Weighs 9.6 oz. (275 g.) for a US M10.5 / 7.7 oz. (218 g.) for a US W7.5
Spiderman’s avante garde art project made it onto the Strung upper
Same thick-ass stack of Lightstrike Pro and EnergyRods as the OG Prime X
Honestly, it feels like wearing trampolines on your feet and we’re very okay with that
Available 10/1 for $300 (not a typo)
MEAGHAN: I missed out on the original Adizero Prime X, so I was pumped to test out the Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung, a version of the shoe featuring a (you guessed it) strung upper.
What exactly is “strung?” It’s the latest tech-meets-shoe initiative from Adidas. Using athlete data, they’ve 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. Basically, the upper acts like a cocoon that hugs the foot without feeling overly snug. I absolutely love it.
Enough about the upper. You’ve probably heard about the original Prime X because of its very aggressive stack height (49.5mm heel/ 41mm forefoot), which far exceeds the legal limit for elite athletes on race day. Nothing has changed in that department. It’s still the most cushioned midsole of any Adidas shoe ever, with three layers of Lightstrike Pro and carbon-infused EnergyRods. This combination provides one heck of a bouncy ride.
While this shoe’s stack height makes it illegal for racing, it’s ‘primed’ for those speedy long runs. But is it worth the $300 price tag? Let’s get into it.
THOMAS: The first Prime X was a miss for me. I rarely stop a run due to a shoe issue, but I had to pull the plug eight miles into a 10-mile run in that first version of the shoe. Before I signaled the coach to throw in the towel, I folded my ankle three times. Anytime I encountered uneven pavement, my ankles wobbled and trembled on top of the 49mm stack. Three times was a charm, four times was harm, so I gave it up and didn’t come back.
Some time later, I was talking to Kofuzi about my issues. He had a lot of love for the Prime X, so I decided to give the shoe another try on flat, even ground. This time I didn’t hate it, but it still felt like I had to work hard to stay on top of the stilts. I wasn’t expecting much from an upper-only update, but I remembered how an upper update on the Saucony Endorphin Pro+ totally changed my thoughts on that shoe, so I was willing to give this one more go. And boy, am I glad I did.
MEAGHAN: When I first picked up the Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung, I assumed it was just an attempt to make the shoes more eco-friendly. It reminded me a lot of the Alphafly Nature (a shoe that I didn’t exactly love). However, despite the rugged looking upper, I found the shoes to be extremely comfortable. The upper is breathable and supportive with a generous fitting toebox, perfect for my wider foot shape. While there isn’t much padding through the collar and tongue, the shoes feel great upon step in. Maybe it’s all the stack underfoot? Either way, there’s a plushness about this shoe that’s felt immediately.
Speaking of stack, three layers of Lightstrike Pro paired with carbon EnergyRods provide all the bounce and zero ground feel. It’s easily one of my favorite qualities in a shoe. It’s like running on mini-trampolines and feels great from mile 1 to mile 20. The Continental rubber outsole adds plenty of traction and durability — my pair still look brand new after more than 50 miles in the shoe.
THOMAS: I took the Prime X Strung out for an easy six-mile run to try it out. Other than the birdnest-looking upper, I didn’t see much of a difference in this version, but holy smoke, this shoe was a huge improvement. My foot locked into the upper and stayed securely over the massive Lightstrike Pro midsole. With my foot secure, the benefits of the platform sang. I bounced my way to a joyous six-mile workout and followed it up with a 20-mile training run and a 12-mile race sandwiched in the middle. My legs felt so good after the long workout, it felt like cheating.
I tried to see what the difference was between the first version and the new Strung upper. I took the Prime X out for another run and produced a hypothesis. In the original Prime X, the upper construction had my right foot coming over the lateral edge. This created a scenario where I was constantly battling to keep my foot squarely over the midsole. On the medial side, everything was fine. I am not sure if the sloppy right shoe was an anomaly or if it was just the way that the upper worked with my foot. No matter, I don’t have any issues with that problem in the Prime X Strung.
Another surprising aspect of this shoe is the weight. My US M10.5 weighs 9.6 oz. (275 g.), which was surprising with this much cush.
MEAGHAN: To me, Adidas foams always feel denser than other brands. I often find their shoes feel bottom-heavy, and the Prime X Strung fell in that category. I didn’t notice it nearly as much as I would in a race-day environment, but definitely something to note.
