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The three-stripes are etched into our minds like Nike’s Swoosh and Puma’s cat. The brand has reams of race cred, with two of its sponsored athletes breaking two hours at the London Marathon. Marathon winner Sebastian Sawe, second place winner Yomif Kejelcha, and women’s division winner Tigst Assefa wore the brand’s Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3—which sold out in minutes upon its release. But our testing and inclusion of Adidas’s shoes in our Shoe Awards is a sign that the drop was no gimmick—this brand knows what it’s worth.
The brand introduced its renowned Boost more than 10 years ago, a durable, responsive foam resistant to extreme temperatures. More recently, learnings from the development of its pinnacle racing shoe, the Adios Pro, have bled into newer versions of its shoes, like the Takumi Sen. We’ve included the latest iterations of these shoes as well as what to look for when you’re out shopping Adidas’s kicks.
Best Adidas Shoes for Runners
- Best Value: Adidas Adizero Evo SL
- Most Comfortable: Adidas Hyperboost Edge
- Most Supportive: Adidas Ultraboost 5X
- Best for Speedwork: Adidas Supernova Rise 3
- Best for Stability: Adidas Supernova Prima 2
- Best for Racing 13.1 and 26.2: Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
- Best Hybrid: Adidas Adizero Evo SL ATR
How We Selected
Our gear team puts in hundreds of miles to find the shoes best suited for every type of run and runner. The shoes on this list were chosen based on comparisons to competitors’ models as well as past iterations of the trainers. Using this system, we select shoes based on fit, comfort, and ride.
Our team of 300+ local wear-testers provided valuable feedback on each pair, giving insights on how the shoe fares on different foot types, gait patterns, and foot strikes. I also ran in the shoes and researched newer models online.
Full Reviews
At RW HQ, the Evo SL is known as the shoe Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate swears he’ll eat if a better one comes along. This is because claimed it was the Shoe of the Year in our 2025 Shoe Awards back in February. It’s been over a year and a half since this premature claim, and I think it’s safe to say Dengate is in the clear. Its versatility cannot be denied. The shoe has highly responsive super foam and an affordable price you shouldn’t sleep on if you’re looking for a lightweight everyday trainer or speedwork shoe—or both.
“I was pleasantly surprised by this shoe,” said tester Eileen Cody, who liked the Evo SL’s pep on tempo repeats and its supportive cushioning for daily training. “I have not often been a fan of Adidas, but this one was an exception. When Jeff [Dengate] gave me the shoe to test he said something along the lines of ‘this is just a daily trainer, but I keep reaching for it,’ and I can see why. It was a shoe that I kept going back to see what it could handle.”
One annoyance with the shoe is its tongue. It kept bunching up or twisting to the side midrun. This drawback was minor, however. Testers still showered the Evo SL with praise and gave it top ratings for its comfy fit and peppy ride.
The Hyperboost Edge looks colossal with its billowing midsole and tall stack height (45 mm), but the shoe is surprisingly lightweight—and very responsive. At The Running Event, Adidas told me the team set out to disrupt the market with a bold, unique concept. Visually, the brand achieved its goal, but the proof in the pudding is the ride.
The Hyperboost foam is pelleted PEBA. The foam has the same properties as Adidas’s super shoe foam, Lightstrike Pro—but in this form it’s tuned for everyday use. What you get is a bouncy, high rebound ride on a soft, light platform for casual everyday mileage. It makes the random “let’s go out for a run” workout fun, or weeks of base building less of a slog.
“My favorite part of the shoe was the feeling of the midsole,” said tester Gregory Jaindl. “It led to a smooth feeling ride and felt cushioned but responsive. I think having a shoe that can be used for an easy run but also pick up the pace a little bit is needed for almost everybody and the Hyperboost Edge fits that bill.”
The first time I tested Adidas, I immediately understood why the brand’s sturdy, firmly cushioned Boost foam is so beloved. The foam stays bouncy in the extreme cold and still feels fresh several months later. Thing was, the shoe I ran in also had the lace cage on the upper, which pressed on my instep. Adidas came out with two Ultraboosts to satisfy runners like me; the Ultraboost 5 has the lace cage while the Ultraboost 5X is without—making it even lighter.
And there’s so much more to love about the uncaged Ultraboost 5X. The Lightboost midsole shaves off more weight, making this Ultraboost the lightest yet. Built into the midsole is Adidas’s torsion system, a “bridge” between the forefoot and heel, which helps provide support during turnover. A molded external heel counter also helps with stability.
Testers leaned toward daily workouts and recovery runs as they ran in the Ultraboost 5X, appreciating the comfort of its knit upper and cushioning.
“The Adidas Ultraboost 5X was my first Adidas shoe and left me feeling impressed with the overall quality and feel,” said tester Julian Caiazzo. “The Light Boost midsole was not overly mushy but led to a responsive feel with rebound. My favorite feature of the shoe was with the knit upper; it felt like putting a sock on. I enjoyed this shoe and can definitely see this on my rotation as a daily trainer for easy days.”
The Supernova 3 has a wide midfoot to accommodate wider feet and squash the notion that Adidas’s shoes are tight and narrow.
