Supernova Prima 1

This is a soft, cushioned ride tuned for comfort over pace. Underfoot the Prima feels plush and protective, taking the sting out of hard pavement so you can rack up easy miles without your legs feeling battered. It is not a snappy or energetic shoe. There is no plate driving you forward and the 290g weight is noticeable when you try to lift the pace, so hold it to relaxed and steady efforts and it feels at home. Push toward tempo and it starts to feel like hard work. The best way to think about it is a long-run and recovery cruiser: settle into an easy rhythm, let the cushioning do its thing, and it just rolls along mile after mile.

Cushioning is the whole point of this shoe, and it delivers a deep, soft layer of protection underfoot. On long runs and back-to-back easy days that softness pays off, keeping impact off tired legs late into a run when a firmer shoe would start to feel harsh. It is generous rather than bouncy: the emphasis is on soaking up the road and shielding your joints, not springing you forward. Heavier runners and heel-strikers will appreciate how much is there between foot and pavement. If you prefer a firm, connected, ground-feel ride you will find it too plush, but for cushioned comfort on the road it is one of adidas most protective options.

The Prima is a neutral shoe with no medial post or dedicated support features, so it is aimed at runners with a fairly efficient gait who do not need correction. That said, a wide, well-cushioned platform gives it a reasonably planted, stable-feeling base for a soft max-cushion trainer, and it does not feel tippy at easy pace. Deep, soft foam always trades a little inherent stability for comfort, so if you are a heavier overpronator who needs genuine guidance this is not the shoe. Runners wanting real support should look at a dedicated stability trainer instead. For neutral runners it is stable enough to relax into on long, steady efforts.

The engineered upper is comfort-focused, with a soft, forgiving feel that suits the shoe's easy-mile brief. There is enough structure to hold the foot without hot spots, and the padded heel and tongue add to the plush, wrap-you-up character. Breathability is fine for UK conditions rather than exceptional, so it is a sensible year-round pick rather than a peak-summer specialist. The materials feel durable and built to last through high-mileage weeks. It is not a minimal, race-day upper and it does not pretend to be: this is about all-day comfort and a secure, cosseting fit for long runs, and on that measure it does the job well.