THOMAS: Adidas has the hardest to lace shoes in the industry. You need to do micro adjustments versus yanking from the top of the throat to tighten the fit. Either use fewer holes or find laces that glide better.
Even though the Adizero Prime X Strung fit better and solved my major issue with the Prime X, I wish that the midsole came up and cradled the foot to create more stability. Right now, you’re sitting on top of all 49mm, so having the side of the midsole extend up would help secure the foot and give runners more confidence, especially in turns.
Also, $300 for a pair of running shoes is gonna put the shoe out of reach for the majority of runners. If you can part with that kind of coin, then you won’t be disappointed, but I can understand if runners choose to get two or three trainers instead of just one.
MEAGHAN: The Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung wins for “most fun shoe” in 2022. It’s like wearing bouncy castles on your feet. I love the aesthetics, I love the overall fit and feel, and of course, I love the nearly 50mm of stack underfoot. If you’re not into “ground feel” or just want a faster long-run shoe, go ahead and drop the coin for this one.
THOMAS: I’m in love with the Adizero Prime X Strung. It bounces through the miles, and after the big mileage, your legs still feel fresh. It doesn’t hurt that the shoe looks beautiful. In fact, it may be the best-looking shoe I tested this year. I hope to see the Strung upper on more Adidas trainers. The Prime X Strung is by far my favorite Adidas running shoe right now, followed by the Takumi Sen 8 and then the Adizero Adios Pro 3.
You can pick up the at Adidas Prime X Strung on October 1 by using the shop link below.
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Meaghan signed up for her first marathon three weeks before the race, because it was $10 more than the half she planned to run. She learned everything in running the hard way. Now a USATF & UESCA certified run coach, she loves encouraging friends to go for big goals as she continues to chase faster times. She enjoys a hot cup of coffee, a cold martini, and making bagels for friends and family.
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As the founder of Believe in the Run, Thomas’s goal is to help runners pick the shoes and gear that will make their running experience the best that it can be.
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Oh wow. This is some high praise. I know how much y’all loved the takumi sen 8 (I do too) and to say you like this more ! I’m excited.
Really hope they do the strung upper to the takumi and adios pro 3.
It’s easily the best looking upper I’ve seen in 22
Yeah, it look so good. Every time I see Thomas and Meg wearing it I’m shocked how good it looks. And they wear it A LOT.
Do you recommend going true to size?
Did you get same size for the OG and Strung versions? What’s the weight of your OG version?
Amazing shoes. Initially was a bit worried about the stability of them due to the height and the tapered part of the back sole, but after doing a 25 km test in them my legs were fresh as daisies. Did a 10km run the following day in the Adios Pro 3, then immediately switched to the Prime X strung for a 3km loop to see the difference and it is marked. They just feel easier on the feet and legs. Running with a stress fracture is also much easier in the Prime x. So good I want to buy another pair.
I’ve cycled through NB and Hoka max cushion shoes over the years, and while appreciating both the FF More and Bondi/Clifton combos quite a bit, I recently got a pair of these and they blow every other max cushion shoe out of the water, truly. Once you get used to the added stack height (which takes all but a few strides), the cushioning on these left my legs feeling remarkably fresh. I did a 15k run, swapping out between the FF More, Bondi 8 and the Prime Strung every 5km (convenient 5k loop from my front door), and was shocked at just how much better my legs felt wearing these compared to the alternatives. Will most likely get a 2nd pair before they release the gen 2 of these, which I can only assume will reduce stack down to pro legal use levels. Really hope Adidas keep the gen 1 available for non-pro’s cause I have found my holy grail max trainer with these.
What do think in regards to the complaint about the shoe’s instability. I am surprised not to hear the reviewers mention about this at all.
I absolutely love mine but they have a flaw known to Adidas where the top laceloop pops and makes the shoe unusable
Happened to mine recently and the reply I got was due to the fact that Adidas know about this recurring flaw they are not offering replacements but only credit/refunds instead.
Absolutely the best racing shoes. I’ve got these on sale, and have 300 miles on them already. Also have the Alphafly’s (first gen) and Vaporfly Next%, both on sale for under $100 to compare. No comparison between them all. The Next% was in fact the biggest disappointment for me, and felt almost as stiff and hard as the Endorphin Pro’s — which always beat my legs up. The Alphafly’s although much better, also feel a bit torturous to run in. I’m a bigger guy, almost overweight BMI, but even after 13 miles in Prime X Strung, my legs feel so fresh, it’s incredible.