Durability is excellent due to how thick and hard the outsole rubber is. The heel area has been changed from transparent crystal rubber to regular blown rubber. On this year’s Ultraboost outsole, there is less crystal rubber than last year’s. Even more weight could have been saved without the LEP. I don’t really see the point of the LEP because the Ultraboost is not designed for fast runs so a snappy forefoot doesn’t make sense. There’s an LEP, plastic shank situated on the outsole of the Ultraboost Light which makes the forefoot stiffer. When running, I can hear a hollow sound which comes from this wide channel in the outsole when I strike the ground. This cutout allows the shoe to shed some weight and it also makes transitions feel slightly more lively. On the outsole, there’s a new, wide, shallow groove that runs right down the middle of the rearfoot and midfoot. The boost foam in the rearfoot cups your heel so it provides a high level of support and guidance as you heel strike. Stability is an area where the Ultraboost Light excels in: it’s firmer and even more stable than the Ultraboost 22 because there’s less lean bias. This design makes the ride softer because it allows the foam to compress more in those areas, however the Light Boost foam is so dense that you still don’t feel much compression. There are new grooves carved into the sides of the midfoot and forefoot of the midsole. It feels a lot softer and more cushioned when you land on the heel, then it rolls you smoothly onto the forefoot with its 10 mm drop. Most of the Ultraboost Light’s cushioning is situated in the heel so it’s a shoe that’s more suited to heel strikers. It does have very deep cushioning so you could do long distances in it but it’s not built to be a long-distance trainer. It feels like a midsole foam from 5 years ago. It doesn’t feel bouncy, engaging or fun so the ride of the Ultraboost Light feels very flat and boring. Its weight limits its versatility and it feels too clunky for uptempo runs.Īs a foam, Light Boost doesn’t hold up to competitors’ foams. I find it to be lacking squish and plushness when doing very slow paces above 6 minutes per km (9:40 per mile).Įven though its weight is 1.5 ounces (43 grams) lighter than the Ultraboost 22, the Ultraboost Light is still a heavy trainer- too heavy to be a daily trainer. These updates make the Ultraboost Light feel more like a daily trainer than a max-cushioned one and it performs better when you are doing runs faster than easy or recovery pace. The Ultraboost 22 had large cutouts in its strobel lasting in the heel and the forefoot which made it feel softer. Not only is its midsole denser but it also has a webbed strobel lasting underneath its insole which prevents your foot from sinking down into the midsole. The Ultraboost Light rides significantly firmer than last year’s Ultraboost 22. It still has a 10 mm drop and costs $190 which is one of the most expensive max-cushioned trainers on the market. It now weighs 10.3 oz (292 g) for the men’s standard size, which is 1.5 oz (43 g) lighter than the Ultraboost 22. This year, it’s not the Ultraboost 23, it’s the Ultraboost Light. Then it changed to the Ultraboost 19, 20, 21 and 22. For the first 4 years, it was the Ultraboost 1, 2, 3, and 4. The naming of the Ultraboost series has been confusing and inconsistent. It remains as one of the most popular casual shoes worldwide because of its high level of comfort and its modern design. This is mainly due to its heavy weight and its relaxed upper fit. The Ultraboost is still seen by many runners as a casual, lifestyle sneaker and not a serious running shoe. When it comes to max-cushioned trainers, for me, the softer, the better. I’ve found Ultraboosts to be very well-cushioned but firmer than other max-cushioned trainers. I’ve bought most of the Ultraboost versions and I’ve ended up using them for casual wear rather than running because they’ve felt heavy, sluggish and warm. This year’s Ultraboost Light also follows this same template so not much has changed in this regard however the big difference this year is that the Boost midsole has been modified. If you’re familiar with the Ultraboost series, you’ll know that the template is the same from iteration to iteration: a knitted bootie upper, a heavy Boost midsole, combined with a thick Continental rubber outsole.
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