adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 Shoe Review
Published: October 25, 2021
Say Goodbye to the Competition in the Adios Pro 2
The adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 is primed for record-breaking runs
Likes
- Soft midsole foam
- Responsive energy return
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Great traction on the roads
Dislikes
- Unstable
What's New
Building off the success of the original version, adidas focused on making refinements to the Adios Pro instead of completely overhauling it, and with incremental updates, this top-tier marathon racing shoe has become even better. Featuring the same amazing Lightstrike Pro foam midsole, this shoe provides a superb amount of protection from the roads and combines that with a powerful energy return to push you beyond your personal bests. This snappy feel is complemented by the carbon plate in the heel, as well as the EnergyRods that run from the midfoot to the forefoot. Though this midsole design is almost identical to the original Pro's, adidas has reconfigured the midsole's shape, now offering a midfoot cutout to reduce weight and further highlight the shoe's speed. The Celermesh 2.0 upper is another important update, including improved material that is lightweight, breathable, and most importantly, secure.
The Bottom Line
As a premiere marathon racing shoe, the Adios Pro 2 is loaded with all of adidas' top technologies and has firmly earned its place amongst the top marathon racing shoes. The Lightstrike Pro midsole compound is truly elite, offering runners more than enough cushioned protection to speed them across the line after 26.2 miles. The Adios Pro 2, with the help of EnergyRods sandwiched in the midsole, also delivers the first-class energy return expected from a top-tier racing shoe. The updated Cellermesh 2.0 fabric is paper-thin to minimize weight and maximize breathability, and the upper provides a secure lockdown that runners can be confident in every time they lace up. Some stability is left to be desired, though, as the midsole design is not the steadiest depending on your particular footstrike. Regardless, those who loved the original Adios Pro, or those poised for some marathon bests, should snatch a pair of these superstar shoes while they can, because they will likely disappear quickly.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium to narrow | Height: Medium to low |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to low |
| Heel Width | Medium to narrow |
| Arch Height | Medium to low |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Unisex: 8.0 oz (size 9) |
| Stack Height | 39 mm (Heel), 30.5 mm (Forefoot) |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Mark: "The Adios Pro 2 has an incredibly soft midsole which has no trouble absorbing the impact of the road. The shoe compresses very well without feeling mushy at all."
Connor: "Once again, the Lightstrike Pro foam has proven itself to be a fantastic midsole compound with the perfect balance of soft cushioning and lively responsiveness. The midsole retains the same stack as version 1, so runners will get a similar level of soft protection from the Adios Pro 2. That said, with the modifications to the EnergyRods design and the midsole removal in the midfoot, the Adios Pro 2 has a slightly different underfoot experience. I don't think the 2 is as stable as the original, but it did feel slightly faster at race pace. Surprisingly, even though it has a new midsole cut out, this shoe didn't lose any weight, which could potentially be due to the addition of continental rubber on the outsole."
Matt: "The Adios Pro 2 has a Lightstrike Pro midsole, which works like a classic super foam. This shoe feels soft underfoot upon initial step in and is super responsive at faster paces. I found that the dense midsole kept the shoe from being too mushy and allowed for the bounciness to shine. Overall, the Pro 2 is made to go fast and go far, so it will have all the softness you need for longer road races."
Ride/Energy Returni
Mark: "The energy return of this shoe's midsole is phenomenal. The Adios Pro 2 felt so good that I felt like I was cheating at half-marathon to marathon effort. This shoe could easily be used for 1500-meter races given its responsiveness."
Connor: "The energy return of the Adios Pro 2 is on par with the original version, and honestly, is comparable to any of the top super shoes on the market today. The stack height mixed with the Lightstrike Pro foam material gives the shoe a magical ride that is fast, efficient, and more than ready for race day. Runners typically worry that their shoes cannot compete with the shoes their competitors are wearing, but that is not an issue with the Adios Pro 2. The design has a magnificent pop at toe-off that makes me feel confident and strong at half-marathon to marathon pace efforts."
Matt: "Efficiency is the name of the game for the Adios Pro 2. The new midsole is sculpted and designed to cut weight, making this shoe feel and look a little faster. The Lightstrike Pro midsole is efficiently responsive and feels like it is not wasting any energy. Once I landed on the footbed, I was popped right into the next stride, which made the Adios Pro 2 super fun to run in. The carbon-infused EnergyRods added a nice snap to the toe-off, and the rocker shape kept all of my transitions feeling smooth. If I know I need to push the pace on a long, tough workout, then I will be reaching for the Pro 2.
Underfoot Protectioni
Mark: "The higher stack on this shoe feels very bulky underfoot and has little to no ground feel when my foot strikes the ground."
