Adidas Ultraboost 1.0

The original Adidas Ultraboost 1.0 was released in February 2015, debuting as a running shoe before becoming a massive lifestyle and fashion phenomenon. Its popularity surged after Kanye West was frequently seen wearing the shoe, which helped establish the Boost technology as a cornerstone of Adidas's product strategy.

The Boost midsole is composed of thousands of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) pellets that are fused together through a steam-molding process. This material, developed in collaboration with the German chemical company BASF, provides significantly more energy return than traditional EVA foam, which is why Adidas positions it as both a performance and comfort feature.

Adidas has released numerous iterations of the Ultraboost since 2015, including numbered versions like the Ultraboost 2.0 through 4.0, and then year-based naming like Ultraboost 19, 20, 21, 22, and the Ultraboost Light introduced in 2023. The company has also retroed the original Ultraboost 1.0 design multiple times due to sustained demand.

The Ultraboost line was originally engineered as a performance running shoe and has been used by marathon runners, but over time the line shifted toward a heavier lifestyle focus with thicker uppers and more cushioning. Serious runners often prefer lighter racing flats like the Adidas Adios Pro, while the Ultraboost remains popular as a daily trainer and walking shoe due to its comfort.