Adidas x Noah Lab Race: Prep or Tech?
Price: $200
Why Buy?
The Adidas x Noah Lab Race offers a great visual blend of preppy and streetwear.
Why Avoid?
The Adidas x Noah Lab Race is too close to the racing flat it is based on to work casually, sacrificing durability, cost, and comfort.
Specs:
| Model | Lab Race |
| Height | Low |
| Materials | Recycled Plastic / EVA / Boost / Rubber |
| Size | 13 |
| Weight | 253 g / 8.9 oz |
| Construction | Cemented |
| Country of Origin | China |
History:
The Adidas x Noah line might be one of my favorite collaborations of all time. As regular readers know, this website often bounces back and forth between preppy staples and sneaker classics as I try to blend the styles in my own personal wardrobe. With this line, Adidas did the work for me. Maybe even taking it too far.
What stood out to me, however, was the shoes that Noah picked to collaborate on. Rather than go deep into their lifestyle catalog, Noah almost exclusively picked running shoes. And not just “runners,” but sneakers that use technology specifically designed for running. In the case of the Adidas x Noah Lab Race, technology that is in their running sneakers today.
That brings up a question though – the reason streetwear sneakers don’t use the modern technology is that major sacrifices must be made to get a shoe that is really good at running. Durability, support, and more are sacrificed at the alter of weight and propulsion.
I adore Adidas’ current running shoe line. In fact, my three pair rotation is exclusively Adidas. Will their attempt to make them a lifestyle sneaker be able to capture me in the same way? Let’s find out.
Looks:
Upper:
The Adidas x Noah Lab Race is really a tale of two sneakers when it comes to looks. Up top, this sneaker is a new and fresh design, taking heavy influences from retro sneakers. It’s a look I love. In feel it’s similar to the Adidas Iniki – a new and fresh design that still feels undeniably retro.
While this colorway is called “Halo Ivory” after the mesh, it’s everything but the Ivory colored mesh that gets your attention. The first thing you’ll notice out of the box is the bold yellow felt-like material that makes up the majority of the structure on the sneaker. Wrapping from the toe box up to the eyelets and around the heel, it’s really the defining feature of the Lab Race.
The next thing you’ll notice are the forest green three stripes along the midfoot. These have a bit of shine and really pop in the sunlight.
Finally, back to that mesh, the tan covered mesh is extremely open and airy. Breathability certainly isn’t going to be a problem here.
Once you get past the bold colors of the upper – easier said than done! – you’ll find a number of little hits that separate this shoe from a regular pair of Adidas. Full color Adidas and Noah logos are on the mesh tongue, and Noah is alone on the heel. Adizero branding is also on the tongue, as we as the side. Finally, Adidas used some really high-quality laces here.
Moving inside, you won’t find much in the way of lining. It is limited to the very back of the sneaker and the collar. Everything else is unlined. What you will find, with PRIMEGREEN written in black letters, is the best insole ever put inside a sneaker. More on that in comfort.
Mid- and Outsole:
Unlike the upper, the midsole of the Adidas x Noah Lab Race is pulled directly from the Takumi Sen 7. While I really like the upper of this shoe, I’m not sure I agree with this choice.
To be clear – the color choices perfectly fit what this shoe is going for. The white and blue on the midsole work with the bright motif, and I will never say no to a gum-colored outsole, but this is very clearly an outsole made to be on an actual running shoe.
As you look from the side, boost is visible up front, and LIGHTSTRIKE-branded foam is in the back. The sculpted design will do a great job at hiding the inevitable creases that will come from the lightstrike foam.
Underneath, the Lab Race has four rubber sections – white and gum up front, white and blue in the back. Each of these sections has a reasonable amount of rubber for a racing sole, but maybe not for a casual sneaker. In between these sections, a white torsion plate runs under your arch.
Summary:
The Adidas x Noah Lab Race is close to being a near-perfect option for those trying to blend streetwear and preppy styles in 2022. Unfortunately, the choice of outsole takes away some of that luster.
I found they work best when you let the shoes do the talking. Simple, comfortable outfits with muted tones – navy, kahki, etc – in comfortable fits work best. You should know before buying, it’s easy to see whatever socks you’re wearing, so you’ll need to make sure you plan that out.
Fit & Comfort:
Fit:
The Adidas x Noah Lab Race is built on a last for a performance-focused sneaker, and you can really tell here. Real running shoes are designed to closely take the shape of your feet, and to be worn with thin socks. In other words, these shoes fight tight!
They are small all over, but especially in width.
I got these in my normal running shoe size and they are almost unwearable in typical cotton socks. They are made with a soft mesh, so you’ll find a bit of give, but I’d definitely suggest sizing up at least a half size from your typical sneaker size if possible.
My pair of the Adidas x Noah Lab Race are a size 13 (the biggest size) and are too small to wear comfortably. If a 13.5 was available that would be the correct size. For reference, I wear a size 13 in Ultraboots and Jordan 1s, and a size 12.5 in Stan Smiths.
For a full list of sizing for every shoe reviewed on 100wears, click here.
