Best for daily training

adidas Adizero EVO SL

The tall stack of Lightstrike Pro foam makes this speed trainer extremely comfortable.

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1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero EVO SL here.

Adidas advertises the EVO SL as a speed shoe. We concur – it’s a great shoe for going fast. The Lightstrike Pro foam is soft and reactive; it works with the rocker midsole for quick turnovers. What makes the adizero EVO SL appealing is its ability to deliver comfort-first cushioning during a 10K race or tempo run. Despite its speed shoe positioning, the EVO SL has substantial stack heights. Its 39 mm (rear) and 32 mm (front) tall midsole are closer to Adios Pro levels than the Takumi. Also, the EVO SL lacks the stiff Energy Rod tubes that the Adios Pro, Boston 12, and Takumi have. That has a notable effect on the ride quality.

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The footstrikes and transitions are cushioned entirely by the Lightstrike Pro foam core. Regardless of the footstrike pattern or speed, there’s abundant underfoot padding. Adidas chose a ‘comfort’ fit for the EVO SL. The fit is relatively spacious, very breathable, and has a well-padded heel.

Best for half and full marathons

adidas adios Pro 4

The adios Pro 4 updates the Lightstrike Pro formula for a bouncier ride. The rocker also receives a tune-up.

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1. Read our detailed review of the adidas Adios Pro 4 here.

While adidas sells other cushioned hyper-shoes like the Prime Strung X3, the Adios Pro 4 is the cornerstone of its high-end racing shoe catalog. Runners who loved the safe and predictable ride character of the Adios Pro 3 are in for a surprise. While the Adios Pro 4 looks similar to the Pro 3, its behavior on the road is a complete departure. Three noteworthy changes make this version the most changed Adios Pro to date. Let’s begin with the Lightstrike Pro foam midsole. The Adios Pro 4 has a much softer and bouncier ride; the LS Pro foam is easier to compress than the Pro 3 with a springier feel.

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The previously solid under-heel midsole now has a hollow cavity. This update makes the heel landings softer but far less stable than the Pro 3. The older model had a solid midsole heel that helped stabilize heel-first landings.

If we had to put a number on the reduced stability, the Pro 4 is 50% less stable than the Pro 3. With this change, the Adios Pro 4 is no longer ideal for heel strikers and heavy runners. The softer heel throws you around a lot more. The second update is the stronger rocker effect. The Pro 4 is more eager to propel the foot forward; the bouncier foam helps too. Finally, the new upper has a smoother interior with an attached tongue. While a gusset is missing, the tongue is tacked to the upper to prevent movement. The upper fits true to size, and the new toe-box doesn’t absorb moisture (during rainy day runs) the way the Pro 3 did. The foot telescopes into the softer heel during impact, causing runners to sense minor heel slippage.

The Adios Pro 4’s 39 mm heel and 33 mm forefoot stacks provide generous ride comfort. The soft and bouncy ride of the LS Pro midsole keeps the feet comforted during a half-marathon or a full 26.2-mile race. Unlike the Nike Vaporfly or Saucony Endorphin Pro, there’s no solid plate inside the midsole. The ‘Energy Rods’ add an element of quickness while letting the foot control the transition process.

Also consider: The adidas Prime X3 for heavy runners who prefer a more stable (double) carbon-plated ride.

Best for 5K, 10K, tempo runs

adidas Boston 13

The bouncy Lightstrike Pro foam works together with the Energy Rods to deliver speed-friendly cushioning.

Buy from adidas.com

1. Read our detailed review of the Adizero Boston 13 here.

From a comfort standpoint, the adidas Boston 13 is a notable improvement over the Boston 12. A higher percentage of the midsole uses the springy Lightstrike Pro foam, so forefoot and heel landings are softer. In comparison, the Boston 12’s firm ride felt flat and unresponsive. The 36 mm (heel) and 30 mm (forefoot) tall midsole add comfort to landings and push-offs while feeling propulsive. The composite Energy Rods add stiffness and a rocker effect that helps with quick transitions. The dual-compound outsole delivers the level of traction runners expect from an adizero shoe.

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The midsole isn’t the only part of the shoe with added comfort. The upper gets refreshed heel and tongue linings for a softer interior. The lightweight mesh of the true-to-size has a roomy toe-box for ample ventilation.

