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Daily Trainers • March 22, 2024

Best Adidas Running Shoes Right Now

best adidas running shoes

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What You Need To Know

Winners

We break down our top 10 best Adidas running shoes for 2023

Variety

From racing to tempo to slow days to trails, we got you covered

Comment

Any questions? Drop it in the comments. Otherwise, let’s get you educated.

Adidas has a long history of excellence within the running world that continues to this day. Quite often, you’ll see podium pairs of Adios Pro on the feet of some of the top marathoners in the world. That dedication to innovation and performance is not relegated to the pros– it all trickles down across the line and shows up in some of our favorite running shoes, period. 

Of course, you’re probably reading this because you want to know which shoes are best for your own running. While all our picks are subjective, we have actually run in all of these models, so we’re able to give you hands-on (er… feet on) feedback about each one. Point being– we feel confident that this list will give you a good idea of what may work for you if you’re looking for a running shoe with the three stripes. 

Whether you’re a “3 miles every other day” type runner or a hardcore “always marathon training” one, there’s something on this list for you. 

For reference, this list is in alphabetical order and includes everything from the performance Adizero line to the more everyday wear of the Ultraboost Light.

Questions or comments? Leave them below and we’ll do our best to get back to you.

Key Terms In This Review

Adizero

Adidas’ performance line, featuring the most innovative Adidas running shoes.

Continental Rubber

Sticky and grippy rubber used in some Adidas running shoes, most notably the premium race day shoes.

Light Boost

The newest iteration of Ultraboost, it’s 30% lighter than standard Boost and features a 10% lower carbon footprint.

Lightstrike

An EVA-based foam used in the mid-range models of Adidas running.

Lightstrike Pro

A Peba-based foam that is the bounciest midsole in the Adidas family. Used primarily in the Adizero line (i.e. performance models).

Dreamstrike Plus

A new 20% bio-based Peba foam introduced as part of the revamped Supernova lineup

Best Adidas Running Shoes Right Now

Adidas Adizero Adios 8

$130

Best For

Daily training, tempo runs

Weight

7.3 oz (206 g) for a US M9,

6.8 oz. (192 g) for a US W7

Stack Height/Drop

29 mm in heel, 20 mm in forefoot (9 mm drop)

If you’re looking for a quicker daily trainer running shoe with some premium components from Adidas, then you may want to say hello to the Adios 8. We’ll admit that we haven’t actually reviewed the latest version of the Adios, but all signs point towards it heading in the right direction. Like its predecessor, the Adios 8 packs a dual-density midsole with Adidas’ top-tier Lightstrike Pro in the forefoot and a sturdier, more reliable layer of Lightstrike 2.0 through the rest of the foot. On the run, the shoe strikes a balance between more affordable shoes like the SL and the workhorse of the Boston 12. 

We’re back on the Boston train (we’ll get there in a minute), but the Adios has been filling the Boston-shaped hole in our hearts almost perfectly over the last couple of years. While the Lightstrike keeps it a bit firm, the Lightstrike Pro in the forefoot gives some bounce, while the EnergyTorsion Rods provide the responsiveness needed from a faster shoe. It also helps that this is the lightest shoe in the Adidas lineup outside of the premium race day shoes.

Shop The Shoe

Shop Adidas Adios 8 Men
Shop Adidas Adios 8 Women
adidas adizero adios pro 3

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3

$250

Watch The Review
Best For

Race day

Weight

7.6 oz (215 g) for a US M9,

6.9 oz. (195 g) for a US W8

Stack Height/Drop

39.5 mm in heel, 33 mm in forefoot (6.5 mm drop)

When it comes to race day, this is the pinnacle of Adidas performance. One of our favorite race shoes that money can buy, the Adios Pro 3 features a high stack, Peba-based midsole that is ultra bouncy without being too soft or too firm. Carbon-fiber EnergyRods (proprietary to Adidas) provide a snappy propulsion off the toe and through the stride. The shoe is also surprisingly stable for a race day running shoe, which is always a bonus.

The upper on the shoe is breathable and light, though the lacing system takes a lot of work to dial in. But once it’s dialed in, you’re good to go. (We would recommend going a half size down from your normal sizing in this shoe as it does run long.) 

