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Barefoot Shoes

Adidas Toe Shoes: AdiPure Trainer Review

Adidas shook the minimalist footwear/”barefoot shoes”/five toe shoe world a couple months back with the announcement that they would be releasing their own take on toe shoes called the Adidas Adipure Trainer come Fall 2011 (some time in November is the…

The Adidas Adipure Trainer are the first toe shoes from sports shoe manufacturer Adidas and they're aimed squarely at the weight-lifting, gym, and fitness community.
The Adidas Adipure Trainer are the first toe shoes from sports shoe manufacturer Adidas and they're aimed squarely at the weight-lifting, gym, and fitness community.

Adidas shook the minimalist footwear/”barefoot shoes”/five toe shoe world a couple months back with the announcement that they would be releasing their own take on toe shoes called the Adidas Adipure Trainer come Fall 2011 (some time in November is the expected release date they are now available for sale at Finish Line for $90!).

I managed to finagle a pair of the Adidas Adipure Trainer to test and review — note the emphasis on the “Trainer” as there are other “Adipure” labeled shoes from Adidas but they are neither toe shoes nor minimalist. For simplicity’s sake, forgive me if I just call them the Adidas toe shoes … or the Adidas foot gloves.

This is my in-depth review of the Adidas toe shoes having used them for their intended purpose: training (Like the Fila Skeletoes shoes, the Adidas Adipure Trainers aren’t intended to be running shoes).

How do these Adidas toe shoes perform? Where do they stack up in sole thickness, flexibility, and comfort relative to the reigning champions and category founder, Vibram FiveFingers? The answers to these questions and more, including a video review and the customary slew of review photos, after the jump!

The Origins of the Adidas Adipure Trainer Toe Shoes

Let’s begin with a little background. What’s the trainer part about anyway? Turns out the Adidas toe shoes official name (Adipure Trainer) hints at their design being geared towards weight lifting, plyometric, and gym enthusiasts. This has been made clear already by the inclusion of Mark Verstegen of Athletes Performance among the various Adidas Adipure Trainer marketing materials thus far released into the wild (e.g. those seen here).

So if you can imagine doing heavy squats or dead lifts in toe shoes (and I’m guessing some of you can) or perhaps doing a plyometric, “crazy 8” Turbulence Training workout a la Craig Ballantyne, then you’d fit Adidas’ target market.

Would you use the Adidas toe shoes as your running shoes? Well, you could, but that’s not their purpose. If you want toe shoes for running you’re best off sticking to Vibrams. That’s not so much a knock against Adidas’ take with the Adipure Trainers, it’s just the manifestation of their intended design — more on this in a bit.

Design

A close-up collage of the Adidas toe shoes sole shows what appear to be three separate materials: the black rubber, outermost sole laid over a foam (red), layer, that is built on a shiny plastic base (see the plus/+ sign cutaways). The sole is 10mm thick

A close-up collage of the Adidas toe shoes sole shows what appear to be three separate materials: the black rubber, outermost sole laid over a foam (red), layer, that is built on a shiny plastic base (see the plus/+ sign cutaways). The sole is 10mm thick by my measurements.

Adidas’ toe shoes employ a strapless upper matched to a sole that has five toes and is built using two materials — rubber and some sort of foam (I’m guessing EVA). There may be a third material used to add structure to the sole above the foam — take a look at the sole photos above and note the cross-shaped cutouts.

These put on display the innermost material, which appears to add an overall “frame” or structure to the sole. Then there is the red foam and finally the rubber. You can see how the rubber is covering the bulk of the foot and where it stops past the forefoot, each toe gets its own rubber pod. As you likely suspect, this separation lends to increased toe flexibility

The Adidas toe shoes are clearly meant to be worn barefoot (though they could be worn with toe socks, too). Adidas did a good job minimizing exposed seams to the bare foot with most seams concentrated in the toe pockets (same as most Vibrams). The fabric on the upper is stretchy and breathes well.

If you let me geek out on design a bit, I’ll point out the painted-on black stripes as well as the painted on toe covering. What’s going on here? Well, if I had to speculate, I’d say that Adidas wanted to reduce the stretchiness of the upper material at these points — at the toes so that when your toes dorsiflex (bend up to the sky, toward your shin), the toe pockets move with your toes. And the stripes add some resistance to keep your foot anchored to the shoes. Whether or not this is the intended purpose I’m unsure, but it works.