Best for heavy runners

adidas Ultraboost 5X

The taller and high-volume Boost midsole makes everyday runs very comfortable.

Buy from adidas.com

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

This version of the Ultraboost is unlike any other. Until now, all the variants had heel-focused cushioning. Most of the Boost foam was crammed into the back, so the thinner forefoot was relatively uncomfortable. That’s no longer the case. The new Boost midsole has gained significant thickness over the last year. The difference is stark – the 5X’s forefoot is nearly as tall as the Ultraboost Light’s heel. The rearfoot is now 38 mm tall; that’s a lot of cushioned comfort under the heel.

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With these updates, the Ultraboost 5X is a comfortable daily trainer for heel and forefoot strikers. The tight fit of the Primeknit upper also enhances comfort by locking the foot down over the midsole. By ‘tight’, we refer to the stretchy fit that conforms to the foot shape. The heel is plush, and removing the plastic cage (from the UB Light) enhances comfort. We recommend the Ultraboost as an everyday trainer for less aggressive workouts; the soft ride works best for speeds slower than 5:00 min/km (8 min/mile). And why did we not recommend the Supernova Rise? It’s an average running shoe, and there’s nothing that the Supernova Rise can do that the Ultraboost 5X can’t.

Best for trail runs

adidas Terrex Agravic Speed

The soft Lightstrike Pro midsole and EVA frame bring performance cushioning and support to trail runs.

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In terms of specs and price, the Terrex Agravic Speed is one rung below the Ultra version. It’s $60 cheaper than the Ultra version, and it’s easy to see why. Unlike the Ultra version, the Agravic Speed has a dual-density midsole. On top is a firmer Lightstrike EVA frame; the softer Lighstrike Pro foam is available only in the bottom half. This setup is beneficial when trail running. The softer LS Pro base makes harsh trail runs comfortable, whereas the firmer EVA frame adds support on uneven terrain. adidas keeps the shoe’s weight low; the Terrex Agravic Speed weighs only 8.5 ounces (241 grams) for a size US 9.

The 8 mm drop midsole works well for speed trail runs. The Continental rubber outsole has widely spaced lugs that grip well without clogging, while also acting as a protective barrier. Think of it as a rock shield of sorts. The minimally constructed keeps the foot locked over the midsole in secure comfort. The toe-box and forefoot are reinforced with fused overlay; the 7-row lacing has optional eyelets in the midfoot for a custom level of fit. A padding-free tongue keeps the interiors distraction-free.

adidas’s running shoe catalog has improved in the last few years, but the next 6 months will make the line-up even better. The Adios Pro 4 and EVO SL were released this year, along with other updates. At the time of publishing the guide, they have a decent assortment of speed-training shoes and racers. The revamped versions of the adios, Boston, and Takumi-sen are fun to run in. In other news, the updated Adios Pro 4 has a trick or two up its bouncy Lightstrike Pro midsole.

With two plate stacks and enormous stack heights, the Prime X3 Strung is in a league of its own, and it’s not everybody’s cup of tea. The rest of adidas’s running shoe line-up is still a work-in-progress. The new Supernova line (the Stride, Rise) recently filled in the everyday trainer gap, but they still fall short of expectations. For example, the Saucony Ride 18 and Asics Cumulus 27 are compelling alternatives.

We liked the new Ultraboost update. The 5X does a far better job of achieving parity between the forefoot and heel cushioning; the thin forefoot of the previous models excluded forefoot strikers. When compared to the past models, the Ultraboost 5X offers the most comfortable ride of all. While the adizero assortment is excellent, none of the shoes are versatile enough to be everyday trainers. Okay, perhaps the Boston 12 qualifies, but it still feels a little aggressive to be a do-it-all shoe. The adizero products are best used in rotation with other shoes, rather than standalone, do-everything trainers.

adidas does have a few things differently, and that makes their shoes stand out from the rest. The Lightstrike Pro foam is a competent cushioning platform, and so is the tried-and-tested Boost foam. The Energy Rods system also offers something that the others do not. The adidas Boost foam is a resilient and comfortable platform that’s based on expanded Polyurethane. While it’s not the lightest of all new-age foam, it’s extremely durable and weather-resistant. The Ultraboost 5X puts it to good use. For example, unlike ordinary EVA foam-based midsoles, Boost doesn’t stiffen in freezing temperatures.