Our verdict

The adidas crazy 97 black white gold line saw a radical change with version number 10 when it got much bigger. As per our observations, the 11th iteration sees just a few differences and remains a maximal training shoe devoted to those runners who love a very firm ride and train for medium to long-distance races. We found it to be surprisingly stable, lighter, and much more durable. And thumbs up for including some recycled materials.

Replica adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Sun GZ6984 Pros

  • Very stable for being a high-stack shoe
  • Excellent grip
  • Breathable upper
  • Versatile for different workouts
  • Protective underfoot
  • Adidas Ultraboost 21 x Parley Unisex Running Shoes RRP £170
  • Made with recycled materials
  • Attractive design

Replica adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Sun GZ6984 Cons

  • Definitely stiff and firm
  • Replica adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Sun GZ6984

Who should buy

Consider choosing the adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 if you:

  • Struggle with stability and need a shoe that can handle a wide range of paces
  • Are looking for a durable shoe that can handle races and don't mind it being heavier than racing shoes
  • Seek a cushioned-yet-firm ride for long-distance training sessions

adidas adizero boston 11 20056912 main

Who should NOT buy

If you choose plush or even moderately soft foams, we suggest staying away from the Boston 11. The same advice goes for those in search of flexible running shoes, as this one leans towards firmness and rigidity with its Energyrods.

Mens Adidas Samba Og ASICS Novablast 3. It's a fast-and-light daily trainer that comfortably handles a wide range of speeds. On the other hand, if a flexible tempo trainer is what you're after, the Nike Streakfly could be your match. It's fast, agile, and incredibly soft while maintaining excellent flexibility.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 parts

Cushioning

Heel stack

With a stack height height of 39.1 mm, the Boston 11 just falls within the World Athletics regulation of 40 mm, making it a legal shoe for racing.

We think it's a good option for almost any heel striker that seeks a high-yet-stable shoe, but it's not a great competition shoe, though.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Heel stack
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 39.1 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Number of shoes
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

There's also a significant level of cushioning in the forefoot of the shoe, as our precise measurements reveal it to be 29.3 mm.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Forefoot stack
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 29.3 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Number of shoes
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

This leads to a drop that's typical for Adidas shoes—at 9.8 mm.

So, even though the brand's official numbers indicates an 8.5 mm drop, we discovered it to be slightly steeper. This feature makes the shoe particularly well-suited for heel strikers, as a higher heel-to-toe drop facilitates the transition towards the midfoot and forefoot.

adidas adizero boston 11 drop 20020674 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 9.8 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Number of shoes
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole camiseta

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

The Adidas Boston 11 makes use of two distinct foams:

  • Lightstrike is a standard EVA foam that, to us, feels notably firm. It doesn't have much bounce, but it does contribute to a stable ride. 
  • Lightstrike Pro, on the other hand, is the premier foam in Adidas' arsenal, boasting impressive energy return.

We clocked the hardness of Lightstrike at 22.0 HA, but it felt significantly firmer to us during our test runs.

That's because Lightstrike is renowned for having a really long break-in period, so expect a very firm ride for a while.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Midsole camiseta
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 22.0 HA
Average 20.9 HA
The second drop for adidas Originals x.
Compared to 330 running shoes
Number of shoes
8.5 HA
Midsole camiseta (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Secondary foam camiseta

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

Lightstrike Pro is the secondary foam that Adidas employs to inject this shoe with bounce, energy return, and speed.

Even though we measured its hardness at 23.5 HA, which is technically firmer than Lightstrike, it felt quite the opposite to us. We loved Lightstrike Pro in the Adios Pro 2 and, in fact, the AP2 it's a better choice if you care about energy return and don't mind the inevitable downgrade in durability.

adidas adizero boston 11 secondary foam camiseta 20020670 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 23.5 HA
Average 23.8 HA
The second drop for adidas Originals x.

Tênis adidas Duramo 10 Masculino Azul (%)

We gave the 11th version of the Boston a brief, 20-minute stint in the freezer before testing it again. After this cold-exposure test, we found the Lightstrike foam to measure 29.5 HA.

That's a jump of 34.1% from its normal state. It's not as good as the typical shoe, but that makes sense considering EVA foam never do well in cold temperatures. 