Connor: "The Adios Pro 2 continues to deliver the same max-stack underfoot experience as the previous version, measuring right under the World Athletics midsole stack height limit. This statistic is mostly relevant for top pros, but with the Pro 2, runners can be confident knowing they are wearing a favorite among some of the world's best runners. This shoe provided all the protection I needed for marathon efforts, and I've even begun using the Adios Pro 2 for shorter, faster workouts as well. The cushioning helps to reduce the impact on the body and allows me to recover faster the day after a really hard tempo run or track workout."
Matt: "As with most highly stacked carbon-infused racing shoes, the underfoot protection is great. The Pro 2 was built to go the distance for marathon races, and thanks to the soft and energy-saving characteristics of the Lightstrike Pro foam, it will provide all of the necessary protection. After my longer workouts and faster tempo runs, I always felt like I was ready to go for my next run. I count on this shoe to carry me through tough training sessions."
Flexibilityi
Mark: "The carbon fiber plate in the heel, combined with the EnergyRods in the forefoot, make the Adios Pro 2 fairly rigid with a snappy and responsive toe-off."
Connor: "The EnergyRods midsole design of the Adios Pro 2 is not as aggressively rigid as some of the full-length carbon-plated shoes on the market today, but this shoe is still pretty stiff due to the high midsole stack height. The midfoot cutout helped create a little flexibility through the gait cycle, but overall, this shoe is designed to be more torsionally rigid to produce the efficiency needed to excel while racing, or during max-effort training days."
Matt: "The Adios Pro 2 is an elite racing shoe designed to be stiff and responsive. The carbon-infused EnergyRods and the high stack height limit its flexibility, but thanks to the aggressive rocker geometry, it still maintains a smooth ride."
Upper Supporti
Mark: "The upper wrap on the Adios Pro 2 is very comfortable and pretty spacious for a racer. I also found the upper to be more adaptable than most other racing shoes. You can opt to lace the Pro 2 like a traditional racing shoe, or you can give your foot some wiggle room by lacing the shoe to fit more like an uptempo performance trainer. Regardless of your preference, the Adios Pro 2 will be able to accommodate."
Connor: "The mesh upper design of the Pro 2 is very thin and built to be as light as possible for race day efforts. It does not deliver the most supportive hold, but for competitive runners, it should still have no problems performing at the marathon distance. The Pro 2's upper also feels more dialed in than its predecessor, providing a better lockdown along with a more refined overall look."
Matt: "The upper on the Pro 2 is way more breathable than the first version, and the heel counter offers a great locked-in feel. The Pro 2 has a secure lockdown that has no issues adapting to different foot shapes."
Men'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
MarkOverall Score: 9.5/10
The adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 is fast, well-cushioned, and overall an incredible racing shoe. I used this shoe to run a couple of workouts at half-marathon effort, marathon effort, and down to 1500-meter effort. This shoe legitimately feels like I'm cheating with the amount of responsiveness and energy return I achieve with each stride. My only complaint is that it does feel a bit bulky and heavier than I'd prefer, but the benefits 100% outweigh my one minor complaint. If you're looking to smash your personal best the next time you toe the line for a marathon or half, this is the right shoe for you.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
ConnorOverall Score: 9/10
Overall, the Adios Pro v1 was a phenomenal introduction to the adidas adizero racing line. In version 2, adidas has made small adjustments to finely tune the Adios to meet the needs of elite athletes looking to make the podium racing against the world's top runners. Several super shoes have entered the market over the past year, and the Adios Pro 2 is definitely near the top in terms of performance. The midsole material is spectacular, and the efficiency of the midsole will instill confidence in athletes come race day. This shoe makes holding fast paces feel almost effortless, and the max stack height produces the soft comfort needed for marathon distances.
The only complaint I have with the Pro 2 is that the midsole cutout feels unstable at times, especially on tight turns. I was able to adjust to the unique design as I got more mileage in the shoe, but with the decreased stability, I personally would have liked to see a noticeably lighter shoe than the previous version. Weight is always a priority for me when looking to buy a competitive racing shoe, but ultimately, this is a minor complaint as the Pro 2 still feels very fast on foot. Overall, the Adios Pro 2 continues to be a top-tier carbon-plated racing shoe, and the results this shoe has produced for some of the top athletes in the world prove that the Adios Pro 2 can help runners achieve their race-day goals.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
MattOverall Score: 9/10
I thought that the adidas adizero Adios Pro 2 was a tremendous upgrade from the original. The upper felt much better on foot and helped me feel faster than I did in the original shoe. The Lightstrike Pro super foam makes for a high-performing midsole that is bouncy and can handle faster paces over long distances without difficulty. Overall, this shoe is super-efficient and fun to have as a racing option, but I personally think that the Pro 2's ride holds it back from being one of the all-time greats. Sadly, there is no other way to put it, but the Pro 2 is straight-up unstable. No matter where I would strike, I always had an unstable feeling that made it difficult for me to fully trust the shoe while running. To me, it felt like I was running across a balance beam every time I ran in the Adios Pro 2. That said, if adidas can dial in this issue and produce a platform that runners can trust, then this shoe might be able to take the cake as a top road racer, in my opinion.