The other bit of design to point out on the toe pockets is the use of a second fabric that wraps the sidewalls of each toe pocket. This fabric is stretchy though a bit less than the overall upper. Finally, note that the sole on the Adidas toe shoes does not wrap the ends of the toes at all — it rises about halfway up the front and stops. While not a huge deal, you can imagine how a stubbed toe could be problematic here (by way or ripping the fabric).

The shoe has no difference in sole thickness between the heel and the forefoot. The overall thickness of the sole as measured by my “trusty” calipers is 10mm (at both heel and forefoot).

Barefoot Feel and Sole Flexibility

The Adidas Adipure Trainers feel quite comfortable on my bare foot. The toe pockets, in particular, are well constructed in my pair — whatever seams are in there go virtually 100% unfelt by my toes. I point this out because this is not often the case with Vibram FiveFingers, which frequently have at least one or two seams exposed to my toes that are noticeable and occasionally quite irritating to my toes.

These toe shoes seem to have a too-big heel on them. What I mean is that while my foot feels well-seated in the shoe at every point at and past the arch, my heel feels like it’s floating a bit in the back — it has too much room. I can’t say if this is a sizing issue or not. When I held the Adipure Trainers up against a pair of like-sized FiveFingers I noticed that the heel on the Adidas toe shoes looks wider. This results in a less grounded feel when wearing the Adipure Trainers.

And what about sole flexibility and ground feel? I have to pin the Adipure Trainers somewhere between any given pair of FiveFingers and the Fila Skeletoes. The Adipure Trainers have a flexible sole — it’s better than 99% of the shoes out there in other words — and the toe flexibility is particularly good: it’s easy to dorsiflex my toes. The primary rubber/foam/base of the Adipure Trainers is a bit inflexible though and robs my feet of a good bit of ground feel as it provides for a somewhat stiff platform on which my foot rests (and resists against).

I’d say the Adipure Trainers are mostly meant for use on unvaried surfaces given the duality of the sole — flexible at the toes but stiff on the foot. Think of a gym, track, or concrete floor. If you wanted to bomb over some rocky trails, they’d mask the terrain well enough to save your foot from pokes and prods, but maybe a bit too much (more than, say, the KSO Treks or TrekSports, which afford more flexibility across the entire foot by comparison).

Are they cushy toe shoes? No. They aren’t. Overall the sole structure feels stiff, if anything — a bit more so than your typical pair of Vibrams for that matter. That they employ the foam “middle” (As displayed by the little cross cutouts) is almost a red herring in that it might make you think “Geez that is thick! Must be a plush ride!” It’s not. It’s a firm ride (by way of comparison, my New Balance Minimus Wellness/Life shoes use a foamoutsole and feel cushy — in a good way for casual use but in a bad way for heavy squats).

The dual-material structure of the Adidas Adipure Trainer sole allows for very respectable toe flexibility.

The dual-material structure of the Adidas Adipure Trainer sole allows for very respectable toe flexibility.

Overall, where the Adipure Trainers really shine for mirroring the dynamic, natural foot is in the toe area. This is due to the toe pockets being snug against all of my toes. Even my littlemost toe feels closely wrapped by it’s toe pocket. Maybe a bit too closely in my right foot. Or maybe these Adipure Trainers are actually working to realign my pinky toe (it seems that nearly three years of heavy toe shoes wear has yet to straighten out my gimp pinky toe — something likely more due to the roominess of the pinky toe pockets on VFFs than anything else).

Lateral separation of the toe pockets is also reasonably good with the Adidas toe shoes thanks to the solid flexibility at the toe pockets.

Lateral separation of the toe pockets is also reasonably good with the Adidas toe shoes thanks to the solid flexibility at the toe pockets.

Kudos to Adidas on their locked-on toe pockets. Locked on and still quite comfortable. Well done.

Performance

In my mind these are gym shoes by design (and that’s straight from the horse’s mouth, too), and that’s how they should be evaluated. So how do they do in this context?

As good as you’d expect them to. I routinely do heavy squats and dead lifts. Unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger who was known to train fully barefoot, I usually train in FiveFingers. If you’ve ever squatted heavy in toe shoes (heavy for me is squatting 1.7x my body weight for a handful of reps), you know just how grounded you feel with so much weight on your back. Conversely, once you’ve gotten accustomed to squatting close-to-barefoot, you realize how unstable most shoes with elevated heels and foamy soles make you feel. I tried squating in the 14mm rear/10mm front New Balance Minimus Life shoes once and won’t do it again because I felt too unstable and my even marginally elevated heel didn’t do anything good for my posture. Thus, given the sole structure of the Adidas Adipure Trainers has a decent bit of foam in them, perhaps I should have wondered how they’d fare in this regard.

