adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 Multi Tester Review: 5 Comparisons

adidas Adizero Adios Professional 4 ($250)

Introduction

Sam: The Adios Professional 4 updates adi’s prime of the road marathon tremendous shoe, the winner of many marathons and different prime races in recent times. The important thing parts of the replace are:

A lighter, extra material like barely stretchy higher with Lightlock a brand new underlay help system

An extended rocker beginning at 60% of the shoe size as within the Professional EVO 1

A brand new barely softer and bouncier/energetic Lightstrike Professional midsole foam

A brand new outsole know-how “Lightraxion”with sure nonetheless a little bit of Continental on the excessive put on toe space.

A 16g drop in weight with no change to the 39mm heel / 33mm forefoot stack top 

For my part it competes effectively with every other tremendous shoe besides.. the same design and geometry specs however dramatically lighter Adizero Professional EVO 1.

Our evaluation comes from very completely different views. Very long time RTR contributor Ryan Eiler ran a PR 2:14 on the the 2024 Boston Marathon within the Adios Professional 3 and yours really is pleased to run 10K to half marathons between 7 and eight minute miles though, in my protection, I broke my knee cap in late 2023 and am significantly “older” than Ryan!

Professionals:

Weight: one of many lightest tremendous footwear with a 16g drop in weight from the Professional 3 on the similar stack top Sam

Experience: smoother rolling: longer much less aggressive rocker and entrance toe off: Sam

Midsole: barely softer and bouncier foam: Sam

Upperl: gentle on  foot, much less inflexible, extra comfy and safer:  Sam / Ryan

Vitality return from composite rods and Lightstrike Professional is world class: Ryan

Cons:

Overly inflexible rear to midfoot impeding transition (considerably) to lengthy rocker: Sam 

Stability and responsiveness degraded with softer Lightstrike Professional permitting extra lateral/medial roll: Ryan

Its distinctive, barely much less approachable experience (as in comparison with some rivals) takes some getting used to: Ryan

Stats

Pattern Weights: 

Sam: males’s 7.05 oz / 200g US 8.5 (Prior Model Weight:  males’s 7.63 oz  /  216 g US8.5) 

Ryan: 7.30oz / 207g US M9.5

Stack Top: males’s 39 mm heel /  33 mm forefoot ( 6mm drop spec) similar as prior

Platform Width: 

AP4: 80 mm heel / 75 mm (30mm at contact) midfoot / 115mm forefoot 

AP3: 80 mm heel / 80mm (45 mm at contact) midfoot / 115mm forefoot 

Broadly obtainable January 2025

Most comparable footwear

Adios Professional 3

Nike Vaporfly 3

Metaspeed Paris

First Impressions, Match and Higher

Ryan: It’s been over two years for the reason that launch of the Adios Professional 3, a shoe which has racked up dozens of main victories on the world stage. Consequently, expectations are excessive for its successor, now in its fourth era. 

To make its present lineup much more attention-grabbing, Adidas determined to launch its hyper-performant ‘EVO 1’ in between the Professional 3 and Professional 4, with a radically gentle development and a radically heavy price ticket.

I’ve run the Adios Professional since its first launch, when it was nonetheless a bit unfinished, and it has served me effectively all through the 7 marathons I’ve run. I’ve stood my floor through the years that the Lightstrike Professional midsole foam is the perfect available in the market at returning power, even when it doesn’t really feel fairly as bouncy or forgiving as another compounds. 

Given my affinity for the Professional 4, and the 800+ miles I’ve spent with them on my ft, my hope was that Adidas wouldn’t go too far off the reservation and alter something too drastically in model 4.

Upon first look, the silhouette and basic development of the shoe seem pretty comparable. Nonetheless, upon nearer inspection, they’ve made some vital adjustments to the higher which lead to a extra nice expertise. 

Most notably, the plasticky, very stout mesh from the Professional 3 has been changed by a a lot softer and extra supple bolstered material within the Professional 4. 

It’s arguably a extra acceptable design for a marathon-specific shoe, and whereas it sacrifices a little bit of lockdown, it’s nonetheless a lot sturdy and able to correct securement.

To make certain, they’ve run a pair of underlays (“Gentle Lock”) from the heel of the shoe as much as the entrance eyelets to help with reinforcement, and the emblem overlays on both facet most likely do some work to assist with containment, as effectively.

