adidas adizero Adios 6 Shoe Review

Published: August 31, 2021

Updated Adios Takes Advantage of adidas' Top Tech

The adizero Adios 6's improved ride and comfort are worthy of praise

Likes

Balanced midsole
Propulsive energy return
Excellent fit and lockdown
Highly breathable mesh

Dislikes

Uncertain durability
Poor traction in wet conditions
Bad lacing system

What's New

For version 6, the adidas adizero Adios has been revamped with Lightstrike Pro in the midsole, the brand's most innovative foam to date. This soft and bouncy midsole compound is combined with Lightstrike EVA foam, which is firmer than Lightstrike Pro and accentuates the responsiveness of these speedy racing flats. Put these two foams together and you have an efficiently smooth underfoot experience that will have runners hitting all-new paces. Finally, Adios 6's upper has also been redesigned and now has an open mesh construction that is lightweight and highly breathable.

The Bottom Line

A new midsole configuration and a redesigned upper make the adidas adizero Adios 6 a true standout capable of delivering top-level performance. The Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro blended foam midsole is incredibly balanced, providing a slightly firm and highly responsive underfoot experience. The Adios 6 also offers runners enough underfoot protection to fend off discomfort and soreness. With the help of a thermoplastic torsion system, the Adios 6's ride is notably efficient, smoothly transitioning from the firm Lightstrike heel to the softer, bouncier Lightstrike Pro forefoot. The torsion system also adds stability to these racing flats, further accentuating their efficient design.

adidas deserves a lot of credit for the new open mesh upper design, which is incredibly breathable and comfortably secure. The upper isn't lacking any style either, as suede overlays accent these classically designed racing flats. Although the suede adds some weight, the Adios doesn't feel heavy on foot and still delivers all the speed runners need to push the tempo on training runs or race day. Pros and beginners alike will love the Adios 6 for tempo runs, intervals, and going for gold on race day.

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Shoe Performance

Shoe Softnessi

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Returni

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protectioni

LowHigh

Flexibilityi

RigidElastic

Upper Supporti

StructuredAdaptable

Specifications & Fit

How It Fits

Toe Box	Width: Medium to narrow \| Height: Medium
Midfoot Volume	Medium to low
Heel Width	Medium to narrow
Arch Height	Medium

Shoe Specs

Weight	Men's: 243.8 grams (size 9) \| Women's: 221.1 grams (size 8)
Stack Height	32 mm (Heel), 24 mm (Forefoot)
Terrain	Road
Stability	Neutral
Sizing	True to Size

adidas adizero Adios 6 Shoe Review Pair of Shoes

adidas adizero Adios 6 Shoe Review Left Shoe

adidas adizero Adios 6 Shoe Review Toe Box

Our In-Depth Look

Shoe Softnessi

The adidas adizero Adios 6 feels balanced underfoot, with a firmer response in the heel than the forefoot. This difference can be attributed to the Lightstrike Pro foam in the forefoot, which delivers soft and smooth transitions as runners progress through their gait cycle. The Adios 6's balanced feel makes for a versatile racing flat that will perform well on a variety of uptempo training runs or race-day efforts.

Kaleb: "The Lightstrike heel is noticeably firmer than the Lightstrike Pro forefoot, but I found the Adios 6 to be relatively soft given that it is a racing flat. The Adios 6 offers more than enough softness and comfort for tempo runs, intervals, 5Ks, and even 10Ks. I think I could wear them for a half-marathon race, but they would not be my first choice given all the other fast and more protective shoe options available."

Matt: "With regular Lightstrike making up the majority of the midsole, the adidas adizero Adios 6 feels firm right out of the box. It took me a few runs to experience the slight softness provided by the Lightstrike Pro in the midfoot. Once I'd broken in the Adios 6, I was impressed with the blend of softness from the Pro foam and the firmness of the regular Lightstrike. It made for a snappy shoe that responded swiftly off the ground, which is exactly what I needed during my fartleks and faster runs."

Ride/Energy Returni

The Adios' ride has been consistently fast over the years, but with the addition of Lightstrike Pro, the Adios 6 is speedier than ever before. The firmer heel shifts to a softer forefoot, making way for smooth heel-toe transitions that provide a propulsive snap at toe-off. The adios 6 is well-designed for uptempo training efforts, and even for 5K and 10K races, especially if those races are on a track.

Kaleb: "The blended midsole performed very well, in my opinion. The softer Lightstrike Pro compound had a bouncy return, while the Lightstrike heel added a level of firmness that helped with both stability and responsiveness. Though not rockered, the shoe rolls smoothly from heel to toe, and ultimately, I have no complaints with regards to the Adios' ride! I'll probably reserve these for intervals and fartleks or sprints on the track, but I think runners will also really enjoy them for 5K and 10K races."