But I didn’t. And the Adidas Adipure Trainers perform on par for squats — I feel rock stable in them (same for dead lifts) and would recommend them for this use just as much as a pair of Vibrams. The sole does not feel squishy at all for that matter, likely owing to the uppermost part of the sole design being firm and not foamy.

Where my routine workout ran into a little trouble with the Adipure Trainers — and this is a pretty unusual use-case — is weighted chin-ups. It turns out that having only a thin bit of fabric with no straps makes suspending 50-65 lbs via a dumbell between your feet quite uncomfortable with the Adidas Adipure Trainers. The KomodoSport Vibrams do a good job for this — standard Bikilas do not — by comparison.

As for plyometrics, walking about, or even sprinting, the Adipure Trainers do just fine. For most of these cases, your foot is working in such a forwardly flexed position — right where the Adipure Trainers have the most sole flexibility — that the Adidas toe shoes get to work with your foot and not against it.

Aesthetics

Waving "hi" with the Adidas Adipure Trainer shoes. Hat tip to Adidas for the excellent black and red color combination (Go Dawgs!) even if it is a bit "alien" looking.

Waving “hi” with the Adidas Adipure Trainer shoes. Hat tip to Adidas for the excellent black and red color combination (Go Dawgs!) even if it is a bit “alien” looking.

The Adidas Adipure Trainers certainly look “nice.” They are cleanly designed (few ugly seams) with flowing lines and a minimal amount of flare. I also love the black and red color scheme of the pair I have been reviewing, but I am biased by my alma mater.

And allow me to state the obvious: these are toe shoes, which look futuristic/weird and paradoxically non-natural — almost alien. How good are they going to look?

Well, I think some people will like the look of the Adidas Adipure Trainers. I certainly appreciate many aspects of the style: mostly the stripes and aforementioned color choice. These Adidas toe shoes have a strong athletic-gear look to them. The fabric of the upper reminds me of the types of synthetic, moisture-wicking materials I have on my workout shorts or a technical tee.

But could you pull the Adidas toe shoes off casually worn with a pair of cargo shorts on a trip to the store? Paired with jeans heading to a movie? I don’t think so. And I say that fully believing that you can wear a pair of Vibrams casually; for example, Vibram Classics or Sprints in more neutral colorways with shorts; certain KSOs with jeans; Speeds in a variety of contexts, etc. I think it’s just the shimmery fabric and the shine of the fabric paint. Looks good in the gym; not so much elsewhere.

Just my personal feelings, anyway. What do you think? Does casual fashion-worthiness matter for a gym-purposed toe shoe?

Overall, what do I think

I give Adidas props for bringing to market a five toed shoe design that is an original take on the concept (Fila, on the other foot, didn’t exactly innovate with the Skeletoes — though props on their pricepoint). The Adidas Adipure Trainer performs well for it’s intended purpose — working out. This is due to having solid flexibility in the front of the foot even as the bulk of the shoe is a bit too rigid for my taste and the heel just feels a bit loose. They are a quality toe shoe though — well-made with very good materials.

I suppose the real test is whether or not I’d wear them regularly (for workouts). And while I’ve been wearing the Adidas Adipure Trainers some 3x/week for workouts now for a couple months or so, I’m likely going to switch back to KomodoSports (or test out the VIVO BAREFOOT Ultras for weight lifting).

As you might guess, given my take on the Adipure Trainer looks, I’ve never felt the desire to wear these ’round town casually. The looks of them and the too-stiff overall feel of the shoe leaves me heading to other options in my closet.

I’d say that overall, Adidas made a solid product with the Adipure Trainers. They’re thought through, well made, and don’t show even a modicum of wear from my testing. Every stitch is still in place and no glue has come undone. For an estimated $90 (that’s the word I’ve heard on the street as for starting price), the Adipure Trainers will last you awhile.

Let me wrap this up with a hearty “welcome” to Adidas. Welcome to the toe shoe industry. I’ve said it before and it deserves saying again, competition in toe shoes is a wonderful thing: it will push awareness of healthier shoes for healthier feet and result in better products for enthusiasts. These are good things.

If you’re itching to break ties with Vibram’s stranglehold on the toe shoe market, give the Adipure Trainers a thought. Or if you’re a newcomer to the concept of a pocket for every toe — “foot gloves” as it were — then you could do a lot worse than the Adipure Trainers and ultimately you might just prefer the Adidas offering to a pair of Vibrams.