The tongue picks up a bit extra construction and is now tacked down alongside the Lightlock underlays so beneath the eyelets, to remediate the floppiness of the Professional 3 tongue.

 And fortunately, the eyelets have been redesigned and may eradicate any of the rubbing points that people (myself included) complained about in v3. 

The heel feels to have about the similar quantity of rigidity as earlier than however utilizing much less plaiticky materila, and works effectively to maintain the heel seated. We nonetheless have the triangular flip-tab (undecided why), and padded bumpers across the achilles which are actually extra suede-like and fewer abrasive than these within the Professional 3.

General, the refinements to the higher are all steps in the correct course. It’s much less tenacious than earlier than, however a befitting design for a marathon shoe.

Sam: The higher for positive evolves away from a fairly inflexible stiff plasticky mesh to a way more pliable and tender nearly material like mesh.  Extra foot conforming, much less scratchy in really feel the higher is as Ryan says befitting a marathon shoe in having forgiving room but on the similar time glorious maintain.

The heel counter follows the remainder of the design in being extra conforming and simpler on the foot if not fairly as secure as it’s not as inflexible stiff in its supplies. That’s if the Professional 3’s labored for you. I had some heel slip within the Professional 3 and have none within the 4.

The toe field is appropriately broad but safe in maintain relying extra on the sunshine barely stretchy mesh so as to add to foot shapes than earlier than the place match was extra decided by the quantity of the toe field given the non stretch mesh and its overlays. 

I’m true to dimension for my narrower to medium quantity and width ft. I used to be true to dimension within the Professional 3 however on the roomy facet for quantity. The brand new stretchier foot conforming mesh of the Professional 4 resolving that concern.

 

Midsole & Platform

Ryan: To the attention, not a lot has modified right here. However upon nearer inspection, there are two vital adjustments at work right here: an extended, extra gradual rocker form on the toe as within the EVO 1, and a softer grade of Lightstrike Professional foam underfoot.

One of many issues I favored finest in regards to the Professional 3 was its means to cushion (as most supershoes do) whereas retaining a excessive degree of responsiveness. 

The choice to go together with a softer foam right here makes the Professional 4 really feel a bit much less sure-footed than the Professional 3, in my view. Nonetheless, the softer foam makes the experience really feel a lot bouncier and extra dynamic, and I’m positive loads of people will respect these adjustments. Moreover, it’s going to enhance its means to scale back impression fatigue, though it makes for a much less responsive shoe that feels a bit slower to show over.

The elevated softness was most noticeable within the heel for me. Whereas the width of the heel hasn’t modified, 

Adidas launched a channel which runs from the rear of the shoe and up into the midfoot, successfully splitting the heel into two. 

Even in hand whereas squeezing the perimeters , you may really feel that the dynamics of the froth have modified right here. Whereas it feels bouncier and extra playful, throughout tougher efforts it makes for a much less secure heel than the Professional 3 has with its extra uniform, firmer heel.

Personally, I really feel like I get extra power switch from the Professional 3 midsole with its extra direct response. Nonetheless, I don’t suppose there’s essentially a proper reply right here as as to if this was the correct course to take the midsole. They’ve definitely pushed the shoe towards the softer, bouncier finish of the spectrum, although. Some people will benefit from the sensation of the brand new Lightstrike Professional and take care of it simply fantastic, and others could discover it a bit too unwieldy and unstable at race efforts.

Sam: The stack top stays the identical at a “authorized” max of 39mm heel / 33 mm forefoot. I agree with Ryan that the brand new Lightstrike Professional is softer and bouncier, much less reactive and agency than prior Lightstrike foams however..additionally it is firmer and fewer energetic than the wonderful Lightstrike Professional + foam within the Professional EVO 1. 

I discover it considerably much less “springy” than Nike’s Zoom X foam within the newest Vaporfly and extra dynamic than New Steadiness’s newest FuelCell foam of their Elite v4. I’ll replace this paragraph as I do extra comparisons. 

The platform will get an earlier beginning rocker at 60% of the shoe size, similar as Professional EVO 1, and that shoe works very effectively for my not notably dynamic extra rolling stride kind. I discovered the prior Professional’s rocker overly abrupt and requiring a constant mid to forefoot strike and quicker paces. Lose that strike sample when drained and I had bother rolling them ahead, suppose later miles of a marathon for many. That’s what  I’ve noticed within the Professional 2 and three at a number of current Boston Marathon end stretches watching 1000’s go by and evaluating strides between footwear. For me the longer rocker is a constructive improvement.

