Weight 362g
Evaluation Not everyone wants clever shoes that are ultra-plush, ultra-light, ultra-flexible or ultra-anything. That’s one of the reasons why the straightforward, midweight, moderately firm Response has been a mainstay of the Adidas line for a decade.
This winter’s update has the day-in, day-out dependability of its predecessors, with more of an emphasis on midfoot support than last year’s model. A big plastic midfoot shank cradles the underside of the foot; and more significantly, the three Adidas stripes around the sides of the foot have been toughened and bonded into a tough plastic section of the lacing system, to help hold the foot in place.
It’s not a shoe for stability-oriented runners, as there is no added medial support, but it’s well-suited to slightly heavier neutral runners, or budget-conscious runners who want a durable shoe to take some abuse. If you like the sound of the Response but need added protection from overpronation, by the way, look out for a medially-posted but otherwise identical version called the Response Control.
In short You know where you are with the Response – it’s a no-frills, durable and moderately firm shoe for biomechanically efficient runners. This winter’s version has added midfoot support.
Try it if you liked Saucony GRID Jazz GTO (£60); Adidas Response (£60); Brooks Vapor (£60)