Where to buy

The Adidas AdiPure Trainer toe shoes are now out for sale (as of 10/27/2011). For now, I’ve only seen them for sale at Finish Line for $90 (Free Shipping). You can also use coupon code EXTRA60 to get $10 off (so after tax your order comes in under $90!). Check it out!

Video Review

Here’s a video review of the Adidas Adipure Trainer toe shoes (7:40):


By Justin

Justin Owings is a deadlifting dad of three, working from Atlanta. When he's not chasing his three kids around, you'll find him trying to understand systems, risk, and human behavior.

84 replies on “Adidas Toe Shoes: AdiPure Trainer Review”

I keep seeing people write that they like the way these shoes look. I don’t get it. I think they’re uglier than anything Vibram has ever done.

What like about them, is that there are no straps or laces. Vibram has left the guys out with a strapless version of the Fivefingers. Unlike the ladies who has the Jaya, Jaya LR and soon to be released Clssic Fresca. I just wanted something that I could just slip on..

Not impressed. Those don’t do anything that the KSO doesn’t already do. Another “Me Too” attempt at tap into Vibram’s cash cow. I guess imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. I will not be wasting any of my money on them.

These look interesting, I would consider getting a pair but only if they make them in all black or blue and black at least, I hate the Red. Too flashy!

It reminds me of the red and white striped track suits with side snaps so they can be ripped off. Maybe If I need a ridiculous halloween costume. I could be a track star or E-40!

I am glad to see some other try their hand at foot gloves, it will only expand the market. Plus I think it will bring attention the the fact that Vibram started the revolution.

Like Corey said, these remind me a LOT of ZEMs. This is the illegitimate child of ZEMs and VFF Jayas.

But I’m curious to try them. However, my fivefingers are used for running (almost exclusively), so I’m not sure how these would fare…

Can’t wait to try these babies out. Frankly, these are immensely more attractive than most Vibram models (though the Bikila and Komodo are going in a better direction IMHO and the 2012 offerings are killer!) and if the price is good, I’d like a pair as my casual shoes (I tend to wear bold colors a lot, so it doesn’t look horribly out of place on me XD)

I’ll never understand why people think more options in the market is a bad thing, though. Yeah Vibram opened up a whole new market, but the more competition that comes out, the better it is for the end user as it makes all competitors step up their game. I’m glad Adidas came out with these shoes and I can’t wait to give them a spin (though you’ll have a hard time prying my current faves, the NB Minimus Wellness, off my feet). I’m just glad the minimalist movement is now being accepted versus just laughed at. Progress, no?

I really like them! Will be interested to see what other colours they offer, but a good first attempt by Adidas.

Hope they make it to South Africa before t he next millennium…

Funny I’m laying in bed looking at my shoerack that has at least 10pr of adidas running shoes on it. All of which have yet to see any action outside mowing the lawn since I got my first pair of VFFs. On my 5th pair of bikila ls’s atm. I was a serious adidas running shoe fan. I can happily say I am fully recovered from that and won’t be trying these probably ever.

I don’t think these would work well with very high arches. The material on top already looks pretty strained.

Great thorough review, thanks.

btw throw up a video of you doing multiple 1.7x BW squats with VFFs or these Adidas shoes and I’ll almost certainly help you understand why squatting heavy in a solid heel raised shoe (proper squatting shoe) is better for you posture.

Great review, but I don’t see myself getting a pair of these. I would be open to a 2nd or 3rd gen when they respond to the feedback from users AND if Vibram does not sue the pants off them.

I do like the increased attention to minimalist footwear options though and for a major player like Adidas to step into the ring, that will only cause Vibram to step their game up. From that perspective, it’s a major WIN.

Thanks for the great post Justin. I do not think I will get a pair myself. I like VFF’s because I can wear them: walking, exercising at the gym, doing yoga, and trail walking. I don’t want to purchas toes shoes solely for the gym. I have noticed no one has mentioned wearing VFF’s to a club and danced in them. Maybe I will have to take my sprints or speeds for a spin on the dance floor.

Interesting, it’s the beginning of great things, and what happened to the patent vibram had? Now vibram will have to push the bar or become Sony and lose out to the apples of the sports world, remember Sony invented the portable player. Guys what this really means is that technology will begin to flood the scene especially when Nike comes on board and they will! Don’t be fooled by marketing! Addidas and Nike will have you believe that you need special shoes to squat, lung, dead lift etc, I squat 310 pounds in classics, know your facts and do your own research, minimal will always be the best, with nearly all movements. On a final note I would like you all to imagine what Nike would bring to the table, for example the Nike zoom victory which uses fly wire and has a hole in the heel to save weight, they weight almost nothing, just image what type of barefoot shoe they could bring to the arena! Vibram may become the loyalist brand.

