Adizero Prime X 2
Today's tracked prices
- 01LacedLIVE£153.00£300.00−49%
Prices and sizes can change, so always check the latest availability at the retailer. Some links earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
Price history
Our verdict
The Adizero Prime X 2 is adidas going deliberately over the top. It is a supermaximal carbon running shoe with a stack so tall it sits above the World Athletics limit, which means it is not legal for record-eligible racing. That is the whole point. Freed from the rules, adidas piled on Lightstrike Pro foam and a set of carbon EnergyRods to build a long-run and marathon-training shoe that returns huge energy with almost no legs cost. You feel launched forward once you are up to pace. At 285g it is heavy for a carbon shoe, and the ride is more cruise missile than nimble racer. If you want a legal marathon racer, the Adios Pro 4 is the sibling to buy. If you want the most protective, most propulsive daily and long-run tool adidas makes, and you do not care about race legality, this is it.
Key features
- Supermaximal Lightstrike Pro stackGives you huge, protective cushioning that keeps your legs fresh deep into long runs and marathons
- Carbon EnergyRodsAdd a stiff, propulsive snap through toe-off so the tall foam still feels fast and rolling rather than soft and slow
- Rockered geometryTips you forward and keeps your stride rolling, so holding pace over distance takes less effort
- Strung woven upperWraps your midfoot like a sock with a locked-in feel and good breathability for hours on feet
- Continental rubber outsoleGrips confidently on wet and dry roads and adds real durability for a high-stack trainer
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Marathon runners who want the freshest legs possible on long training runs
- High-mileage runners who need maximum protection week after week
- Runners chasing a fast time on non-record courses where race legality does not matter
- Neutral runners who enjoy a tall, rolling, energetic ride at tempo pace
Who should not buy it
- You want a legal marathon racer for a record-eligible event
- You overpronate or need structured stability support
- You run mostly slow, easy or recovery paces where the height feels unwieldy
- You have wide or high-volume feet that need a roomy toe box
- You are shopping on a budget, as the RRP is steep
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Prime X 2 comes up true to size for most runners, so take your usual adidas running number. The Strung upper is woven rather than a traditional mesh, and it wraps the midfoot snugly with a locked-in, race-day feel through the middle of the foot. The toe box is on the medium-to-snug side rather than roomy, so if you run in wide feet or like room to splay on long efforts you may find it tight late in a run. The heel hold is secure with a moulded counter. Given the very tall platform, a dialled-in lockdown matters more here than on a low shoe, so spend a moment on the lacing to stop any heel lift. If you are between sizes or want extra toe room for marathon distance, sizing up a half is a fair call. Runners who want a naturally roomier long-run fit could look at the Asics Superblast 2 instead.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
This is a ride you notice from the first stride. The tall Lightstrike Pro stack and carbon EnergyRods combine into a rolling, rockered motion that tips you forward and keeps you moving. Hold a steady tempo or marathon pace and it comes alive, delivering the kind of energy return you normally only get from a race shoe, but with far more foam under you. Push harder and it keeps giving. The trade-off is that it is not quick to change direction and it does not love slow, shuffling paces, where the height can feel like a lot of shoe to manage. It rewards a committed, rhythmic stride. Run it on open roads and long straight efforts and it is genuinely special.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the headline act. This is one of the most heavily padded carbon shoes you can buy, and the point of going past the legal stack limit is simply more foam and more protection. The Lightstrike Pro midsole is soft and lively rather than dead and mushy, so you get long-run comfort without losing the bounce. Over marathon distance and beyond, your legs stay noticeably fresher than they would in a leaner racer. It is a superb choice for high-mileage weeks and back-to-back long runs where you want to bank the distance while sparing your body. If you want big cushioning in a shoe you can also race legally, the Superblast 2 is the more versatile pick.
Stability
The Prime X 2 is a neutral shoe, and with a platform this tall stability is the natural compromise. At pace, when your foot is landing under a moving body, it feels planted and the rockered geometry keeps you rolling forward cleanly. Slow right down, stand still at a crossing, or run tired with a sloppy stride and you will feel the height wobble a little from side to side. There is no medial post or guidance frame here, so runners who overpronate or want structured support will not find it. A confident midfoot to forefoot landing settles it down. If you need real stability, this is not the shoe, and a proper support trainer will serve you far better.
Upper & comfort
The Strung upper is the comfort star. It is a woven, data-designed material that feels closer to a sock than a stiff mesh, moving with the foot and holding it without hot spots. Breathability is good for long, warm efforts, and the tongue and collar are padded just enough to stay comfortable over hours on feet without adding bulk. Because the upper hugs the midfoot firmly, most runners get a secure, no-slip fit straight out of the box with minimal break-in. Runners with high-volume or wide feet are the exception, as the snug wrap can feel tight on longer runs. For everyone else it is one of the more premium-feeling uppers on any long-run shoe.
Reviews
No reviews yet, be the first to review this shoe.
Sign in to write a review.
FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Race |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 6.5mm |
| Heel Stack | 50mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 43.5mm |
| Weight | 285g |
| Carbon Plated | Yes |
| Stability | No |