The adidas Supernova ST
By – The Lincolnshire Runner ambassador with adidas – Jonathan Garner.
The SUPERNOVA ST released in March this year in addition to the brilliant SUPERNOVA, now gives runners a choice of two very similar products. The Supernova that was released late last year came as a Neutral shoe, and now the Supernova ST comes to you as a Stability shoe.
Both shoes are similar in appearance, sharing a lot of the Supernova DNA. The Supernova ST has the same lacing system, and shares the same heel cup (optimal movement for the achilles), allowing the runner to secure their feet in place with confidence and, this is backed up by the superb seamless panelled midsection hugging the foot.
‘An engineered mesh upper with seamless panels provides superior ventilation and comfort’ (adidas)
The toe box surround offering the necessary protection on the outside is a durable thin, lightweight plastic. This I have found is an improvement over the Neutral Supernova. Why? The toe box on the ST is seamless internally, this limits rubbing (possible blisters), a problem I had with the Supernova. Although, in its defence (mentioned in the Supernova review), I did wonder at the time whether this was a sizing issue. I am now in a UK 9.5, and so far, I’ve had no rubbing issues of any kind.
The sole retains the same Continental stretch web design offering a surefooted footstrike in most road conditions, I’ve yet to lose my footing when out in either shoe. A word of caution, if you venture onto trail, be aware the the Boost cushioning is very soft, so most larger stones, ruts or tree roots can be felt through the shoe and may not offer the same protection as other harder soled shoes can.
So how have adidas changed the SUPERNOVA into the ST?
As I mentioned a little earlier, in terms of appearances they are very similar, with subtle changes here and there. The magic happens with the addition of Dual Density BOOST on the medial side of the shoe, providing a smoother transition during the foot strike leading to a more controlled ride. The EVA top layer now extends further back along the medial side finishing at the rear point of the heel cup (the Supernova finishing just under the foremost point).
With the change in the Boost cushioning, comes a change in heel to to toe drop. The Supernova comes with a 10mm drop, whereas the ST now has an 8mm drop, a subtle change, and for me, an improvement. I felt the difference fairly quickly and adapted even better than in the Supernova.
So with 26 miles under the belt, I can now say with confidence that this is a fantastic new shoe from adidas, with the correct sizing this shoe should be in most runners locker. From Tempo runs to LSRs (long sunday runs), this is a shoe that is very versatile. Quick and floaty when needed, and also super comfy for those easy miles. The Supernova ST.
#threestripes