I agree with Ryan that whereas the brand new extra deeply break up heel softens landings (and reduces weight), and from my standpoint as extra of a heel striker than Ryan, the softer heel has me lingering a bit too lengthy. 

Left: Adios Professional 4   Proper: Adios Professional 3

To urgent it additionally seems the decrease wedge of froth on the heel possibly softer than the remainder of the midsole.

This sensation is amplified by the brand new rear outsole which not like the Adios Professional 3 with its twin thickness medial outsole of firmer rubber has a single skinny layer. The older outsole method together with the now softer foam may haven’t been higher as it would decreasing the depth or the rear cavity or some mixture.

 I didn’t discover the Professional 4 considerably much less rear or midfoot  secure however did discover it much less snappy off the heel and a bit slower to transition off the heel to midfoot and, considerably far slower to transition than the EVO 1 with its but softer if extra power returning foam however.. with no central rear cavity.. 

Outsole

Ryan: Whereas the Professional 3 labored with a entrance easy, grippy massive patch of rubber with a patch of Continental model rubber on the toe, the Professional 4 introduces some texture into the combination. The brand new LightTraxion outsole with an oblong tread within the midfoot may go higher within the moist, however I wasn’t capable of discover any very significant variations on dry asphalt. 

The protection space is basically the identical,

There are variations within the heel with the bigger cavity splitting the rubber there, and the angular  triangular cutout within the lateral forefoot of the Professional 3 giving approach to an extended, and extra uniform cutaway in that space of the Professional 4.

Sam: As Ryan says the protection  space stays about the identical however the rubber and its patterning change. The brand new Lightraxion rubber was very sticky on wood flooring when new, with nearly a suction impact. 

The deeper rear cavity and the transfer from a denser, firmer rear rubber with a small hardened foam medial plate “Adizero”above left  strikes within the Professional 4 to a single layer of softer Lightraxion rubber results in a softer bouncier much less responsive touchdown that’s not fairly as secure which I believe goes a bit to far. As extra of a heel striker I might use a bit extra pop off the heel to assist transition to midfoot.

The softer outsole pattern continues up entrance with thinner (much less patterning) smoother rubber on the lateral facet and the now longer and shallower facet lateral lower out. The mixture, together with the softer foam and longer rocker, result in smoother and extra pleasant toe offs than earlier than, extra marathon shoe in really feel than shorter distance because the Professional 3 was for me with its abrupt rocker, firmer rubber and foam. 

Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions

Ryan: The experience of the Professional 4 has definitely taken a flip towards being extra bouncy and dynamic. I surprisingly didn’t discover the rocker adjustments to be too drastic, though I’ll say that the toe-off of the Professional 4 feels mellower. I believe that the longer rocker and extra gradual transition is accentuated additional by the softer foam right here. 

One draw back of the bouncier foam is that the turnover of the shoe suffers barely. It’s not fairly as responsive or snappy, which can or could not swimsuit you, relying in your working model.

I respect many of the refinements made to model 4, and it’s clear that Adidas have thought of quite a lot of athlete suggestions earlier than making the set of design adjustments we see right here. 

The higher is definitely a win, able to acting at a excessive degree and now with added consolation and maybe much less weight. 

The midsole will seemingly be debated — do you favor the extra responsive, secure, foam present in v3, or do you just like the mellower, extra playful model that v4 brings to the desk? 

The outsole has successfully the identical degree of grip and efficiency, and may work effectively as soon as once more.

All of this stated, in case you’re available in the market for a correct, creme-de-la-creme marathon racing shoe, the Professional 4 must be in consideration. It’s no fluke that the DNA of this Adios Professional line has persistently discovered its means onto podiums for a number of years now.

Ryan’s Rating: 9.6/10 

(Deductions for decreased stability and responsiveness)

Smiles Rating: 😊😊😊😊1/2

Sam: The Adios Professional 4 follows the 2023-2024 pattern in direction of considerably extra mellow, softer and fewer aggressive marathon tremendous footwear. I ran mine straight out the field at a neighborhood hilly 5 miler and was happy with their experience and my race. Dynamic, bouncy however not overly so, or over tender, they comfortably carried me to an AG win with no sore legs the subsequent day. The uphills had been steep and a bit labored with downhills simply fantastic.

