Adidas AdiPower review

Introduction

The original, red, Adidas AdiPower weightlifting shoe was released in 2012, just in time for the Olympic games. Two new colors were released in 2014; white, and a black with red accents.

Use

The shoe is designed specifically for  Olympic weightlifting, but is also great for squats, bench presses (as power elevator shoe) and similar strength exercises. However, the AdiPowers are not optimal to CrossFit, because it’s too stiff for running and jumping.

Specs

Shoe design / construction

The body of the shoe is made out of PU-coated leather. This coating improves the strength and durability of the shoe compared to ordinary leather. However, this material is stiffer than uncoated leather, so it will take a while for the shoe to properly break in.
In contrast to the previous Adidas weightlifting shoe (the AdiStars, that are no longer available), this shoe has ventilation holes at the top of the toebox, which ventilate the AdiPower well. The shoe comes with flat shoelaces, that generally stay tight better than round ones. The rubber sole is designed to make as much contact with the platform as possible, for the best possible grip.

Heel

The heel of the Adidas AdiPower is made from a hard TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, a plastic), whereas previous models were made of wood. The advantage is that this material makes the shoe lighter, while still maintaining its strength. In the Clean and Jerk, this is an advantage, as it allows the lifter to move his feet faster as there is a little less resistance.
The heel has an effective heel height of 0.75 inch or 1.9 cm, for all shoe sizes. The TPU heel also serves as a heel cup, which increases the lateral stability. The heel also has a slight arch support (Torsion System). Because of this, the middle of the foot is also supported, which makes sure that the (large) compressive forces are evenly distributed over the shoe.

Metatarsal strap

To improve the stability of the shoe, the Adidas AdiPower uses a metatarsal strap with velcro. However, the strap on the Adidas AdiPower is heavy duty; it’s wider and made out of plastic and nylon, which makes it a lot stronger than those used on most weightlifting shoes. This allows for you to strap the shoes very tightly without worrying the strap breaks or gets stretched. The Velcro on the strap is a lot stronger than average.

Color and design

The Adidas AdiPower is available in three different colors: the original version in the red, and since 2014 also in white, and black/red. The shoe design is tight, and ‘futuristic’-looking.

Sizing/Fit

The shoe fits true size. It is therefore advisable to buy this shoe in the same size as your other (Adidas) shoes. The front of the shoe is relatively narrow. This is intentionally designed to give the shoe better stability. It will take a few weeks to break in the shoe to make it, especially the front, fit comfortably. If you have really wide feet however, you might want to go up half a size, or consider going for the Nike Romaleos 2, which is wider, and on par with the Adidas Adipower in terms of build quality and stability.

Conclusion

In terms of stability, this shoe is the best. The build quality is very good in all respects. If you have very wide feet, you might want to check out the Nike Romaleos for similar quality. If not, you can’t wrong with the Adidas Adipowers.

Where to buy?

The best deals on weightlifting shoes can often be found on Amazon or Ebay. Check the current price by clicking a button below.

Amazon.com>> Check price  Ebay.com>> Check price

Questions or comments?

Do you have any questions or comments about the Adidas AdiPower? Please post a comment below!

 

Specs

  • Released in: 2012
  • Color options: White, red, black/red
  • Effective heel height: 0,75″ / 1,9 cm
  • Heel material: TPU
  • Best suited for: Olympic weightlifting, Squats, Bench presses
  • Fit (overall): True size
  • Fit (width): Wide

Amazon.com>> Check price  Ebay.com>> Check price

Gallery

3 thoughts on “Adidas AdiPower review

  1. Jonathan

    Hi there, This is going to be a weird question but I was wondering if you could help me or pass me onto someone that can help, I bought some 2012 Red Adipower weightlifting shoes second hand and I noticed today that the insole has been mispelt, It spells ADIPAWER, Im just asking to see if this was an offical defect? would they be fake? I didnt know there were fake weightlifting shoes, anyway, would love some help getting to the bottom of this little story, thanks, Jonathan

    I have Photos

    Reply
    1. Anonymous

      Holy shit. I’ve had this same question for years. Same exact defect.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *