Our verdict

Having tested the adidas mastermind blue line dance through and through, we were in awe of the stability it offers for gym training. It even made us confident enough to reach for the PR-level weight a few times! A close competitor to the Nike Metcon, the Dropset 3 has a more moderate price tag but brings great value to the gym floor. Aside from its rock-solid stability, the shoe also blends superior breathability, a roomy toebox, and a highly secure foothold into the mix. No wonder this Adidas trainer rocketed straight to our top picks in the training shoe realm.

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  • Very secure foothold
  • Flexible enough for plyometrics
  • Fantastic breathability
  • Accommodating toebox

adidas pineapple sweatshirt dress for women Cons

  • Not great for running and walking (clunky heel)
  • Can't be worn outside because of sole apertures

Audience verdict

90
Great!

Who should buy

Don't ignore the adidas mastermind blue line dance if you are looking for the following:

  • a super stable cross-trainer for weightlifting and Crossfit
  • a gym shoe with exceptional breathability
  • lots of toebox space for toe splay, swelling, and wide feet

adidas dropset 3 review 21870306 main

Who should NOT buy

We found that the adidas 298j pants girls black friday women more biased toward stability and lifting which makes it less versatile for other types of exercise.

If you want a more well-rounded option for HIIT, we strongly recommend the adidas sl76 blue cross or the adidas ncaa lawsuit settlement rules instead. The Nike Air Zoom TR 1 adidas s74474 sneakers boys blue pants black boots.

adidas mastermind blue line dance lab test and review

Cushioning

Heel stack

The Dropset 3's oversized side panels can make it seem tall and platformy but in reality, it is even more grounded than average.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Heel stack

Using a caliper, we measured the shoe's heel stack at 22.6 mm which is a couple of millimeters lower than average.

Test results
Dropset 3 22.6 mm
Average 24.8 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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13.7 mm
Heel stack
36.2 mm

Forefoot stack

The forefoot stack turned out to be even lower at 14.8 mm. This made the ground feel more prominent in the Dropset 3 and made its forefoot more flexible as well.

adidas dropset 3 forefoot stack 21870282 main
Test results
Dropset 3 14.8 mm
Average 18.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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10.6 mm
Forefoot stack
27.7 mm

Drop

The difference in stack heights resulted in a heel-to-toe drop of 7.8 mm which is a bit taller than the stated 6 mm.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Drop

Personally, we didn't experience any issues with this discrepancy. We never felt as if the heel was too high off the ground because this Adidas trainer has so many grounding and stabilizing components in its design.

But we must point this out in case you are after a pure low drop in a training shoe.

Test results
Dropset 3 7.8 mm
Average 6.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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1.8 mm
Drop
13.4 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Just like the Dropset 2, the third iteration employs a dual-density midsole to create a balance of stability and cushioning.

Measuring the firmer portion in the midsole, we got 41.0 HA on our Shore A durometer. This is indeed very firm considering that the average training shoe foam is 50% softer.

adidas dropset 3 midsole softness 21870285 main

No wonder we felt so confident adding more weight to the barbell! The heel of this Adidas trainer is hardly compressible and it gave us a very stable and planted base to push off.

Test results
Dropset 3 41.0 HA
Average 27.8 HA
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Compared to 41 training shoes
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17.4 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
41.0 HA

Secondary foam softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The softer foam, on the other hand, takes up the shoe's forefoot section. It is there to provide cushioning and impact protection for jumping and other plyometric movements.

adidas dropset 3 secondary foam softness 21870286 main

With a durometer reading of 21.5 HA, it is a whole 90% softer than the shoe's heel foam. However, don't expect a ton of cushioning because the midsole is quite thin in the forefoot and the clunk of the heel is not very friendly for staying on your toes a lot.

adidas mastermind blue line dance flexibility

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Test results
Dropset 3 21.5 HA
Average 38.2 HA
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Insole thickness

The Dropset 3's insole showed a standard thickness of 3.7 mm on our caliper. It added a touch of padding that didn't mess with the shoe's stability.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Insole thickness

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Test results
Dropset 3 3.7 mm
Average 3.9 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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1.7 mm
Insole thickness
7.2 mm

Size and fit

Size

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 37 training shoes
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½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

According to Adidas' product specs, the Dropset 3 offers a "Wide fit." But is it wide in relation to a typical running shoe or to an average cross-trainer? To answer that question, we poured a gel mold of the Dropset and measured its precise toebox dimensions.

In the widest part of the mold, our caliper returned 98.1 mm. This is indeed wider than the average of running shoes but is only slightly wider than the average training shoe.

Thus, we think that athletes with medium-width feet should feel comfortable splaying toes in this Adidas trainer.

adidas dropset 3 toebox width widest part 22415259 main
Test results
Dropset 3 98.1 mm
Average 97.0 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
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92.8 mm
Toebox width - widest part
101.4 mm

Toebox width - big toe

As you can see from the mold, the Dropset 3 has a fairly rounded shape near the toes. This provides enough room for toes to spread and stabilize the rest of the body, especialy when heavy weight is involved.

