Shoe: Adidas Adizero Adios (Run White/Black/Uni Red)

Size:  Men’s US8

Lalala!! The Runner’s Gait is an authentic running resource and we pride ourselves on being objective when it comes to the shoes that we carry at the store.  Every brand gets a fair shout, so here’s a review of the Adidas Adizero Adios!

I haven’t worn a pair of Adidas since I was in Secondary school quite a few years ago, so it was a little foreign trying these shoes out.  Weighing in at 200g (for a men’s US8), the Adios has been worn by various champions and probably most famously by Haile Gebrselassie.  Haile wore a pair of Adios when he set the marathon world record of 2hr 03min 59sec at the Berlin Marathon in 2008.

For most, if its good enough for Haile, its gotta be good enough for us!  But let’s dive into the shoe a little deeper.

The upper is an open mesh material which is very breathable.  You can actually see the colour of your socks through the upper.  It also has a thin, soft tongue that does not get in the way when you slip the shoe on.  The trademark Adidas stripes on the sides aren’t there purely for aesthetics, these stripes are actually overlays that help to secure the foot in place when you lace up.  As the overlays are fairly thick, you can feel them pressing against the arch of your foot if your foot happens to be a little wider.  It is not uncomfortable, but its a feeling that I could have done without.  The toe box is fairly wide and my toes had lots of wiggle room.  The Adios uses a very rigid heel cup to hold the foot in position.  While it felt secure enough when I was walking around, my heel did move around a little once I got to running.  This could have been the result of a wrongly sized shoe rather than an inadequate heel cup.  I found the Adios to run a little long, so you might want to size down by 1/2 a size.

The outsole is a mix of blown rubber (blue) and Quickstrike (black dots) that gives the Adios improved traction, durability and flexibility while keeping weight to a minimum.  The wishbone shaped Torsion unit in the midsole improves the stability of the shoes while allowing the the forefoot and rearfoot to move independently of each other. 

In terms of cushioning, the Adios has a lot to offer.  It utilizes 2 different compounds, one for the forefoot area and one for the heel area.  In the heel is where you will find adiPRENE, the more resilient shock absorbing compound.  The forefoot uses adiPRENE+ which offers more in terms of energy return to help keep the spring in your step.

This shoe is pitched as a marathon racer that is equally adept as a race day option and as a more regular usage lightweight trainer.  I wasn’t particularly impressed with the fit of the shoe but that might be fixed by going down a half size.  Aside from that, the overlays do a pretty good job of securing the foot while running.  I would have preferred a more snug fitting heel cup though.  At any pace quicker than a brisk jog, my feet felt locked down at the midfoot, but there was definitely too much movement in the heel for my liking.

For the heel strikers out there or anyone else who has felt their running form fall to bits late in a run, you will appreciate the adiPRENE unit in the heel that provides a very high level of cushioning.  I like having the little black studs in the forefoot and I think that does set this shoe apart from most regular trainers.  You always feel a bit quicker in shoes with these features (often a take down from Japanese series racers) and they provide a nice feel for the ground.

As a midfoot striker (most of the time at least…when I’m not too tired…I think), I found the Adios to be on the stiffer side.  This is probably due to the torsion unit in the midsole.  While the Adios gives you good contact with the ground, it is not quite as responsive as other shoes in this similar weight class. 

The Adios is designed for neutral runners and is a good option as a lightweight shoe for those long runs.  High mileage shoes don’t have to weigh a brick!  The Adios will also handle tempo runs and speed work sessions with ease.  It is a very versatile shoe and one that you could train and race in.  This shoe might be overlooked for anything at the half marathon distance or shorter, but the good cushioning and stability features of this shoe make the Adios an ideal choice as a long distance racer.