Comfort:
If the fit of the Adidas x Noah Lab Race was annoying (most people could size up enough), the comfort was a real disappointment. The sneaker this midsole is based off of (the Takumi Sen 7) is a racing flat. It was designed to give the absolute minimum padding available to avoid injury in order to save weight.
Adding to this, the torsion plate in here does real work. The shoe needs a lot of force to bend.
For the guy trying to break his 5k record, these are great. They weigh next to nothing and the spring plate sends you forward. For the guy running errands, they offer very little padding and don’t bend naturally when just walking around. Performance reviews of the TS7 say these are shoes you feel pushed to run in, but feel the wear on your legs. That’s all true. Unfortunately, the upper of the shoe is pure casual, so it just doesn’t vibe.
If there is one saving grace it’s the insole. This thick, soft, and springy insole is simply the best insole I’ve ever had. It’s the same one Adidas uses in their high-end running shoes and I have absolutely nothing to complain about with it. It makes me wonder just how bad these shoes would be without it.
Materials & Construction:
Materials:
The Adidas x Noah Lab Race was designed after Adidas’ recent commitments to recycling, and that is reflected in the materials used.
The upper is made up of at least 50% recycled material. While it isn’t published, I would bet a good amount of money that the yellow felt is a key driver of that. The polyester that makes it up doesn’t feel great. Remember those felt sheets you used to cut into shapes at school? Like that but thinner. However, there are real environmental benefits, so it’s a trade that may be worth it to you.
Elsewhere on the upper the materials are a lot better. The Ivory mesh – also made up of plastic – is thin but still thicker than it looks, and the green stripes appear to be actual leather. The lining is fake leather, but feels like it will outlast the other materials on the sneaker.
Underfoot, the midsole is made up of Adidas boost technology, and Adidas lightstrike. Lightstrike is Adidas’ current EVA foam. It is designed to be a compromise between durability and comfort, and if it wasn’t so thin would be a great option here. Boost (or eTPU) is even better. While heavier, it provides great energy return and is extremely comfortable.
Bringing up the bottom, the continental rubber should be as durable as it can be given its thickness, and the torsion plate is plastic.
While most of the materials on this sneaker feel high quality, I do have serious durability concerns. These materials are used to get that last quarter ounce of weight out of a sneaker. Great for running, but you’ll never notice the benefits casually. Only the drawbacks.
Construction:
The Adidas x Noah Lab Race is made using cemented construction. If you want an in-depth explanation of that, click here. If you just want a short explanation, essentially the upper of the sneaker is glued to the midsole.
This is by far the most common type of construction for modern sneakers. The benefits are weight and price. There is no way to make shoes that is cheaper or lighter. In fact, pretty much every other shoe construction also uses this glue, but just adds stitching. The drawback is durability, however, for most people, you’ll wear out the outsole long before the midsole separates from the upper.
Ease of Care:
The materials used in the Adidas x Noah Lab Race are not going to be easy to keep clean. Other than the green stripes, everything they used will absorb dirt and not be likely to give it up. On the plus side, they should be able to take a scrubbing and be OK. Any shoe cleaning kit should work, just don’t hold high hopes.
While I normally suggest shoe trees for most sneakers, the soft upper of these won’t really benefit. I wouldn’t worry about it.
Pricing & Value:
Pricing:
The MSRP of the Adidas x Noah Lab Race is $200, or a $40 premium over the Takumi Sen 7 they are based on. While $200 is a lot for a sneaker, it really isn’t that outrageous here. If you assume Noah gets the standard $20 per pair collaboration fee, and they had to design an entirely new upper, a $40 price bump doesn’t seem out of line. There is also a lot of running tech in the outsole.
Of course, you may not care about that tech, but it is there.
However, while the MSRP may be $200, they are on sale everywhere at this point. Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, etc. all have them for under $150. The resale sites have them for even less, though you give up the ability to return. This seller on eBay has them as low as $79.
The closest comparison to these is going to be the other sneakers in the Adidas x Noah line. The Vintage Runner may be the best at capturing the vibe (stay tuned for a review of those in a few weeks). While the Vintage Runner gives up some tech, they can be found for well under $100 from retailers.
Value:
As much as I love the design of the Adidas x Noah Lab Race, and there is no doubt that the tech included is expensive for Adidas to make, these are not a great value. The casual sneaker upper and the teach-heavy racing flat midsole mean that they are not a great casual sneaker, and they are not a great performance shoe.
Instead, you have something you can only wear casually but won’t last very long. Add in the higher price, and you need to really love the design to make them worth it.
Wrap Up:
After spending some time with the Adidas x Noah Lab Race, I feel like this was a missed opportunity. I adore the design – it matches the style I am trying to hit perfectly. Unfortunately, choosing to base this shoe off of a technical (and expensive) racing shoe means it misses on comfort, cost, and durability.
If the shoe was cheaper and could be treated as something you wear for one summer and toss out that would be OK. If the shoe was super comfortable you could say it’s worth it. Or, alternatively, if the shoe would last you years, maybe the cost wouldn’t matter.
Unfortunately, the Adidas x Noah struck out on a 3-2 count. However, I’m excited for the other options in this collaboration. You’ll definitely see more here soon.