The Adidas Questar is a road running shoe that's perfect for beginners and casual runners who want a comfortable, easy-pace running shoe. We found it quite comfortable and not hurting the feet at all. Even better, it doesn't hurt the wallet with its price tag either. Overall, if you want a versatile running shoe that's perfect for daily runs and long walks, we believe that the Questar will do the job. Show
Pros
Cons
Audience verdict
ComparisonThe most similar running shoes compared
Audience score Best price Ranking Popularity # of colorways Who should buy the Adidas QuestarDon't pass up on the Questar from Adidas if you're looking to buy a:
 Who should NOT buy itYour browser does not support the video tag. If you want something for speed training, we suggest picking up the Adidas Adizero SL. It's an Adidas speedster that doesn't dig deep into the pockets. And if you're among the broad-footed runners, we're certain that the roomy Adidas Ultraboost Light won't disappoint. The Questar is ready to take the heatHaving logged miles under hot weather conditions, we were happy to find that the Questar is very breathable! Our feet didn't feel too sweaty or toasty which convinces us to recommend this Adidas shoe for summer. Your browser does not support the video tag. Adidas Questar (left), Adidas Runfalcon (right) Based on our smoke and transparency tests, this Adidas shoe receives the highest score in breathability (5 out of 5). The mesh upper material allows the heat to escape easily from the interiors. Your browser does not support the video tag. What's surprising is that the tongue in this shoe is very thickly padded. At 8 mm, it is 2.2 mm thicker than the average. The Adidas Questar puts a pep in your stepFor a cheaper-priced shoe, the Questar has a nice bit of spring and bounce in its cushioning. It is even a little reminiscent of the brand's Ultraboosts. Your browser does not support the video tag. Checking the Questar's foam with a durometer, we got a reading of 27.9 HA. This is actually 15% firmer than road running shoes on average. And if we compare it to Adidas' signature Ultraboost Light, the Questar will be 80% firmer! Disclaimer: We take all durometer and flexibility measurements 5 times before noting down the result. It helps to minimize potential errors. Flexibility-wise, the Adidas Questar also shows average results being moderately flexible. In the manual check, we gave it 3 out of 5 on longitudinal flexibility and 4 out of on the torsional one (a little stiffer). Your browser does not support the video tag. Keeping achy feet at bayApart from the spring it offers, the shoe's cushion also provides a great deal of impact protection. This makes the Questar a better option for recovery days and long walks. Based on our caliper measurements, this Adidas shoe has a generous heel-to-toe drop of 10.5 mm. This puts a larger stack of foam under the heel, helping to dampen the impact where the foot usually strikes first. Also, we found that the midsole is 32.6 mm thick in the heel and 22.1 mm in the forefoot. Despite the massive look of its platform, this is actually an average stack for running shoes. Disclaimer: Our stack measurements are taken with the insole included. In the case of Questar, it is 3.3 mm thick, 1.2 mm less than the average. Not for fast runsThe Adidas Questar leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to responsiveness. Trying to pick up the pace in the shoe wasn't very successful or enjoyable. So if you're looking to log PBs on the pavement, this shoe won't make the cut. Your browser does not support the video tag. Wide platform adds stability to QuestarTo complement its substantial height, this Adidas shoe also comes with a significant sole width. Your browser does not support the video tag. We measured the forefoot at 118.9 mm and the heel at 96.1 mm in their widest parts. This is 5 mm and 6 mm wider than average respectively! This makes the Questar base very close to that of the Adidas Ultraboost 22 (117.7 mm and 98.3 mm). Feels lighter than it weighsTipping the scale at 10.9 oz (310g), the Adidas Questar is pretty hefty compared to the average weight of road running shoes. It is more than an ounce heavier! But at least on the run, the shoe doesn't drag the foot down as much as we expected. A little more room would doThis is especially true for broad-footed runners. We also think that slipping into the Adidas Questar may be hard for these folks given the shoe's sock-like wrap. Using a caliper, we measured that in its widest part, the shoe's forefoot is 96.6 mm wide. This is 1.5 mm narrower than the average. So, people with wide-than-average feet may want to go for the wide option straight away. With comfort and the planet in mindOutside of the soft foot wrap of this shoe's upper, what makes it remarkable is its eco-friendly characteristic. Made with 50% recycled content, it stays true to the brand's goal of eliminating plastic waste. Cuts corners on costsIt only retails for $75, making it one of the most affordable Adidas road running shoes, if not one of the most affordable running shoes on the market. For reference, the average price of daily trainers for road running is $132. Adidas Questar has promising durabilityHaving run in the Questar for about 30 miles, we can conclude that the shoe has average durability based on minor wear and tear. But we also measured two parameters that correlate with the shoe's outsole longevity. Firstly, we measured the rubber outsole of the Questar to be 3.2 mm thick. This is a little below the average (3.5 mm) but still within the range of durable road running shoes. Secondly, the stiffness of this rubber is also a solid average. It is even about 5%-8% denser than other shoes in the budget-friendly category, like the Nike Downshifter 12 or the Reebok Lite 3. These two measurements can help to predict the shoe's longevity given how difficult it's going to be to wear through the rubber. Lab test resultsAdidas Questar Average Breathability Breathability 5 3.8Durability Outsole hardness 81.7 HC 80.4 HCOutsole thickness 3.2 mm 3.2 mmWeight Weight 10.93 oz (310g) 9.38 oz (266g)Cushioning Heel stack 32.6 mm 33.5 mmForefoot stack 22.1 mm 24.7 mmDrop 10.5 mm 8.8 mmInsole thickness 3.3 mm 4.4 mmMidsole softness 27.9 HA 23.5 HAMidsole softness in cold 34.6 HA 29.3 HADifference in midsole softness in cold 24.2% 26.2%Stability Torsional rigidity 4 3.2Heel counter stiffness 3 2.7Midsole width in the forefoot 118.9 mm 113.4 mmMidsole width in the heel 96.1 mm 90.3 mmFlexibility Stiffness 33.0N 29.0NStiffness in cold 49.0N 38.8NDifference in stiffness in cold 48.6% 38.7%Size and fit Internal length 261.3 mm Toebox width at the widest part 96.6 mm 98.2 mmTongue: gusset type None Comfort Tongue padding 8.0 mm 5.7 mmHeel tab Finger loop Removable insole Yes Misc Reflective elements No Specs (official)Compare popularity InteractiveCompare the popularity of another shoe to Adidas Questar: Jens Jakob Andersen Jens Jakob is a fan of short distances with a 5K PR at 15:58 minutes. Based on 35 million race results, he's among the fastest 0.2% runners. Jens Jakob previously owned a running store, when he was also a competitive runner. His work is regularly featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC and the likes as well as peer-reviewed journals. Finally, he has been a guest on +30 podcasts on running. |
