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Adidas Alphabounce

Discontinued · road · Daily · $110

Bounce-foam trainer that blurred gym and road running.

Built for daily, at a target pace of 8:30–11:30 /mi on road.

This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is Adidas Runfalcon 5.

The spec sheet

Weight
354 g / 12.5 oz
Heel stack
25 mm
Drop
10 mm
Plate
—
Cushioning
2 / 5
Energy return
2 / 5
Responsiveness
2 / 5
Rocker
1 / 5
Flexibility
4 / 5
Stability
3 / 5 (5 = most guidance)
Toe-box
Standard
Sizing
True to size
Durability
~400 mi
Price
$110

How it rides

The foam

Adidas tuned this midsole firm (2/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is modest, so the ride feels protective and damp rather than springy. 25 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. Combined, the ride reads as calm at 2/5 responsiveness.

The plate

There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.

The geometry

A tall 10 mm drop tips weight forward off the heel, which usually suits heel strikers and calves that dislike low-drop shoes. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. The forefoot flexes easily, so the shoe adapts to slower, shorter strides. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.

Fit, sizing & life

The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.28 per mile at $110.

For the foams and plates Adidas uses across its line, read the Adidas brand guide.

How it compares

Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.

Weight

354 g / 12.5 oz

79 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g

Heel stack

25 mm

11 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm

Drop

10 mm

4 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm

Price

$110

50 cheaper than the catalog median of 160

Responsiveness

2 / 5

Catalog median 3 / 5

Cushioning

2 / 5

Catalog median 4 / 5

Energy return

2 / 5

Catalog median 3 / 5

Durability

~400 mi

Catalog median ~400 mi

Within the Adidas line it is heavier than the brand's median (278 g / 9.8 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (35 mm).

Closest alternatives

Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.

Adidas Coreracer 2

280 g / 9.9 oz · 28 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $65

No-frills budget runner with a snug, sock-like fit.

Asics Jolt 5

290 g / 10.2 oz · 28 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $65

Cheapest way into an Asics: a firm, sturdy everyday jogger.

Adidas Ultrabounce

326 g / 11.5 oz · 25 mm · 9 mm drop · — · $90

Adidas Ultrabounce: 25 mm heel stack, 9 mm drop, 326 g — specs from independent lab testing.

New Balance 1540 v4

335 g / 11.8 oz · 32 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $190

Maximum motion-control trainer with a huge, stable platform.

Adidas Runfalcon 5

303 g / 10.7 oz · 33 mm · 10 mm drop · — · $70

Sub-$70 starter shoe for short runs and gym duty.

Lineage & siblings