If you’re looking for a running shoe that occupies the middle ground between comfort and pace, the newly announced adidas Solarglide 5 makes a play for your shortlist. Built with every day running in mind, the adidas Solarglide 5 is the latest addition to the brand’s Solarglide road running range.

Adidas believes the shoe is designed to provide runners with the perfect fit, featuring a Bubble Boost midsole consisting of hundreds of Boost capsules which are fused together and ready to “explode with energy in each step”. Working in tandem with an updated LEP (Linear Energy Push), which fits between the Bubble Boost platform and the Control Platform, the shoe is set to provide a smooth ride for runners.

If you’re wondering about the terms, adidas describes LEP as an evolution of its torsion system, with the updated LEP 2.0 fitting between the Bubble Boost platform and the Control Platform, providing a stride with response. The Control Platform is a full-top loaded EVA platform, designed for a smooth transition for runners.

Furthermore, the Solarglide 5 features a midsole drop of 10 mm, coming in at a heavier 335 g per shoe, but still 5 g lighter than the Ultraboost 21.

The days of female running shoes being exact copies of the male version are gone, with the Solarglide 5 part of the brand’s ongoing drive to create a diverse range of products for both men and women. During the development phase, according to adidas, the team behind the shoe conducted a variety of tests to ensure the silhouette of the women’s Solarglide provided the best possible fit for female runners.

Also noted is the Solarglide 5’s Primeblue knit upper being made in part with Parley Ocean Plastic. The product consists of yarn which contains at least 50% Parley Ocean Plastic - re-imagined plastic waste, intercepted on remote islands, beaches, coastal communities and shorelines, preventing it from polluting our ocean. The other 50% of the yarn is recycled polyester.

The adidas Solarglide 5 launches in a Light Flash Orange x Flash Orange colourway for women, and in Flash Orange x Turbo Red for men.

The Solarglide 5 will be available in adidas concept stores and on www.adidas.co.za from Thursday 24 February at the suggested retail price of R2 499.