This fun shoe has a lot to offer in arch support and custom fit, but it also comes with some drawbacks.

The flexible knit is girded around and under the arch by decorative-yet-functional adidas stripes and is actually separated from the sole where it pulls up to encase the foot.

The midfoot may feel too tight initially (read on for ways to deal), but once you get used to the shoe, it’s noticeably absent (and missed!) when wearing a regular trainer.

Adidas UltraBoost X General Info

My first thought upon wearing was, “I loooove how this arch feels!” The wrap-around fit feels great while running, but one of my first workouts in this shoe included some alligator crawls followed by burpees.

Adidas UltraBoost X – Medial Side

While creeping along like a gator out of water, my feet started “hyperventilating,” feeling claustrophobic, with how tight these fit. Loosening laces a little (easier to do when not wearing) and going sockless helps with this.

This shoe is designed to hug the foot, and since I’m sort of “between sizes” (measurement, thin foot, narrow heel and med-wide forefoot) and carry a preference for snug, I typically go with the smaller option.

I went with the half size up from my usual, in Ultraboost X. It fits great in the midfoot (once I figured it out). Because the design hugs my heel, even though I can easily slip an additional finger into the same space, it feels ok when wearing socks with the shoe. But that brings up another issue; it’s a bit awkward to put on, with socks.

Adidas UltraBoost X – Top

Anything but thin, tight socks will pull and bunch. If your foot is sweaty—like you took the shoe off to loosen the laces—it can be difficult to slide back on.

In general I prefer wearing socks with running shoes, but this one works best without (except the heel fit, for the narrow). There is a seam where the extra heel padding ends that may bother some sockless feet.

It’s also a warm shoe…uncomfortably so with socks. Adidas also offers an Ultraboost X Clima Shoe which looks to be similar but with greater ventilation.

As we move toward the forefoot, the strip that adds the bit of structure to the upper is less giving where it attaches at the ball of the foot.

It’s difficult to loosen the laces while wearing—do so before putting on—but this will allow the room that a med-wide forefoot needs in the shoe.

A wide foot may fit best in a full-size up from normal running shoe size, while a narrow foot throughout might be able to go with regular size IF you’re ok running sockless.

If not, go up half size. Either way, foregoing socks will help ease fit and heat problems that many experience with this shoe.

The snug fit reminds me of Brooks PureCadence, yet this Brooks shoe offers a better heel fit, for my foot, and a touch more stiffness to the arch. The drop is 4mm as opposed to Ultraboost X’s 10, so it’s a different shoe in that regard.

Some similar shoes from adidas include the Ultraboost X Clima, with a more breathable upper, the Ultraboost Parley, Pureboost X Trainer 2.0 (women), Pureboost DPR (men), and Pureboost X ATR (women’s model has similar wrap around arch).

Similar shoes from Nike include the Lunar Apparent and Air VaporMax Flyknit Moc, which similarly hugs the midfoot, but eliminates the laces.

Price of  Adidas UltraBoost X in Nigeria

The price of Adidas UltraBoost X in Nigeria ranges between N42,000 to N49,000