Frederick, Nike is on par with Adidas so what makes you think they will do miracles? If anything, Nike has already lost out here with Adidas being first to offer toe shoes to its customers.

i am in desperate need for training shoes, now I’m using my nike free runs which i love but they aren’t meant for how I’m using them…all that to say is how do the adipure toe shoes size? are they tight loose?

How’s the sizing work on these? I’m 8.5 – 9 for running shoes but these seem like you’d want them tight. Would you think 8 or 9 would suit me better? I’m getting a pair from adidas to test out and they only offer whole sizing…

So I got a pair of these today in LA…finishline in fox hills mall only red/blk available. First 5 toe shoe so forgive my ignorance. Have to say I’m very pleased with my limited experience so far. Wore em for about an hour to break em in then another hour+ at the gym. Really digging them. Also, love the fact they are Adidas who are the best football company on earth. Didn’t want to wear some no-name brand like Vibram so I’m very happy Adidas is in the market place nice. I highly recommend you check your local finishline!

Mario, Nike have not lost out on anything, barefoot running has not even been recognised “officially” as safe nor a more efficient way to run, yes most of us know differently lol. Three ways which Nike could change the game and become the innovator of barefoot running, fully customized feet trainers, moulds taken of your feet and customised shoes made to measure at an increased cost. New materials allowing more sensory feedback. Decreased weight of shoe, through new technologies such as fly wire. Nike only needs to decide that they are entering and committing to the market, they are watching and collecting stats, trying to make the right decision. This could all be a tread. The market is new and experimental; Adidas is the first major to take the risk, don’t say Merrell they have no heritage in running, and new balance is a player, not a major. Finally Mario lets not forget the NIKE legacy of athletes, and what this means in terms of marketing, marketing is what sells a product, and NIKE is the king of marketing. The Oregon Waffle iron Bill Bowerman.

I have recently bought me a pair of these shoes in the black/metallic silver color combo. The day I bought them I wore them for about an hour and a half. They are very comfortable to wear. I got a size 8 and they fit me perfectly (I normally wear a size 9 to 9 1/2 in a running shoe.). Sizing down 1 to 1 1/2 sizes from your normal shoe size is not of the question for proper fit (toes just touching the end).

Well I have been waiting for Vibram to make the 5 fingers in a size that fits my size 14 foot. Since the Adidas does come in a sz 14, I may give it a try.

How would you say the sizes run?
i usually wear a 13 in any regular shoe, so what would be a good guess on these?

So I’ve had Vibrams and found the toe pockets to be too tight with no flex to allow them to stretch. The result was after about an hour in them I felt like I was going to promote ingrown toenails.

The addidas seem to be more foregiving in this area. I think they fit my feet better.

I will be running in them tomorrow morning. My regular running shoe is the Teva Zilch. But its November in DC and nobody has em.

I might bet a pair when they make them with Orange instead of red, green or silver stripes. Looks interesting enough to try out anyway

I read your review, bought the shoes, and I don’t think the review is very informative.

How are they not good to wear around town? Some Vibrams have way more ridiculous colours. If any, these look less flashy to me.

I’ve ran in them and they are, at least for me, better for running than VIbrams.

Their soles have plenty of padding which makes running a breeze, unlike Vibrams that give me blisters due to the very thin soles.

Talking about the soles, the heel area is bigger than that of Vibrams, but it doesn’t mean they slide back and forth your feet. I think they breathe rather well too.

Finally, a point missed in the review and the only negative I can think of is the toe protection. If you stumble a little there’s no rubber on the front of the toes, which means you might eventually have a hole in one of the toes. Vibram soles, in comparison, extend further up on the toes, and thus offer better protection/durability.

Comfortwise I would say they are about the same. If you like the barefoot feel though, you’ll enjoy Vibrams more, but if you run alot the Adipure will absorb more of the foot strike impact on your feet.

@Mario,

Glad you like the looks of them enough to wear around casually — I’m just not a huge fan of the looks. It mostly has to do with the shimmer and shine of the adiPure — looks a bit spacy and doesn’t match to jeans, which are more muted. Obviously that’s just my opinion and everyone’s got their own sense of what’s fashionable.