As compared, the Adios Professional 3 which for my extra pedestrian paces (than Ryan’s that’s for positive!) had a fairly inflexible midfoot and particularly an aggressive abrupt entrance toe-off. Right here we’re simpler to show over on the entrance as a result of lengthy rocker however a bit slower to maneuver off the heel as a result of softness of the froth, deep cavity, and skinny outsole.

During the last 3 years I’ve noticed the Boston Marathon ending stretch remaining runners’ strides and it was clear to me that the Adios Professional 3’s aggressive geometry had many non elite (not like Ryan!) and mid packers struggling to maneuver within the Adios Professional whereas these in, for instance the extra rolling geometry Vaporfly 2 had a better time of it. I believe this new entrance geometry will actually assist mid packers within the remaining miles of a marathon.

I do surprise what maintaining the froth the identical firmness as earlier than, and possibly accentuating the size of the rocker but extra, may ship? Or filling the rear cavity for extra pop off the heel because the EVO 1 does. I believe we’d have a extra secure and but simpler to show over experience with extra of the response Ryan was lacking and which I seen too.

The higher is actually polished and considerably improved. It’s among the many better of any tremendous shoe and definitely way more foot conforming and comfy than the tough mesh AP3’s. Heel maintain is superb, much better than AP ‘3, with right here really much less foot irritating construction.  Lacing is straightforward and the toe field, given the stretch material like mesh suits, and this additionally applies to the whole higher,  extra “glove like” than the Adios Professional 3/s extra “cage like” match. 

Updates to signature footwear are tough. Sufficient change to be a significant replace for efficiency past cosmetics and naturally a greater higher, Adjustments in geometry, foam, and plates that work for prime elites to get these prime race podiums  but additionally profit the remainder of us. 

The Adios Professional 4 largely succeeds with extra higher and underfoot consolation and a experience that’s friendlier for the mid pack with out compromising elite efficiency an excessive amount of. That stated, in Adizero, now a two marathon tremendous shoe line, the Professional EVO 1 remains to be clearly the summit for me.

Sam’s Rating: 9.4 / 10

😊😊😊😊

Deductions for a extra reactive faster transitioning rear of the shoe

5 Comparisons

Adizero Adios Professional 3 (RTR Overview)

Ryan: We’ve coated many of the particulars above, so in a nutshell: the higher of v4 has been properly refined, eradicating a number of the rougher spots of v3, and making for a kinder, extra comfy match. The higher materials isn’t as stiff or plasticky as earlier than, and is now a lighter bolstered material with supporting underlays, and outer overlays. The midsole now has an extended, extra gradual rocker up entrance, and extra considerably, a softer model of Lightstrike Professional than in v3. 

The ensuing experience is noticeably bouncier and extra dynamic, though I felt that some stability and responsiveness was sacrificed. The outsole picks up some texture in its tread (v3 was easy, nearly climbing shoe-like rubber), and has a barely completely different notched form within the lateral forefoot, however is in any other case fairly comparable.

Adizeo Adios Professional EVO 1 (RTR Preliminary Overview)

The adidas elephant (tremendous shoe) within the room is in fact the adidas Adizeo Professional EVO 1. It is dramatically lighter, 70g lighter! at  4.59 oz / 130g in my US8.5 pattern than the Professional 4. Or  actually every other tremendous shoe together with the Vaporfly 3 which checks in at 6.3 oz / 179g (US8.5).  Each share the the identical 39mm heel top and 33mm forefoot 

I ran the EVO 1 the week earlier than the Professional 4 in a 10K race (will probably be updating the linked evaluation quickly) and whereas they each share the identical longer rocker and straightforward to show over experience stream, the EVO attributable to its weight is noticeably faster to show over and simpler to take care of tempo in. Its  foam is softer but noticeably extra dynamic with a faster return and extra cushion really feel. Each have very good uppers with the just about impossibly gentle and ethereal higher fo the EVO 1 but extra comfy and safe. Such a groundbreaking leap ahead in tremendous shoe know-how and for me efficiency comes at a excessive value..t 2x the fee Adios Professional 4 which for positive provides pause however for me the EVO 1 is the final word racing machine.

Nike Vaporfly 3 (RTR Overview)

Ryan: The higher of the VF3 consists of a extremely engineered mesh, which is extra perforated and breathable than the brand new material higher of the Professional 4. Consequently, the VF3 higher feels baggier within the forefoot and a bit much less structured. I favor the foot containment and lockdown of the Professional 4 consequently. The rear of every shoe performs on the similar degree, with achilles bumpers maintaining the heel comfortably seated, and simply sufficient construction to deal with exhausting efforts. 