This iteration is even softer with 1 mm of foam added in the heel and 3 mm added in the forefoot, which changes the offset from 10 mm to 8 mm. The result is better shock absorption with optimized comfort. The PEBA-based Dreamstrike+ midsole also translates to a responsive ride, making the Supernova 3 ideal for harder, faster efforts.
The Lighttraxion outsole ensures no slippage on slippery roads, while the Primeweave upper securely—and comfortably—houses your foot.
The Supernova Prima 2—the fraternal twin of the Supernova Rise 2—shares some of its neutral sibling’s upgrades. The shoe has a new woven upper that provides more airflow, and has a more accommodating fit in the forefoot area.
For a stability trainer, the shoe feels remarkably lightweight on a run. One way to differentiate the Rise and Prima is by looking at the orientation of the shoes’ support rods (you can see them exposed on the bottom of the shoe). The Prima’s rods are straight, whereas the Rise’s curves inwards. The straightened rods are what help with overpronation, guiding the foot as it rolls inward.
I used the shoe for speed workouts and easy jog days. One knock is that some runners found it ran a little too long.
The Adizero Adios Pro 4 is arguably one of the best super shoes out there. While the flashier—and very expensive—Pro Evo 2 is showing up on the top 10 runners at races like the World Championship Marathon, the Adios Pro walked and ran before the Pro Evo 1 had its first 521-pairs-only run. Four iterations down, and you could say Adidas has cracked the formula, and we can’t wait for what’s underway with the next model.
Our testers liked the undeniably propulsive ride the Pro 4 offers, the Lightstrike Pro foam working in tandem with the carbon-infused energy rods that are sandwiched between it. “Every step or push off you can feel how much that shoe absorbs your foot and then springs it forward,” said tester Mike Browne. “You barely even notice that your heel is hitting the ground as much as it is. The design of the shoes seems to force that rollover quickly, spending less time on your heels.”
The Lightlock upper contours over the foot, providing a secure fit. One thing to note before buying the Adios Pro 4 is that it runs big. Always try on the shoe before making a commitment. And always give it a test run before toeing the starting line.
Dengate replaced the outsole of his Adizero Evo SL (after running 450 miles in it) with a Vibram outsole from a Merrell shoe last summer. He was well ahead of the curve with Adidas’s shoe release planning. The Evo SL gets the hybrid, all-weather treatment. Not only does it have dainty lugs on its Continental rubber outsole for reliable grip on slick, snowy roads—and dicey trailheads—it also has a protective ripstop mesh upper.
“I really liked the concept of this shoe, a daily trainer geared toward running in bad conditions,” said tester Chris Garges. “This winter, the Northeast has delivered bad conditions and the upper and outsole of this shoe was geared toward these exact conditions. The upper fit very well and provided great protection from wind, wet, and snow.”
What to Consider
Cushioning
Boost: If there’s a word synonymous with Adidas, it’s Boost. The foam was co-developed by Adidas and German chemical company BASF. Boost is composed of fused TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) beads. In the past couple of years, Adidas developed Lightboost, which reduces shoe weight by more than half an ounce.
Dreamstrike+: When the Supernova Rise was unveiled, I asked the Adidas rep, “Can you tell us what kind of foam is Dreamstrike+?” She gave the tantalizing answer: “Not a chance.”
Our guess: PEBA (polyether block amide), the same bouncy foam used in racing shoes like Nike’s Alphafly.
Lightstrike Pro: TPE-based (thermoplastic polyester elastomers), Lightstrike Pro is known for its high energy return and shock absorption.
Rods
Some of Adidas’s shoes have support rods, which resemble the tendons in your foot. The rods are implanted into the midsole and help you transition from heel-to-toe.
Adidas has a carbon-infused version of its support rods in its racing shoes called Energy Rods, which serve as a stabilizer sandwiched in between Lightstrike Pro foam. Energy Rods essentially assume the same role as a carbon-fiber plate, working in harmony to create a propulsive, fast ride while racing in the shoes.
Torsion System
The Torsion System in shoes like the Ultraboost is a midsole component in the shoe that bridges the forefoot and heel. This fourlegged feature implanted in the midfoot section helps with stability while also allowing your foot to naturally flex during turnover.
Adidas Shoe FAQ
Why didn’t you include the Pro Evo 2 on this list?
The Adios Pro 4 is a great choice for half marathon and marathon racing—at half the price. Still, we admit the Pro Evo 2 is faster when every second counts: it’s over 2 ounces lighter than the Adios Pro 4 and the forefoot is 3mm thicker. The midsole uses the next phase of Lightstrike Pro foam, Lightstrike Pro Evo, which is lighter and delivers more energy return.
If you think all of this is worth the cost—and you can find the Pro Evo 2 in your size—we’re not stopping you.
What is a good Adidas trainer under $100?
The Duramo SL 2 is $70 on Adidas' site, and you can also find pairs on Amazon. The shoe has moderately supportive cushioning and is likened for short road races.
Where are Adidas’s trail shoes?
Adidas Terrex | Adidas Outdoor features hiking and climbing shoes, as well as trail running shoes. We plan to add more models once feedback is in.