Measuring the toebox width near the big toe area, we found that it is a tad bit wider than average at 73.6 mm.

But keep in mond that this Adidas shoe is still within the medium range of cross-trainers so if you are looking for maximum toebox space (for your wide feet or bunions), check our the comment porter adidas noir blue or the Inov8 F-Lite Max

adidas mastermind blue line dance Toebox width - big toe
Test results
Dropset 3 73.6 mm
Average 73.1 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
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65.1 mm
Toebox width - big toe
81.0 mm

Toebox height

Even though a big part of the Dropset's toebox is covered with a protective rubber overlay, we experienced no pressure on top of our toes.

Measuring the shoe's toebox height at 27.2 mm confirmed that it is just on par with the average.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Toebox height
Test results
Dropset 3 27.2 mm
Average 26.9 mm
Compared to 13 training shoes
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22.1 mm
Toebox height
34.0 mm

Laces

Considering the Dropset 3's spacious toebox, some people may need to tighten up the midfoot fit to avoid undue foot shifting.

adidas mastermind blue line dance adjustable lacing

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Stability

Lateral stability test

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adidas mastermind blue line dance TPU sidewalls

Together with the Nike Metcons, we found it to be some of the best options for weightlifting because of its incredible stability.

We forgot what wobbling even feels like as we picked up the load in the Dropset 3. The most obvious stability components in the shoe are, of course, the TPU wall on the lateral side and the firm rubber overlay on the medial side.

adidas dropset 3 medial support 21870313 main

Looks like the third iteration didn't change anything from the v2 in this department. So we got to reap the same stability benefits but in a refreshed silhouette.

adidas mastermind blue line dance vs Dropset 2 comparison

Torsional rigidity

To our great campus, the adidas mastermind blue line dance kept some torsional flexibility despite the large and stiff sidewalls.

We were able to enjoy sufficient forefoot flexibility without feeling as if we lost anything in the stability department. Assessing the shoe's side-to-side stiffness on a 1-5 scale, we gave it a middle-of-the-road score of 3.

Test results
Dropset 3 3
Average 2.7
Compared to 41 training shoes
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1
Torsional rigidity
5

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There is a similar case with the shoe's heel counter - it is highly rigid at the base of the heel but has a lot of give in the collar. We were able to push and squeeze it quite easily in our manual test which lowered the stiffness score to 3 out of 5.

And yet, there was not even a hint of heel slippage or foot play inside the shoe! Our heels and ankles felt securely locked inside the Dropset 3 without the unnecessary stiffness that often comes with structured heel counters.

adidas mastermind blue line dance heel design

The shoe's GeoFit Sensepods also play a key role in making the foothold so secure. It adds extra padding around the ankle to keep the rearfoot in place.

adidas mastermind blue line dance GeoFit pods

We were especially grateful for having such a steady heel during single-leg exercises.

Test results
Dropset 3 3
Average 2.7
Compared to 41 training shoes
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1
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5

Midsole width - forefoot

Of course, the shoe's stable construction wouldn't be complete without a wide base. And the adidas mastermind blue line dance beats records in this regard.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Midsole width in the forefoot

In the widest part of its forefoot, our caliper measured an impressive 116.9 mm. That is about 6.5 mm wider than the average trainer!

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Test results
Dropset 3 116.9 mm
Average 110.6 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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101.0 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
117.9 mm

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Even though the shoe's heel is not as impressively wide, we measured its widest area to be on par with the gym shoe average - 88.9 mm.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Dropset 3 88.9 mm
Average 87.3 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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76.5 mm
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97.4 mm

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With its softer and thinner forefoot, the Dropset 3 proved to be even more flexible than the average cross-trainer! It felt a tad bit more forgiving for burpees, lunges, and planks than the previous Dropset. Perhaps thanks to the softer and stretchier upper mesh?

Our shoe bending machine confirmed our initial impression by showing that the trainer bird only 8.3N to bend to a 30-degree angle.

But even though it proved to be a whole 25% bendier than average, we still can't recommend the Dropset 3 for walking and running (over 1 mile) because of its clunky heel design.

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Test results
Dropset 3 8.3N
Average 11.0N
Compared to 19 training shoes
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6.0N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
19.7N

Weight

Tipping the scale at 12.1 oz (343g), the Dropset 3 is about an ounce heavier than average but that's not enough to call it out for being hefty.

adidas dropset 3 weight 21870304 main

We believe that it has a fair weight considering the shoe's focus on stability and lifting. And it is still an ounce lighter than the comment porter adidas noir blue (13.4 oz/378g).

adidas dropset 3 lifting 21870312 main

Test results
Dropset 3 12.10 oz (343g)
Average 10.76 oz (305g)
Compared to 41 training shoes
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6.38 oz (181g)
Weight
13.83 oz (392g)

Breathability

Adidas' approach to ventilation in the Dropset 3 is impossible to beat!