For a deeper understanding of foams and the effects of temperature in running shoes, we suggest looking at both our guides!

adidas adizero boston 11 midsole camiseta in cold 20020672 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 34%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
Tênis adidas Duramo 10 Masculino Azul
63%

Insole thickness

To offset the weight from its thick midsole, as we mentioned before, we noticed in the lab that Adidas has used a few clever methods.

That's why the insole is leaner than those found in most other running shoes on the market.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Insole thickness
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 3.4 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Replica adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Sun GZ6984 | Size

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 is true to size (23 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Replica adidas Yeezy Boost 700 Sun GZ6984 | Wale in Nike Air Yeezy Bistro Crew in Nike x Swagger Terminator

Following our field testing and precise measurements of the upper, we're can confirm that the Boston 11 is an excellent, roomy choice for those with wide feet. Thumbs up for those 103.7 mm!

adidas adizero boston 11 toebox width at the widest part 20020564 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 103.7 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Number of shoes
91.6 mm
Wale in Nike Air Yeezy Bistro Crew in Nike x Swagger Terminator
104.9 mm

adidas originals lrg logo t shirt white black

There's even more good news for those of us blessed (?) with wide feet.

From our in-depth evaluations, we can confidently affirm that the Boston 11 is an excellent fit for those whose toes do not have significant size variation, such as those with Celtic, German, or Roman foot shapes—forming a near-perfect match.

For a deeper understanding of foot shapes and uppers, we strongly encourage you to explore our guide about uppers.

adidas adizero boston 11 toebox width at the big toe 20020563 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 80.5 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
Number of shoes
67.6 mm
adidas originals lrg logo t shirt white black
89.2 mm

Toebox feel

Sporting a thick midsole, we quickly realised we were dealing with a chunky shoe. Adidas tried to lighten the load with a simpler upper design, but it wasn't enough.

Disappointingly, the shoe still tips the scale negras the mental barrier of 10 oz—it weighs in at 10.2 oz or 290g. Let's hope that Adidas improves this issue in the Boston 12.

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen Medium

Stability

Lateral stability test

Despite its significant stack height, we find the Boston 11 surprisingly stable.

Torsional rigidity

This stability is due to its carbon plate, Adidas' fibreglass Energyrods, and the firm foam we mentioned earlier.

That's also why we rated this shoe at 4/5 in our torsional rigidity test. It really felt stiff to us.

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The same principle applies to the heel counter. Adidas is simply making an effort to increase stability, offsetting the high-stack height's potential side-effects.

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 3
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

adidas Infinitex Fitness 3 Stripes Плавательные Шорты.

This measurement is less than what we initially anticipated for this shoe, but it still provides enough stability for runners who land on their midfoot or forefoot, even in the fastest tempo runs.

adidas adizero boston 11 midsole width in the forefoot 20020568 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 109.3 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Number of shoes
102.2 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
126.9 mm

Midsole width - heel

The heel tells a similar tale. Once again, it seems like Adidas prioritised weight savings. If they had made the shoe as wide as the average training shoe, it could have ended up 10% or 20% heavier.

The narrower design could potentially compromise the shoe's stability and comfort for some heel strikers.

adidas adizero boston 11 midsole width in the heel 20020567 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 84.9 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Number of shoes
70.8 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.6 mm

Жіночі шкіряні кросівки adidas в хмельницькому

By now, it's clear that we're dealing with a stiff shoe. However, we really LOVE testing shoes in our lab and wanted to put a number on it.

adidas UltraBOOST 5.0 DNA Core White Core White Light Purple.

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 35.3N
Average 28.1N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 383 running shoes
Number of shoes
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

Stiffness in cold (%)

We also put the shoe's stiffness to the test after a freezer-cooling session, just like we did for the midsole camiseta.

The EVA-based Lightstrike foam, once again, showed significant change under cold conditions. This time, we recorded a stiffer reading of 50.1N.

This shows a substantial 42% difference between the two measurements.

The change is quite noticeable, leading us to conclude that this shoe might not be the best choice for running in colder weather.

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 42%
Average 32%
Compared to 383 running shoes
Number of shoes
0%
Stiffness in cold
101%

Weight

Sporting a thick midsole, we quickly realised we were dealing with a chunky shoe. Adidas tried to lighten the load with a simpler upper design, but it wasn't enough.

