We try out the Ultra Boost by adidas Running. The Uncaged version, no less. And why would I bother with running shoes, you ask? Well, because I would like to get fit at some point in my life and wouldn’t like that stopped for want of good equipment.

A quick on feet review to get things started from my YouTube channel.

And frankly, adidas has been doing a rather bang up job with every new drop. From the iconic Superstars, to the fastest selling NMDs in the originals line-up. But that doesn’t mean, the running division is left behind. Ultra Boosts have transcended the thin line between performance and lifestyle by catching the fancy of sneaker heads, the world over.

When it dropped, the Ultra Boost shattered the perception of what a pure performance sneaker would be capable of. The combination of Boost running through the sole and the Primeknit upper paved the way for the future. There was just one thing, consumers thought could be better. They wanted the shoe to be a lot slicker and cleaner. Which is why the trend of cutting out the cage came into being. Instagram was filled with images of people with their latest Ultra Boosts, a pair of scissors and the remainder of what was the 3 striped plastic support cage from the mid-foot, lying on the ground. It partially had to do with the fact that the last row of the cage foiled with the ankles of some wearers.

Perhaps what the people were doing was trying the emulate the successful NMD series or the earlier Yeezy 350s.

The Ultra Boost Uncaged retains the boost sole throughout, as in earlier versions. The heel is supported with a cup that is added on the otherwise entirely Primeknit upper. The Ultra Boost branding has hits of silver and gold that come together well on the black hell support. Needless to say, the Boost cushioning is out of this world. It is bloody amazing. I have a range of sneakers with varied cushioning tech and the Boost is right there with the best, at the top of the league.

The collar on the Uncaged has a well bound elasticated band. There is a kind of fusing (if I can call it that) over the lace eyelets to keep them in place and eliminate the probability of rips and tears. The medial side has additional lower set eyelets if you would want a snugger fit on the mid foot. The outsole on which the Boost rides, is made of Continental rubber. That’s right, the tire manufacturer ensures it takes a beating and keeps the Boost precious.

The sizing and fit is extremely snug and I would strongly recommend going true to size if you like them fitting you like a sock. To the contrary if you want breathing space for your toes or have broad feet, you might want to consider going up half a size. Considering the upper is all Primeknit though, I don’t think that should be an issue. Primeknit stretches out quite well when you wear the shoes. The Tubular Doom was my first ever Primeknit sneaker and then there was the NMD City Sock.

And if you were wondering, with the cage gone and the tell-tale stripes missing on the lateral side, what about the branding? Well, it is in the toe-box area albeit very discrete in it’s presence. I like!

I don’t know how often am I going to pound the pavement with these beauties but I have every intention to. I guess my Instagram posts should tell you, if I have been putting them to proper use. But then again, nobody wants to see a sweaty, wobbly man on social media. So, maybe not!

Shot by Vishal Dey for Bowties and Bones