Best adidas running shoes

Best for everyday runs

adidas Ultraboost 5X

New design updates make adidas’s most popular shoe more versatile than ever before.

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1. Read our detailed review of the adidas Ultraboost 5X here.

Inquiring minds may want to know – why recommend the Ultraboost 5X instead of the Supernova Rise? There are three valid reasons.

The first is the Boost midsole. This is a midsole material with a proven track record of comfort, durability, and weather resistance.

Also, the Ultraboost 5X’s midsole is nothing like the Ultraboost Light or Ultraboost 22. This time, there’s a lot more cushioning under the forefoot, so the UB 5X now works for forefoot strikers as well as heel strikers – which wasn’t the case before.

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Unlike the Supernova Rise, the outsole is made entirely of Continental rubber. The traction is excellent, and the compound can endure hundreds of miles of training.

The third vote goes to the upper fit. While very snug, the stretchy Primeknit exterior will accommodate most foot shapes. Adidas usually doesn’t offer a wide width, so an expandable fit helps.

Speedwork (tempo, intervals, mile repeats) is the only area where the Ultraboost 5X underperforms. Barring those types of runs, the UB 5X will take care of the rest – be it long runs, everyday training, and recovery runs.

Best for half and full marathons

adidas adios Pro 4

This soft, bouncy, and speedy super shoe makes short work of marathons, be it a full or half.

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Some of the things we said about the Adios Pro 3 are no longer true for the Pro 4. It’s not as stable as before due to its softer foam and redesigned heel.

The Lightstrike Pro foam is softer and springier than the Pro 3. The midsole rocker works better too; it’s easier to roll the foot forward for quicker turnovers. In short, the Adios Pro 4 is more fun to run in than the Pro 3, but loses its stable and inclusive ride quality.

This version replaces the Pro 3’s solid heel midsole with a less stable stable. There’s a deep cavity under the heel, so rearfoot strikers will miss the planted feel of the previous model. The Adios 4’s heel is a lot squishier.

If we had to sum the shoe up, we’d say it’s a nicer Adios Pro. Even the smooth upper feels better too. Okay, maybe there’s a sense of mild heel slippage. The foot sinks lower in the softer midsole during landings, so the collar tends to move over the foot.

But we’re nitpicking here; the true-to-size upper has a just-right forefoot fit. The tongue is tacked to the upper on the sides to prevent sliding.

Some things stay the same. Instead of a full-length Carbon plate seen on the Nike Vaporfly and Saucony Endorphin Pro, the Adios Pro 4 uses parallel Carbon tubes under the midfoot and forefoot. The midsole uses two layers of Lightstrike Pro foam that house the Energyrods tubes.

This setup delivers a comfortable yet snappy ride that’s now become a hallmark of cushioned high-end racers. The Carbon tubes work as intended to produce a speed-friendly ride that’s also comfortable enough for road races between 10K to a marathon.

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The Lighttraxion outsole delivers reliable performance on both wet and dry surfaces. The thin and soft outsole grips well due to its wide spread; the small lugs do the rest.

Best marathon racer for heavy runners

adidas Prime X2 Strung

Despite its ultra-tall midsole, the dual Carbon plates add a surprising amount of stability for heavy runners.

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1. Read our detailed review of the adidas Prime X2 Strung here.

We stand by what we said in our review – the adidas Prime X 2 Strung isn’t meant for everybody. It’s nowhere as light and bouncy as other super-shoes, and its 50 mm and 43 mm stack heights pay no heed to the WTA stack height regulations.

But what makes the Prime X2 different also makes it ideal for heavier runners – or anyone who wants a super-shoe with a tractor-like torque and stability to match.

The Prime X2 Strung is the only commercially available shoe with two Carbon plates stacked on top of each other. The two-plate configuration compensates for the tall midsole by adding rigidity. The extremely stiff forefoot rocker makes the loading and transition process efficient – even for higher body weight.

As you can see in our infographic, the lower plate (in red) supports the upper plate. Heavy runners will benefit from the springboard-like effect under the heel without the instability that is usually associated with super-shoes.

Runners get exceptional straight-line tracking from the PrimeX2’s midsole.

The rocker midsole keeps the transitions rolling, and the dual plates carry the foot over the midsole without letting it sink into the foam. That’s quite the achievement for a shoe with a 50 mm tall heel. The Prime X2 has the most cushioned ride of all; the stack heights do matter.

The upper fit is a bit strange and honestly, a bit of a hit or miss. The roomy forefoot feels disconnected from the tight midfoot and stiff eyelet panels. It’s not uncomfortable, but the upper design falls short of expectations.

Best for 10K races and tempo runs

adidas Adizero EVO SL

A Lightstrike Pro foam midsole and rocker forefoot make speed-focused miles easier.

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In our other buyer’s guides, we described the EVO SL as an Energy Rod-free version of the Adios Pro 3.

There’s some merit in that comparison. The midsole stack heights are similar to the Adios Pro; the Lightstrike Pro foam is almost identical. A rocker forefoot adds quickness by encouraging fast turnovers.

The outsole gets the perforated Continental rubber that we last saw on the Adios Pro 3. The wide contact patch and flat texture provide reliable traction during landings and toe-offs.

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With no Energy Rods, runners experience the unadulterated cushioning of the Lightstrike Pro midsole. The soft 39 mm and 32 mm stack midsole is quick to respond. Sure, the foot has to do more work pushing through the forefoot, but the rocker makes up for it.

To sum up, the EVO SL’s cushioned and bouncy ride is ideal for 10K races and speed-oriented training. The upper fit goes easy on the forefoot without the tightness of the Takumi 10.

We view the EVO SL as the unofficial successor to the Boston 12 – a cushioned shoe capable of speedy miles.