As for running in them, glad you’re having success there, too. Adidas expressly indicated to me that these were not meant for running (1) and (2) relative to other toe shoes out there, the adiPures are a bit stiff and fight against some of the natural flex in your foot. This may or may not cause an issue for you running but I’d prefer a little less structure when it comes to a prone-to-injury-due-to-bad-form-or-foot-altering-footwear shoe. I think there are better options out there.

Regarding the heel, I noted the area is too big and that my heel seems to float. Never said anything about back and forth sliding. I also noted that I thought the upper breathed well, too.

Good point about the toe coverings and tripping and ripping — just added that to my review where I discuss this design element.

I’ll say last that one of the biggest points of “barefoot shoes” is to encourage gentle landing when walking, running, jumping, or whatever. That a shoe masks impact and allows you to “strike” at a higher impact than you would barefoot, well, that’s likely going to lead to injury at some point.

I’m glad you like your AdiPures and I guess if my review somehow persuaded you to get them and you found you liked them more than I did, then that’s a good thing, too. At the end of the day, reviews are subjective and I’d say based on your critique of the review, despite what you say, the review was actually pretty informative for you, too.

I guess I should be glad — I’d hate to mislead someone into buying the shoes having higher expectations because of my review only to be disappointed, so I’ll take your pleasant surprise.

uppers are very flimsy, seems like adidas is late introducing this product. 90.00 is alot for a shoe like this… im disappointed in the quality. i tried running on the treadmill and the shoe was moving around. im returning them to Dicks

An important point to be made here, and why I’m enjoying the Adipure compared to my Vibram Speeds, is that Vibram’s toe rubber is too narrow. On 3 VFF’s in a row now (Glove, KSO, Speed) I’ve torn the fabric on the lateral side of the big toe (between big tow and index toe).

Understand that I don’t run in these. Most of the activity is walking/pacing while training clients and weight training. Nothing high impact or repetitive impact. This is a huge pain that my barely 2 month old shoes have a tear in them because of terrible design. My toes are not large so the fact that the fabric touches the ground, ready to be worn out, speaks to poor design rather than anatomical freakiness.

The Adipure, on the other hand, have rubber that is wide enough that only by stubbing the very top of my toe could I touch the ground without rubber. Good design imo.

As with all of these, there are good and bad design aspects. I think as far as toeshoes goes, Adidas has vibram beat, at least as far as where the rubber meets the road… I had to.

best,
Skyler

I bought these shoes last week. I ran in them for couple of days…. all i have to say is that there are awesome!!!!! I had to purchase a 1/2 size smaller for the right fit….no damage from running…. actually the Adidas AdiPure Trainer seem to be more durable than Vibram older models.

Hey Justin, yes I see your point regarding the looks – I got the black and white model and I think they look good, but of course they still turn heads regardless.

And the toe protection is really the biggest weakness I can see. If you train indoors they’re fine, but since I’ve worn them out a couple of times, it seems that you don’t even have to stubble to get dirt marks on front of the toes, the part where the sole joins with the fabric material. So they’re definitely touching the ground somewhat and I think it’s only a matter of time before there’s a hole in one of the toes. Maybe I don’t walk correctly but it’s not a problem with Vibrams – they have better toe protection for a reason.

I didn’t know they weren’t intended for running though, and that seems to explain why their design is better for indoor/gym use.

Thanks again for your review, Justin. I hope that Adidas can bring out a model that’s more suitable for outdoor use too.

Thanks doing what you do on this site…

I entered the toe shoe market last night with the Adipure Trainers. Love the look, fit, and performance for the most part.

In your wear testing did you have any pinching in the arch area, closer to the base of your big toe, where the rubber wraps up? It’s only on my right foot and was curious if this is a common occurrence.

How warm are they? I recently got a pair of Vibrams, which I love, however with winter setting in I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to wear them. Are the adipures any better in terms of thermal insulation?

I bought these about a month ago and already put 134 miles on them. Vibrams, to me, crowd the toes. So much so that I started running in Teva Zilch. However it is winter here in DC and those Teva’s are impossible to find. So on a whim I tried these Adidas in the store. I felt they fix everything that is wrong with the Vibrams. I find the upper infinitely more comfortable. I will agree the soles are stiffer than vibrams but in a good way. (Trail protection) Maybe I have wider feet but I don’t seem to have a problem with heel lift unless the shoes are sopping wet. I absolutely LOVE these for running. I will also agree with the comments about these soles insulating your feet on cold surfaces. My feet do stay warmer.