Matt: "The Adios 6 isn't going to be the bounciest or most efficient shoe on the market, but it does offer some nice responsiveness given its lower profile. This shoe comes alive at faster paces, and the stiff Torsion System has a consistently snappy feel that shoots me into my next stride."

Underfoot Protectioni

Sometimes protection has to be sacrificed to produce a fast, responsive shoe. This is only partially the case with the Adios 6. This speedster is certainly not the most protective shoe on the market, but given its focus on racing, it provides ample protection for shorter runs.

Kaleb: "As a more traditional racing flat, the Adios 6 does not have the highest stack height, but it offers a surprising amount of protection against the impact of the roads. Overall, I had no issues comfortably completing my training runs in the Adios 6. Given my preference for a more cushioned underfoot experience for distances over 10K, the Adios would not be my first choice for my longest runs or races, but the shoe's level of protection exceeded my expectations for a speedy flat."

Matt: "With its lower stack height and lack of an embedded plate, the Adios 6 does not offer much underfoot protection compared to other more highly cushioned options. But this shoe isn't built to grind out 20 milers or run over rocks. The Adios 6 is a nimble shoe that is designed to go fast, meaning underfoot protection takes a back seat, allowing for the weight to come down and the pace to ramp up."

adidas adizero Adios 6 Shoe Review Heel Counter

Flexibilityi

The Adios 6 is more rigid than it is elastic due to its firm foam and torsion-plated midsole. The lack of flex helps produce a responsive ride that makes the Adios 6 more than capable of tackling fast race-day paces.

Kaleb: "The Adios 6 had a slight flex that delivered a nice pop at toe-off, but overall, it is a fairly rigid shoe. This stiff underfoot experience helped me maintain faster paces."

Matt: "The adidas Adios 6 has some stiffer foam underfoot and a rigid torsion plate in the midsole, making the shoe snappy and not very flexible. The Adios 6 lacks flex because it must respond to quicker strides and faster paces. When I was dropping the pace on my interval workouts or fartleks, I appreciated that this shoe offered just a bit of flex that continuously snapped me into my next stride. It made running fast more fun than usual, in my opinion."

adidas adizero Adios 6 Shoe Review Outsole

Upper Supporti

Performance was the focus when adidas designed the Adios 6's new upper. The open mesh design is lightweight and breathable, making the shoe perfect for hotter weather. The relatively structured wrap provides a secure lockdown, and runners should be able to run irritation-free in these sleek, high-performing flats.

Kaleb: "The wrap of the Adios' upper was pretty structured, and it provided a very secure lockdown. I had no issues with hotspots or blistering throughout my testing runs and found the on-foot experience really enjoyable."

Matt: "The upper is great on the Adios 6. The lacing system was a little difficult at first, but I was able to get a good lockdown after playing with the laces a bit. I did not have any issues after that. I enjoyed the Adios' open mesh upper for faster runs in the heat of the summer. The extra simple midfoot holds or straps added a nice personal structure that held my foot comfortably."

Men's adidas adizero adios 6

The adidas adizero adios is a racing shoe worn by elite marathoners. It is also great for fast half marathons, tempo runs, or interval training.

Women's adidas adizero adios Running Shoes

The adidas adizero adios is a racing shoe worn by elite marathoners. It is also great for fast half marathons, tempo runs, or interval training.

Individual Thoughts

KalebOverall Score: 9/10

I was impressed with these shoes from the second I first tried them on. Starting with the upper, the Adios 6 felt very light and breathable on foot. The fit worked really well for my foot shape, and I had no issues with the Adios' upper. Moving on to the midsole, I thought the balance of softness and responsiveness delivered by the Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro foam was really impressive. The Adios' midsole had a bouncy energy return, and it also provided enough protection to keep me comfortable throughout all my training runs. As I mentioned in the sections above, I do not think I would wear the Adios 6 for runs farther than 10K because of all the other high-performing, highly cushioned shoes available on the market today. That said, when I am trying to hit a new 5K or 10K personal best, I will happily reach for the Adios. Finally, the traction of the Continental Rubber outsole is top-notch, and I had no difficulty maneuvering in the Adios 6.

Shoe Softness

FirmSoft

Ride/Energy Return

Less SpringyMore Springy

Underfoot Protection

LowHigh

Flexibility

RigidElastic

Upper Support

StructuredAdaptable

MattOverall Score: 8/10

The adidas adizero Adios is a shoe that I have enjoyed wearing for years. The addition of Lightstrike Pro in the midfoot delivers a fresh and fun bounciness to this shoe that it never had before. It is still nimble and light, making it great to use on faster days. Also, the overall firmness and stiffness of the shoe created a quick, snappy ride that I really enjoy. If you are looking for a quicker, firmer, lower profile shoe without a full plate, then the adidas Adios 6 has everything you want.