adidas adizero Adios Pro 3 Review

Upper

Connor F.: "The upper on the Adios does an adequate job of providing a secure lockdown and is easy to lace up in one go. The only issue I had with the shoe is that the upper material is not extremely supple and could cause rubbing issues with the wrong sock combo."

Kaleb: "The Celermesh upper is race ready and feels light and airy on foot. It is very structured, which may be limiting for some runners, but the overall fit worked well and was true to size. If I was really looking for an issue, then I would say my laces came untied quite a few times throughout testing, but we could easily chalk this up to user error."

Midsole

Connor F.: "The Adios Pro 3 is extremely bouncy. It is one of those shoes that is hard to stop running in after a couple of solid strides; it just keeps bouncing you down the road. I enjoyed how smooth the Pro 3's ride was, as it delivered almost seamless heel-to-toe transitions that were perfect while on longer tempo runs and marathon-paced workouts. 

The shoe's Lightstrike PRO midsole is soft, but initially, it felt pretty unique underfoot. At first, the forefoot felt firmer than the heel, but the forefoot softened up after a few runs. Once it had broken in, I was impressed with how soft the Pro was, especially for such a fast shoe. I honestly think that this might be the softest carbon-plated racing shoe on the market."

Kaleb: "The Adios Pro 3's midsole is electric and the Lightstrike PRO foam has an impressive balance of softness and responsiveness, which made for some fantastic testing runs. I loved how the shoe injected an energetic pop into each stride. This shoe feels like it was designed specifically with marathon distances in mind."

Outsole

Connor F.: "The Adios Pro 3 has a smooth, climbing-shoe-like rubber outsole. When looking at the sole, I was concerned that traction could be an issue on anything except perfectly smooth sections of road, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well the shoe grips all surfaces. I have used this shoe on everything from the track to hard crushed gravel paths, and traction was never an issue. Durability-wise, I am happy to say that the wear is minimal after 50 miles, and I haven't seen any signs of the rubber wearing down. Overall, the outsole on the Pro 3 is extremely lightweight with great traction and durability."

Kaleb: "The Adios Pro's outsole is deceptively grippy. At first glance, it looks a little concerning with its thin, smooth surface. That said, the rubber outsole provides fantastic traction, and I had no issues on any road-related surfaces. The rubber outsole is surprisingly durable, and there are no signs of breakdown after testing. I am not sure this is the most durable super shoe, but regardless, the outsole is top-notch."

Comparable Shoes

Connor F.: "The Adios Pro 3 and METASPEED Sky+ both provide an elite level of energy return with different underfoot experiences. The METASPEED is lighter on foot and is slightly firmer through the gait cycle with an explosive pop at toe-off. If you are not running at more uptempo speeds, then it can feel like you are fighting against the shoe's specific rockered configuration.

Comparatively, the Adios Pro 3 has a much more cushioned underfoot feel and delivers a squishy sensation that is not energy sapping. For courses with tighter turns, I would choose the Sky+, but for races with long straights and extended descents, the Adios Pro 3 would be my choice.

The Adios Pro and Endorphin Pro give excellent impact protection, but I feel that I was getting more performance out of the Adios Pro. I think that the Endorphin Pro 3 is a more versatile shoe that will work for all types of runners, but the Adios Pro just has that extra bit of snap that I am looking for on race day."

Kaleb: "I am not going to lie, it has been a little challenging for me to compare the Adios Pro 3 to other marathon racing super shoes, partially because I have not had an abundance of experience with the category until more recently, but here it goes.

Compared to the METASPEED Sky+, the Adios Pro 3 is softer and more protective, and I would favor the Adios for anything 10K and longer. On the flip side, I would choose the METASPEED for shorter, faster races.

The Endorphin Pro 3 is more comfortable and stable overall. For a sub-elite runner like myself, the Endorphin hits the sweet spot for longer distances, with the Adios Pro a very close second. Personally, I think more experienced runners will prefer the Adios Pro 3 over the Endorphin Pro 3. If you want a little more comfort for the marathon, then grab the Endorphin. If you want a little more speed for the marathon, then go with the Adios."