Looking for an Olympic weightlifting shoe that combines stability, comfort, and innovation? The new 2012 Adidas Adipower Olympic weightlifting shoe delivers all of that and more.

The 2012 Adidas Adipower is Adidas’ newest flagship Olympic weightlifting shoe. It replaces the 2008 Adidas Adistar weightlifting shoe ✏️ and marks the end of an era. This model represents a drastic change for Adidas, especially in terms of design and materials.

Design and Aesthetics

This shoe first appeared in mid-2011 at trade shows, flaunting black accents paired with a vibrant orange-red hue. The prototype looked awesome with the bold black accents, but the production version ended up with a plain, low-sheen red, with only the three white stripes as contrast. This simplified color scheme lost the depth that made the prototype stand out.

The overall lack of detail, dunked paint-bucket appearance, and plastic look make this model appear more generic compared to its predecessors, which resembled finely manicured Italian shoes. Now, it looks like Adidas pressed the shoes out of a block of plastic and slapped the bottom with a very thin layer of black rubber.

A New Heel for a New Era: TPU vs. Wood

The biggest deviation from former models is the elimination of the wood heel in favor of a composite material—thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), similar to the Nike Romaleos 2✏️. This marks the end of an era for Olympic weightlifting shoes, as the wood heel was a real trademark. The sound of your heels hitting the wood platform made a satisfying crack, akin to a well-hit ball off a wooden bat. The TPU heel just doesn’t make the same music. This decision also reduces manufacturing costs compared to the real, hand-polished wood heels of past models.

However, the benefits of a wood heel go beyond just aesthetics and sound. Wood heels provide a firmer, more direct connection to the platform, enhancing stability and balance during heavy lifts. For more detail on why the wood heel matters, you can read our review of the Asics 727 Tiger weightlifting shoe – why a wood heel matters✏️.

Heel Height and Pitch

Heel height is one of the major reasons why people buy Olympic weightlifting shoes, as it helps improve body positioning and lift more weight. However, the pitch of the shoe is more important than just the heel height. If the forefoot of the shoe is thicker, the effective pitch is less, which can nullify the heel height. On the 2012 Adidas Adipower Olympic weightlifting shoe, the switch from wood to TPU made the heel and shoe height lower, but the pitch remains comparable to past models at 7.8%.

Functionality Meets Comfort: How the Adipower Delivers Both

Heel and Forefoot Performance

The overall functionality of the new heel is excellent, and the forefoot of the shoe is remarkably pliable. It’s the best of both worlds—a super-stable heel with a very flexible toe. Adidas’ own technical details specifically mention the “flexible forefoot” and “secure heel fit.” Unlike previous models, the 2012 Adidas Adipower Olympic weightlifting shoe provides superb ventilation that keeps your feet comfortable and dry, even during all-day training sessions. Adidas included center channel vents that can be cut out of the outsole to create vent flow openings on the midfoot and forefoot. This allows better airflow to keep your feet cool and comfortable during long training sessions—something that wasn’t possible before due to the wood heel.

Arch Support

The addition of arch support is another positive change from past models. Adidas weightlifting shoes have notoriously had minimal to no arch support built into the shoe. Instead, it was incorporated into the insole. The 2012 Adidas Adipower Olympic weightlifting shoe has a more pronounced arch built directly into the shoe, code-named the “midfoot torsion system.” The upper is leather, maintaining Adidas’ tradition.

Weight and Fit: How the 2012 Adidas Adipower Stands Out

Key Features of Weight and Fit:

• Lightweight Design: Compared to other popular models such as the Nike Romaleos 2, the 2012 Adidas Adipower Olympic weightlifting shoe is significantly lighter, making it an ideal option for those who prioritize agility during lifts.
• Weight: Size 9 weighs only 458g, making it extremely light—only bested by the Reebok CrossFit Lifter ✏️.
• Width Fit: All shoes come standard in D width, accommodating most lifters.
• Break-In Period: Lifters with normal-width feet reported the shoes broke in nicely after a week of use, while those with extremely wide feet took an extra week.

Quality Control:

• We weighed the left and right shoes individually and found, on average, a 1.6% difference in weight.
• There was a quality issue within the first few weeks—the Adidas stripe began to peel off due to the natural flexing of the shoe while walking.

Strap Design of the 2012 Adidas Adipower

With every new version, Adidas changes the strap. They have experimented with single buckles, three straps, cross-overs, Velcro, clips, etc., and the 2012 Adidas Adipower is no exception. This version features a single Velcro strap, which is slightly wider than its predecessor. The location of the strap is different as well; it’s attached closer to the opening of the shoe compared to previous models. The new plastic strap is more rigid than leather and stays directly over the point where you tie the shoe. This positioning makes the strap an obstacle when tying the laces, but once secured, it’s worth the hassle.

Training Experience with the 2012 Adidas Adipower

First Impressions:

• My first impression was that the shoes felt amazing in terms of comfort, stability, and fit.
• I was annoyed with the strap constantly being in the way when tying them.
• They were also easier to walk in compared to the 2008 Adidas Adistar, though not as easy as the 2004 Adidas Adistar weightlifting shoe✏️.
• Compared to the Nike Romaleos 2, which tend to have a stiffer fit, the 2012 Adidas Adipower offers more flexibility, making it more comfortable for dynamic movements.

Fit and Support:

• The shoes fit like a glove, with lighter weight and noticeable flexibility.
• Lateral support has been slightly improved compared to the previous model, the 2008 Adidas Adistar.
• The tongue is textured with a directional neoprene material that feels like it’s holding your foot firmly in place.
• Unlike the previous Adistar, which ran 1/2 to 1 size long, these are true to size. Adidas recommends that women order 1.5 sizes smaller, though our experience suggests 1 size smaller is adequate.

Performance on Clean and Jerks

In training, I started with clean and jerks. I noticed feeling more secure in the bottom position of the clean and more stable in the jerk.

After further investigation, we realized that the overall base or contact patch of the shoe is about 15% greater than the 2008 model. The extra stability comes from the extended edges of the sole around the shoe, especially behind the heel. The 2008 model’s base is almost even with the back of the heel cup, while the new model extends back almost half an inch.

This difference is immediately noticeable and offers a significant advantage of the TPU construction. The extended heel provides a larger surface area on the ground, giving you more leverage behind your heel if you lean back—essentially acting as a lever to improve balance.

Comfort During Long Sessions

• Extended Wear: When wearing the shoes around the gym for about four hours, your feet may start to feel tired due to the lack of cushioning typically provided by regular sneakers.
• Normal Training Comfort: For standard training sessions, there is no discomfort, and the shoes feel stable throughout.
• Flexibility: The flexibility makes it easy to walk around, and you almost forget you have weightlifting shoes on.

Pros and Cons of the 2012 Adidas Adipower Weightlifting Shoe

Pros:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Excellent stability with TPU heel
• Improved arch support
• True to size fit

Cons:

• Strap positioning can be cumbersome
• Adidas stripe peeling off within the first few weeks
• Lack of traditional wood heel sound and feel
• Limited color options

Conclusion

Overall, we truly enjoy the 2012 Adidas Adipower Olympic weightlifting shoe. It is a standout choice for lifters looking for a balance of stability, comfort, and innovation. The flame-red color is bold, but some may find it a bit plain compared to previous models with more intricate details. Despite some minor drawbacks like strap positioning and the loss of the traditional wood heel, the overall performance and features of the Adipower make it currently the very best option for Olympic weightlifting. Whether you’re new to Olympic weightlifting or a seasoned lifter, the Adipower offers the support and flexibility needed to enhance your training.