Moving onto the outsole, the Continental rubber provides one of the best and stickiest grips in the game, ensuring you won’t slip through all those water station stops out on the course, while giving you confidence around the corners. Read full Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 3 Review

Shop The Shoe

adidas adios pro 3 - shop unisex
Shop Adidas Adios Pro 3 Men
adidas adios pro 3 - shop unisex
Shop Adidas Adios Pro 3 Women
adidas boston 12 cover

Adidas Adizero Boston 12

$160

Watch The Review
Best For

Daily training

Weight

9.2 oz. (260 g) for a US M9,

8.0 oz. (226 g) for a US W7

Stack Height/Drop

35 mm in heel, 28.5 mm in forefoot (6.5 mm drop)

Oh, baby, the Boston is back. We were pretty vocal about how much we hated the last two versions of Adidas’ do-it-all trainer, and now we’ll probably be just as loud about the fact that it’s been fixed. What’s the secret, you ask? Well, quite simply, Adidas has fixed everything we hated about the midsole — simple as that. The updated Boston 12 now has more Lightstrike Pro in the forefoot, a softer formulation of Lightstrike in the heel, and a reworked set of EnergyRods sandwiched in between.

Granted, this isn’t just a brand-new version of the shoe that it was before, either. Adidas widened the forefoot, which gives it more inherent stability, while the Energy Rods keep you bouncing right along. You get a full helping of Continental rubber across the outsole, too, which is welcome protection from the often slippery boards of the Baltimore promenade.

Robbe equated the Boston 12 to the Adios Pro Lite, which kind of makes sense when you think about it. This shoe has more stack than the Takumi Sen 10 and, outside of the Lightstrike 2.0 in the heel, offers a very similar makeup to the premium racer. Meg also compared it to a supertrainer given the presence of Adidas’ peba-based Lightstrike Pro, but this is one that you can (legally) race in.

Shop The Shoe

adidas boston 12 - shop men
Shop Adidas Boston 12 Men
adidas boston 12 - women
Shop Adidas Boston 12 Women
adidas prime x 2 strung - outsole and strung upper

Adidas Adizero Prime X2 Strung

$300

Watch The Review
Best For

Long runs with an illegal amount of cushion

Weight

10.8 oz (306 g) for a US M9 (Unisex sizing)

Stack Height/Drop

48 mm in heel, 41 mm in forefoot (7 mm drop)

Well, this might be one of our more controversial picks for the best Adidas running shoes, but only because it’s so different from what we expected. When we first tried on the Prime X2 Strung more than a year ago at The Running Event, we thought it was going to change the game. It was all that and more — literally.

By the time it got to us, it felt like we were running in a completely different shoe. Sure, the Prime X2 Strung still has two carbon-infused plates and three layers of Lightstrike Pro foam, but they’re a bit heavier and a bit less stable than we initially experienced. However, the Prime X2 Strung still seems to work like a dream for some members of our team, so we can’t rule it out for everyone.

Oh, and the 3D-printed, or Strung, upper is still a treat. Using athlete data, Adidas has mapped out and programmed different fiber properties thread by thread so that you get an upper that’s designed for support, flex, and breathability, all in one piece of material. It fits much better than Adidas’ more traditional uppers and doesn’t seem to run quite as long, either.

All that tech and premium-grade construction is still gonna cost ya to the tune of $300. They say all you need is a pair of shoes to run, but in this case, you may need a second mortgage. Just make sure you can still return this one in case it doesn’t quite work for you…

Shop The Shoe

adidas prime x strung 2 - photo
Shop Adidas Prime X Strung Unisex
adidas adizero sl - feature

Adidas Adizero SL

$120

Watch The Review
Best For

Daily training, tempo run

Weight

8.6 oz. (243 g) for a US M9

Stack Height/Drop

35 mm in heel, 26.5 mm in forefoot (8.5 mm drop)

While we can’t believe we’re saying a $120 shoe is a budget trainer, that’s exactly where the SL lands. It still falls into the Adizero line of performance shoes, but this is the go-to shoe for either a high-school kid or someone who’s starting out running and wants a lightweight daily trainer that can transition to a tempo shoe without breaking the bank. 

The midsole is Lightstrike, but it seems softer than the previous SL20. Additionally, a puck of Lightstrike Pro sits under the ball of the foot, allowing for a bit extra bounce on toe-off.

Overall, we were kinda surprised at this shoe and how much we liked it, especially for the low expectations we had for the Lightstrike midsole. If you’re on a budget and want something that gives you a taste of the higher end stuff, then the SL may be right up your alley.  Read full Adidas Adizero SL review

Shop The Shoe

adidas Adizero SL-mens shop
Shop Adidas SL Men
Adidas Adizero Sl-women shop
Shop Adidas SL Women
Adidas Takumi Sen 10 - street view

Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 10

$180

Watch The Review
Best For

Race day up to a half marathon, tempo runs

Weight

6.9 oz (198 g) for a US M9,

5.8 oz. (165 g) for a US W7.5

Stack Height/Drop

33 mm in heel, 27 mm in forefoot (6 mm drop)

Sometimes, you don’t need to max out the midsole to make a great racing shoe. The Adidas Takumi Sen 10 is a great example of what we mean when we say that. Hands down, this is the best tempo shoe money can buy and easily stands up against the big boys in any distance under 10 miles.