Best for tempo training

adidas adizero SL2

The firm Lightstrike EVA casing adds speed and stability; the soft Lightstrike Pro core adds comfort to tempo workouts.

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The adizero SL V2 lacks the 100% Lightstrike Pro midsole that the EVO SL does, nor does the midsole contain stiff Energy Rods like the Takumi. That being said, the adizero SL 2 is a cleverly designed compromise – and we say that in a good way.

The outer wrapper (or ‘carrier’) is made of the firm Lightstrike EVA foam. This part of the midsole creates a supportive base that is also speed-friendly. Bringing everything together is the soft Lightstrike Pro foam core that adds comfort to fast-paced runs.

The LS Pro foam is laid out in a full-length configuration, so both heel and forefoot strikers stand to benefit.

Even though the outsole doesn’t use Continental rubber (it’s adiwear), the ribbed geometry has an excellent road bite.

The upper is relatively comfortable for a speed trainer. The heel and tongue are padded (more so that the EVO SL and Takumi), while the soft mesh secures the foot in a true-to-size fit.

Best for 5K races and intervals

adidas Takumi Sen 10

The low-profile midsole, tight fit, lightweight cushioning, and grippy outsole make the Takumi great for 5K races.

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1. Read our detailed review of the adidas Takumi 10 here.

The Takumi 10 isn’t a jack of all trades. It’s purposely designed to be a short-distance racer – think 10K and below. To us, the Takumi Sen 10 is the ideal 5K shoe. It’s also excellent for aggressive footwork like interval training.

Runners who are used to the roomy fit of everyday trainers and marathon racers would find the Takumi’s interiors breathable, but very cramped.

A narrow fit establishes a better connection between the foot and the midsole. The tight upper not only locks the foot down during quick turns and push-offs, but also enhances the cushioning feel of the Lightstrike Pro midsole.

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The Takumi has come a long way since the days when it was a racing flat with a harsh ride. While ‘low profile’ by modern standards, the Lightstrike Pro midsole takes the harshness out of 5K runs. The stiff Lightstrike Pro tubes add an element of quickness by countering the soft midsole and creating a loading path.

The flat geometry of the Continental rubber outsole sticks to the road during quick touch-and-go.

Best for everyday trail runs

adidas Terrex Agravic Speed

The soft Lightstrike Pro core and firm EVA midsole add supportive comfort to everyday trail runs.

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The Terrex Agravic Speed reminds us of adidas running shoes from the 2014-17 period. Back then, Boost foam was usually paired with an EVA frame for stability. While the Agravic Speed doesn’t have Boost, it has a similar setup as the retro shoes from the past.

The midsole uses two foam materials – one for comfort, and another for support and transition assistance. The softer and bouncier Lightstrike Pro is placed closer to the ground for impact absorption, with the firmer EVA frame (Lightstrike) placed on top. Having a firmer base closer to the foot helps with the loading process and stability on the trails.

This 8 mm drop shoe has stack heights of 34 mm and 26 mm, so there’s lots of protective cushioning for off-road mileage as well as speed trail runs.

For off-road grip, the Agravic Speed relies on a single-piece Continental rubber outsole with widely spaced 4 mm lugs.

Best affordable trainer

adidas Duramo Speed 2

The Duramo Speed offers the adizero aesthetics, but without the Energy Rods, Lightstrike Pro foam, or Continental rubber.

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If the Duramo Speed looks familiar, that’s because it bears an uncanny resemblance to the high-performance adizero line-up. However, this being a $90 shoe, it doesn’t have the bells and whistles that are on the premium adizero models.

For example, the midsole is made entirely of Lightstrike EVA foam; Lightstrike Pro and Energy Rods are conspicuous by their absence. The outsole coverage is generous and effective performance-wise, but the compound is TPU and rubber instead of Continental rubber.

But the Duramo Speed 2 only looks inferior in comparison. When judged on its merits, it’s a versatile trainer that punches above its retail price.

The EVA foam midsole offers everyday comfort and versatility. Even though the outsole isn’t Continental, the full-contact layout ensures traction irrespective of the footstrike pattern. The midsole rocker isn’t merely decorative – it actually works as intended.

The lightweight upper is strongly influenced by the adizero models. While the heel is well padded, the rest of the shoe is an exercise in design minimalism. The engineered mesh upper provides a true-to-size, secure, and ventilated environment.

HOW WE SELECTED

The adidas running lineup is changing – and fast.

The way how things are going, the adidas running shoe catalog is going to look a lot different in the coming months.

The adizero assortment is going through a complete refresh, courtesy of the trickle-down approach from the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1. The recently released Adios 9, Adios Pro 4, and the adizero EVO SL are heavily influenced by the signature racing shoe.

The changes are more than skin deep. The midsoles are changing to a full-length Lightstrike Pro configuration for most of their models. Some of the shoes will lose the Energy Rods and get smaller midfoot shanks instead.

Last year, the Takumi 10 – adidas’s short-distance racer – got updated with a 100% LS Pro midsole.

The adidas Ultraboost 5X also went through its most significant design change to date. The increased forefoot stack (and overall taller midsole) makes the new version a lot different than the last – one that is softer and more forgiving for forefoot strikers.

There is room for improvement in the everyday trainer category. Shoes like the Supernova Rise aren’t bad, but they don’t offer the same compelling value that competing shoes like the Asics Cumulus 26 and Saucony Ride 18 do.

For example, where’s the adidas’s version of the Asics GT-2000, New Balance 860, or the Saucony Guide?

There are a couple of excellent trail running shoes like the Terrex Agravic Speed and Terrex Agravic Ultra. More can be done in the trail category – adidas is missing a versatile trail runner (think Brooks Cascadia) and a road-trail hybrid like the New Balance Hierro 9 and Nike Pegasus Trail 5.