The FIT: adidas adiPURE Trainer

by Sandy Dover / @San_Dova

In the NBA world, athletes are subject to physical rigors that most laypeople cannot comprehend. For the elite basketball player, his/her body is his/her literal temple and principal livelihood, and while the roughly 400 players in the NBA put their bodies and minds to the test daily and yearly, those outside of that realm (in the so-called real world) also have become just as conscious about their fitness and health. The FIT is a series that will concentrate on the Fuel, Information and Training (F.I.T.) that it takes for both NBAers and laypersons to be at their very best in the world, as well as focusing on the literal Food, Intelligence and Technology that also comes into play in our physical fine-tuning—because after all, without having the vital fuel, guidelines and tech advancements to feed our bodies, help us better absorb and process what’s necessary, and make the labor efficient and effective, we don’t have much to advance our collective health and performance. The FIT is here to bring to light what can make us all the uniquely tuned creatures who we presently are and can continue or aspire to be.

Harness your body’s natural mechanics for optimal training… The toes are liberated so your foot can move as freely as if you were barefoot…

The words are those from the three stripes, adidas, describing their latest creation, the adiPURE Trainer, as the answer to your body’s needs and physical desires. They’re certainly different and unlike most of what is readily available to the buying public. This must be said, though – the adiPURE Trainer is the best combination of lightweight product, arch support, overall support, and cushioning in a minimalist shoe I’ve ever worn, and I’ll gladly tell you why, but first here are the specs (per adidas):

– Stretch textile upper for a flexible fit

– Individual toe stalls mimic the natural motion of the foot

– Anatomically rounded outsole

The adiPURE Trainer excels because of what I think it achieves in relation to the foot, which is an excellent 1:1 fit. It’s just excellent. I’m reminded of a football glove and an aqua sock combined in one. The close fit keeps moisture from becoming a problem, which is assisted by an Ortholite sockliner. Further defining the fit is the adiPURE Trainer’s memory foam collar, which secures the fit comfortably.

Excellence also follows in the grip and underfoot feel of the shoe. The barefoot engineering is true to form; the cushioning is almost perfect for the shoe, as it’s neither too much nor too little; the adiPURE Trainer’s arch support solidifies the shoe as a winner, and it gave my foot the proper protection in the fascia that some minimalist shoes seem to fail at addressing, and there’s still more to love.

The prominent three stripes that wrap the upper of the adiPURE Trainer add great support over the foot bridge without the tension and pressure of traditional lace-oriented shoes. The heel lockdown is excellent, which is another nod to the foam collar. There is supreme flexibility all throughout the shoe and total containment, regardless of the exercise (I did traditional weightlifting and plyometrics with zero issues in the shoe’s fit). Quite frankly, the adiPURE Trainer is the best training shoe that I’ve ever worn and tested.

Having said all of that, it isn’t a perfect shoe, but it’s pretty darn close to it. One issue that only really was an issue in the first wearing of my testing was that the adiPURE Trainer can be tight between the toes initially; the shoe stretches with your foot so that there can be a desirably close fit that adheres well, so a little tightness is to be expected, but the shoe loosens up just so for improved comfort. Beyond that, the adiPURE Trainer has virtually no other weaknesses. It’s a true training shoe that can be used in every way in the gym, not just for running, and to be honest, it excels away from the treadmill.

Though it’s not a primary function of the shoe, the adiPURE Trainer is a great shoe visually and can be a great shoe to wear casually in the right weather. It looks cool, obviously. It’s unique and a bit of a show-stopper when it comes to its bold design, but if you buy the shoe solely for looks, you’re vastly underutilizing it.

Really, of all of the cross-trainers currently available to the buying public, the adidas adiPURE Trainer is truly top-of-the-line and a state-of-the-art trainer that delivers in fit, form, and function. It wins no matter what.

(For additional photos of the adiPURE Trainer, go to Facebook.)

Sandy Dover is a published author, media consultant, and web & print magazine columnist in the world of publishing, while acting as a sports product tester and fitness/training advisor &  journalist in the fitness industry (with the two worlds often colliding). You can find Sandy frequently here at SLAMonline, as well as at About Me, Facebook and Twitter.