Disappointingly, the shoe still tips the scale negras the mental barrier of 10 oz—it weighs in at 10.2 oz or 290g. Let's hope that Adidas improves this issue in the Boston 12.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Weight
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 10.23 oz (290g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
Number of shoes
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

The Boston 11 handles summer runs without a hitch. The moment we got our hands on the shoe and felt the upper with our fingers, we were impressed by its thin, breathable engineered mesh.

Despite this, we didn't give it a full 5/5 score in our jaw-dropping smoke test—we settled for a 4. You might be wondering why—the reason lies with the shoe's tongue.

While the toebox plays a crucial role in breathability, discomfort can arise if other parts of the shoe don't allow for heat and humidity to escape.

Though the medial part of the Boston 11 offers sufficient breathability—a fact confirmed by our light test—the tongue could potentially be a problem on the hottest days.

adidas adizero boston 11 microscope 20056936 main

Even so, when it comes to breathability, let us be clear: this shoe is superb—99% of runs should pose no problem.

adidas adizero boston 11 microscope 2 20056937 main

Our observations in the lab reinforced our initial impressions. Under the microscope, we found a strikingly thin mesh—a true testament to precise manufacturing—that allowed for extraordinary airflow.

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

The Boston 11 employs an engineered mesh that exhibits outstanding breathability, as we've previously noted. However, this material falls short when it comes to durability—it's highly susceptible to wear and tear.

Our dremel test, which applies a force of 3.4N for four seconds to every shoe in the lab, really put the Boston 11 through the wringer. The hyper-thin layer of mesh offered almost no resistance at all.

We strongly believe Adidas could up their game in this regard in the v12. Of course, a thinner mesh typically has less robustness compared to a thicker one, but consider the Nike Alphafly 2. This model also sports a thin, competition-focused and breathable layer, yet it doesn't compromise on durability.

adidas adizero boston 11 toebox durability 2 20032300 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 1
Average 2.6
Compared to 267 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

Luckily, the Boston 11's heel padding is really great. This is good news for runners who often wear holes in this area.

Our tough Dremel test on the soft fabric that Adidas uses in this area showed it holds up really well.

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 262 running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

A standout feature of Adidas's Continental rubber is its exceptional grip, even though it's a hard compound.

This is a rare quality, as most brands need to use softer rubber to ensure a good level of traction. Adidas and Continental shine in this unique, hard-yet-grippy approach.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Outsole hardness
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 86.3 HC
Average 79.7 HC
The second drop for adidas Originals x.
Compared to 384 running shoes
Number of shoes
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole durability

We put our trusty Dremel to work once more—this time on the outsole—and found only a minimal 0.74 mm wear in the rubber. This is an excellent result pointing to the shoe's long-term durability.

This shoe truly stands the test of time. 

Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 0.7 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 245 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

With a thickness of 3.3 mm, the rubber on the shoe is pretty standard, but it's so sturdy that you're likely to wear out many other parts of the shoe before the outsole.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Outsole thickness
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 3.3 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Number of shoes
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

Adidas maintains its track record of omitting reflective elements from its running shoes. Although they've stayed consistent with their design approach, it's disappointing and concerning for us, particularly from a safety perspective.

Night runners really need those reflective components for increased visibility. We certainly hope Adidas revisits this aspect in the Boston 12.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Reflective elements
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen No

Tongue padding

We found the tongue padding to measure 4.1 mm. This is a surprisingly pleasant result, particularly for a shoe that's specifically designed for tempo runs.

Most training shoes in the Adizero line, like the Круті жіночі легкі світлі кросівки adidas with its 1.8 mm padding, sport a much thinner tongue.

adidas adizero boston 11 tongue padding 20020562 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen 4.1 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Number of shoes
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The Boston 11 features a fully-gusseted tongue that improves the fit and prevents internal movements.

Although we might have preferred a semi-gusseted design for a more Impermeabile feel, we're fine with this setup.

adidas adizero boston 11 tongue gusset type 20020561 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen Both sides (full)

Heel tab

In line with Adidas' latest design trends in running shoes, the Boston 11 features a flap-like pull tab on the heel. This serves two purposes—it makes slipping your foot into the shoe easier and adds a unique aesthetic touch.

adidas adizero boston 11 heel tab 20020560 main
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen Pull tab

Removable insole

We encountered no issues whatsoever when inserting our own orthotics or swapping in the insoles from another shoe into the Boston 11.

adidas crazy 97 black white gold 11 Removable insole
Test results
adidas Shorts Hosen Yes