The Adidas Supernova Prima is a comfortable shoe that has a balanced and stable ride. It’s a practical workhorse that will suit a wide range of runners looking for a cushioned daily trainer, and I rate it more highly than Adidas alternatives like the Supernova Rise and the Adidas Ultraboost Light.
However, while it’s unlikely to disappoint and stands out as the top cushioned option from Adidas, there are rivals from other brands that I prefer and count among the best running shoes available.
Those looking for a softer ride in their cushioned shoe will find it with the New Balance 1080v13 or Asics Gel-Nimbus 26, while the Puma Magnify Nitro 2 and Brooks Glycerin 21 are a little livelier and more versatile while still being comfortable.
Adidas Supernova Prima review: price and availability
The Adidas Supernova Prima launched in June 2024 and costs $160 direct from Adidas in the US and £150 in the UK from Adidas' store.
It’s more expensive than the Adidas Supernova Rise, but the price is in line with or cheaper than other max-cushioned shoes like the Saucony Triumph 22 and Brooks Glycerin 21, and it’s also cheaper than the Adidas Ultraboost Light.
Adidas Supernova Prima review: design and fit
The Adidas Supernova Prima is currently available in three colors for the men’s shoe, including the red version I tested, and two for the women’s. The stack height differs with the men’s and women’s shoes, with the men’s Supernova Prima being 38mm at the heel and 30mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop, and the women’s 36mm at the heel and 29 at the forefoot for a 7mm drop.
It has more cushioning and a lower drop than the Adidas Supernova Rise, and it’s a little heavier as a result, tipping the scales at 10.2oz in my US size 9.5. That’s still fairly light for such a cushioned shoe though.
I found that the Supernova Prima fit me well in my normal running shoe size, and it has a slightly roomier toebox than the Supernova Rise. However, the stiff internal heel counter and padding around the collar did irritate my Achilles tendon at times — the Supernova Rise has a more flexible and relaxed fit around the heel.
Upper
The Adidas Supernova Prima has a multi-layered mesh upper with a lot of padding around the heel and on the tongue, as well as a stiff and supportive internal heel counter. It’s a lot of a material, and while it does make it feel comfortable when you pull the shoe on, the Supernova Prima can become a little hot on longer runs on sunny days.
Midsole
The midsole is made from Adidas Dreamstrike+ foam, which was introduced with the Supernova Rise. It’s a resilient foam that’s comfortable but not as soft as some used on cushioned shoes, which makes the Prima naturally quite a stable shoe, which is then enhanced by the foam support rods that run the length of the shoe underneath the Dreamstrike+ layer.
There’s more Dreamstrike+ foam in the Prima than Adidas’s other Supernova shoes, the Supernova Rise and the Supernova Solution, making it the premium cushioned shoe within the range.
Outsole
The Supernova Prima has a rubber Lighttraxion outsole that covers the forefoot and most of the lateral side of the shoe, leaving the foam on the medial side and at the heel exposed. This is a durable foam though and I’ve seen no undue wear and tear after 35 miles even as a heel striker, and the shoe has gripped well for me in wet conditions and on light trails.
Adidas Supernova Prima review: running performance
I've run over 35 miles in the Adidas Supernova Prima with most of that at an easy pace. I've used it for recovery runs and some general daily training, and it’s provided a balanced and stable ride that protects the legs well, especially during runs on the day after tough workouts.
Aside from the slight trouble I've had with the collar of the shoe, which has irritated my Achilles tendon at times, I found the shoe to be comfortable in general. The midsole in the Supernova Prima is certainly denser and less forgiving than some of the foams used in cushioned shoes like the New Balance 1080v13, but it’s not at all harsh, and this slightly firmer feel both helps with stability and also makes it easier to pick up the pace in the shoe.
Although it’s a neutral shoe, the natural stability means that I think the Supernova Prima will work well for runners who value some extra support and worry about the wobbliness of soft foams in high stack shoes.
When I did run faster in the shoe I did feel the size and weight of it — as a keen runner with a rotation I’d use lighter shoes for speedwork, but if you stick to one shoe to do it all the Supernova Prima is fairly versatile compared with other cushioned shoes. The slight rocker on the shoe also helps to create a smooth ride at a range of paces.
Should you buy the Adidas Supernova Prima?
I do think the Adidas Supernova Prima is the most impressive cushioned shoe Adidas has made in a long time, and certainly a more enjoyable running shoe than recent versions of the Ultraboost, including the Ultraboost Light.
It’s a practical and durable daily training option, and while it doesn’t exactly wow me, I enjoyed using it and I think it will suit a lot of runners well. But compared to the market at large I think there are similar shoes I slightly prefer, like the Brooks Glycerin 21 and Puma Magnify Nitro 2, which have livelier rides.
Some runners will also prefer a softer ride from their cushioned shoe, in which case the New Balance 1080v13 stands out as a better pick, or the Nike Invincible 3, though the Nike is a lot less stable than the Supernova Prima.