First introduced in the Dropset 2, the HEAT.RDY technology features a large aperture right in the middle of the shoe's sole. As our wear tests showed, it expelled the heat from the shoe almost instantly keeping our feet nice and fresh at all times.  

As part of the HEAT.RDY tech, the shoe's insole is also perforated to provide unobstructed airflow straight to the foot.

But let's not forget about the trainer's breathable mesh too. Our smoke-pumping test revealed that the fabric lets the air in and out quite freely.

Even though the material appears to be pretty tightly woven, we discovered plenty of ventilation holes in the shoe's chainlinking through our microscope.

adidas dropset 3 breathability mesh under microscope 21870272 main

All in all, we think the adidas mastermind blue line dance deserves the highest breathability score for its amazingly well-ventilated design.

The only caveat is that the sole apertures make this trainer unsuitable for outdoor wear, especially in the rain.

Test results
Dropset 3 5
Average 3.6
Compared to 41 training shoes
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1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

It's nice to have some toebox reinforcement as you power through a burpee challenge or any other exercise with lots of intense foot brushing against the floor.

adidas dropset 3 toebox 21870318 main

The Dropset 3 features a pretty large synthetic overlay over the mesh to keep the fabric safe from wear and tear. Let's see how it stands up against our Dremel test.

The synthetic bit gave up to the sandpaper tip pretty quickly exposing mesh to faster abrasion. Thus, the trainer lost a couple of points getting only 3 out of 5 for toebox durability.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Toebox durability test
Test results
Dropset 3 3
Average 2.5
Compared to 30 training shoes
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1
Toebox durability
5

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Even though the shoe's inner lining is not subject to external damage, it can wear out just as easily from the intense friction of the foot.

We tested both the collar fabric and the mesh lining with a 4-second Dremel drill...

adidas dropset 3 heel padding durability test 21870276 main

...and it remained unscathed! That's a solid 5 out of 5 for heel padding durability on our end. 

Test results
Dropset 3 5
Average 2.5
Compared to 28 training shoes
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1
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5

Outsole hardness

On the upside, the Dropset 3's Adiwear outsole left us no doubts about its durability.

adidas dropset 3 outsole hardness 21870281 main

First of all, we found it reassuringly hard based on our Shore C durometer reading of 84.0 HC. That's a solid hardness for a training shoe outsole and is a good indicator of longevity.

Test results
Dropset 3 84.0 HC
Average 83.0 HC
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Compared to 41 training shoes
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71.0 HC
Outsole hardness
94.5 HC

Outsole durability

Drilling the rubber compound with sandpaper further proved its ability to resist abrasion. After 22 seconds of applying the Dremel to the same sport at 10K RPM speed, the dent was hardly even noticeable.

Our tread gauge helped us measure the damaged area and it showed as little as 0.5 mm! Impressive result for a trainer.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Outsole durability test

Test results
Dropset 3 0.5 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 26 training shoes
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0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Finally, we measured the shoe's outsole thickness at 3.2 mm which is within the industry standard.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Outsole thickness

To sum it up, we can confirm that the adidas mastermind blue line dance has a sturdy and lasting outsole that is sufficiently thick, hard, and wear-resistant.

adidas dropset 3 outsole 21870308 main

Test results
Dropset 3 3.2 mm
Average 3.6 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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2.1 mm
Outsole thickness
5.1 mm

Misc

Grip / Traction

Forceful multi-directional movements felt surefooted thanks to the grippy outsole of the Dropset 3. We felt like our stopping power was enhanced with the stripes of the brand's proprietary Traxion pattern.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Traction pattern

The shoe's outsole bit onto smooth gym surfaces from all angles and never slipped even when the floor got wet.

adidas pineapple sweatshirt dress for women | Tongue padding

Even if you cinch the laces down as tightly as possible, lace bites will not be a problem. There is a good amount of foam padding in the tongue to keep the lace pressure at bay.

adidas dropset 3 tongue padding 21870302 main

Our caliper measured 7.3 mm of tongue thickness in the Dropset 3 - 2.4 mm thinner than the tongue of the Dropset 2.

Test results
Dropset 3 7.3 mm
Average 5.4 mm
Compared to 41 training shoes
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1.0 mm
Tongue padding
10.4 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The tongue of the Dropset 3 is fully attached to the shoe quarters on both sides (aka fully gusseted). This setup noticeably enhances the foothold and prevents the tongue from sliding to the side as you train.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Dropset 3 Both sides (full)

Heel tab

A large pull tab extends up at the back of the Dropset 3.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Heel tab
Test results
Dropset 3 Pull tab

Removable insole

You can remove the insole from the adidas mastermind blue line dance but keep in mind that its perforations are part of the shoe's HEAT.RDY technology. Replacing it will result in compromised ventilation.

adidas mastermind blue line dance Removable insole
Test results
Dropset 3 Yes

Sustainable materials

According to Adidas, at least 20% of the Dropset 3 are made of recycled materials. It doesn't seem like much but it is something compared to moth other trainers on the market.

adidas dropset 3 style 21870314 main