Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3
"Sub-100g marathon racer with ENERGYRIM perimeter stiffening and ultra-plush Lightstrike Pro Evo foam."
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Price history
Our verdict
The Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3 is a running shoe with one job: get you to a marathon finish line faster than anything else you own. At 99g it is barely there on your foot, and that sub-100g weight is the whole point. adidas has stripped away everything that does not make you quicker, then leaned on a firm ENERGYRIM perimeter to hold the shape and snap the shoe through toe-off. The result is a pure marathon shoe that feels less like footwear and more like a piece of race kit. It sits at the very top of the market on price, and it is not built to soak up your training miles. We rate it as a specialist race-day tool for runners chasing a personal best who already know their legs can handle a light, aggressive ride. If that is you, few road racing shoes feel this fast. If it is not, the Vaporfly 4 or adidas own Adios Pro 4 give you most of the speed with far more shoe underfoot.
Key features
- Sub-100g weightAt 99g it is one of the lightest marathon shoes you can buy, and you feel that saved weight most in the closing miles when your legs are fading
- ENERGYRIM perimeterStiffens the platform around its edge and snaps you through toe-off, giving the propulsive pop that keeps you rolling at race pace
- Lightstrike Pro Evo foamReads soft and lively underfoot yet springs straight back, so you get real cushioning and energy return without the dead, mushy feel
- Full 38mm stackGives you proper leg protection over a marathon despite the tiny weight, so you can push late without your legs falling apart
- Race-day upperA thin, breathable single-layer wrap that vanishes on the foot and keeps you cool through a long, warm race
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Marathon and half racers chasing a personal best who want the lightest possible shoe on the start line
- Efficient, experienced runners with a confident midfoot to forefoot strike
- Runners who already own a training shoe and want a dedicated race-day weapon
- Fast runners who value weight saving above cushioning comfort
Who should not buy it
- You want one shoe for both training and racing, as this will wear out fast
- You overpronate or need any stability or guidance underfoot
- You are a beginner or heavier heel-striker who needs a more forgiving, planted ride
- You cannot justify a 450 pound race-only shoe
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Evo 3 fits true to size for most runners, so take your usual adidas race length. This is a low-volume, race-day fit through and through. The upper is thin and wraps close, the midfoot locks down snug, and the heel is minimal rather than padded, so it holds best on a mid to slim foot. Wider feet will find it tight across the forefoot and may want to size up a half, though that trades some of the on-foot precision this shoe is built around. There is not much toe box height, which suits the aggressive forward feel but leaves little room to swell over a long race. Try it on later in the day and run a few strides before you commit. If you want a roomier, more forgiving racer, the Adios Pro 4 is the friendlier fit in the same range.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
The ride is fast, direct and unmistakably a race feel. The moment you get on pace the ENERGYRIM perimeter stiffens the platform and rolls you forward, so the shoe rewards holding tempo rather than dawdling. At easy jogging speeds it feels a little unremarkable and slightly stiff. Push the pace and it comes alive. The Lightstrike Pro Evo foam is soft under load yet springs back quickly, giving you a bouncy, energetic turnover without the mushy sink of a training shoe. Over a full marathon that lightness pays off late, when your legs are tired and every extra gram tells. Hold your target pace and it flows. This is not a shoe for shuffling.
Cushioning
There is real stack underfoot at 38mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot, so you get proper protection despite the tiny weight. The Lightstrike Pro Evo foam reads plush and lively rather than firm and dead, which is unusual at this weight and one of the reasons the shoe feels good deep into a race. It is soft on contact but rebounds fast, so you get cushioning without losing the sharp, responsive turnover. What you do not get is the deep, planted comfort of a max-cushion trainer. This is race cushioning tuned for pace and efficiency, and over marathon distance it strikes a smart balance between saving your legs and keeping you quick.
Stability
This is a neutral racing shoe with no stability structures, and the priorities here work against a stable platform. The build is narrow, the stack is tall, and the whole shoe is tuned to feel light and reactive rather than planted. On smooth road at a committed pace it holds a line well, because the firm perimeter keeps the platform in shape under load. Slow down, get tired, or drift onto uneven surfaces and it can feel tippy and demanding. It asks for a confident, efficient footstrike and rewards runners who already have one. If you need guidance or you tend to overpronate, this is the wrong tool and a stability shoe is a better match.
Upper & comfort
The upper is stripped to the essentials in the name of weight. It is a thin, breathable single-layer build that wraps close and disappears on the foot once you are moving, which is exactly what a marathon racer should do. Ventilation is excellent, so your feet stay cool over a long, warm race. The trade-off is that there is very little padding anywhere, including the thin tongue and minimal heel collar, so it does not have the plush, cosseting feel of a daily trainer. Most runners get on fine sockless or in thin racing socks, but check the fit carefully first. Comfort here means light and unobtrusive, not soft and padded.
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FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Race |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 6mm |
| Heel Stack | 38mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 32mm |
| Weight | 99g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |