Over the last few weeks I have been doing the majority of my running in either the Adios Pro or Adizero Pro. I thought it would be good to share my thoughts on both shoes, trying to explain the differences and highlight what distances they are best suited for. Since I started running 8 or so years ago, I have always opted to wear the Adios or Boston for the bulk of my training because they’re well balanced. I find them cushioned enough for all distances yet lightweight and responsive for speed sessions &/or races. The Adios has always had such a great reputation, pre-Vaporfly 4% it was the shoe of choice for many elite marathoners and for good reason when you consider Haile Gebrselassie and others broke the marathon world record on numerous occasions in them.
It goes without saying that technology in running shoes has come on leaps and bounds in recent years. The emergence of carbon plated shoes has changed the sport and we’re seeing records being broken regularly. As an adidas running expert at the London flagship store, to my frustration a lot of the times were achieved in that brand with the swoosh but thankfully now the Adios Pro has been co-created with some of the world’s best athletes (including Rhonex Kipruto and Joycline Jepkosgei) some of those records are being reclaimed and contended for by adidas yet again. For instance, Peres Jepchirchir lowered the women-only half marathon record to 65:16 in the World Half Marathon Championships in Poland closely followed by Melet Yisak Kejeta also sporting the Adios Pro. Other results to note include Kibiwott Kandie finishing second in the men’s half and Vincent Kipchumba’s second place finish in the London Marathon.
As I’m a keen marathon runner I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a pair of Adios Pro. I was lucky enough to get them before the virtual London Marathon, so I tested them on a 20k run at marathon pace and a few shorter sessions leading up to the “race”. Having ran in the Adios & Boston for so many years I was initially a little worried I wouldn’t like the feeling of a shoe with such a big stack height, but they felt comfortable straight out the box. When trying them on for size I was in two minds whether to go down a half size from my Adios, Boston and Adizero Pro because there is a little more room in the toe box.
However, thanks to the gusseted tongue I felt like my foot was held securely and for a marathon shoe it is always good to have some space for your toes to splay and for your feet to heat up and expand. I’ve been really impressed with the midsole, the Lightstrike Pro foam offers a huge amount of cushioning yet feels stable and a combination of the carbon heel plate and carbon infused energy rods (aligned with your metatarsals in the forefoot) make for a smooth transition from heel to toe. Once you lock into marathon pace, they feel really propulsive. The Celermesh upper which also features on the Adizero Pro is incredibly lightweight and breathable. As there were a few large puddles to run through in the virtual marathon my feet got pretty wet, but they soon dried out. Something I really noticed after the marathon was that my legs didn’t feel half as beaten up compared to when I’ve covered the distance in the “normal” Adios. I benefitted a lot from the amount of Lighstrike Pro foam.
One thing I was surprised about with the Adios Pro is that it doesn’t feature the ever-popular continental rubber on the outsole. However, having completed the marathon on wet ground I had no problems with the grip and I imagine not using Continental kept the price down. For a marathon racing shoe featuring as much technology as it does £170 is an absolute steal.
Tech spec
Weight: 225g
Midsole drop: 8.5mm (heel: 39mm / forefoot: 30.5mm)
Price: £170
When the Adizero Pro was released I watched some reviews and there were quite a few people disappointed with them. I guess initially everyone thought this was the shoe to contend with the likes of the Vaporfly etc but it is more of a conventional racing flat with a full length Carbitex carbon plate which gives you a nice pop off the forefoot. This is now my go to shoe for speed sessions and 5k & 10k races. Going from running in the Adios to the Adizero Pro felt natural and I really like the balance of Boost and Lightstrike in the midsole. As they’ve got quite a lot of cushioning, they’d be a good option for racing half and full marathons if you don’t get on well with shoes featuring a high stack height. The Adizero Pro features the same Celermesh upper as the Adios Pro but fits a little narrower/shorter. As mentioned previously I’m a big fan of the gusseted tongue, especially for speed sessions your foot is held securely.
In contrast to the Adios the Adizero Pro has a lot of Continental rubber in the forefoot with Adiwear in the heel. Wearing the Adios, Boston or Adizero Pro with Continental grip I never have any issues running or racing in wet conditions.
Tech spec
Weight: 235g (UK size 8.5)
Midsole drop: 9.5mm (heel: 21.5mm / forefoot: 12mm)
Price: £160
Overall, I’ve been really pleased with the Adios Pro and Adizero Pro. They’ve both been perfect for the paces and distances they’re intended for. I’m excited to see how the Adizero range develops over the next few years and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more of the Adios Pro on podiums in the near future.
If you’ve run in either of the shoes let me know in the comments what you make of them or if you have any questions fire away.