adidas adizero Prime X3 Strung Review
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Coming Soon |
| Stack Height | 7 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
The adidas adizero Prime X3 Strung is for you if...
You want a fast, bouncy super trainer with lots of cushioning
You want running fast to feel easy and fun
You are looking for a max cushion race-day shoe
What is the adidas adizero Prime X3 Strung made for?
It started with the original Prime X, a massively cushioned super trainer that was different than any other running shoe on the market. With a whopping 50 millimetres of ultra responsive Lightstrike Pro superfoam, and a dual carbon rod and plate system, this shoe brought maximum bounce to the speed category like never before. After pushing super shoes to the limit, adidas then pushed the envelope even further with the Strung version.
The first Prime X Strung had all of the innovative features of the Prime X, but was made even lighter with the revolutionary Strung upper. This 3D printed material consists of individual threads of fibre with differing densities, strategically laid across one another for an optimal fit. The result is a breathable performance upper with a targeted lockdown feel, and a cool aesthetic to boot. As the Strung story continues, the Prime X 2 Strung gained a more stable feeling, but many agreed that it didn’t feel as fast as its predecessor.
Now, arriving at the Prime X3 Strung, it is back to feeling like a fast shoe. This update includes a wider forefoot, a decrease in weight, and an extremely bouncy underfoot feel to elevate your up-tempo training runs. We still have the 50-millimetre stack and the double carbon propulsion setup that makes this shoe a notorious rule-breaker by World Athletics standards. With that said, if you’re not a professional athlete in a major event or Olympics qualifier, you could even take these out for your next local road race. Bending the rules has never felt so fun!
Comfort
Performance shoes and super trainers aren’t typically known for the plush comfort of max cushion shoes, but the Prime X3 Strung provides tons of luxurious cushioning in the midsole. Even though this is a fast shoe, it feels extremely plush and springy, great for underfoot comfort. We enjoyed the upper and it fit well for our feet. Although not quite as plush and flexible as a full knit upper, the Strung material feels light and secure with strategically placed padding and stretch for added comfortability.
Performance
If you loved the fast feeling of the X1, you'll be happy to hear that the Prime X3 Strung has returned to feeling like a fast shoe. This super trainer performs extremely well at faster paces, and is just plain fun to run in! They felt propulsive as soon as we put them on, which made us consistently run faster without extra effort. They are super bouncy and feel pretty stable despite how much stack is underfoot. We felt we got the same assistive benefit from the Prime X3 Strung that we typically get from racing shoes, but with more durability and protection. They have a little more weight than what is typically ideal for race day, but we did find that they provide a more elevated experience for up-tempo running than daily trainers.
Fit
This shoe uses a nice stretchy knit material over the instep and around the ankle for a socklike fit, making it easy to take on and off. The Strung upper provides a secure and connected feel to the shoe, which is ideal for fast running. The overall fit is standard and should fit a decent range of foot shapes. They may run very slightly long, but we did not need to size down. The forefoot is roomy in width, but because the Strung upper material does not stretch much, it might not be as adaptable for narrower feet to achieve lockdown.
Individual Thoughts
I have run in all three Strung versions of the adizero Prime X (Strung refers to the Strung upper). Each shoe has provided a different experience. The first Prime X Strung was a phenomenal shoe for running fast and running long. If it worked with your gait, like it did mine, it also felt very good at regular paces. The Prime X 2 had a very energetic feel, like the X 1. However, it was heaving and bulkier. It was better as a long run cruiser and didn’t live up to being an adizero shoe (fast). The Prime X3 is back to being a fast shoe. It’s very protective with its piled-high cushioning. It also makes running fast feel easier. I consistently hit faster splits at a lower heart rate compared to daily trainers. It’s not the best option for normal paces, but it’s adequate. I found it best for 10k to half marathon paced intervals and runs.
There is not much to dislike about this shoe. The only thing that wasn’t ideal was on wet concrete, I found the traction wasn’t as good as I’d want it to be in wet conditions. For me, the fit works well, and the midsole is so bouncy and fun. It makes me want to do a workout, and while doing it I genuinely enjoy the underfoot experience I am getting. I wore v1 of this shoe, and it was one of my all-time favourite experiences at slower and faster paces. I am quickly finding v3 to work better at faster paces, but I also don’t mind some easy miles too.