Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST Intro

The Solar Glide ST is back with its third edition this year with some small but noticeable changes. What was once known as the Supernova ST was replaced with the Solar Glide ST.

Adidas offers three of their Solar trainers in stability versions, the drive, glide and boost. This is indicated with the addition of ST on the end.

The glide is the mid tier trainer of the Solar stability line with the boost being the top tier and drive being the base.

Priced at 140, it competes with the Asics GT-2000, Hoka One One Arahi, Saucony Omni, and the Mizuno Wave Inspire. The guide rail type stability technology used is similar to the Brooks Adrenaline and Altra Provision.

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST First Impressions

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST – Top

Last year in my review of the Solar Glide ST 2019, I spoke about how Adidas has been a brand at the forefront of the Athlesiure trend we see while out and about.

When I opened the box I was instantly impressed with how they looked. They take the title of most stylish trainer I have reviewed from last year’s edition.

As I have said in the past I usually gravitate to more vibrant colors and the Solar Glide ST 3 checked that box. The gray/black colorway with accents of neon green made them a very stylish trainer.

The heel stack is low in these which makes the overall profile lower.

I experienced balanced cushioning from the moment I slipped them on. They are slightly firm with an underlying bounce to them. The upper provided more of a snug fit than the previous edition.

I took them on a 4 mile run filled with hills for their first voyage. It was a smooth, comfortable and flexible ride from start to finish.

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST Sole Unit

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST – Sole

The midsole of the Solar Glide ST 3 is more or less the same as the previous edition the ST 2019. Let’s start from the ground up.

Continental, the tire company provides the carbon rubber material for the outsole. This thin material is both durable and provides traction on different surfaces and in various weather conditions.

The base of the midsole is wider than where it connects to the upper. The wider foundation gives your feet room to stretch out during your stride.

The Solar Glide ST has a lower heel stack than other stability trainers resulting in more midsole strikes.

The Solar Glide ST 3 midsole is composed of the dual-density Boost foam. This foam is made up of tiny TPU foam pellets pushed together.

This is unique because most other trainers out there have a midsole consisting of a solid piece of foam. One small change they have made to the midsole is making the foam in the forefoot slightly more dense.

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST – Medial Side

The boost foam produces a plush almost squishy ride. Impact absorption is a strength of the midsole. The energy return was there for short to mid distance runs but lacking for anything in the double digits miles.

The stability system hasn’t changed since the last edition of the Solar Glide. Dual-density boost, solar propulsion rails, and torsion system are all parts of the system.

This is a mixture of traditional and nontraditional methods to provide stability.

The traditional part of the system is the dual density boost, an area of denser TPU foam located in the medial arch and forefoot. There is also a small triangle wedge of this on the medial heel area.

The solar propulsion rails or stableframe are found on both the medial and lateral sides of the Solar Glide STs.

They serve as bumpers to balance and guide the foot along. This nontraditional technology gives you stability when you need it.

A thermoplastic unit, known as the torsion system, located in the midfoot allows the forefoot and rearfoot to move independently.

This was evident by how flexible the shoe felt on runs. This flexibility provided smooth transitions from landings to toe offs.

The blend of traditional and nontraditional aspects of the midsole supplemented one another to provide a stable ride from start to finish.

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST Upper Unit

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST – Top

The blend of the nontraditional and traditional technologies continues in the upper. There are some small but noticeable changes to the upper. Let’s start with the heel and move our way forward.

The heel of the Solar Glide 3 ST sets it apart from all other stability trainers. There are two pieces of dense plastic on each side of the heel holding it in place.

In between the plastic pieces is a piece of neoprene material. This encourages natural movement of the achilles during your stride.

They have increased the layers of cushioning in the heel which makes for a better fit than the last edition. This alleviated the issue of heel slippage that was an issue in the previous model.

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST – Heel

Another change of the Solar Glide ST was the elimination of flex grooves in the upper. Engineered mesh appears again in the upper as a dual layer mesh system to increase the breathability of the shoe.

The tongue of the shoe is connected to the sole unit which gives it a glove like feel. It is made of the same neoprene like material found in the heel. It provides a snug fit that hinders the breathability of the shoe.

The Solar Glides STs are a wider shoe which runs true to size. The upper is seamless which prevents any areas of irritation.

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST Conclusion

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST – Heel

This was my second pair of Adidas trainers I have reviewed with the first being the Solar Glides ST 2019.

On those I said “Running in these may convert you to Adidas, like myself, or may turn you off from trying Adidas trainers in the future.” Adidas has made changes to broaden their appeal with the Solar Glide ST 3.

The Solar Glide ST 3 is a solid trainer which provides a different ride than other stability trainers. Their blend of nontraditional and traditional elements work together to give you a stable and flexible ride.

One of the nontraditional strengths of the Solar Glide ST was the heel counter. The wedge like heel counter allows for max flexibility for your achilles tendon while holding securely in place during your stride.

Heel slippage was somewhat of an issue for me in the last pair but they improved this by adding more cushioning in the heel area of the shoe.

Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST – Toe

The three part stability system complemented each other while providing steadfast stability. The solar propulsion rails are the star of the system. They are similar to the guide rails we find in other trainers.

Instead of being located in the heel they sit closer to the midfoot. This gives a cradle-like feeling while running which was a welcome change from the traditional feel of a medial post.

I had the same issue with breathability in these as I did with the last edition.

The engineered mesh is more breathable in the forefoot but the material used for the tongue which connects to the midsole is a thick neoprene that doesn’t breathe well.

It also provides a snug fit at first but molds and adapts over time.

The boost foam along with the wide base of the Solar Glide ST make for great landings and energy absorption. On the flip side you need energy return to help go mile after mile.

These struggled some with that aspect. It became more evident the longer the distance became.

Overall, the Adidas Solar Glide ST 3 are a solid unorthodox mid stability trainer built for miles. They weren’t my favorite but are a welcome change from many other trainers in my rotation.

I will enjoy revisiting them every now and again.

The Adidas Solar Glide STs retail for 140 dollars which places them a little higher priced than others in a crowded field of mid tier stability trainers.

They stand apart in that crowded field by being a unique alternative to the conventional stability trainer.

So, if you are feeling adventurous the next time you need a stability trainer you might want to give the Adidas Solar Glide ST 3 a try.

We purchased a pair of Adidas Solar Glide 3 ST from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.