent security. A full-length Dreamstrike+, PEBA-based midsole creates a bouncy ride with support rods that provide mild to moderate guidance for training runs to workouts. One of only two lightweight PEBA-based stability shoes on the market (at this time), the Supernova Solution 2 provides a unique ride that will work as a daily trainer for some and potentially as a non-plated distance racer for recreational runners.
SIMILAR SHOES: Saucony Tempus 2, Mount to Coast P1
PAST MODEL: Adidas Supernova Solution
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The Adidas Supernova Solution 2 fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. The upper is a moderately thick mesh that has some stretch to it. The fit overall is normal in width and volume throughout the length of the shoe. The toe box is slightly tapered but opens up into a normal width and volume forefoot. The forefoot feels wider than it looks due to some stretch both side to side and height wise. This transitions into a normal to slightly snug midfoot. The tongue is thicker and ungusseted. This provides great protection from the laces, but does occasionally slide side to side. I did have to lock the laces down slightly to get a secure fit but did not have to lace lock the heel. The instep is normal to slightly lower than average, so the laces may need to stay loose for those with a higher instep. The heel is normal in width with a large amount of heel collar padding. There is a moderately stiff heel counter in the rearfoot that was only slightly noticeable to me but those sensitive to them should approach with some caution. The overall security is fairly good and I have not had any slippage issues even when turning. The inner liner is really comfortable even against bare skin. The toe guard is minimal and I have run up to 7 miles sockless in this shoe without issue. The only word of caution is the sliding tongue, although it did not cause too much of an issue when the laces were appropriately locked down.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: On Cloudboom Strike, Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, Xero HFS, Topo Cyclone 3, Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Brooks Launch 11, Diadora Mythos Vigore 3
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Moderate Flexibility
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mildly Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: Somewhat
Recommended for Sockless: Yes
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The Adidas Supernova Solution is a mild stability daily training and performance shoe. The midsole is full-length Dreamstrike+, a PEBA-based foam with solid but controlled amount of bounce. The weight is lighter at 9.4 oz for a men's size 9, making it almost tied for the lightest superfoam stability shoe with the Saucony Tempus 2. The midsole feels soft and bouncy, compressing well underfoot with some responsiveness. The heel transition is extremely smooth thanks to a large posterolateral bevel that continues fairly far forward. This combined with the more compressive midsole makes the 10mm heel drop feel lower, like a 7-8mm drop. The heel is by far the softest and most cushioned part of the shoe. The overall stack height, despite being what should be considered higher, feels far more moderate. This may be due to how much the midsole compresses but it adds to how surprisingly nimble this shoe feels. This heel transitions into a stable midfoot and a moderately flexible but snappy forefoot. The support rods initially made the ride feel slightly stiff throughout the length of the shoe but this feeling goes away after 10 to 15 miles. It leaves a slightly snappy feel and the forefoot ends up flexing quite a bit. Those with toe mobility issues will not do well here, while those wanting a little flexibility will do well.
While the Supernova Solution 2 is meant for daily training miles, it can easily handle workouts and uptempo efforts. I have used this shoe for every type of run, including easy runs, a long run, a fartlek and a short tempo. It did especially well during the easy and long run, while the PEBA foam made it a solid option during faster efforts. While not a super shoe and not the fastest shoe, for those ok with some forefoot flexibility, the Dreamstrike+ foam is nicely responsive for a slightly lighter trainer. Those who do not do well with stiff unstable supershoes may find this an option for longer races given its stable natural and PEBA-based midsole, especially if the Saucony Tempus 2 fits too narrow. The best use of this shoe is still daily training and uptempo miles though. The geometry and foam make it both easy and comfortable to get into a rhythm, especially over longer runs.
Like others in the Adidas family, the outsole is incredibly durable. I have 50 miles on my pair with no wear on the outsole. This further solidifies this shoe's place to eat up mileage, albeit with some variety in paces. From a surface perspective thought, this shoe is best on smooth stable surfaces. On pavement and track this shoe has solid traction that grips in both wet and dry conditions. It does not have any lugs and is fairly smooth, so softer surfaces like dirt and mud are not the best place for this shoe. However, for those wanting a solid, lighter weight / possible performance shoe with mild stability on the road, the Supernova Solution 2 is a solid option.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The Adidas Supernova Solution 2 is a mild stability/guidance shoe. Although my initial step in made me question if this should be qualified as a stability shoe, breaking it in confirmed the mild guidance elements. The first is the filled in medial forefoot and wider shape throughout the length of the shoe. The wider midfoot in particular makes the shoe more stable. There small sidewalls in the heel that transition from the heel to the midfoot on the medial side and just the heel on the lateral side. The truth methods are the duel density support rods, which provide additional stiffness in the heel and midfoot and mildly noticeable resistant to medial motion. As part of this, the bottom, non-PEBA-based foam that extends beyond being rods also comes up slightly on the medial and lateral midfoot to provide further guidance in the midfoot. Lastly, the large posterolateral heel bevel creates lateral bias at the heel and medial support for those who need it. This makes the Supernova Solution 2 a mild stability/guidance shoe in the midfoot and heel while being more neutral in the forefoot.