It’s such a perfect combination of everything — the Lightstrike Pro midsole, fiberglass EnergyRods, and Celermesh upper all combine to give you a dagger of a shoe. It’s so fast, it’s so light, it feels so good. Oh, and it comes in at under $200, so you can feel pretty good about lacing it up without burning all the way through your wallet. Adidas hasn’t actually changed the Takumi Sen too much in the last few years, largely running with the same midsole shape, but now the shoe has a lighter, more breathable upper to match.

I don’t have anything else to say except that the shoe runs long, so go down a half-size if you’re on the lower end of the size range. We’ve said it time and time again, so if you get the wrong size, it’s probably on you at this point.

Shop The Shoe

Shop Adidas Takumi Sen 10 Men
Shop Adidas Takumi Sen 10 Women
Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra - feature

Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra

$220

Best For

Race day on the trails

Weight

9.5 oz. (270 g) for a US M9,

8.1 oz. (230 g) for a US W7

Stack Height/Drop

38 mm in heel, 30 mm in forefoot (8 mm drop)

Alright, let’s get a little muddy. We’ve touched on a bunch of Adidas road running shoes so far, but the Terrex line is just as well-regarded when it comes to the trails. Robbe put plenty of miles into the Agravic Speed Ultra while training for the HAT 50k, and he’s got plenty of thoughts on the trail racer.

It’s not necessarily a flashy trail shoe, preferring one bold color for the upper instead of Nike’s louder line of trail shoes, but man, it’s a good-looking runner. Robbe pointed out that Adidas’ mesh is lightweight and form-fitting but still offers surprisingly good lockdown, given the lack of overlays. Think of it as fitting like the Takumi Sen, but with a bit more structure around the heel. Part of that excellent lockdown comes from sawtooth laces that you’ll immediately recognize if you’ve run in a recent racer from Nike, Asics, and plenty of others.

Perhaps the best part of the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra is the fact that it’s stable — something that trail racing shoes often struggle with. It has a wider forefoot with EnergyRods running through it like metatarsals, giving your toes another set of toes to ride along.

white adidas ultraboost light leaning with the heel against the wall, orange accents on heel counter

Adidas Ultraboost Light

$190

Best For

Short runs, gym, lifestyle

Weight

10.5 oz. (297 g) for a US M9

Stack Height/Drop

32 mm in heel, 22 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)

Last, but certainly not least (I’m actually wearing them on my feet as I type this), the Ultraboost Light is one of the newest shoes from Adidas, featuring an all-new iteration of Boost.

While Boost midsole foam is a legend in the game, it was long overdue for some improvement. Enter Light Boost, a new generation of Boost that’s 30% lighter and boasts a 10% lower carbon footprint. Throw in 50% Parley Ocean Yarn and 50% recycled polyester in the upper, and you have a shoe you can feel good about while looking good in. It’s also much lighter than the standard Ultraboost. 

Which may be our favorite thing about the shoe– it looks so good. The lockdown of the Primeknit+ upper is great as well and is super comfortable both on the run and as casual wear. Speaking of on the run– it doesn’t offer the same comfort levels of the Solarglide, but for the “three miles or less” runner, the shoe works. Just be aware that the upper is a bit warm, so your feet will get toasty on the run come summer time. 

And though this hits a little hard at that $190 price point, the aesthetic alone may justify the price tag.

Shop The Shoe

Shop Adidas Ultraboost Light Men
adidas ultraboost light - shop women
Shop Adidas Ultraboost Light Women
adidas adizero adios pro evo 1 - feature

Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1

$500

Best For

The most serious marathon of your life

Weight

5.1 oz. (144 g) for a US M10.5 (Unisex sizing)

Stack Height / Drop

39 mm in heel, 33 mm in forefoot (6 mm drop)

Alright, so this one might not feel like a fair pick for most runners — heck, only Thomas has a pair in the office. That said, it’s worth a mention because it is hands-down the best running shoe that Adidas has ever made. The Adios Pro Evo 1 weighs next to nothing, yet it packs all of the technology that Adidas can fit into one racing shoe, complete with a price to match.

Somehow, the Adios Pro Evo 1 is a whopping 40% lighter than the Adios Pro 3 but still comes in with a barely legal 39 mm of foam in the heel and a new non-compression formula of Lightstrike Pro. As you might expect, the shoe is pretty light on the padding, since every last scrap of fabric and foam adds precious grams, so make sure you have a pair of socks that you really like underneath.

Adidas won’t tell us just how the non-compression midsole is made, but we have our guesses. By not compressing the foam, it’s able to hold more air in the midsole, which, in turn, maintains more bounce underfoot. Of course, that means it’ll compress over time, which is why you can probably only count on the Pro Evo 1 for a precious few miles before it dies.

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