Explosive Speed
Shop the full adidas adizero collection now!
adidas adizero Collection Explained
From everyday trainers to elite race day shoes and beyond, the adizero range has everything you need to up your speed, but which one does what?
Synonymous with success on both the track and road, the adidas Adizero range broke the world marathon record on their first outing, on the feet of the great Haile Gerbrselassie in 2008. Since then, they have been improved, added to and perfected for the current range. This closer look at the road shoes, aims to find out exactly what roll each shoe is designed to fill.
adidas Adizero Prime X Strung
Price: £230
Weight: 255g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 49.5mm – 41mm
Heel drop: 8.5mm
Midsole composition: 3 layers of Lightstrike Pro
Plate: Energyrods
Purpose: Race Day shoe (not world athletics races) over long distances, specifically marathon.
Top of the tree, the Prime X Strung is designed for race day, use it over marathon and half marathon distances to take on the very best in the game. It introduces a new STRUNG upper that makes it possible to program different fibre properties, thread by thread. Providing support in a lightweight, seamless, and breathable package.
Underfoot it uses carbon ENERGYRODS, where each of the five rods follows a metatarsal, offering lightweight stiffness, sandwiched between their LIGHTSTRIKE PRO midsole cushioning, for their most responsive, and lightweight ride.
So fast they are banned, the incredibly high stack of Lightstrike Pro cushioning underfoot is currently deemed too much of an advantage by World Athletics, so pick your races carefully.
adidas Adizero Prime X
Price: £220
Weight: 251g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 49.5mm – 41mm
Heel drop: 8.5mm
Midsole composition: 3 layers of Lightstrike Pro
Plate: Energyrods and Energy blades
Purpose: Race Day shoe (not world athletics races) over long distances, specifically marathon.
So good it’s illegal twice! An illegal stack height of 50mm of lightstrike pro cushioning, and one too many stiffening plates for high end racings new laws, the adizero Prime X gives a sensation of flying across the pavement.
An upper made from barely there celermesh uses Aramis computer modelling to blend support, breathability and flex wherever needed.
adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3
Price: £220
Weight: 230g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 39.5mm – 33mm
Heel drop: 6.5mm
Midsole composition: 2 layers of Lightstrike Pro cushioning
Plate: Energyrods 2.0
Purpose: Long distance races
When launched in 2021, the Adios Pro 3 had the most wins in major marathon events of any shoe (60%!). Offering incredible speed, it optimises the stiffness and energy return with its blend of Lightstrike Pro foam and the ENERGYRODS 2.0 through the midsole.
Continental rubber underfoot gives excellent traction in any conditions, while the lightweight upper provides specific support where athletes need it most.
adidas adizero Takumi Sen 8
Price: £170
Weight: 185g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 33mm/27mm
Heel drop: 6mm
Midsole composition: Lightstrike Pro
Plate: Glass fibre Energyrods
Purpose: Race Day shoe for shorter distances
Also built for race day, but this time specialising in the 5k to half marathon distances, the Takumi Sen 8 is tuned for a lightweight, barely there feel.
It combines LIGHTSTRIKE PRO with ENERGYRODS in the midsole, and a slightly lower stack height than the previous shoes. Not exactly a racing flat these days, the propulsive power of modern superfoams comes to the fore.
adidas Adizero Boston 11
Price: £140
Weight: 271g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 39.5mm – 31mm
Heel drop: 8.5mm
Midsole composition: Lightstrike Pro and durable Lightstrike EVA
Plate: Energyrods
Purpose: Mid to long distances, tempo runs, daily milage and even race day.
The Boston is designed for training days on your way to your next race day win. Capable of running up to marathon distances, it combines Lightstrike Pro with a durable Lightstrike EVA foam, and energyrods through the midsole. This combination provides a fast shoe with the toughness to survive your daily runs.
adidas Adizero adios 7
Price: £120
Weight: 217g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 27mm – 19mm
Heel drop: 8mm
Midsole composition: Lightstrike and Lightstrike Pro
Plate: Torsionrods
Purpose: Fast enough for race day, and tough enough for training,
With a predominately Lightstrike midsole, and only a forefoot wedge of Lightstrike Pro, the Adios is reliable and durable, but still has that burst of energetic foam where it is needed.
TORSIONRODS offer midfoot stiffness and stability, helping you stay on course throughout the transition as well as transfer force into each stride.
adidas Adizero SL
Price: £110
Weight: 241g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 33mm – 24.5mm
Heel drop: 8.5mm
Midsole composition: Lightstrike with a Lightstrike Pro “pop” in the forefoot
Plate: None
Purpose: Training
A brand-new entry to the line-up, the Adizero SL is a pure training shoe, with a deep stack of Lightstrike cushioning, and an energising insert of Lightstrike Pro in the forefoot.
With no energyrods, or plate of any kind, this is a purist's shoe, light enough and propulsive enough for speed work, but durable and cushioned enough for daily training.
adidas Adizero RC 4
Price: £90
Weight: 230g (Men’s UK 8.5)
Stack height: 27mm – 19mm
Heel drop: 8mm
Midsole composition: Lightstrike
Plate: Torsionrods
Purpose: Training and daily running
Fast training for under £100, the Adizero RC uses Lightstrike midsole foam combined with the firmness, and snappy propulsion of TORSIONRODS. This gives a lightweight shoe that helps drive you forward, designed to soak up miles, and help you cruise through them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy adidas running shoes?
Here at Pro:DirectRunning we offer a full range of adidas running shoes, including everyday runners and kids shoes, as well as the adizero range seen above.
Where can I buy adidas clothing?
Our range of adidas clothing includes top of the line lightweight race day spec gear, alongside more casual running apparel often boasting the famous three stripe style.
Does adidas adizero have a carbon plate?
adidas often use their ENERGYRODS in the adizero range, made from carbon, the rods follow your metatarsals for a more flexible and personalised feel than a standard carbon plate.
What is Adizero technology?
Adizero is not one form of technology, it is more of an approach to manufacturing. Focusing on lightness and performance over everything else adizero represents the race day best in shoes or clothing.
Is adizero good for a marathon?
If you pick the right shoe, the adizero range offers some spectacular options for marathons. From the Boston to the Prime X2 Strung, check the range above to see which would be the best shoe for you.
What is the fastest adidas shoe?
As long as you are not entering a race help by World Athletics, which have banned shoes with this much foam, the Adios Prime X2 Strung offers more technology, more foam, and more speed than anything else over a marathon distance. Over shorter distances like 5k, the lighter weight Takumi Sen 8 might suit you better.
Do adidas adizero run small?
Although they fit true to size, they do tend towards a narrower fit, if you have a wide foot you may decide to go half a size up.
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Explosive Speed
Shop the full adidas adizero collection now!
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