This model of Lightstrike Professional foam within the Professional 4 is extra just like ZoomX than it was beforehand, with its new, bouncier persona. Whereas the softness of the VF3 and AP4 are actually pretty comparable, they nonetheless produce a barely completely different feeling underfoot. 

The midsole of the Adidas appears to be thicker and extra rockered in really feel than that of the Nike. The very entrance finish of the Vaporfly can begin to really feel fairly skinny on the toe-off level, whereas it seems like there’s nonetheless loads of cushion on the corresponding level within the Professional 4. 

My desire right here is for the power return of the Lightspeed Professional midsole, however we’re actually simply splitting hairs at this level by evaluating two of probably the most extremely performant midsoles in the marketplace. As for the outsoles, I believe the Professional 4 wins by a slim margin with its extra copious rubber protection, however there’s not sufficient of a efficiency distinction right here to warrant a lot dialogue.

ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris  (RTR Overview)

Ryan: The Metaspeed Edge takes a extra conventional method in delivering supershoe efficiency as in comparison with the Professional 4. Its geometry is extra easy and nearly each a part of the shoe is much less advanced however nonetheless extremely efficient. The ASICS can be the lightest feeling marathon shoe I’ve ever worn, coming in about 0.5oz lighter than the Professional 4. 

The tradeoff right here in efficiency comes all the way down to inertia versus power return – whereas the ASICS has unparalleled turnover because of its low weight, the Adidas midsole appears to supply extra rebound and power because the midsole decompresses. 

As for the experience, the ASICS feels narrower underfoot and fewer secure than the Adidas, particularly within the midfoot the place the Professional 4 has a wider platform of froth. Nonetheless, the Metaspeed Edge has a extra approachable, much less unique experience model, with fewer cutouts and a extra steady slab of froth underfoot. 

Whereas the outsole of the ASICS is a little more minimalist than the Professional 4 outsole, its steady patch of rubber from toe to heel makes for a pleasant, clear transition that performs simply in addition to the Professional 4.

New Steadiness SC Elite v4  (RTR Overview)

Ryan: The SC Elite v4 appears to cater to a extra “casua”l kind of racer, with its softer, deeper cushioning, and extra dynamic and playful experience. 

New Steadiness’s ‘Vitality Arc’ design runs an extended cavity down the center of the shoe and towards the heel, giving it a supremely tender and bouncy experience. Whereas it’s enjoyable, I personally don’t like that a lot motion and plunging feeling when working at race effort. 

This model of the Professional 4 higher now arguably affords up simply as a lot consolation because the SC Elite – which undoubtedly wasn’t the case with the Professional 3. 

The Professional 4 remains to be the extra severe shoe of those two, with higher lockdown, extra directed power return, lighter weight, and a faster turnover. Whereas the Adidas is the higher alternative for ultra-serious marathoners, the SC Elite should be extra appropriate for heel strikers, or for these much less involved with outright excessive degree efficiency.

 Index to all RTR evaluations: HERE

Ryan’s Adios Professional 4  Preliminary Video Overview with Comparisons to Adios Professional 3 (7:59)

The Adizero Adios Professional 4 will probably be obtainable January 2025

Tester Profiles

Ryan Eller A hopeless soccer profession led Ryan to take up working, and after taking a decade-long break from competing, he’s again racking up mileage each time he can.  He calls the 2018 Boston Marathon the toughest race of his life, the place he completed in 2:40, barely remembering his identify on the end line.  Rya extra not too long ago has a PR of 2:14:23 from the 2024 Boston Marathon ending 3d American and fifteenth general, a  2:17:16 Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier, from the 2023 Philadelphia Marathon after two different 2:18 efforts within the final 12 months.

Sam is the Editor and Founding father of Highway Path Run. He’s in his 60’s  with 2024 Sam’s 52th 12 months of working roads and trails. He has a many years previous 2:28 marathon PR. As of late he runs halves within the simply sub 1:40 vary if he will get very, very fortunate. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week principally at reasonable paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, mountaineering or on nordic skis. He’s 5’9” tall and weighs about 164 lbs, if he’s not having fun with too many fantastic New England IPA’s.

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