Adidas Supernova Rise 2 Review: A Traditional Daily Trainer That Eats the Miles

Introduction

The Adidas Supernova Rise 2 is a neutral daily trainer built to handle a wide range of regular running, and Adidas positions it as a workhorse option that could suit beginners looking for one dependable shoe. This second-generation version keeps much of what made the original appealing, with updates focused almost entirely on the upper.

After a solid block of testing across a range of paces, the picture is clear: this is a competent, fairly versatile trainer with a more traditional feel than most modern dailies, and that will either be exactly what you want or a reason to look elsewhere.

Specs and Pricing

The Supernova Rise 2 sticks with a relatively conservative stack by today’s standards: 36mm in the heel, 26mm in the forefoot, and a 10mm drop. It weighs 9.6oz (272g) in a men’s UK 8.5. Adidas claims a 4% weight saving versus the first-generation shoe, which came in at 9.7oz (275g), though on the scales that difference is marginal. Staying under 10 ounces keeps it reasonably competitive on weight.

Pricing stays the same as the original at £130 or $140, which now sits towards the cheaper end of the daily trainer market. That matters in a category where prices keep climbing.

Fit and Upper

The updates to the Rise 2 are minimal and largely confined to the upper, where Adidas has aimed to boost comfort while saving weight. That includes a new mesh upper that is marginally thinner and a little less structured across the toe box, less padding in the heel, thinner tongues, and softer eye stays.

In testing, the shoe fit true to size in a regular Adidas running shoe size. It is not a roomy shoe, and there is some typical Adidas narrowness, but the toe box offers just enough room for good comfort. Midfoot lockdown was solid, and the well-padded heel collar plus a fairly stiff heel counter held the heel in place with no slipping. The recommendation here: go true to size.

Ride and Midsole

The midsole is unchanged, using the PE-based Dreamstrike Plus foam made with a small percentage of recycled materials. Dreamstrike Plus delivers some of the bounce of a performance foam but not the full energy of a super foam. A rocker-shaped forefoot and Adidas’s Support Rod system, a set of visible rods following the metatarsal lines, add stiffness and spring.

On the road, the Rise 2 serves up a more traditional feel than the bigger-stacked dailies of 2025. The foam compresses a little, feels fairly firm, then returns quickly. The result is just enough softness to take the edge off the road, with more ground feel than most high-stack alternatives. It feels compact and precise, with something of the Puma Velocity or Brooks Ghost/Glycerin agility about it, partly thanks to a narrower platform than shoes like the Novablast, Nimbus, or Triumph.

The shoe runs best with a quick foot turnover, landing mid to forefoot rather than heavily on the heel, at slightly faster paces. It is a snappy, responsive ride rather than a soft and bouncy one.

Durability

A generous covering of durable Adiwear rubber on the outsole means this is a shoe that screams long-mile durability. Combined with the well-padded tongue and heel, it feels built to soak up consistent daily mileage without complaint.

Verdict

The Supernova Rise 2 is a competent, fairly versatile shoe that will happily eat miles at a range of paces, though it is best at cruising pace. Adidas pegs it as a beginner-friendly workhorse covering the easy-run bulk of your training, and for that it fits the brief.

The caveat is context. Against more cushioned, bouncier dailies like the Novablast 5, or the genuinely versatile super trainers, it can feel a bit tame. But if you like a shoe with less cushion, more ground feel, and a snappier character, it has something of the Saucony Ride 17 about it: safety and security, a connected ride, stable and reliable landings, and consistency, even if it is more direct and not the most exciting.

Buying Advice

At £130 or $140, the Rise 2 is competitively priced for the current market. If you want a traditional, snappy ride with good ground feel and solid stability, this could be your shoe.

If you would rather have something smoother, somewhat livelier, and a bit more versatile, the Supernova Prima is worth considering for the extra £20, though if a traditional ride is what you are after, the Rise 2 fits the bill nicely.

Conclusion

The Adidas Supernova Rise 2 is a dependable, durably built daily trainer with a comfortable upper and a firm, responsive, connected ride. It is best suited to runners who want a workhorse for easy miles and prefer less cushion and more ground feel, and its pricing makes it one of the more accessible options among today’s daily trainers.