Thoughts as a DPT: Bevel Length and Midsole Compression
By Matthew Klein
I talk about heel bevel frequently because as a heel striker, it can make a huge difference during the landing and shock absorption phase of running. I complained somewhat about the Supernova Rise's heel bevel being too sharp and it appears this has been adjusted with the Supernova Solution 2. Not only is there a slightly sharp bevel, it is also a long bevel that extends almost slightly ahead of the heel. This not only provides a smooth transition and offsets much of the posterior heel flare, it also makes the shoe feel like a far lower drop than the listed 10mm. The reason for this is that while the heel may sit 10mm higher than the forefoot in a static position, when loaded under the body during a heel strike, the decreased space under the heel while naturally elevate the forefoot, making the relative drop lower than the static position. This is why shoes with a long and large heel bevel may feel lower than the listed heel drop. This is becoming particularly common among super racing shoes trying to get higher stack heights while skirting around the World Athletics Stack height limits (Mizuno and Hoka in particular are doing this quite obviously with their more premium super shoes).
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: As I did not try the original Supernova Solution, I cannot give any major comments on the changes that occurred between those versions. I do have to admit that I have really enjoyed the Solution 2 but still have some subtle suggestions. These mostly focus on the tongue and stability. The upper is comfortable, but I would like to see the tongue gusseted and a little thinner. This would help secure it and spread it out better over the foot. My second suggestion is to increase the stability just a little bit. When I first put this shoe on, I wasn't even sure it was a stability shoe. After many miles, I can confirm that it is through the dual-density support rods and the bottom layered midsole do provide mild guidance/stability. For a training shoe, I would like this amped up a little more without sacrificing the nice bouncy midsole. If the small medial and lateral elevations in the midfoot in the bottom layered foam could be increased just slightly, that would probably be enough. Outside of that, this is a great shoe that has become a go-to shoe for me. It also really makes me want to see a current-day version of the Adizero Tempo....
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The Adidas Supernova Solution 2 is for those who want a mild stability/guidance shoe with a PEBA-based midsole that can handle daily training and workouts. The fit will work best for those who have normal-width feet with mostly normal-volume feet (be aware of the lower instep). The midsole will be best for those who want a shoe that feels lower than the listed 10mm drop, has a solid heel bevel, moderate forefoot flexibility and some bounce from the midsole. The ride can handle both easy runs and some faster runs, making this a comparable shoe to the Saucony Tempus. The major difference between these two models is that the Solution 2 fits wider and rides softer while the Tempus has a slightly higher stack height and more narrow fit. The $140 price tag (at full price) combined with the excellent durability makes the Solution 2 a fantastic option price-wise. Those with higher stability needs may not find quite enough here and instead may be able to utilize this shoe for faster efforts. Most with mild stability needs will find everything they need from daily training to uptempo/workout efforts.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+/A- (Normal width fit with comfortable upper, lower instep and well padded heel. Mild tongue slippage that can be secured with laces)
Performance: A- (Bouncy midsole that works well for training effort from long runs to workouts)
Stability: B+/A- [Mild Guidance] (Duel Density Stability rods, wider midfoot and posterolateral bevel create a mild to almost moderate guided ride in the heel and midfoot)
Value: A ($140 for one of the two lightest PEBA based stability shoes on the market that also has fantastic durability is a great deal)
Personal: A- (An excellent shoe that has had a consistent place in my rotation and will continue to have one. I wish it was a tiny bit more stable and a little lighter, so my hopes are up for the return some day of the Adizero Tempo)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORAdidas Supernova Solution 2Price: $139.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
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FURTHER READING
New stability shoe out of Topo Athletics.
Stable daily driver for those who want a lot of cushion underfoot.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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