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Adidas has expanded its Supernova franchise with a running shoe designed with maximum comfort in mind.
The German athletic giant released the Supernova Prima on Tuesday, an everyday running shoe with more of its acclaimed Dreamstrike+ super foam underfoot than any other Adidas running shoe to date — 13 percent more than the Supernova Rise.
“Comfort has always been a key focus of the Supernova family. Through the testing process, we found that as runners develop, and as many start to think about taking their performances to the next level, they often seek out both extra cushioning and reliable stability,” Adidas running footwear category director JT Newcomb said in a statement. “With Supernova Prima, we want to elevate everyday runs by providing more comfort than ever, as well as just the right level of support. Our team is ever inspired by runners’ progressing ambitions, and here we are striving for an experience that rewards those goals.”
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Addressing the increased amount of Dreamstrike+ underfoot in the Supernova Prima, Adidas said in a statement that it was inspired by the Lightstrike Pro foam that it used in its Adizero franchise, and was added to provide runners with “unparalleled comfort” on their everyday runs. There is an additional 4 mm of foam, which Adidas explained is especially targeted under the ball of the foot, designed to amplify the cushioning from heel to toe.
Aside from the midsole cushioning, Adidas added new Lighttraxion outsoles to the shoe, which the brand explained is ergonomically designed to complement the mid and forefoot, and to keep it light and its grip strong. There are also wider Support Rods in the Supernova Prima, which Adidas stated are slightly firmer than in the Supernova Rise. Adidas also added a multi-layered comfort heel fit pillow, pairing cushy foam with gentle textile to secure the heel, as well as a heel construction that works with the engineered mesh upper and soft eyestay to offer a plush and confident fit.
The Adidas Supernova Prima is available now via Adidas.com, as well as at key retailers, and retails for $160. The shoe launched in the “Preloved Scarlett” colorway for women and the “Solar Red” colorway for men. Adidas confirmed there will be five Supernova colorways launching this summer.
Speaking with FN in May about the brand’s presence in run, Adidas chief executive officer Bjørn Gulden explained where the company has succeeded and where it has struggled.
“Adi has done a fantastic job with innovation for people to run fast. If you run a 5K, 10K and up to a marathon, we have the Adizero line, the best shoes on the market. What we have not done well is to transfer that into what I call everyday running or comfort running. There, we have not done a great job — but we can,” Gulden said. “The focus now is to expand what we’ve done at the top end of the market, the fast market, from a look and feel into comfort and everyday running. I hope that when we sit here in a year or two, knowing that it will take time, that we will be more in the conversation with the normal runner.”
He continued, “There’s no doubt that there is a running boom again in this society, people have found that running is something they want to do again, and of course we want to be part of that.”
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