Saw a comment about sizing down. Absolutely agree. I typically wear a 9.5 US shoe. My adi-pure trainers are 8.5’s. Because the upper is made of lycra I’ve not had any issue with foot swelling

I just saw these at Finish Line and tried them on. They are VERY comfortable! I am glad I didn’t purchase them and instead looked here for a review – they were being sold as running shoes. I may get them anyway for those days when I’m doing strongwoman training outside though – just to save wear and tear on the running shoes.

I wanted shoes that have a good balance in between the weight room and running.

I tried these on today and bought them because they are so comfortable. The bottoms may be stiff but not so much to the point where I can’t flex my toes. I prefer them to be as stiff as they are.

I will be using these for running and weight lifting. I was concerned about how they would be for running but thanks to all the comments, I feel a little better about putting them on the street.

I will report back soon.

i love these and the idea bc i prefer to be barefoot. but i have a HUGE problem. i was born with 2 of my toes webbed together. so with out cutting and ruining the toes i wouldnt be able to wear them. maybe i could get a hold of adidas and get a special pair made?

I just bought these today and wore them out of the store I was so impressed with the feel of them. I’ve yet to wear minimalist shoes before because I refuse to buy shoes without trying them on first. The only place I’ve ever seen VFF is online and believe me I’ve been looking in every sports store I came across.

After wearing them for about an hour I definitely started having some pain and aches in my toes and calves, which from what I’ve read up to this point, is perfectly normal for the first month or so until your body adjusts and the muscles not normally used are strengthened.

So far I have to say that they’re great! They’re a little difficult to slide into, but that’s because my toes don’t all point straight. I think as a child I had shoes that were too small which trained my toes to squish all together. One of my hopes is that wearing these shoes my toes may straighten back out in time. If not at least the proper muscles will be strengthened so that my running form will improve…as well as my times! Thanks for the great review!!!

I’ve had the Adipure Trainers for about 1.5 months and I love them. I used to get bad foot cramps doing the Plyo workout from P90x but not anymore. Also, these are awesome for doing squats, lunges, etc. I can’t compare these to the VFFs, but gym rats should love these.

I just bought these today and I must say I’m impressed! Never tried any other toe shoes to compare but these are absolutely great in the gym. Before I left the change room a few guys asked me about them, but I couldn’t give them any info as it was my first time using them. Great shoe I felt balanced with the weights and even on the treadmill they were great for running. Good review man I read this and got a pair, the toe bending is great kinda stiff on the toe wiggle but we are in the gym to work out not wiggle toes right?

The reviews are great, but there is never a mention about sizing. As with the vibram, you measure the length of the longest foot and use the chart to find your size. Are these the same? If you wear a 9 in normal tenny would you get these in the same size? bigger? smaller? An important part of the critique that was supremely overlooked

Ok… so this is not a topic that anyone has discussed. Maybe not important to some, or maybe the answer is obvious. Do you wash your barefoot shoes? My son has had a pair for a couple of months now… and they are getting pretty stinky. I don’t want to ruin the shoes, but really want to throw them in the washer…. would that ruin them?

I’ve bought from adidas my adipures this size:
us: 8 (male?);
uk: 7.5;
fr: 41 1/3;
jp: 260;

Because I use Converse all star this size:
uk: 7.5;
eur: 41;
br: 39;

See, They’re both supposed to be the same size fit, because both are uk: 7.5, it was no a brainer decision… WRONG. I can’t even put my feet in one these adipure trainers.

Any suggestion on how properly measure my feet in order to fit in them?

PS: They are made in china. I don’t know, I’m pissed off. Sorry for my rant.

Converse All-Stars tend to fit 1-3 sizes big(guys that wear 14-15 in regular sneakers, wear 12-13 in All-Stars), they’re very out of line, with other shoe-brands.

Try finding your size in adidas first(you can try some at the locals sports-store), that should help you out..

i just buy it yesterday, but i took for water sport & for the beach so can i use it there, cause as i see you made it especially for gym & you call it trainer shoes,
i appreciate your Quick answer to my email
Best Regards

I was anxious to pick up a pair, but unfortunately none of the sizes fit me. I’m a sad member of the population with “disproportional toes”. For example my second toes on both feet are bigger than my big toes, and my 4th toes are “much” larger than my pinky toes. The result being my middle toes were squished into there pockets while my pinky toes couldn’t even reach theirs. So, definitely look at the proportions of the toes on the sneakers and make sure your actual toes are the same. If not….save yourself a trip to the sporting goods store.

If you have big feet these are the only shoes out there that I have found. I normally wear a 16 EEEE and I was able to order these in a 16, 17 and 18. I had to go to 18 to avoid pressure on the end of my toes, but the heel now seems a little loose. Not perfect, but no other manufacturer that I am aware of makes anything this large.

They do look interesting but I think I’ll stick with the VFFs. Re wearing them with jeans or shorts, I wear the Spyradons with both and kind of like the funky look of them with it. They aren’t as bright but the colors and patterns are a bit out there.

I love the adidas foot glove. I have used them rock climbing, kayaking hiking and just about everything else. They fit like a glove, and have stayed intact unlike my fila skeketoes that started coming Unglued after a few outings claiming and kayaking. I have several pairs of Adidas and recommend them to everyone that asks about them.

I have a pair of Adidas Adipure Trainer toe shoes. Prefer them over VFF’s any day. I think they are more comfortable and have a better feel to them. If you wear them with sweat pants or jeans out in public like I do… get ready for folks to comment about them. I don’t get too many comments anymore since toe shoes like Skeletoes have become fairly common… but you will be asked about them several times a day. I don’t care anymore since I like them and that’s all that matters. Once you get into your 30’s… you don’t really care what people think about what you wear.

hello. i have a question regarding the choice of a minimalistic shoe. i just found about these kind of shoes few weeks ago and they seem very interesting to me because of that minimalistic, almost barefoot design. since i started working out barefoot all my ankle and knee pain is gone so i would like to get one of these shoes. i saw only those hyped ones(vibrams and adipure trainer) but they are kinda too expensive for me, since i probably wouldn’t be wearing them in public and all time, and since winter is coming i really dont want to spend so much money on a shoe i would wear few hours a day. i would use a shoe like that when working out, and on a daily while doing sprints outside. with that said, i recently stumbled upon zemgear 360’s, i really like the design and i find that the price is ok. soooo
TL;DR advice for taking a minimalistic shoe mainly just for working out and doing some interval training outdoors (usable in rain and snow if possible) and would zemgear 360 be the right choice for me then ?

Make sure your feet and toes are generally the same shape as the shoe before yo buy they. My three toes next to my big toe are about the same length as my big toe. So my toes were curled in the shoe. I could have bought a bigger size to fit my toes but overall the shoe would have felt loose on my foot.

My feet are also narrow, and these shoes felt as if they were spreading my toes apart.

These shoes are worth it if you have regular length toes and normal to wide feet.

I purchase a pair myself and I have to say I’m not to found of them I run on the daily basis and I was so happy when I bought these I went running as soon as I got home and weep on the way back home I felt every rock I step on….. Although I do love the fact that you can fill the grass running threw your toes hahah

Are these water resistant? I’m looking for a waterproof/resistant pair that are less exoensive than the Lontras.

How do the adipures fit compared to your kimodo sports? I have a pair of the sports that fit just perfectly in a size 42 and am not sure if I should get a 42 for the adipures as well.

I own a pair. The color combination is an inverted version of what Justin owns. I wear them occasionally around the house or when working out. I also love wearing them when im riding my bike around LA. Its funny when people stare at my feet. I get shocking looks and smiles.
Over all
these shoes look cool and feel good.
I recommend you get a pair. My brother got them for 50$ @ Big 5.

great review, I have a question for anyone who owns these and has used them for Insanity. Yes/no on doing the program with them? I have some Reebok cross trainers and a pair of Nike TR1’s, but these caught my eye. I know Adidas considers them a gym shoe, but Insanity is a bit different than just a typical gym routine. They definitely don’t have anywhere close to as much cushioning as my TR1’s, but I didn’t expect them to.

While I find them comfortable for far, I’m a bit worried with all the high plyo stuff in Insanity I could end up injuring my feet/legs. They just don’t feel like they have enough sole to them. I could very well be wrong here though.

These are my favorite toe shoes. Vibrams are too minimalist for me.
Adidas now makes a Adipure 1.1 trainer barefoot five toe shoe. However, the color variety has been reduced. But I intend to buy the most updated one from Adidas which are the Adipure 1.1 trainer toe shoes. What I like is the toe separation more than just the minimalist feel. Because my shoe size is irregular and wide, the Adipure 1.0 and Adipure 1.1 are just right. They are more sturdy than the Vibrams and the Fut Gloves. Way to go Adidas. However, they need the return the Red Onyx color back to their product line. Nevertheless, again, way to go Adidas!

Can anyone gimme feedback I mean anyone who knows where I can get this Adidas toe shoes I’m in South Africa

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